An encore class for writers and getting their websites and blogs started. Read more about it on The Writing Salon website and below.

Saturday, August 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Berkeley
$85 members/$95 non-members

Here’s a sample of the table of contents from the class:

1. WHY HAVE A WEBSITE?
1.1. MARKETING :: MY NAME IS BRADLEY AND I AM A WRITER.
— You the Company :: Your website is your brochure, your front desk, your business card, your secretary, your sales force �
— Beyond Text :: Audio clips, video shorts, Podcasting, etc.
— Book and product sales
1.2. UPDATING :: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
— Readings, Events, News, What Else?
— A Column :: AKA Blog
1.3. NETWORKING :: OH, REALLY? I WROTE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THAT LAST MONTH.
— Blog and Blog Commenting
— Forum :: She said that he said that you said �
— Send This To A Friend
— Mailing lists / Newsletters
— Signup forms
2. HOW TO GET IT DONE
2.1. DO IT YOURSELF :: GOT TIME?
— Your Toolbox
— A little help
— Blogs
2.2. HIRE A PRO :: GOT DOUGH?
2.3. HIRE A PRO TO HELP YOU DO IT YOURSELF
2.4. CONTENT :: SO I HAVE A SITE. NOW WHAT?
— Active pages
— Static pages
2.5. DESIGN :: STARK, DARK, OR SPARK?
2.6. THE SETUP BASICS :: DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR WEBSITE LIVES?
— Domain Names :: firstnamelastname.com
— Hosting :: Where your site “lives”
— Email :: not [email protected], but [email protected]
— ISP :: Interim Slalom Parchment
— Search Engines :: If you build it, will they come?
2.7. MONEY :: SPEND SOME, SAVE SOME
— Costs
— Savings
3. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
3.1. BUSINESS CARDS
3.2. POST CARDS

You wrote your novel, got a six-figure advance, hired a New York publicist and the royalty checks are now pouring through your mailbox. Right? Great, done. Next! Probably not. �Today writers have to do more and more to promote their own work � even established writers,� says instructor Bradley Charbonneau. �If you want to sell more of your work, you have to become your own little PR company. Editors, publishers, and even (gulp) fans want to see the work you�ve already done, where you�ve been published, where you�ve been reading, and what you�re doing next. How are they going to get that information? Your website.�

In this class, you�ll talk about your options in creating a website: from doing it yourself to hiring a pro. You�ll also discuss costs, domain names, web hosting, mailing lists, search engine optimization, blogs, shopping carts � and any other questions you may have.

When Bradley Charbonneau created his own website as a “writing resume” to help promote his own writing, other writers took notice. Two years down the road, he�s done dozens and dozens of writers� websites. In fact, he currently spends more of his time promoting other writers than promoting his own work � or even writing. But when he does write, he writes about travel, love, and the love of travel. Of course, he doesn�t travel much anymore now that he has a new baby boy; thus was born the Urban Travel Guide San Francisco, published in July 2004.

:: Feedback ::

Hi Jane,

Just wanted to say that I took this class, and glad that I did. Bradley Charbonneau is a terrific teacher, well prepared, and has a clear way of communicating technical concepts and translating jargon into language non-geeks can understand. He’s also very personable, which made for an enjoyable, as well as instructive, day.

C.W.
San Francisco

* * *

Hey Jane,

Just a quick note to say I really enjoyed Bradley Charbonneau’s class on Saturday. He’s really nice and had a lot of great information to impart. I also found it highly motivating to get my website done. I’m sure this has occurred to you before, but I think it would make a great permanent addition to the Salon’s offerings.

Seeya,
M.