ONE-NIGHT VIRTUAL CLASS
How to Get Happily Published with Dianne Jacob
Tuesday, October 27th from 8:45 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. EST
Fee: $85.00

This class is closed. It will be offered again in winter 2010.

If you’re thinking of writing a food memoir, cookbook, guidebook or reference book and hope to have it published, you’ll be more successful and far ahead of the competition if you understand how the publishing industry works and what editors and agents want. This class’s insider information will increase your chances of staying out of the rejection pile, where a shocking 97 percent of all writers’ work land.

What this class will do for you Producing a beautifully written book on a killer subject is filled with excitement and fraught with problems. In this interactive class, you’ll learn all about the publishing world, how to handle yourself professionally, what to expect from yourself, your agents and edits. Topics covered include:

• Why so many books are rejected
• How to get a platform—your ability to attract an audience that will buy the book—if you don’t have one now
• How to know if you have a good, commercial idea for a book
• How and when to submit your manuscript, and to whom
• Is it best to find an agent, or can you submit directly to editors
• How to send your manuscript: snail mail or e-mail
• Whether a literary attorney does just as good a job as an agent in reviewing a contract
• How publishers decide to buy your book
• How much can you expect to be paid
• Who pays for the photography and illustration
• And, once your book is ready to launch, how much publicity to expect.

This class will consist of a lecture and an extensive Q&A. Handouts include “Ten Great Ideas for a Non-Fiction book,” a guide to writing book proposals, plus resources to consult for additional guidance.

Why this class is right for you If you’ve contemplated writing a non-fiction book, you probably know that it’ll be a lot of work, but you might not understand what it takes to intrigue and impress an editor or agent, regardless of the subject of the book. During this class you may even pick up a tip or two that will help you tweak your book to make it even more irresistible.

How this class works You don’t even have to leave home. On Tuesday, October 27th at 8:45 p.m. EST/5:45 p.m. PST, we’ll convene by telephone for a 2 1/2 hour conference call comprising both lecture and discussion. A private podcast of this class, available only to participants, will be posted online for one month at no additional cost.

Who the instructor is Dianne Jacob is the author of  Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks, Restaurant Reviews, Articles, Memoir, Fiction, and More (Da Capo Press, 2005). Now in its fourth printing, the book won the 2005 Cordon D’Or International award for Best Literary Food Reference Book. Her most recent book is Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas (Dorling-Kindersley, 2008), a cookbook she co-authored with Chicago chef Craig Priebe.

Dianne was a top editor and writer of a book publishing company, international magazines, and newspapers for decades before starting her own business as a food writing coach, author, editor, and teacher. She coaches writers across the US, Canada, and Europe on how to become published authors, and she regularly receives referrals from literary agents and editors whose clients’ proposals and manuscripts need sharpening. Clarkson Potter; Penguin Putnam; St. Martin’s Press; Stewart, Tabori & Chang; Ten Speed Press; Wiley & Sons; and William Morrow are some of the companies who have published books by authors who worked with Dianne. She has also worked as a freelance book editor for Weldon Owen and Andrews & McMeel. For several years, Dianne has judged cookbooks for the James Beard Foundation and for the International Association of Culinary Professionals annual cookbook awards.

For more about Dianne, visit her Web site and blog. Read this interview with Dianne on Seattle Tall Poppy.

What students are saying about Dianne’s class and her coaching
“I cannot speak more highly of Dianne’s class. I found her teaching style informative and engaging. The format of her classes was perfect, and I learned more than I could imagine from the other students. Dianne had a profound impact on my writing and an appreciation of the skill set needed to succeed in this specialized arena. She is an outstanding teacher. I recommend her class to all.”

“I found Dianne to be an inspiring and down-to-earth teacher. Her class on writing a book proposal was especially enlightening. Despite having worked in journalism and public relations, I would not have known how to “get it right.” I know from after class discussions with other participants that it was especially helpful to them as well. Her class was a life-defining experience. I plan on taking future classes from her and would not hesitate to recommend others to do the same.”

“Dianne’s expert advice regarding my book proposal helped enormously in landing a contract with a major New York publisher. And even though I’m an experienced food writer, I’ve found helpful tips throughout Will Write For Food. She’s an invaluable resource!”

If you have any questions, please contact us at enroll@leitesculinaria.com.

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