Beth Proudfoot, MFT
TOPIC LIST FOR WRITERS
“First on my To-Do List this morning was to thank you for a stunning talk on Saturday. So – huge thanks. Great talk. Lots of buzz about it afterwards. Thanks also for all that goldmine of info you gave on conference organization …. just wanted you to know that you have a huge “fan club” round the Peninsula.”
-- Jane Booth, Peninsula Writers
Thanks you so much for your great presentation today - you really had the audience going on so many levels. I think you stimulated and
challenged every writer in the room with your thoughtful stories and useful connections. You successfully condensed so many valuable
lessons into digestible nuggets. The handouts were packed with wonderful resources and your comfort as a speaker enhanced your overall delivery.
-- Amy S. Peele, CA Writers Club
I am writing to compliment you on such an enthusiastic and inspirational presentation. Your knowledge of writing and literary conferences is very impressive, and your delivery was great.
-- Forrest Morphew, CA Writers Club
Dear Beth:
Thank you so much for attending our meeting last night. I think you realized how impressed everyone was, you invigorated excitement and interest! I'm looking forward to your next presentation.
-- Patricia Johnson, President, Powerful Pens
For 6 years, I was Director of the East of Eden Writers Conference, a mid-sized writers conference sponsored by the California Writers Club. Out of that experience, I developed these talks for writers:
“How to Get the Most Out of a Writers Conference: The Do’s and Don’ts of Winning the Contest, Schmoozing with the Right People, and Wowing an Agent”
If you’ve ever thought about investing in a trip to a writers conference,
this workshop could mean the difference between getting your book published and pouring your money down the drain. Beth Proudfoot, award-winning author and former Director of the East of Eden Writers Conference, will give you the inside scoop on which writers conferences to go to, what to bring, and how to use your time and money wisely once you’re there. Beth is a professional speaker noted for her engaging, humorous style, and her experience on both sides of the podium will be helpful to anyone wondering if a writers conference is right for them.
"How to Win A Writing Contest: a Judge and Winner Reveals All”
Learn the inside scoop on how to win a writing contest from Beth Proudfoot, award-winning author and former Director of the East of Eden Writers Conference. Using her experience as both a contest judge and a contest winner (not at the same time!), Beth will share valuable tips on the most common mistakes writers make and how to avoid them to get into that winner’s circle.
Most of my good friends are writers, and some of them are pretty famous, so if you’re looking for a topic you don’t see here, I highly recommend:
PLOT
Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots
www.blockbusterplots.com
Martha is one of the best writing teachers I’ve ever come across. Her style is low-key, and she leaves spaces while she talks for all of us whose minds are racing about how her beautiful system for structuring plot relates to our own stories. I highly recommend taking one of her classes in person. Second best would be to get one of her DVD’s.
CRITIQUE GROUPS
Becky Levine, author of The Writing and Critique Group Survival Guide
www.beckylevine.com
Becky is a freelance editor and veteran of many a critique group, and she’s thought long and hard and done a lot of research about what works, and what doesn’t work, when it comes to a writing group. I highly recommend buying a copy for every member of your group, or passing one copy around so that everyone is “on the same page.” Becky is an excellent speaker who loves to have the audience participate in trying their hand at critiquing and asking those probing questions about what to do in troubling group situations.
MEMOIR
Linda Joy Myers, author of The Power of Memoir: How to Write Your Healing Story
www.memoriesandmemoirs.com
Linda Joy is a writer and psychotherapist. Her books are beautifully written and, I think, quite powerful, and she’s an excellent speaker. You may also want to check out her National Memoir Writers Association for ongoing education for memoir writers
Mathilda Butler, author of Rosies Daughters
www.womensmemoirs.com
Mathilda’s slant on memoir writing is more toward making an historical record, but she’s a really great teacher for memoir writing, no matter what the purpose of your memoir. She has a wonderful 5-DVD set of a full course on the subject. A former professor of Womens Studies, she’s an engaging and brilliant teacher.
CREATIVITY
Terri Thayer, author of Wild Goose Chase and 5 more craft mystery novels
www.territhayer.com
Terri was a quilter first, and when she started to write, she knew she had to set her books in the world of quilting she knew so well. She has a stunning talk on the creative process where she shows her quilts in progression as she grew as an artist and talks about her progress as a writer as well. This talk is great for a group of beginning writers…don’t forget to leave lots of time for questions about how she got her 6-book contract!
“How to Get the Most Out of a Writers Conference: The Do’s and Don’ts of Winning the Contest, Schmoozing with the Right People, and Wowing an Agent”
If you’ve ever thought about investing in a trip to a writers conference,
this workshop could mean the difference between getting your book published and pouring your money down the drain. Beth Proudfoot, award-winning author and former Director of the East of Eden Writers Conference, will give you the inside scoop on which writers conferences to go to, what to bring, and how to use your time and money wisely once you’re there. Beth is a professional speaker noted for her engaging, humorous style, and her experience on both sides of the podium will be helpful to anyone wondering if a writers conference is right for them.
"How to Win A Writing Contest: a Judge and Winner Reveals All”
Learn the inside scoop on how to win a writing contest from Beth Proudfoot, award-winning author and former Director of the East of Eden Writers Conference. Using her experience as both a contest judge and a contest winner (not at the same time!), Beth will share valuable tips on the most common mistakes writers make and how to avoid them to get into that winner’s circle.
Most of my good friends are writers, and some of them are pretty famous, so if you’re looking for a topic you don’t see here, I highly recommend:
PLOT
Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots
www.blockbusterplots.com
Martha is one of the best writing teachers I’ve ever come across. Her style is low-key, and she leaves spaces while she talks for all of us whose minds are racing about how her beautiful system for structuring plot relates to our own stories. I highly recommend taking one of her classes in person. Second best would be to get one of her DVD’s.
CRITIQUE GROUPS
Becky Levine, author of The Writing and Critique Group Survival Guide
www.beckylevine.com
Becky is a freelance editor and veteran of many a critique group, and she’s thought long and hard and done a lot of research about what works, and what doesn’t work, when it comes to a writing group. I highly recommend buying a copy for every member of your group, or passing one copy around so that everyone is “on the same page.” Becky is an excellent speaker who loves to have the audience participate in trying their hand at critiquing and asking those probing questions about what to do in troubling group situations.
MEMOIR
Linda Joy Myers, author of The Power of Memoir: How to Write Your Healing Story
www.memoriesandmemoirs.com
Linda Joy is a writer and psychotherapist. Her books are beautifully written and, I think, quite powerful, and she’s an excellent speaker. You may also want to check out her National Memoir Writers Association for ongoing education for memoir writers
Mathilda Butler, author of Rosies Daughters
www.womensmemoirs.com
Mathilda’s slant on memoir writing is more toward making an historical record, but she’s a really great teacher for memoir writing, no matter what the purpose of your memoir. She has a wonderful 5-DVD set of a full course on the subject. A former professor of Womens Studies, she’s an engaging and brilliant teacher.
CREATIVITY
Terri Thayer, author of Wild Goose Chase and 5 more craft mystery novels
www.territhayer.com
Terri was a quilter first, and when she started to write, she knew she had to set her books in the world of quilting she knew so well. She has a stunning talk on the creative process where she shows her quilts in progression as she grew as an artist and talks about her progress as a writer as well. This talk is great for a group of beginning writers…don’t forget to leave lots of time for questions about how she got her 6-book contract!
