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March 5 – Free Lunch N Learn: How to Write for Change

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How to Write for Change: Learn to Impact Readers, Communities, Organizations, and the World with Your Book

Thursday, March 5 at 12 – 1pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

The world needs… maybe more than ever… writers producing books that change lives, communities, organizations, governments, and the world. If you aspire to be an “Author of Change,” come learn about the three stages of writing for change and to produce books that inspire and motivate people to take up your cause, support your mission, or join your movement. There’s no need to be an “activist” to write for change. If you feel a calling or have a sense that your purpose is to create ripples of good in the world with a book, this lunch and learn session is for you!

In this presentation, we will explore:

  • What types of books inspire change
  • The preparation you need to become an Author of Change
  • Why author platform is even more important when writing for change
  • Craft techniques that move readers to action
  • What publishing path best suits books meant to inspire change

About the Speaker

Nina Amir, the Inspiration to Creation Coach, is an Amazon bestselling hybrid author. She supports writers on the journey to successful authorship as an Author Coach, nonfiction developmental editor, Transformational Coach, and Certified High Performance Coach (CHPC®)—the only one working with writers. She founded the Nonfiction Writers’ University and runs two tracks at the San Francisco Writers Conference. Nina’s most recent book, Change the World One Book at a Time: Make a Positive and Meaningful Difference with Your Words, was published in January 2026 by Books that Save Lives. Previously, she wrote three traditionally published books for aspiring authors—How to Blog a Book, The Author Training Manual, and Creative Visualization for Writers. Additionally, she has self-published a host of books and ebooks, including the Write Nonfiction NOW! series of guides. She has had 19 books on the Amazon Top 100 List and as many as six books on the Authorship bestseller list at the same time.

 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

Registration is now closed. Visit our homepage to sign up for email notifications and never miss a WNBA-SF event!

 

Spread the Love! Bring a Friend to Our Next Mixer & Lunch N Learn!

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Saturday, April 25, 2026, 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. PT

23 Years of Pitch-O-Rama Success!

We love our members so much that we’re extending the deadline for our Early Bird Special, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2026! Everyone is welcome to participate!

We are happy to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 25th, 2026, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication. 

New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is an annual event where we bring in a set of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers, and then share that pitch with an expert who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level. A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

REGISTER HERE!

Testimonials from Past Participants

“Pitch-O-Rama was not only helpful, but fun, with lots of laughter, networking, and relevant information. As a newbie, I felt at home and am pitching the WNBA to my friends and colleagues. Go women writers! WNBA, you rock!” – Susan Allison

“I participated in the WNBA-SF Pitch-o-Rama in 2021. At the time, I’d almost completed my memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction. I worked hard on my pitch and three of the agents asked me to submit to them. Several months later, with the manuscript polished and ready to go, I did so. Even though other agents were interested, I signed with Anne Marie O’Farrell, whom I had met via the WNBA event. Working with both Anne Marie and Caroline Fanelli at her agency, I added an appendix to the manuscript, and they started submitting. Less than three months later, I signed with HCI (Health Communications Inc.), which specializes in recovery and self-help books.” – Mary Beth O’Connor

“I will always be incredibly grateful to WNBA for the Pitch-O-Rama. Several years ago, I was struggling to get an agent. I had a toddler at home, and I was sure I had missed the boat. Here in the Bay Area, there are many talented writers, but very little access to literary agents. There were big pitch conferences in New York and other parts of the US. But at the time, I couldn’t travel because I had such limited time and money as a new mom. I was pining away on my computer, querying agents and drowning in the isolation. I found out about the Pitch-O-Rama, and immediately registered.” – Aya De Leon

Special Pricing

Currently, as part of our Early Bird Special, register for only $85 as a WNBA-SF member and $130 as a non-member before it expires at the end of the month! After that, registration will be $95 for WNBA-SF members and $145 for non-members so don’t wait to register! If you’d like to take advantage of member pricing, visit our website to learn more about the benefits of WNBA-SF membership and join the chapter’s community!

Before 3/1/2026: $85 for WNBA-SF members, $130 for non-members

After 3/1/2026: $95 for WNBA-SF members, $145 for non-members

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Remember to follow WNBA-SF on Instagram @wnba_sanfrancisco to stay connected and current on our events, interviews, and other activities!

 

Go for the Gold Writers Mixer

Thursday, February 12 at 12 – 1pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE

In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, join the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter for the Go for the Gold Writers Mixer, a fun and motivating virtual gathering designed to help writers build momentum and cheer each other on. Writing takes discipline, endurance, and heart. While for many writing is a solo journey, having a community behind you makes it a team sport!

Our networking ambassador – and author of books on goals – Debra Eckerling will lead a guided conversation, so participants can reflect on their current writing “events,” share what they’re training for, and identify meaningful goals for the year ahead. Whether you’re aiming to finish a chapter, polish a proposal, or prepare for Pitch-O-Rama, this mixer offers encouragement, clarity, and connection.

Connect with fellow writers, celebrate progress, and define what “going for the gold” looks like for you. Your WNBA-SF community is here to cheer you on.

It’s a mixer, so feel free to share and bring a literary friend or two!

About Debra Eckerling

Debra Eckerling is The Book Proposal Expert, a book proposal specialist who helps authors clarify their message, develop their content, and craft proposals that get noticed. She is the author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, host of GoalChat and the Book Proposal Podcast, and the creator of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified. Debra has spent years helping writers, entrepreneurs, and experts turn their ideas into compelling book plans that get noticed by agents and publishers. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect on LinkedIn.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Book Marketing in the Age of Aquarius

Thursday, February 26 at 12 – 1pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE

Join Claire E. Jones for a powerful workshop on how to market your brand in an age where our societal engagements are shifting from a top-down, hierarchical focus to a more humanitarian, down-top Aquarian approach. Explore the key concept of marketing, Relationships > Transactions, and learn how the role of author branding is key in order to galvanize your context-aligned audiences through genuine conversations. Let’s unlock the path to success in this new age!

About the Speaker

Claire E. Jones (she/her) is a Queer fantasy romance author as well as a small publisher that supports other writers in getting their works shared with the world. As an established small business and entrepreneurship expert of 20 years, she has founded and launched four of her own businesses and now mentors other creatives, visionaries, and innovators to achieve their goals in less time and with less stress. Learn more at claireejones.com.

She shares a range of diverse novels, planners, and journals with the world from Seattle WA, where she lives with her precious pup, Karma.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Perfect your book pitch with expert guidance!

Your Pitch. Perfected.

In this interactive Pitch Clinic, publisher Brenda Knight (Books that Save Lives) and book proposal strategist Debra Eckerling (TheBookProposalExpert.com) team up to help authors refine and strengthen their pitches in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a conference or Pitch-O-Rama; a meeting with an agent or publisher; or an email submission, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make your pitch stand out.

Brenda Knight, Publisher, Books That Save Lives, and President of WNBA-SF Chapter, is a longtime publisher and industry veteran, who draws on decades of experience acquiring and publishing bestselling and award-winning titles. She offers an insider-perspective on what agents and publishers are really looking for — and what makes a pitch irresistible.

Debra Eckerling, TheBookProposalExpert.com, brings her talent for helping writers clarify their ideas, define their audience, and communicate their book’s value with confidence. The author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, Debra helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants turn their compelling book concepts into strong, strategic proposals that sell.

Together, Brenda and Debra provide practical feedback, actionable advice, and professional insights designed to help you pitch your book like a pro.

To learn more about Pitch Clinic, please visit the event page!

February 26 – Free Lunch N Learn: Book Marketing in the Age of Aquarius

By

Book Marketing in the Age of Aquarius

Thursday, February 26 at 12 – 1pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Join Claire E. Jones for a powerful workshop on how to market your brand in an age where our societal engagements are shifting from a top-down, hierarchical focus to a more humanitarian, down-top Aquarian approach. Explore the key concept of marketing, Relationships > Transactions, and learn how the role of author branding is key in order to galvanize your context-aligned audiences through genuine conversations. Let’s unlock the path to success in this new age!

About the Speaker

Claire E. Jones (she/her) is a Queer fantasy romance author as well as a small publisher that supports other writers in getting their works shared with the world. As an established small business and entrepreneurship expert of 20 years, she has founded and launched four of her own businesses and now mentors other creatives, visionaries, and innovators to achieve their goals in less time and with less stress. Learn more at claireejones.com.

She shares a range of diverse novels, planners, and journals with the world from Seattle WA, where she lives with her precious pup, Karma.

 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

Registration is now closed. Visit our homepage to sign up for email notifications and never miss a WNBA-SF event!

Pitch-O-Rama Early Bird Special Extended Through Valentine’s Day! Give the Gift of Writing Today!

By

Saturday, April 25, 2026, 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. PT

23 Years of Pitch-O-Rama Success!

We love our members so much that we’re extending the deadline for our Early Bird Special, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2026! Everyone is welcome to participate!

We are happy to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 25th, 2026, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication. 

New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is an annual event where we bring in a set of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers, and then share that pitch with an expert who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level. A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

REGISTER HERE!

Testimonials from Past Participants

“Pitch-O-Rama was not only helpful, but fun, with lots of laughter, networking, and relevant information. As a newbie, I felt at home and am pitching the WNBA to my friends and colleagues. Go women writers! WNBA, you rock!” – Susan Allison

“I participated in the WNBA-SF Pitch-o-Rama in 2021. At the time, I’d almost completed my memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction. I worked hard on my pitch and three of the agents asked me to submit to them. Several months later, with the manuscript polished and ready to go, I did so. Even though other agents were interested, I signed with Anne Marie O’Farrell, whom I had met via the WNBA event. Working with both Anne Marie and Caroline Fanelli at her agency, I added an appendix to the manuscript, and they started submitting. Less than three months later, I signed with HCI (Health Communications Inc.), which specializes in recovery and self-help books.” – Mary Beth O’Connor

“I will always be incredibly grateful to WNBA for the Pitch-O-Rama. Several years ago, I was struggling to get an agent. I had a toddler at home, and I was sure I had missed the boat. Here in the Bay Area, there are many talented writers, but very little access to literary agents. There were big pitch conferences in New York and other parts of the US. But at the time, I couldn’t travel because I had such limited time and money as a new mom. I was pining away on my computer, querying agents and drowning in the isolation. I found out about the Pitch-O-Rama, and immediately registered.” – Aya De Leon

Special Pricing

Currently, as part of our Early Bird Special, register for only $85 as a WNBA-SF member and $130 as a non-member before it expires on January 31st February 14th, 2026! After that day, registration will be $95 for WNBA-SF members and $145 for non-members so don’t wait to register! If you’d like to take advantage of member pricing, visit our website to learn more about the benefits of WNBA-SF membership and join the chapter’s community!

Before 2/14/2026: $85 for WNBA-SF members, $130 for non-members

After 2/14/2026: $95 for WNBA-SF members, $145 for non-members

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Remember to follow WNBA-SF on Instagram @wnba_sanfrancisco to stay connected and current on our events, interviews, and other activities!

 

Go for the Gold Writers Mixer

Thursday, February 12 at 12 – 1pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event: REGISTER HERE

In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, join the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter for the Go for the Gold Writers Mixer, a fun and motivating virtual gathering designed to help writers build momentum and cheer each other on. Writing takes discipline, endurance, and heart. While for many writing is a solo journey, having a community behind you makes it a team sport!

Our networking ambassador – and author of books on goals – Debra Eckerling will lead a guided conversation, so participants can reflect on their current writing “events,” share what they’re training for, and identify meaningful goals for the year ahead. Whether you’re aiming to finish a chapter, polish a proposal, or prepare for Pitch-O-Rama, this mixer offers encouragement, clarity, and connection.

Connect with fellow writers, celebrate progress, and define what “going for the gold” looks like for you. Your WNBA-SF community is here to cheer you on.

It’s a mixer, so feel free to share and bring a literary friend or two!

About Debra Eckerling

Debra Eckerling is The Book Proposal Expert, a book proposal specialist who helps authors clarify their message, develop their content, and craft proposals that get noticed. She is the author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, host of GoalChat and the Book Proposal Podcast, and the creator of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified. Debra has spent years helping writers, entrepreneurs, and experts turn their ideas into compelling book plans that get noticed by agents and publishers. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect on LinkedIn.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Perfect your book pitch with expert guidance!

Your Pitch. Perfected.

In this interactive Pitch Clinic, publisher Brenda Knight (Books that Save Lives) and book proposal strategist Debra Eckerling (TheBookProposalExpert.com) team up to help authors refine and strengthen their pitches in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a conference or Pitch-O-Rama; a meeting with an agent or publisher; or an email submission, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make your pitch stand out.

Brenda Knight, Publisher, Books That Save Lives, and President of WNBA-SF Chapter, is a longtime publisher and industry veteran, who draws on decades of experience acquiring and publishing bestselling and award-winning titles. She offers an insider-perspective on what agents and publishers are really looking for — and what makes a pitch irresistible.

Debra Eckerling, TheBookProposalExpert.com, brings her talent for helping writers clarify their ideas, define their audience, and communicate their book’s value with confidence. The author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, Debra helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants turn their compelling book concepts into strong, strategic proposals that sell.

Together, Brenda and Debra provide practical feedback, actionable advice, and professional insights designed to help you pitch your book like a pro.

To learn more about Pitch Clinic, please visit the event page!

February 12 – Free Lunch N Learn: Go for the Gold Writers Mixer

By

Go for the Gold Writers Mixer

Thursday, February 12 at 12 – 1pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, join the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter for the Go for the Gold Writers Mixer, a fun and motivating virtual gathering designed to help writers build momentum and cheer each other on. Writing takes discipline, endurance, and heart. While for many writing is a solo journey, having a community behind you makes it a team sport!

Our networking ambassador – and author of books on goals – Debra Eckerling will lead a guided conversation, so participants can reflect on their current writing “events,” share what they’re training for, and identify meaningful goals for the year ahead. Whether you’re aiming to finish a chapter, polish a proposal, or prepare for Pitch-O-Rama, this mixer offers encouragement, clarity, and connection.

Connect with fellow writers, celebrate progress, and define what “going for the gold” looks like for you. Your WNBA-SF community is here to cheer you on.

It’s a mixer, so feel free to share and bring a literary friend or two!

About Debra Eckerling

Debra Eckerling is The Book Proposal Expert, a book proposal specialist who helps authors clarify their message, develop their content, and craft proposals that get noticed. She is the author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, host of GoalChat and the Book Proposal Podcast, and the creator of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified. Debra has spent years helping writers, entrepreneurs, and experts turn their ideas into compelling book plans that get noticed by agents and publishers. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with Debra on LinkedIn.

 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

Registration is now closed. Visit our homepage to sign up for email notifications and never miss a WNBA-SF event!

Don’t Miss the San Francisco Writers Conference!

By

SF Writers' Conference logoIf you dream of being a published author, this is one event you don’t want to miss! The San Francisco Writers Conference (SFWC) is one of the largest and most top-rated writers’ conferences in the country, and it takes place Feb 12-15, 2026 at the beautiful Hyatt Regency by the waterfront. Better yet, you can now get $100 off when you register online – see details below!

Attendees will join 100+ esteemed presenters and hundreds of fellow writers from across the country and world at this 4-day event. The SFWC aims to help writers become published authors, master the craft of writing, and navigate the business of publishing. Plus, it’s one of the friendliest and most welcoming conferences around!

Presenters this year include best-selling authors, literary agents, acquiring editors, indie editors, and publishers from major publishing houses as well as small presses. There will also be experts on self-publishing, book promotion, platform building, social media, audiobooks, podcasting, and author websites. No matter where you are in the writing journey, this conference has something for everyone.

Use the promo code Tf3S4K6S to take $100 off your registration price today! Take advantage of this special offer and join hundreds of other fellow writers at this year’s San Francisco Writers Conference in February.

Early Bird Special for Pitch-O-Rama 2026 Ends January 31, Register Today! Lunch N Learn Tomorrow!

By

Saturday, April 25, 2026, 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. PT

23 Years of Pitch-O-Rama Success!

Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2026! Everyone is welcome to participate!

We are happy to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 25th, 2026, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication. 

New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is an annual event where we bring in a set of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers, and then share that pitch with an expert who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level. A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

REGISTER HERE!

Testimonials from Past Participants

“Pitch-O-Rama was not only helpful, but fun, with lots of laughter, networking, and relevant information. As a newbie, I felt at home and am pitching the WNBA to my friends and colleagues. Go women writers! WNBA, you rock!” – Susan Allison

“I participated in the WNBA-SF Pitch-o-Rama in 2021. At the time, I’d almost completed my memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction. I worked hard on my pitch and three of the agents asked me to submit to them. Several months later, with the manuscript polished and ready to go, I did so. Even though other agents were interested, I signed with Anne Marie O’Farrell, whom I had met via the WNBA event. Working with both Anne Marie and Caroline Fanelli at her agency, I added an appendix to the manuscript, and they started submitting. Less than three months later, I signed with HCI (Health Communications Inc.), which specializes in recovery and self-help books.” – Mary Beth O’Connor

“I will always be incredibly grateful to WNBA for the Pitch-O-Rama. Several years ago, I was struggling to get an agent. I had a toddler at home, and I was sure I had missed the boat. Here in the Bay Area, there are many talented writers, but very little access to literary agents. There were big pitch conferences in New York and other parts of the US. But at the time, I couldn’t travel because I had such limited time and money as a new mom. I was pining away on my computer, querying agents and drowning in the isolation. I found out about the Pitch-O-Rama, and immediately registered.” – Aya De Leon

Special Pricing

Currently, as part of our Early Bird Special, register for only $85 as a WNBA-SF member and $130 as a non-member before it expires on January 31st, 2026. After that day, registration will be $95 for WNBA-SF members and $145 for non-members so don’t wait to register! If you’d like to take advantage of member pricing, visit our website to learn more about the benefits of WNBA-SF membership and join the chapter’s community!

Before 1/31/2026: $85 for WNBA-SF members, $130 for non-members

After 1/31/2026: $95 for WNBA-SF members, $145 for non-members

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Remember to follow WNBA-SF on Instagram @wnba_sanfrancisco to stay connected and current on our events, interviews, and other activities!

 

How to Write a Winning Book Proposal with Debra Eckerling

Thursday, January 15 at 12 – 1pm PDT

REGISTER HERE!

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Kick off the new year with clarity, confidence, and a powerful plan for your book! Join the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter for a Lunch N Learn with Debra Eckerling — The Book Proposal Expert — as she guides you through the essential elements of crafting a compelling, industry-standard nonfiction book proposal. Whether you’re at the spark-of-an-idea stage or polishing your pitch, this session will help you understand what agents and publishers are looking for and how to present yourself and your book in a way that showcases its value and marketability.

This Lunch N Learn is also ideal preparation for Pitch-O-Rama, so your proposal is ready for when you get requests at the event. Debra will walk you through the proposal sections: concept (overview, etc.), context (promotion and marketing), and content (detailed outline and sample chapters) and what it takes to stand out. She will also share tips for how to get it done while juggling everything else in your already busy life!

Bring your lunch, your questions, and a notepad and pen. You’ll leave energized, informed, and ready to take your next step toward getting your book out into the world.

About Debra Eckerling

Debra Eckerling is The Book Proposal Expert, a book proposal specialist who helps authors clarify their message, develop their content, and craft proposals that get noticed. She is the author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, host of GoalChat and the Book Proposal Podcast, and the creator of The DEB Method for goal-setting simplified. Debra has spent years helping writers, entrepreneurs, and experts turn their ideas into compelling book plans that get noticed by agents and publishers. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com and connect with LinkedIn.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Writing the Legacy of Your Life: A Love List for Your Loved Ones

Thursday, January 29 at 12 – 1pm PDT

REGISTER HERE!

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we invite you to join two authors in a lunchtime conversation and workshop about leaving a legacy of love.

Grief + Happiness expert Emily Thiroux Threatt and Simply Celebrate founder Sherry Richert Belul host a heartfelt luncheon conversation in which they explore how intentionally naming love and appreciation—through words, memories, and gratitude—can soften grief, bridge emotional distance, and keep us connected to people who matter most to us.

This gentle, friendly, and warm conversation invites participants to reflect on love as an enduring force that continues long after loss, separation, or change.

Following the conversation, Emily and Sherry will guide participants through a simple and meaningful writing practice: creating a short Love List for someone who has passed away or someone who feels far away. Whether you are navigating grief, longing, or simply wishing to express love more fully, this WNBA event offers a compassionate space to honor connection, celebrate what has been shared, and write a legacy of love that lives on — in writing as well as in our hearts.

Author Bios

Emily Thiroux Threatt is a Grief + Happiness expert, speaker, and author who has helped thousands navigate loss with compassion, resilience, and hope. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, she teaches that even in grief, happiness, meaning, and love remain possible.

 

Sherry Richert Belul is the founder of Simply Celebrate and the author of The Love List of a Lifetime, an end-of-life planner designed to help people leave behind love, clarity, and connection. Through workshops, writing practices, and community rituals, she helps people express what matters most—while they still can.

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Perfect your book pitch with expert guidance!

Your Pitch. Perfected.

In this interactive Pitch Clinic, publisher Brenda Knight (Books that Save Lives) and book proposal strategist Debra Eckerling (TheBookProposalExpert.com) team up to help authors refine and strengthen their pitches in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a conference or Pitch-O-Rama; a meeting with an agent or publisher; or an email submission, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make your pitch stand out.

Brenda Knight, Publisher, Books That Save Lives, and President of WNBA-SF Chapter, is a longtime publisher and industry veteran, who draws on decades of experience acquiring and publishing bestselling and award-winning titles. She offers an insider-perspective on what agents and publishers are really looking for — and what makes a pitch irresistible.

Debra Eckerling, TheBookProposalExpert.com, brings her talent for helping writers clarify their ideas, define their audience, and communicate their book’s value with confidence. The author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, Debra helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants turn their compelling book concepts into strong, strategic proposals that sell.

Together, Brenda and Debra provide practical feedback, actionable advice, and professional insights designed to help you pitch your book like a pro.

To learn more about Pitch Clinic, please visit the event page!

January 29 – Free Lunch N Learn: Writing the Legacy of Your Life

By

Writing the Legacy of Your Life: A Love List for Your Loved Ones

Thursday, January 29 at 12 – 1pm PDT

A FREE Virtual Event

Unable to attend? No worries. Register anyway and receive the replay!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we invite you to join two authors in a lunchtime conversation and workshop about leaving a legacy of love.

Grief + Happiness expert Emily Thiroux Threatt and Simply Celebrate founder Sherry Richert Belul host a heartfelt luncheon conversation in which they explore how intentionally naming love and appreciation—through words, memories, and gratitude—can soften grief, bridge emotional distance, and keep us connected to people who matter most to us.

This gentle, friendly, and warm conversation invites participants to reflect on love as an enduring force that continues long after loss, separation, or change.

Following the conversation, Emily and Sherry will guide participants through a simple and meaningful writing practice: creating a short Love List for someone who has passed away or someone who feels far away. Whether you are navigating grief, longing, or simply wishing to express love more fully, this WNBA event offers a compassionate space to honor connection, celebrate what has been shared, and write a legacy of love that lives on — in writing as well as in our hearts.

Author Bios

Emily Thiroux Threatt is a Grief + Happiness expert, speaker, and author who has helped thousands navigate loss with compassion, resilience, and hope. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, she teaches that even in grief, happiness, meaning, and love remain possible.

 

Sherry Richert Belul is the founder of Simply Celebrate and the author of The Love List of a Lifetime, an end-of-life planner designed to help people leave behind love, clarity, and connection. Through workshops, writing practices, and community rituals, she helps people express what matters most—while they still can.

 

To register, please fill out the form below: 

Registration is now closed. Visit our homepage to sign up for email notifications and never miss a WNBA-SF event!

How to Write Books that Inspire and Motivate Change

By

by Nina Amir

Not all writers start out as writers. Some begin as activists who want to make a difference or create change. They decide to write a book that inspires and motivates readers to take new action, like join a cause or movement.

Maybe, like them, you are an activist who regularly works to bring about the change you want to see in the world. Maybe you’ve marched, protested, written letters, or joined forces with others to make a difference.

The history of the modern world is replete with instances of people instigating and inspiring change. Think Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi… More recently, think No Kings protests and the #metoo, #blacklivesmatter, #FridaysForFuture, and #takeaknee movements.

After all your efforts, you may wonder how best to make a difference. Protests, letters, phone calls, marches…they help but don’t always result in change.

It’s time to change your tactics—especially since you are a writer. Put your words to use. Allow them to make a positive and meaningful difference. Author the change you want to see in the world.

That’s right. Become an Author of Change by writing a transformational or change-inspiring book.

Books Inspire and Motivate Change

Why should you “author change”? Simple. Books have incredible power to transform lives and inspire people to action. And a popular or successful book—one that speaks to the masses—gets read and shared. Such a book can inspire action.

That means your book can create change, and you can author change via your book. Those who read it begin to discuss and share about your cause. As more people read the book and engage with others about its message, more people join your movement.

That means change begins to happen.

I’m sure you know of a few books that have inspired change, like Walden: Life in the Wood by Henry David Thoreau, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, and Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. More recent ones include What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World by Prentis Hemphill, Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want by Ruha Benjamin, and The Guided Imagery Cure: The Best Proven Methods for Quickly Resolving and Healing Trauma by Dr. Chris Portman—just to name a few.

Today many writers see themselves as change agents. The online statement at OccupyWriters.com provides just one example. It says: “We, the undersigned writers and all who would join us, support Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy Movement around the world.” There you’ll find the names of such well-known writers as:

  • Margaret Atwood
  • Noam Chomsky
  • Samuel R. Delany
  • Neil Gaiman
  • Ursula K. Le Guin
  • Ann Patchett
  • Salman Rushdie
  • Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler)

Change Starts with You

A word of caution: If you want to change the world—or individual lives, communities or organizations, you need to change. First and foremost, you need to become the type of writer who can inspire others. You have to become a leader…and inspirational one at that.

Plus, you must become the type of author who does what it takes—everything it takes—to help your book get in the hands of the most readers possible. That means you have to change into a book marketer, speaker, leader, social media personality, movement maker, community engagement expert…and any other role that helps you book succeed.

Not only that, you must embody the change you want to see in the world. You must become a superb role model for the change you want to inspire.

Beyond that, you must understand how people change. With this knowledge, you can move people toward the change you want to create. You help them change. Without such knowledge, you’ll find it challenging to move your readers to new action or motivate them to join your cause.

Amplify Your Message

To create the change you wish to see in the world, find people willing to join your cause. You want people to join your movement or take up your cause.

Therefore, authoring change requires you to attract an engaged community around your mission or message. These are the people who personally take on the changes or take the actions you suggest.

You can gather people around you and your cause—and your book—in person. You could create an organization, go out and speak, or use MeetUp.com, for example.

Or you can use the power of the Internet. Create a blog and publish posts often and consistently. Share those posts on social media sites. Start groups on Facebook or LinkedIn. Use the power of live video by offering webinars or posting Instagram reels, Facebook Live events, or YouTube videos. You can even start a forum where your followers can gather.

Put your efforts toward creating an engaged and motivated community of change agents—those who want to be part of your movement. They also will purchase your book, give it to friends, review it, and talk about it online. They will change or take action to create change and motivate those they know to do the same.

That’s how movements start. That’s how you ensure that you can, indeed, author change.

Write for Change

That leaves the book… To become an author of change, you write a transformational or change-inspiring book. How do you do that?

Develop an inspiring and motivating message to share. Provide your readers with specific ways in which to take action. And share your message or mission in a way that makes readers want to get on board.

That means your message must connect with your readers on an emotional level or you must share it in a manner that allows them to do so. And your mission—your Big Why—must be one they share or relate to.

The prescriptive information included in your book—the steps, strategies, or tools—must feel doable to your readers. Also, they must understand how taking action will change their lives, their communities, their organizations, or the world.

Start Small

Don’t feel you have to change the world. You can start by changing individual lives. That’s what Eckart Tolle did with The Power of Now and A New Earth. Or you can change organizations, which is what John P. Kotter and Dan S. Cohen did with The Heart of Change.

If changing the world is your mission, go for it! Even if you want to write for change with a memoir or novel, you can do it. Consider Shrill by Lindy West, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, or The Red Pencil: Convictions from Experience in Education by Theodore R. Sizer. Take a look at The Overstory by Richard Powers, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

The best way to write a book that inspires change is to read other books that have accomplished this goal. You can use the structure and tone of the books to model your own. “Success leaves clues”— this quote is attributed to Brad Thor but has been repeated by Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, and many others because it’s true.

The world always needs change on a variety of levels. Of course, change starts with you and then radiates outward. But you can make a positive and meaningful difference with your words. You can author change. Why not start today?

If you’d like to know if you are prepared to author change, take this short quiz and find out. And to learn more about becoming an Author of Change, read Change the World One Book at a Time: Make a Positive and Meaningful Difference with Your Words.

What type of change do you want to inspire with your book? Tell me in a comment below, and please share this post with another writer.

Nina Amir, the Inspiration to Creation Coach, is an Amazon bestselling hybrid author. She supports writers on the journey to successful authorship as an Author Coach, nonfiction developmental editor, Transformational Coach, and Certified High Performance Coach (CHPC®)—the only one working with writers.

Nina’s most recent book, Change the World One Book at a Time: Make a Positive and Meaningful Difference with Your Words, was released on January 6, 2026, by Books that Save Lives. Previously, she wrote three traditionally published books for aspiring authors—How to Blog a Book, The Author Training Manual, and Creative Visualization for Writers. Additionally, she has self-published a host of books and ebooks, including the Write Nonfiction NOW! series of guides. She has had 19 books on the Amazon Top 100 List and as many as six books on the Authorship bestseller list at the same time.

Nina also coordinates the SFWC’s Personal Growth for Writers track and the Writing for Change Summit. She offers a conference scholarship for nonfiction writers writing for change.

Give the Gift of Writing This Holiday Season! Pitch-O-Rama 2026 & Pitch-Clinic!

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Saturday, April 25, 2026, 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. PT

23 Years of Pitch-O-Rama Success!

Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to Pitch-O-Rama 2026! Everyone is welcome to participate!

We are happy to announce we will be hosting the next Pitch-O-Rama as a virtual event on April 25th, 2026, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication. 

New to Pitch-O-Rama? Pitch-O-Rama is an annual event where we bring in a set of publishing professionals to share their knowledge of the publishing industry. During the event, you will be able to practice your pitch with coaches and fellow writers, and then share that pitch with an expert who will provide advice on taking your writing project to the next level. A chance like this is an invaluable learning experience that could put you on the path to publication. We hope to see you there!

REGISTER HERE!

Testimonials from Past Participants

“Pitch-O-Rama was not only helpful, but fun, with lots of laughter, networking, and relevant information. As a newbie, I felt at home and am pitching the WNBA to my friends and colleagues. Go women writers! WNBA, you rock!” – Susan Allison

“I participated in the WNBA-SF Pitch-o-Rama in 2021. At the time, I’d almost completed my memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction. I worked hard on my pitch and three of the agents asked me to submit to them. Several months later, with the manuscript polished and ready to go, I did so. Even though other agents were interested, I signed with Anne Marie O’Farrell, whom I had met via the WNBA event. Working with both Anne Marie and Caroline Fanelli at her agency, I added an appendix to the manuscript, and they started submitting. Less than three months later, I signed with HCI (Health Communications Inc.), which specializes in recovery and self-help books.” – Mary Beth O’Connor

“I will always be incredibly grateful to WNBA for the Pitch-O-Rama. Several years ago, I was struggling to get an agent. I had a toddler at home, and I was sure I had missed the boat. Here in the Bay Area, there are many talented writers, but very little access to literary agents. There were big pitch conferences in New York and other parts of the US. But at the time, I couldn’t travel because I had such limited time and money as a new mom. I was pining away on my computer, querying agents and drowning in the isolation. I found out about the Pitch-O-Rama, and immediately registered.” – Aya De Leon

Special Pricing

Currently, as part of our Early Bird Special, register for only $85 as a WNBA-SF member and $130 as a non-member before it expires on January 31st, 2026. After that day, registration will be $95 for WNBA-SF members and $145 for non-members so don’t wait to register! If you’d like to take advantage of member pricing, visit our website to learn more about the benefits of WNBA-SF membership and join the chapter’s community!

Before 1/31/2026: $85 for WNBA-SF members, $130 for non-members

After 1/31/2026: $95 for WNBA-SF members, $145 for non-members

To register, please visit the event page and fill out the form at the bottom of the page!

 

Remember to follow WNBA-SF on Instagram @wnba_sanfrancisco to stay connected and current on our events, interviews, and other activities!

 

Perfect your book pitch with expert guidance!

Your Pitch. Perfected.

In this interactive Pitch Clinic, publisher Brenda Knight (Books that Save Lives) and book proposal strategist Debra Eckerling (TheBookProposalExpert.com) team up to help authors refine and strengthen their pitches in real time. Whether you’re preparing for a conference or Pitch-O-Rama; a meeting with an agent or publisher; or an email submission, this session will give you the tools and confidence to make your pitch stand out.

Brenda Knight, Publisher, Books That Save Lives, and President of WNBA-SF Chapter, is a longtime publisher and industry veteran, who draws on decades of experience acquiring and publishing bestselling and award-winning titles. She offers an insider-perspective on what agents and publishers are really looking for — and what makes a pitch irresistible.

Debra Eckerling, TheBookProposalExpert.com, brings her talent for helping writers clarify their ideas, define their audience, and communicate their book’s value with confidence. The author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting, Debra helps writers, entrepreneurs, and consultants turn their compelling book concepts into strong, strategic proposals that sell.

Together, Brenda and Debra provide practical feedback, actionable advice, and professional insights designed to help you pitch your book like a pro.

To learn more about Pitch Clinic, please visit the event page!