Kay’s Workshops

For Writers     |     For Schools, Libraries & Writers

The Busy Author’s Guide to Working Smart

Do you feel like you’re making the most of your work day? Do you meet the deadlines you set for yourself or does life get in the way? Do you handle responsibilities quickly and painlessly or do you scramble to get everything done at the eleventh-and-a-half hour? This is a crazy business and being successful in the long run means working smart instead of just working hard.

Author and M.B.A. Kay Cassidy will help you streamline your writing business to make the most of your valuable time. You’ll learn tips, tricks and strategies from organization experts, time management gurus and successful authors. Every tip is customized for the unique demands of a professional writing career. These best practices can help your writing career in areas like:

  • Organizing your projects and tasks so nothing falls through the cracks
  • Boosting your productivity with writing and business tips from the pros
  • Organizing your work space to find what you need (when you need it) and free up your creative flow
  • Making use of downtime to painlessly get more done in a day
  • Minimizing information overload so you remember the stuff that really matters

    • You’ll receive worksheets and checklists to guide you as you create your own personalized working smart plan during the workshop. Take advantage of this opportunity to get your writing life whipped into shape. Your career will thank you!

    Length:   2-4 hours (depending on in-class work desired)
    Speaking fee:   $750 + travel expenses from the Midwest

    From Idea to Bookshelf: An Insider’s Guide to How a Book Gets Published

    Go behind the scenes of the publishing industry to see how an author takes that first glimmer of an idea and guides it through the process to become a finished book on the shelf. This workshop includes:

  • The inner workings of an author’s mind (a.k.a. “I have an idea! Um, now what?”)
  • The glamorous life of writing and editing (and editing AND EDITING)
  • The wacky world of literary agents and submissions
  • The inner sanctum of publishing: working with your editor
  • The roller coaster of reviews
  • The ultimate moment: seeing your book on the shelf (or so you hope!)

    • Find out what really goes on behind the scenes to bring a book to life. Kay even spills the beans about how much money authors really make (What do you mean they don’t all drive Maseratis?) and the changing face of book marketing in the digital age (including those coveted ARCs!).

    Length:   4 hours (includes 2 workshop sessions or 1 workshop plus 1 Q&A or book club visit)
    Speaking fee:   $750 + travel expenses from the Midwest

    "Girl power, baby! This is the book you want when you want to believe you can do anything!"

    ~ Becca Fitzpatrick
    New York Times
    bestselling author
    Hush, Hush

    "The Cinderella Society is just as much about empowering yourself as it is about the fun and romance, and the super secret society will appeal to fans of Ally Carter."

    ~ Tirzah, age 17
    The Compulsive Reader

    “The Cinderella Society is girl power in a great new package! Kay shows a real girl on a real path to finding out who she is who just happens to have a great support team there to help her when she falls! The Cinderella Society is a must read for teen girls! It deals with real issues that we’ve all had and are still facing in regards to how we fit into the world.”

    ~ Stacey Canova
    Bookseller
    Page Turners

    "Empowering, flirty, and fun... The Cinderella Society was a blast to read!"

    ~ Jessica, age 14
    Chick Lit Teens

    “I loved watching Jess transform – to start to see what was inside of her and how to let that out. The conflict, the fantastic characters, the overall fun this book was to read… chick lit isn’t usually my thing, but this is so much more.”

    ~ Kristen H.
    Children’s librarian
    Bookworming in the 21st Century

    "The Cinderella Society sent out such a positive message for girls and was a book showing girls CAN do anything. This is a must read!"

    ~ Erica, age 16
    The Book Cellar