Invest in yourself: 4 great learning opportunities for authors

How much time and money do you invest in professional development every year?

Book publishing and marketing are both changing so much so quickly that you have to work constantly to stay up-to-date on trends, techniques, and tactics.

I try to attend two in-person conferences a year, but I also learn from virtual programs — conferences, teleseminars, and webinars — from my office all year.

I use what I learn for my own business, but I try to share as much as possible with other authors here on the blog, in my free newsletter, in my courses, and when I present at conferences. I’m speaking at several in-person and virtual events in coming weeks. If you’re participating in any of these, please make sure you say “Hi!”

eBook Publishing Boot Camp — My friend D’vorah Lansky’s amazing virtual conference (I’ve attended before!) takes place between  April 16 and 25, 2013 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Each day’s sessions are available on-demand beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern. It’s an impressive line-up of experts talking about everything from how to kill it with Kindle in 30 minutes a day to how to launch a book. My workshop is “How to Build Buzz for Your E-book” on Tuesday, April 23. Because I’m an instructor, I can offer you a 20% discount coupon on registration. Use SANDRA20 when you register. Learn more at the boot camp headquarters.

American  Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) “Fire Up Your Writing Career” conference — I attend this event every year, taking advantage of the member discount and the excellent members-only programming the day before the conference opens to the public. This year’s conference April 25-27, 2013 focuses on helping writers learn new ways to make money as writers. I’m speaking on the April 26 panel, “So You Want to . . . Create and Market Profitable Information Products” and moderating the April 27 session, “Leverage Your Writing into Freelance Spokesperson Gigs.” Learn more and register online at the conference site.

Nonfiction Writers Conference — Don’t miss Guy Kawasaki’s APE (author, publisher, entrepreneur) presentation at Stephanie Chandler’s jam-packed online conference May 8-10, 2013. Learn about blogging, SEO, video marketing, self-publishing and other topics from Stephanie and other industry greats, including Mark Coker, Dan Poynter, Joanna Penn, and Dana Lynn Smith. My session on “DIY Publicity” is Thursday, May 9. Don’t miss the early bird discount — it expires April 21, 2013. To get the 30% discount off any registration option, use coupon code NFWC30 (enter it in your shopping cart and then click “Update Cart”). You can’t get the discount after April 21, though, so register now (click here to view more details).

BlogPaws — I’ll be speaking in-person at this annual conference for pet bloggers who, believe it or not, attend with their pets. I’m looking forward to making a few furry friends! It’s May16-18, 2013 in Tysons Corner, Va. I’m co-presenting with Amy Shojai; she’ll talk about producing e-books and I’ll address how to promote them. Join us on Friday, May 17. Check out the lineup online.

I hope you’ll join me at one of these events. Make sure you say “hi” if you do!