And Now For Something Completely Different…
I have been keeping this quiet for so long and now I can shout it from the rooftops:
Midwest Writers Workshop is holding its first-ever conference on self-publishing!
Self-publishing has taken the book market by storm and it’s a force to be reckoned with. We want to teach you all about the benefits and methods of self-publishing, and how to do it right.
Have you wondered if self-publishing is the right track for you and your writing goals? Wondered how to get your books into stores and libraries? How exactly does one build a brand and platform, and what about building revenue streams?
All good questions, and exactly what we’ll present to you in this one-day, virtual event on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 9:00am to 6:00pm EST.
Me Publishing Me is stocked with well-established and award-winning indie authors who have been through the trenches. They want to equip you with the tips, tricks, information and inspiration you’ll need to get you on track to producing your own books.
All attendees will receive available session materials and have access to the recordings for 90 days following the event
Click Here to Learn More and Register
Take a Peek at the Faculty and Sessions
“Discussing Platform”with Chadwick Gillenwater
Join the colorful persona “Professor Watermelon” to discuss how he created his platform and receive tips and tricks to develop your own.
Chadwick Gillenwater (also known as Professor Watermelon) is an experienced school librarian, children’s book author and creative writing teacher. Along his journey, he has collected the essential tools to teach his students the elements of writing for children. He knows what makes characters memorable, he understands what makes scenes and settings captivating, and he has discovered what simmers and twists a good plot. As Professor Watermelon, Chadwick has written three middle grade novels. He is on the board of the Indiana Writers Center, and he lives in Indianapolis with his husband, two dogs and one bearded dragon. Find out more about his work at www.professorwatermelon.com
“Exploring Revenue Streams” with Dirk Manning
Dirk Manning is the writer/creator of comic series such as the supernatural noir Tales of Mr. Rhee and the genre-bending horror anthology Nightmare World. More of Dirk’s comic work includes:
- Buried But Not Dead (Nominated for a Ringo Award as “Best Original Graphic Novel” of 2021)
- Twiztid Haunted High-Ons (Nominated for four Ringo Awards, including “Best Humor Comic” in 2020 and 2022)
- Butts in Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story (#1 Best-Selling Graphic Novel on Amazon)
- Homestead
- Hope
- Arn Anderson: My Life as the Enforcer
- The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. & Friends
- Love Stories About Death
- London After Midnight: The Official Graphic Novel Adaptation
Now predominantly publishing with Source Point Press (where he also serves as Special Projects Manager), Dirk was an early adopter in using crowdfunding to launch pre-sales of his comics and graphic novels, with Dirk’s work having raised over half a million dollars and counting in pre-sales on Kickstarter alone.
Dirk is also the author of the inspirational/how-to column turned book series Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creating Comics and has contributed several short stories to the RPG game series “Clockwork: Dominion for Reliquary” Game Studios. His screenplay writing credits include the YouTube horror series Blackbox TV episode “The Hunger” (directed by Drew Daywalt and featuring Bonnie Aarons and Jon Gries).
When not at his desk writing, touring on the comic convention circuit, and/or sampling his way across the best ice cream shops in the world, Dirk can be found online at www.DirkManning.com and on most social media platforms as @DirkManning.
He does not wear a top hat and scarf in real life.
“Is self-editing a mystery?” with Kristin Noland
Learn from professional ghostwriter and editor, Kristin Noland, what the four levels of editing are, how to approach each of the four levels, when to look for an editor, and how to hire a professional editor.
Kristin Noland With over 80 manuscripts to her name—including two bestsellers, one a military thriller—Kristin has spent her career helping authors bring their stories to life and position their work for success. From intricate world-building to sharp pacing, intricate plots, and characters who stay with readers long after the last page, she has her clients’ backs.
As a ghostwriter and editor specializing in speculative and crime fiction, she works with authors to: strengthen narrative structure, ensuring every plot point builds toward a compelling conclusion; refine style and voice, polishing language to capture her client’s unique storytelling voice; and prepare their books for the marketplace by aligning the manuscript with what agents, publishers, and readers are looking for.
Her background spans traditional and independent publishing, including editorial roles with Literary Wanderlust and collaborations with Greenleaf Book Group, She Writes Press, and The Literary Consultancy. She’s guided authors through the challenges of both debut projects and seasoned careers, always with the goal of creating a book that resonates and connects.
Carol Fisher Saller will participate in our panels, “Why (and How)? Reasons We Self-Publish” and “Brushing Yourself Off after Self-Publishing Pitfalls”
Carol Fisher Saller is the author of MADDIE’S GHOST, EDDIE’S WAR, and THE BRIDGE DANCERS. Honors for her children’s books include Bank Street Best Book of the Year, Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, Horn Book Recommended Verse, the Midland Authors Award for Children’s Fiction, the Carl Sandburg Award for Children’s Literature, and Chicago Public Library’s Best Teen Fiction.
As a professional manuscript editor, Carol is the author of the book and blog THE SUBVERSIVE COPY EDITOR and contributing editor to THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE. She lives in Chicago.
“You’re Not (Just) an Author: The No B.S. Branding Guide for Self-Published Authors” with Allison Spooner
Self-publishing isn’t just about writing a great book—it’s about becoming a savvy marketer and branding professional who can effectively sell that book in a competitive market. This no-BS presentation will get real about what it takes to do that, showing authors the tools, truths, and emerging technologies (yes, we’ll talk AI) needed to transform from hobbyists to professional authors who stand out and sell books.
Allison Spooner is the author of the Amazon Bestseller and #1 New Release, The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story. She’s also published two collections of genre-crossing flash fiction, Flash in the Dark: A Collection of Flash Fiction and The Problem with Humans: And Other Stories, and has contributed to several horror and science fiction anthologies.
When she isn’t writing, Allison loves reading, doing yoga, trying not to kill her plants, watching bad disaster movies, and spending time with her family in her home state of Michigan.
Allison enjoys encouraging writers to fight through writer’s block and exploring and experimenting in different genres.
“Getting Your Books–and You–into Libraries and Bookstores” with J.D. Webb
As an author, you’re automatically a small businessperson. You quickly discover the hardest part of this writing stuff is selling and marketing your books. Networking with other authors is a great way to help, but you’ll also want to network with your libraries and bookstores.
Think about it, they have books. Think of yourself as a source. Book seller to libraries and bookstores. This session will tell you how to do it.
J.D. Webb (Dave) a full-time author since 2002, credits Midwest Writer’ Workshop as the impetus for his latest career. He is a Viet Nam veteran and was a manager in a Fortune 500 company for twenty-five years, retail shoe sales and repair shop owner before beginning a writing journey. He has garnered writing awards for both short stories and novels. In 2008 his short story “Nine One One” won the coveted EPPY from the international Electronic Publishing Internet Connection (EPIC). Three different publishers publish his stories. In 2008 he was a Fellow at Midwest Writers Workshop and was honored to be elected recently to a term on their Board of Directors.
Click Here to Learn More and Register
Have You Checked Out MWW25?
Join us this July 10 – 12, 2024 at the Ball State Alumni Center in Muncie, Indiana—or virtually, from the comfort of your own computer—and see for yourself the wonderful things MWW has to offer! Scholarships available
All attendees will receive available session materials and have access to the recordings for 90 days following the event.
Learn More and Register!
Are You in a Writing Slump? Write With Us!
The “Wednesday Write-In with MWW” is a 30-minute Zoom session, first Wednesday of the month, where we get together and WRITE.
It might seem weird to have the Brady-Bunch Zoom screen filled with people not talking to each other, but please trust me: It works. It creates an accountability; it creates a space where your sole purpose is to get words down on paper. I might allow for a *little* chit-chat 🙂
To accommodate people’s availability, we will alternate morning sessions and evening sessions. Let’s dedicate 30 minutes of our day, once a month, to generating words and developing our craft!
Join us next Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00pm EST for a thirty-minute writing sprint–subscribe to our newsletter for the monthly link!
Success Stories
Finish an essay, a book, a paragraph? Have something published? Tell us about something exciting you’ve done with writing and/or publishing in the past year. Bonus points if you can tell us how MWW has made an impact on your writing.
Send your success stories to midwestwritersworkshop@gmail.com and we’ll post it on our website!
MWW is dedicated to building a community where writers can network with others and grow.
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SEE WHAT ELSE MWW HAS TO OFFER
- MWW Writing Service: Receive manuscript evaluations from our experts
- Midwest Writers Workshop Facebook Group: Join our community to network, support, celebrate, and commiserate with other writers
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