Description

Key benefits of this course:

• Book specific, based on understanding of the nuances of publishing
• Realistic, based also on understanding of common publishing scenarios
• Constructive, supportive and practical

*50% off for BookMachine members*

It was a thoroughly enjoyable. Relaxed, unthreatening, and for me great to come away with some tips after all these years of presenting.
Mary-Clare Jerram, Publishing Director, DK

These CAMPUS workshops, led by the Book Pitch Doctor, will create a supportive environment in which publishing professionals will develop their own presenting voice, and increase their skill and confidence at talking persuasively about books, whether over videoconferencing or in person.

The Book Pitch Doctor is the benchmark presentation course, already used online and in person by Hachette, PRH, HarperCollins and many independent publishers and literary agents.

We reserve the right to change the date of this course, based on unknown COVID travel restrictions. If we do change the date, and the new date isn’t convenient, you will be entitled to a full 100% refund, if requested 7 days before the course start date.

Who is this course for?

This course is aimed at book publishing professionals needing to talk persuasively about the books they are working on. This includes:

• Editors
• Rights and Sales
• Marketing teams

It’s aimed at those with decades of experience who need a refresher, as well as newer entrants to the industry. We believe everyone can benefit from improved communication skills.

The agenda

Pre-course work – prepare a one minute pitch and fill in the Book Pitch Doctor ‘self discovery’ workbook

Session 1:

• Introductory exercise, using BPD workbook – how we see ourselves as presenters; things we can develop
• Practical #1 – role-played presenting to a “big group” like a sales conference, with a pre-prepared pitch. Feedback from the group.
• Discussion of methods, ideas, perspectives to try
• Issue prep work for session practical #2

Session 2: 

• Practical #2 – “presentation to an online meeting”, in teams, including reaction to questions and challenges
• Further discussions of methods, ideas, perspectives

Session 3: 

• Practical #3 – return to original pitch from week 1, incorporating feedback and insights thus far.
• Further discussions of methods, ideas, perspectives
• Practical #4 – informal pitching, one-to-one, with a colleague or external contact (eg journalist or agent), emphasising an interactive, exploratory approach

‘James delivered a really useful, constructive training session, focused to our particular, and specialist, market.  His skill in dealing with a group with widely varying experience was impressive and all delegates gave positive enthusiastic feedback.’

Catherine Stokes, Head of UK Export Sales and Marketing, Nosy Crow

Course extras

• Get access to a dedicated BookMachine CAMPUS group, where you can ask James questions about the course and introduce yourself to fellow course members.
• 6 months access to the BookMachine Community, granting you hours of ‘Wednesday Wisdom’ interviews with publishing industry personalities, discounts on BookMachine events and CAMPUS courses*.

Your trainer – James Spackman

His book career started glamorously, in the post room of Bloomsbury Publishing, before developing through sales and marketing roles there, at John Murray and at Hodder. He was MD of Watkins (then part of Osprey Group) before setting up his own business.

James coaches publishers and agents in presentation skills and copy creation, as The Book Pitch Doctor and he is also founder of The Spare Room Project (sponsored by Penguin Random House) which finds free accommodation for interns in London.

*For new members only