The Career Booster ProgramGet
your writing career on track
|
| Here
are a couple of comments: "This is the most wonderful network to be part of. Thank you all so much for your encouragement, help and motivating email." (Peter). |
This comes through again and again… a huge part of the value of the program is the support and help that comes through our growing network of talented writers.
A quick summary
Each CB program consists of approximately 90 days of unlimited feedback for Career Booster Program participants, as well as lifetime membership of the CB Network online and access to our private Career Booster website where members post information about their skills and interests, details of new publishing opportunities, feedback from conferences and workshops they have attended, and a whole lot more!
During the program, YOU decide the kind of feedback you want - anything from help with plotting to scene construction to character development. And of course, writing a synopsis and marketing your work!)
The ONLY program for 2007 will run from March 1st to May 31st. During the rest of 2007 Marg and Rob will be spending time developing more Writing for Success Products.
IN DETAIL...
What IS the
CAREER BOOSTER PROGRAM?
It's a successful mentoring/writing program for writers who are no longer beginners, and who are eager to fine-tune and SELL their work! You sign up for an intensive program of development, feedback and networking that really gets your career moving!
Be part of the Career Booster Program and get these terrific benefits:
- Expert
feedback on your work - continuously, intensively, over 90 days!
- Help
where it's needed - fiction or non-fiction - YOU CHOOSE: plotting,
characterisation, scene structure, pacing, copyright, query letters
and synopses, partials and outlines, marketing strategies for
your work and more! Don't waste time on the things you're good
at - concentrate on the areas where you need help.
- A
program that concentrates exclusively on YOUR writing. No set
assignments (this is not a correspondence course). No limited
number of tasks. During your three-month membership, you get information
and feedback on what you want, when you want. (See Program Guidelines
for an outline of services covered by this guarantee). Turnaround
time is speedy via email!
- Membership of the Writing For Success Gold Network. Liaise with other writers who are at the same advanced level of writing. Swap news of new lines and brilliant opportunities. Work together to support each other… laugh together... solve problems… and most of all find out how to sell!
What if you've finished a whole book and need an opinion?
Congratulations! To start with, just email the first 2 chapters (single spaced) and a 4-page outline of the plot and you'll get feedback very quickly about the general story direction and your writing style. After you've received your initial feedback, you can send in further sections of your manuscript. We just want to make sure that we catch any recurring errors early - you can fix those before you send in the rest of your book.
After several years of working with CB Program participants, we've found that targeting one chapter or scene at a time allows a close examination of the writer's work and more focused feedback.
Make This Your Breakthrough Year!
Countless writers every year go to writers' workshops, enrol in courses, go to seminars, join writers' groups and more... They're constantly improving their skills. They're really making an effort. BUT - they can't manage to get their work published. So near and yet so far!!!! What else can they do?
- They
need to lift their writing to that BREAKTHROUGH LEVEL. They need
expert feedback on their work, on a concentrated, ongoing basis.
- They need the right contacts. You've heard it again and again: it's not what you know, it's who you know.
Enter the CAREER BOOSTER PROGRAM!
We know that when you subscribe to the Career Booster Program, you're not there to mess around. You're not a beginner - this program is only for those who have already completed a basic writing course or who can show that they have moved on from the early stages of mastering skills. We're not here to help you with the basic use of English language, your grammar or your spelling - if you're not adept in the use of these basic writer's tools, you're not ready for this program. It's that simple.
Is there anything we don't accept?
- No stage plays
- No screen plays
- No poetry (with the exception of rhyming picture books for young children)
- No academic essays, theses, business documents, reports, family histories etc - we concentrate on commercial fiction and non-fiction.
How long do we take to respond?
- For short email queries, scenes and short stories: one to four days. Sometimes an email query will be answered within the hour.
- For longer submissions - a partial and a synopsis - up to a week.
- For complete novels at final draft stage - up to two weeks.
What if I want to sell my own eBooks on the Internet?
This is the program for you! We've spent months and months researching the opportunities on the Internet for writers. INFO-eBooks are BIG NEWS. Do you have a special area of expertise? (This can be anything from financial advice to breeding greyhounds to selling e-courses in painting!) We can show you how to write, compile and sell your eBooks - and build a website that gets traffic!
Extra
Benefits for
Career Booster Program Members:
- Membership
of the Writing For Success Gold Network.
As a member, you will hear about special offers, top websites, guidelines and new lines from publishers, and get discounts on seminars and new products.
You will be eligible for membership of the Career Booster E-Network, via which members can swap information about new opportunities, about editors at various publishing houses, etc etc.… The power of networking is sure to be really intense in a dedicated group like this.
- Ongoing
Access to The Career Booster Website.
Originally, the program issued a quarterly business ezine and a monthly skills booster ezine. When spam started becoming a big problem online, and we had other information we needed to put in a central place, we decided to build a website especially for the Career Booster Program instead. That has proved to be a great hit - and we have a lot more information circulating! It's there whenever you want to access it.
WILL THE CAREER BOOSTER PROGRAM REALLY HELP ME TO BREAK INTO PUBLISHING?
As in everything, a lot depends on how seriously you take the program and how much effort you put in. This program is designed to give you that all-important leg-up, through continual professional feedback on your writing, networking and news of opportunities. It is designed to give you an advantage over those who are struggling to make it in the traditional manner. Of course we can't guarantee publication - but we'll give you invaluable help in getting there!
But - Don't Just Take Our Word For It. Listen to Writers Who Have Worked With Marg McAlister…
JOSEPHINE PENNICOTT, NEW AUTHOR - 3-book contract with Simon & Schuster! It was a revelation to come across a mentor like Marg. She was highly experienced in her field, but didn't view aspiring writers as potential rivals. She offered expert constructive criticism without being destructive. Marg also had an eagle eye when it came to editing. My partner is a journalist and has worked for several magazines as a subeditor… I would often ask him to check my work for me. When my work was returned, sure enough, Marg would have picked up mistakes or weaknesses that we both had missed. I felt assured I was in very competent, caring hands. But even better was to come… Marg contacted a major publishing company about my writing and they were interested enough in her recommendation to meet me - and they eventually offered me a three-book contract! I believe that Marg is not only a talented writer, but one of those rare artistic human beings who is passionate enough about her craft to ignite the flame of passion in others. If you are fortunate enough to have access to her capabilities, I can only recommend that you take advantage of her years of experience of teaching and writing. Without Marg I would never have achieved my dream of being a published writer." (Josephine Pennicott, October 2001. Josephine's first book, Circle of Nine, will be released on November 15 2001.) |
JILL MCDOUGALL (Career Booster Network Member and published author) I've just heard that two of my chapter books have been accepted by Otford Press for a 2002/2003 release. One of them was submitted to Marg as part of the CB Program (big thanks, Marg!) and the other one (The Creeping Cave Monster) was workshopped via this group. In fact it was only finished because of the overwhelming enthusiasm I received from fellow CBers. Many thanks to all of you!!! You rule! |
TARA MOSS, Author of the serial killer mysteries FETISH and SPLIT (HarperCollins): "Marg's tips pointed me in the right direction with my writing. She was one of the first people to provide encouragement and guidance for my writing career. Her support and feedback was invaluable, and I will never forget what a great help she was. I recommend her services to anyone who wants to get serious about their writing." (Tara Moss, October 2001. Tara signed a 2-book contract with HarperCollins, and her second book, Split, was released in 2002). |
SUE WHITING, Editor with Otford Press and author of books for children The road to becoming a successful writer is often a difficult one to negotiate. Not only do you need to be skilful in the craft of writing, you also need up-to-date information about rapidly changing markets, editors, agents, etc. You need to learn how to develop your writing network and how to appear professional at all times. Marg McAlister has played an integral role in helping me negotiate this road and develop my writing career. I am now the Children's Editor with Otford Press. Of course, Marg was my first port of call for advice when considering this offer. Since taking on the position, I have had the task of reading many manuscripts from new and established authors and I have been most impressed with the degree of professionalism that is apparent in all the submissions I have received from Marg's ex-students. Marg's Career Booster Program is bound for success. As a writer I crave for professional feedback and an 'edge' in a competitive marketplace. The thought of being able to 'adopt' Marg as a mentor for ninety days, feed off her knowledge of writing and benefit from her network of publishing contacts is almost intoxicating. |
W. ST. GERMAIN (Career Booster Network Member and published author) Having invested thousands of dollars, and hours, on "How to Write" books, courses, seminars, workshops, tutors (and on goes the list!) I consider myself qualified to say that I can recognise value for money when I see it. I am not aware of any other program where you have 90 days of unlimited access to such a marvellous mentor, or to any mentor for that fact. Indeed, for the price of this program, you'll be lucky to get about 10 hours (or less) with any other mentor. I can't praise Career Booster enough. Marg's assessments are encouraging, informative and equally important, honest. She showed me where my strengths and weaknesses lie, pointed out all manner of flaws from plot structure to grammar. After acting on her suggestions I am greatly impressed with the end products. Marg also freely releases information about publishing opportunities to her students, helping to make us aware of what's going on in the publishing world. I will certainly be signing up for another CB Program in the future. If you've gone so far as to finish a writing project then go the extra mile and contact Marg about how to make that manuscript the best it can possibly be. |
MARGARET WARNER: Children's Author "Working with Marg gave my writing career the boost it needed to make the transition from writer to published author. She helped me to focus and refine my ideas in regard to all aspects of my writing, and provided specific, quality feedback and positive suggestions for improvement. As a result, when it was time to send my manuscript to a publisher my work was at a marketable standard where it had the best chance of success. When the publisher expressed interest Marg even helped me decipher some of the publishing jargon so that I could respond confidently to their requests. Thanks to Marg's professional advice, quality feedback and assistance in dealing with a publisher my first manuscript was accepted and published - and my second is in production!" |
ANN HARTH (Career Booster Course Graduate and Network Member) As a recent graduate of the Career Booster Program, I can honestly say that it has been the best networking experience that I have ever encountered. As a lifetime member, I feel like I have become part of a huge pool of information and support. Each person contributes his/her individual strengths and we all gain from it. An example of the CB program at its best is my own experience. I wrote a manuscript for a picture book. Marg critiqued this and sent it back to me quickly. Within days the network had supplied me with the address of a publisher who was looking for picture book manuscripts. Of course, I jumped at the chance. The happy ending is that I have now had my first picture book accepted. It doesn't get much better than that! The constant support that we all receive through the CB Program, not only from Marg, but also from the other members is invaluable. If something is accepted, everyone celebrates with you. On the other hand, if something is rejected, everyone eats a lot of chocolate. The Career Booster program has done exactly what I'd hoped. It has given me a huge push in the right direction, but will continue to be an ongoing part of my life as a writer. The fact that we are all life time members of the Career Booster Network will enable each one of us to be more informed, more supported and more widely published. |
THREE MONTHS OF COMMITMENT...
That's what we're asking from you, to show that you're serious about your career. There are a few 'rules'. Like a Health Club, you can't transfer membership to different months. You can't have your three months extended because of holidays or illness - because when the next three month program starts, I need to give my full attention and encouragement to the new recruits. But don't forget - even after your three-month membership is of the program is up, you retain membership of the Writing For Success Gold Network, including the e-network, AND you continue access all information posted to our private website! And of course - you may renew your membership in 3-month blocks as often as you like, as long as there are places available.)
OKAY
- YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.
TRY THIS QUICK QUIZ:
- Am
I prepared to invest in my writing career - invest time; invest
money; invest PASSION?
- Is
my writing close to or at publishable standard?
- Am
I now ready for that all-important leap forward?
- Do
I REALLY WANT to accelerate my writing career?
- Am
I prepared to network with others, on the principle that group
energy and shared knowledge gives everyone an extra boost?
- Am I prepared to COMMIT FOR 90 DAYS?
If you have said 'yes' to the above questions, this program is for you!
Your Financial Investment:
All this will cost you no more than most writing courses - much less than some. For $1250 you get 3 months of feedback - up to 3 submissions EACH WEEK!
Writing For Success makes it even easier for you, by making the Career Booster Program available in three monthly payments on your credit card. Even better - if you decide to pay it all up front as a direct deposit in our bank account, we'll deduct $50 from the standard fee.
YOUR NEXT STEP..
Contact Marg or Rob by email at careerbooster@writing4success.com and request details of course fees and the Career Booster Program Payment Authorisation and sign-on sheet. Feel free to ask any questions you like about the program. If you request a place in the February intake and the Program is fully subscribed, you will be offered a place in the 2008 Program.
Program Date: Starts March 1st 2007; finishes May 31st 2007.