Seminars and Talks

Seminars

Below you’ll find a number of seminars and talks offered by Lisa Dale. Lisa is also available for informal discussions, workshops, signings, and panels. Learn more about Lisa’s background in the publishing industry. To schedule Lisa to speak at your event, email lisa (at) lisadalebooks.com.

Creative Deleting
What exactly does it mean when a reader says writing is not “tight?” What are we to make of vague comments that writing doesn’t “sparkle” or “grab?” Often, these complaints are inspired by a weak word count-to-meaning ratio. Using the backspace button isn’t failure—it’s a creative act that empowers your word choices and energizes your prose. Learn a simple “equation” that evaluates the power and effectiveness of your sentences. Then, learn techniques of creative deleting that show how less is more.

The Reading Brain: How Details (Show and Tell) Change How We Read
You’ve heard the “show don’t tell” rule a hundred times, and you know that you should do it. But “telling” is our fundamental way of communicating in our everyday lives, so as a writer, it’s extremely difficult to shake off our inherent, natural instincts to “tell” a story. By demonstrating how the human brain processes ideas through reading and other real life situations, Lisa shows how “show, don’t tell” works on an emotional and neurological level. When you learn what happens in the brain when a person is reading or speaking, and the murky and difficult “show, don’t tell” rule becomes a bit clearer. You’ll also learn when to ignore the “show don’t tell” rule to great effect!

Positive Thinking For Creative Writers: Attracting Money and Success to the Writing Life
Ever wondered why some people seem to have all the luck? Or why some writers toil for years and years at the craft with no success while others shoot right to the top? Many people seem to believe there’s something to “that whole positive thinking thing” but few understand what it really means and how powerful it can be when practiced correctly. Creative writers have an especially tricky relationship with positive thinking because of the “low odds” of success, the complications of the creative process, and our relationships with other writers. This seminar teaches the fundamentals of how creative writers can harness positive thinking techniques to advance their writing careers and much, much more!

Writing and Publishing Romance and Women’s Fiction
Hear Lisa’s candid stories about the business of writing (and publishing) books for women. Learn about how the publishing industry caters to female readers, the power of the romance/women’s fiction audience, and why pundits are looking to romance for the future of the book biz. Lisa speaks frankly about her experiences, both good and bad, within the industry.

Why, When, and How To Start Your Own Blog
Whether you’re an avid reader or a passionate writer, there’s a place in the blogosphere for you. Lisa dishes the dirt on how to create a book review blog, an author blog, a fan blog, or a collaborative blog. Learn how to find your niche, how to use RSS and email subscription lists, what time of day to post a blog, how/when to monetize your blog, and how grow a readership. With easy-to-understand discussions of blogging platforms, social marketing techniques, and blogging etiquette, you’ll learn the best way to set up a book blog from Lisa’s frank assessment of various blogging techniques.

Breaking into the Literary Magazine Market
Everything you need to know about how to submit poetry, short stories, essays, and other creative works to editors at literary magazines. A former assistant editor of a major literary magazine, Lisa’s writing appears in literary journals everywhere. Learn: How much money you can expect to make; When is the best time of year to submit; What are the best lengths for poems and stories; What kind over cover letters do editors like best; What style of writing is least/most likely to be published; and much more!

How to Land Your Dream Agent
As a professional writer with some experience working at a literary agent, Lisa goes over the finer points of how to snag an agent for your novel. You’ll learn: How (not) to write a query letter; How to nail your book blurb; How to meet agents; How to write an effective bio of your experience; How to write a synopsis; How to handle requests for exclusivity; How many queries to send before you give up; and much more!