WVSU writing workshop Nov. 10 to focus on independent publishing

11/4/2015

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Contact: Kimberly Osborne
(304) 766-3363
kosborne@wvstateu.edu    
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University’s (WVSU) Creators Program workshop series continues with “Independent Publishing” at the WVSU Economic Development Center (EDC) Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. Author Eric Douglas will discuss the pitfalls and benefits of self-publishing, along with what to do when your book is “out there,” in the free session.

Topics will include why you should self-publish, the limitations involved, and formats and platforms for distribution. Elements such as formatting the text, covers and cover art, how to promote your book and how to build a following will also be discussed.

“Recent advances in technology have moved publishing from the hands of the few directly into the hands of writers everywhere,” said Douglas. “But publishing isn't as simple as pushing a couple buttons and waiting for the checks to roll in. It takes a lot of work to build a following and establish a platform where readers can find you. That's what this seminar is all about.”

The publishing world has changed dramatically over the last few years. Self-publishing is now a viable and attractive option for writers who want to get their work in front of a larger audience, Douglas said.

Douglas earned a degree in journalism from Marshall University. He has published four novels, two children’s books and a series of short stories. He is also a columnist for “Scuba Diving Magazine.”

The Creators Program launched in 2012 as a series of community workshops focusing on skills and knowledge essential to creating for mass media and art. WVSU partners with the Arts Council of Kanawha Valley and the West Virginia Film Office on the series. WVSU’s Communications and Media Studies Program and English Department are cohosting the publishing workshop.

Space is limited, and registration is required by visiting http://www.wvsuedc.org.

The WVSU EDC is located at 1506 Kanawha Blvd. W. in Charleston.

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West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi‐generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.