This summer, Writer's Digest Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, romped through a 10-week road trip to promote its writers' resource books. The "Great American Writing Road Trip Adventure" featured a writing workshop at each of the 22 independent bookstores on the publisher's route. Each workshop included local writers along with Writer's Digest authors Jack Heffron (Writer's Idea Workshop) and Michael Larsen (How to Write a Book Proposal).
Between 1,500 and 2,000 writers and aspiring writers participated in the traveling writers' workshops during June and July.
"Our goals are to teach people how to improve their writing and how to get published," Greg Hatfield, F+W's publicity manager explained. "Last year, we held one of the world's largest writing conferences. This year, we wanted personal contact in our efforts to inspire and motivate writers. So we sketched out a tour, with our authors on board." The publisher's van also made unscheduled stops at libraries and college campuses along the way, dropping off writing materials, supplies, and assorted swag—everything from pens and bookmarks to copies of Writer's Digest magazine and bumper stickers proclaiming "Live to Write!"
"It was a fabulous event with a great turnout—about 75 people," Heather Lowcock, events coordinator at Joseph Beth in Lexington, Ky., told PW. "We sold a lot of writing books. So many people were interested, we started an in-store writing group afterward. About 45 people came to our first meeting a month later. They were a variety of people with a wide range of interests at all levels, from beginners to people with finished manuscripts in hand. We had to split it up into four different writing groups. It's spread like wildfire."
Alaine Borgias, events coordinator at Village Books in Bellingham, Wash., counted more than 100 attendees at their workshop. "It was phenomenal," she told PW. "The Writer's Digest guys really know their books and were able to help people figure out which books were appropriate for them, based on people's interests and abilities."
"It's really an ongoing initiative," Hatfield declared. "We're no longer driving the van, but we hope to continue putting on events throughout the fall. We're shooting for 100 in-store writing workshops."
