Publishing Books, Memoirs and Other Creative Nonfiction

Course Director: Julie Silver, MD

This course provides the tools medical professionals need to publish health-related content beyond the scope of traditional medical journals. Much of the health information that is available to the public is written by journalists who are not healthcare professionals. Teaching physicians and other healthcare professionals about how to write and publish for consumers helps to fulfill an important gap when it comes to public health information and education. Course lectures and workshops as well as one-to-one discussions with publishing professionals provide terrific opportunities to improve writing and communication skills. Past course attendees have gone on to publish academic and trade books, magazine and newspaper articles, blogs, office kiosk information, patient brochures and newsletters, and mobile apps.

Teaching doctors about narrative writing is an important component of this course. Studies have shown that "Narrative Medicine" fortifies clinical practice. This course will help medical professionals improve effectiveness of care by developing the capacity for attention, reflection, representation and affiliation with patients and colleagues.

OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this course participants will be able to:

List the elements of a nonfiction book proposal.
Identify key strategies that successful writers use to publish their work.
Explain common mistakes in narrative writing that lead to errors and poor communication.
Compare and contrast narrative, memoir, self-help and other nonfiction genres.
Describe the three phases of the book publishing process.
Analyze various forms of writing and how they are used in educating the public.
Determine the next steps in advancing their publishing goals.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Physicians from any specialty, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and medical writers.

Are you suffering from a case of cacoethes scribendi (writer's itch)?

Is your manuscript moribund?

Could your writing use some editorial intervention, STAT?

Why this course will turn you into a successful author:

The course covers the 3 key elements of successful publishing:

• Writing well

• Getting published

• Mastering ethical and effective publicity & promotion

Network and meet publishing professionals, who often provide mentoring to attendees long after the course is over, during breaks and in the Writers' and Advanced Workshops.

Writers’ Workshop March 29 – 30, 2012 (optional evening sessions) - $125/session
In Writers' Workshop, you can learn more and have your work reviewed and critiqued. Each workshop group consists of one publishing professional who leads a discussion of no more than 9 attendees. We will contact you about submitting a writing sample one month before the course begins. Writing samples can be the overview to your book or the first 10 pages of a chapter or whatever you want. Register for one or both evening sessions of Writers' Workshop.

Oral Book Pitches - (optional evening workshop) - $100/workshop and time slot to pitch during the course
Attendees will have 70 seconds to verbally pitch their book idea to a panel of publishing professionals. This event has two parts: 1) an evening workshop on Thursday, March 29 prior to Writers' Workshop, designed to prepare you to give your pitch and led by Dr. Silver; and 2) a time during the course to pitch your idea in front of the audience and a panel of publishing professionals. All are welcome to hear the pitches but only those who register will give one. The audience loves to hear the pitches; it helps them understand what works. Pitching an idea that an editor or agent likes can lead to a book contract. Participating in both parts of Oral Book Pitches is not mandatory; however, both parts (the workshop and the actual pitch) are included in this event. Registering for this very popular event prior to the course is mandatory (Limit 75 registrants.)

Advanced Workshops - March 31, 2012 (optional afternoon workshop) - $250/workshop
These are 3-hour small group sessions (between 10-25 attendees) focusing on higher level publishing skills. Completion of the main course is a prerequisite for taking an Advanced Workshop.

Workshops include:

Social Media
Writing a Book Proposal
Maximize Creativity and Write Productively
Memoir Writing
Writing for Your Reader
The Craft of Writing

Our website has extended information about our faculty and books written by past course attendees.

Listen to WBUR's “Here & Now” Jill Ryan interview Dr. Silver: "Do Doctors Make Good Authors? http://www.hereandnow.org/2009/08/rundown-819/

Attendance Limited

REGISTER ONLINE NOW or REGISTER BY MAIL [ PDF ]

ACCREDITATION

The Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 24.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
3-Day Course: A maximum of 16.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Writers’ Workshop (per night): A maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Oral Book Pitches (Thursday): A maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Advanced Workshop: A maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

The Massachusetts Psychological Association has approved this activity for the following credits:
3‑Day Course: 16.5
Writers’ Workshop (per night): 1.75
Oral Book Pitches (Thursday): .5 Advanced Workshop: 3.0

ACGME COMPETENCIES

This course is designed to meet one or more of the following Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education competencies:

Patient Care
Medical Knowledge
Interpersonal and Communication Skills

DISCLOSURE POLICY

Harvard Medical School (HMS) adheres to all ACCME Essential Areas, Standards, and Policies. It is HMS's policy that those who have influenced the content of a CME activity (e.g. planners, faculty, authors, reviewers and others) disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial entities so that HMS may identify and resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. These disclosures will be provided in the activity materials along with disclosure of any commercial support received for the activity. Additionally, faculty members have been instructed to disclose any limitations of data and unlabeled or investigational uses of products during their presentations.

Last update 12.05.2012