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Non-Fiction Writing for Physicians: Getting Your Non-Fiction Work on the Fast Track to Publication
Preconference: Friday, October 21, 2005
Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort
Falmouth, Cape Cod, MA


Executive Summary

Non-Fiction Writing For Physicians provides hands-on and practical training on how to write medical non-fiction and get published. Much of this course is focused on how to publish a non-fiction book that will be targeted toward the public. In this course, the faculty also addresses how to write or edit professional books and textbooks as well as how to publish magazine articles. Attendees will have the opportunity to get all of their questions answered. There will be a number of opportunities to meet with and network with the faculty – a critical part of what successful writers need to do. Attendees will also have an opportunity to get their writing, query letters, and proposals reviewed and evaluated by the faculty (samples of which should be brought to the course).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Pick a medical subject and turn it into a book you get paid to write
• Meet face to face with literary agents and editors
• Write a successful non-fiction book proposal
• Understand how to find the right literary agent
• Describe the way medical book publishers operate
• Increase your motivation to write, find the time to write, and become a better writer
• Understand the option of editing a book or collaborating with a medical writer
• Publish articles in medical trade journals and magazines
• Negotiate a favorable writing contract
• Recognize the skills you need to develop beyond your MD degree

SCHEDULE (Friday, Oct. 21, 2005)

8:00-8:30 Introduction (Julie Silver, Course Director)

8:30-9:00 Publishing Basics
What You Need to Know to Get Your Non-Fiction Published (Julie Silver)

9:00-9:30 How to Approach an Editor or Literary Agent with your Non-Fiction Book (Julie Silver)

9:30-10:00 How to Publish Magazine and Trade Journal Articles

10:00-10:15 Break & Networking Opportunity

10:15-11:15 What You Need to Know About Literary Agents (Regina Brooks, Literary Agent)

11:15-12:00 Non-Fiction Book Proposals that Sell (Jean Thomson Black, Editor)

12:00-1:00 Lunch (Provided with Faculty)

1:00-1:30 Contracts and the Business of Writing (Julie Silver)

1:30-2:00 Building Your Platform
Sales, Marketing and Promotion (Julie Silver)

2:00-3:00 Panel Discussion with an Agent, Editor, Ghostwriter and SEAK Published Author (Regina Brooks, Jean Thomson Black, Sharon Cloud Hogan and Ken Cohn)

3:00-3:15 Break and Networking Opportunity

3:15-4:30 Networking
meet with faculty about your non- fiction book idea

 

Faculty

Jean Thompson Black is a Senior Acquisitions Editor for Science and Medicine at Yale University Press. Jean manages trade, scholarly, professional, reference, and course books in the life, physical, environmental, and cognitive sciences, as well as consumer health, history of science and medicine, the medical humanities, and bioethics.

Regina Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency LLC., a boutique agency representing a diverse base of award-winning clients in the areas of adult fiction and non-fiction, young adult, and children’s literature. Before forming her own company, Brooks was the youngest and first African-American editor to work in the college division at John Wiley & Sons Inc,. a leading non-fiction publisher.

Kenneth H. Cohn, M.D., MBA, FACS is a board-certified general surgeon who obtained his M.D. degree from Columbia. Dr. Cohn attended the 2003 SEAK Non-Fiction writing course and following this received a call from an editor who wanted to publish his book Better Communication for Better Care: Mastering Physician-Administration Collaboration (Health Administration Press, March 2005). Dr. Cohn is joining the SEAK faculty to help and inspire other doctors as they strive to publish their work.

Sharon Cloud Hogan is a writer and editor who specializes in working with physicians to create focused and marketable book proposals. She also collaborates with physician-authors to develop and write clear, accessible manuscripts. She has worked as a freelance developmental and substantive editor for nursing texts at W.B. Saunders Co. and as managing editor of two medical journals.

Julie Silver, MD is the Non-Fiction Writing for Physicians course director, an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and an award-winning and prolific writer. Two of her most recent books are Chronic Pain and the Family (Harvard University Press, 2004) and Easy EMG (Elsevier, 2004). Dr. Silver has also written for a number of national magazines including the women’s magazine All You and Writer’s Digest. She is currently working on several books including a children’s book on the history of polio that will be published by Candlewick Press.

Reviews from last year's attendees:

"All presenters top-notch."

"Superb."

"Provided practical advice I can use."

"Excellent."

"Very useful insights into the process of publishing and writing."

"Excellent, I learned a great deal and came away very
motivated."

"Outstanding."

"It inspired me, I will start writing."

"Excellent, exceeded expectations."

"Lots of good advice, inspiring. I am now ready to take the plunge."