From Practice to Print:
A Workshop for High Impact Book Writing and Publishing in the MH Professions
We all have an idea we want to share. Have you harbored a dream to get your work out to a larger audience? Have you wondered what to do with that dissertation or thesis that has been collecting dust – the one you used to say you’d do “something” with? Have you wanted to write up your methods for treatment, assessment or some other aspect of your professional work to a larger audience, whether it’s a professional book, self-help book, workbook, therapeutic children’s book, game or something else? Join multi-time authors and psychologists Mitch Abblett and Chris Willard for a half-day workshop in which we demystify the writing and publishing process, and help you get your work out there. Mitch and Chris have covered a lot of ground in writing and publishing – agents and independently, major and minor publishers, and even self-publication. They have published trade self-help books, professional books, workbooks, children’s books, edited volumes and even games and cards and are looking forward to helping you hone your ideas, whatever they might be, in order to help you get your ideas in shape for submission. We will also spend time considering ways to adapt your existing content, be it a blog, workshop, or course into a book format. Attend this workshop and leave not only with sharpened ideas for a project proposal, but also with specific and tested tools and practices for developing a writing career and managing yourself during the roller coaster of the publishing process.
Learning objectives:
- 1. Specify the roles and characteristics of the major players at all stages of the publishing process
- 2. Pitch a succinct, high impact marketing pitch for their project
- 3. Begin a draft nonfiction proposal for their book concept
- 4. Utilize mindfulness-based practices for managing the difficulties of the writing/publishing process
- 5. Specify the values guiding their writing aspirations
Program Code: BWP4
4 CE Credits
Fee: $80
Mitch Abblett, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and is the Clinical Director of the Manville School, a Harvard-affiliated therapeutic day school program in Boston, serving children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties. He maintains a private practice, and has written regarding mindfulness, professional development and family mental health, including The Heat of the Moment in Treatment: Mindful Management of Difficult Clients (W.W. Norton) for clinicians, and the upcoming workbook, Mindfulness for Teen Depression (New Harbinger). He has also co-authored the child/family-friendly practice aid Growing Mindful: A Deck of Practices for All Ages. He blogs regarding mindfulness and family life/parenting on Mindful.org. He conducts national and international trainings regarding mindfulness and its applications.
Christopher Willard, PsyD, is a psychologist, psychotherapist and educational consultant in the Boston area specializing in mindfulness and positive psychology. He leads workshops for teachers, therapists and parents nationally and internationally, and teaches at Harvard Medical School and Lesley University. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy, and the Mindfulness in Education Network. Chris’s thoughts on psychology have appeared in the New York Times, cnn.com, and elsewhere. He has published, alone and with Mitch and others, five books and one game.
Workshop Outline
Introduction: The WHY of writing a book in psychology
Activity: “Diving Deep into Our Writing Aspirations”
The “W’s” of The Nonfiction Proposal: Who, What, Where, When and Why
The “Hook” for Your Project
Activity: “The Business Card Pitch Statement”
Talking “Value”: Pitching Your Book
Conducting a Market Analysis
Activity: “A Trip to the Amazon”
Who Are You?: Writing Your Biographical Statement
Activity: “The ONE and ONLY”
Marketing Plan: Writing from “Platform”
Picking and Choosing (Wisely): Your Sample Chapters
Activity: “Playing Chapter Roulette”
Crafting Your Table of Contents: The Backbone of Your Book
How to Write Your Book
Activity: “Identifying Your Synergy Sweet Spot”
How to NOT Write Your Book (i.e. Letting the Book Write Itself)
Activity: “Your Un-Writing Plan”
Riding the Coaster: Mindfulness for the Ebbs and Flows of the Process
Activity: “Taking a NAP With Your Writing”
Summary and Wrap Up: Let’s Do Lunch (and Stay in Touch!)