TLC Mini Masterclasses: Marketing for Writers

The TLC Masterclass series is delivered by world-class tutors to guide writers to achieve their maximum potential. In this mini-Masterclass series,  writer and communications consultant Anna Caig has designed three two-hour workshops to help writers think about effective strategies for marketing their work, including how to articulate your key motivations and aims, how to create and deliver an effective marketing strategy, and how to pitch yourself and your work. This series of three mini Masterclasses is ideal for writers who are wanting to find out more about how to connect with potential readers, how to create engaged online communities, and how to boost sales of published work.

This mini-series is competitively priced at just £100+VAT for all three sessions. Being A Writer members receive 10% discount. Capacity will be limited to 25 places.

“Marketing used to be about making a myth and telling it. Now it’s about telling a truth and sharing it.” Marc Mathieu

Session One: Building Your Author Brand
Wednesday 5th May 2021 5-7pm (Online)

Your ‘author brand’ is a clearly defined version of yourself you’re comfortable sharing with the public, which acts as the foundation for an authentic marketing strategy. This session will support you to understand how this process can work in harmony with your creativity. ​Many writers see their work and the marketing of their work as two separate things, but getting to the heart of why you create, thinking about what inspires and motivates you as a writer, and telling this story from a different perspective, can be a great way to start an effective marketing strategy.

By the end of this session you will:

Session Two: Creating and Delivering a Marketing Strategy
Wednesday 12th May 2021 5-7pm (Online)

Session Three: Media Training and Interview Skills
Wednesday 19th May 2021 5-7pm (Online)

Good media training is all about understanding the rules of engagement when you work with the media, and this session will support you to feel more confident in an interview setting. We’ll also cover how to pitch yourself and write a compelling news release. It’s not just about the traditional media these days, though. Writers are now faced with a wide range of opportunities to communicate with potential readers. Whether this is the creation of some simple video content for your own website or taking a guest slot on a podcast, this session will help you stay focussed, convey your most important messages and, most importantly, feel as relaxed as possible doing so.

About the Tutor

Anna Caig has worked in communications for 17 years, specialising in media relations, reputation management and strategic marketing campaigns. She began her training business to support writers to build their brand and reach more readers. She now works with traditionally, indie and self-published writers, as well as helping creatives in any discipline find a wider audience and spread the word about their work in a way that is authentic to their values and reflects why they create in the first place. Anna tutors on the MA Journalism course at The University of Sheffield and is the former Head of Communications at Sheffield City Council. She writes historical crime fiction set in amazing landscapes, and reviews books for the Sheffield Telegraph newspaper and on her blog.

About TLC Masterclasses

TLC Masterclasses are for writers with a specific writing project in mind and with a determination to see that project through to a more cohesive, coherent end product. Each Masterclass offers a holistic deep dive into elements of craft and creativity, with practical exercises and inspirational examples drawn from a wide range of sources. All Masterclass attendees are also entitled to a 10% discount on TLC manuscript assessment for work submitted within three months of the Masterclass. There are 25 places available for this series. Two places will be offered on a bursary basis to low-income writers. Please email in confidence to apply for a bursary.

Accessibility

This mini-Masterclass series will will be hosted on Zoom, and will require an internet connection. It will include written text and visuals. The Q&A section at the end of each session will be curated, with the option to write your questions into the Chat function, or to ask them on video or audio. If you would like to attend this event and have any access requirements, please email us at to discuss. Unfortunately we are not able to take calls as the TLC office remains closed to protect our staff. If you do require a call, please ask someone to email us in the first instance, and a staff member will arrange to call you Please ensure you email us at least 30 days clear of the event to allow us enough time to put appropriate measures in place.