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Summer Pass Information: Access to all 10 events, live and recordings, at 50% discount. Learn more.
If you just want access to this workshop recording and not others, contact administrator@theccsn.com.
Title: Crafting Compelling Book Proposals and Building Meaningful Platforms: What Aspiring Authors Need to Know About Publishing for General Audiences
Presenter/Facilitator: Al Hsu, PhD, associate editorial director, InterVarsity Press
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 13 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EST
Description: You have an idea for a book. But what do you need to present your book proposal to a potential publisher? These days, it’s not just about the content of the book. It’s also about the overall package of who you are and what you bring to the publishing partnership. IVP associate editorial director Al Hsu provides a behind-the-scenes look into how acquisitions editors and publishing boards review and evaluate book proposals and what you can do to improve your proposal’s chances of acceptance for publication.
A key component of the proposal review process is the question of author platform. Every author has a platform of some sort. But how much platform is enough to make a book work? We will look beyond the usual metrics of social media fans and followers and explore a theology of platform as an expression of vocation and calling. There are three key dimensions of platform, and those attending this workshop will gain ideas for strengthening one’s platform for improved potential of proposal acceptance and successful book launch.
Participants are encouraged to bring actual potential book ideas/proposals to a “pitch session” included at the end of the workshop. Whether presenting your own or listening to others, participants will benefit from Dr. Hsu’s feedback and questions designed to refine the pitch.
Al Hsu (pronounced “shee”) is associate editorial director at InterVarsity Press, where he acquires and develops books in such areas as church, culture, mission, apologetics, and social issues. In over twenty-five years at IVP, he has worked with over 275 authors and published more than 400 titles, including award-winning books by Michael Card, Mark Charles, Andy Crouch, Makoto Fujimura, Dominique Gilliard, Os Guinness, Tara Beth Leach, Soong-Chan Rah, Sarah Shin, Rachel Marie Stone, Nikki Toyama-Szeto, Richard Twiss, and Sandra Van Opstal. He has published books in partnership with such organizations as the Billy Graham Center, the Christian Community Development Association, International Justice Mission, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Missio Alliance, Operation World, the Urbana Student Missions Conference, The Veritas Forum, and World Relief.
Al holds a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a master’s from Wheaton College Graduate School, and has served as a columnist for Christianity Today magazine. He is the author of three books: Grieving a Suicide, The Suburban Christian, and Singles at the Crossroads. He wrote and compiled material for the expanded edition of IVP’s history Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. on occasion of IVP’s 75th anniversary in 2022. He lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two sons.
Registration Fee: $65.00
Return to Workshop and Conference Home Page
Summer Pass Information: Access to all 10 events, live and recordings, at 50% discount. Learn more.
If you just want access to this workshop recording and not others, contact administrator@theccsn.com.
Title: Strategies for Cultivating a Writing and Publishing Agenda while Teaching Full-time
Presenter/Facilitator: Robert Woods, PhD (CCSN Executive Director, Visiting Scholar, Trinity Western University)
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT
Description: Faculty and administrators in Christian higher education who desire to write and publish are faced with unique challenges, including heavy teaching and student advising loads, limited resources, and a campus culture where classroom instruction is valued above research. How can individuals balance quality teaching and administration with a desire to do scholarship that integrates a Christian worldview and transforms lives? How do they “find time” to write when are faced with all the other things that go along with being a faculty member and administrator in Christian higher education?
Robert will share strategies from his own publishing experiences and conversations with more than 75 faculty from 50+ Christian colleges and universities about practical ways to cultivate a productive research and publishing agenda while carrying a full-time teaching load. Topics include motivations for writing, communication habits that help promote writing, and strategies for developing content for books. Outlining, writing schedules, and other strategies for bringing a project from concept to final publication will also be discussed. Participants will have an opportunity to connect with other authors and potential collaborators, and several Christian publishers.
Robert H. Woods Jr. (PhD, JD, Regent University) served as Professor of Communication and Media at Spring Arbor University for 20 years. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Christianity and Communication Studies Network (CCSN) (www.theccsn.com), a non-profit network providing resources and training on faith-learning integration in the field of communication studies. He is the editor-in-chief of the CCSN’s imprint, Integratio Press. Dr. Woods has served as the President of the Religious Communication Association (RCA) and was named Scholar of the Year by RCA. He is the recipient of multiple research and scholarship awards and the editor/author of over a dozen books. Most recently, Dr. Woods is the co-author with Paul Patton on Everyday Sabbath: How to Lead Your Dance with Media and Technology in Mindful and Sacred Ways and Professing Christ: Christian Tradition and Faith-learning Integration in Public Universities. His book co-authored with Kevin Healey (University of New Hampshire), titled Ethics and Religion in the Age of Social Media: Digital Proverbs for Responsible Citizens received the Book of the Year Award from RCA. He currently serves as a visiting scholar at Trinity Western University. Connect with Robert: www.roberthwoodsjr.com.
Registration Fee: $50.00