This Saturday, we’ll be meeting online for the second time. We hosted a hybrid meeting in March, where about ten people, including our presenter and many of our board members, showed up at our usual meeting spot in Novato, keeping their distance from each other. Another twenty or so of us joined via Zoom.
My experience from home was that, despite some awkward moments, it was a successful and stimulating meeting. During the Q & A, it took more time than usual because the answerers had to come up to the laptop that was hosting the meeting. It wasn’t ideal, but the participants were patient and generous and that made it work. This was back in the early days of the shelter-in-place restrictions.
By the way, I no longer say I’m sheltering in place. I say I’m an “artist-in-residence.” You’re welcome. :)
We’ll be hosting another meeting this Saturday, also on Zoom, but this time, no one will be at the meeting room in Novato. We’ll all be online. And many of us have more experience navigating this brave new world than we did back in March.
We’ll start with Q & A as usual. We’ll do introductions. We’re even going to experiment doing the networking breaks by randomly putting participants in breakout “rooms” for informal conversation. So let us know ahead of time if there is anyone you’re hoping to be in a small group with for networking and catching up.
We’ve been fortunate to have Mike Mirabella bringing refreshments for most of the most recent meetings — yay Mike! — but this Saturday, you’ll be on your own — at least until we figure out how to attach a bagel to an email.
Celeste Bianca Winders, of Word Mice, will be presenting “Building A Meaningful Social Community” in the morning, and Cat Smith of Get Social with Cat, will lead the afternoon workshop — ”Instagram for Authors—Grab Your Phone & Grow Your Tribe.”
To learn more and get the link to the Zoom meeting, go to Managing Social Media. You’ll have to log in to register — if you have trouble with your password, contact webmaster@baipa.org.
P.S. Here’s the question I’m going to ask on Saturday: Since so many of us are engaged in regularly marketing and promoting our books, how do we do so now, in the time of corona? Some say now is not the time to be hawking our books at all. Others say, what if we offer our book for free, or almost free? How can we be generous, to honor the spirit of the moment, and at the same time, not shut down our efforts entirely?
I look forward to your ideas.
Author
One of my favorite things about BAIPA is its culture of generosity, the willingness — even eagerness — to share what we have each learned in the process of bringing stories to life. We provide educational programs, networking, marketing opportunities, encouragement, and information on industry vendors and services. And lots of one-on-one advice and mentoring.
We welcome all who have an interest in making connections within the world of independent publishing and learning more about how to publish and sell their work successfully. Together we are raising the standard of independent publishing and helping our members thrive.
Do join us!
—Becky Parker Geist, BAIPA Board of Directors, President
Quick Resources
Current BAIPA members do not need to register for our monthly meetings. The night before the meetings, they will receive the Zoom info. For workshop registration, members can buy a member ticket and will receive the Zoom info the night before the meetings, as well as in the confirmation email.