Helping Writers Get Their Books Published

What’s BookCamp?

BookCamp is a training and community hub for writers.

If you want to get a book into the world but aren’t sure what the next step is, BookCamp is here to help.

By providing expert guidance along with a supportive community of writers, we give you a shortcut to publication.

Inside BookCamp you’ll discover:

  • What to focus on next even if you don’t know the steps to getting a book published
  • The BookCamp community, a supportive group of writers who are all working toward the same goal and want to help each other
  • How to improve your skills as a writer even if you’re not always completely sure what distinguishes good writing from poor writing.
  • The best way to develop a great book concept even if all you have right now is a tangle of jumbled thoughts
  • How to grow a platform even if the word “platform” makes you a little twitchy
  • How to navigate the publishing industry even if up to this point you’ve been too scared to approach a literary agent or acquisitions editor
  • New trainings or interviews with experts each month
  • And so much more!
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I’ll never forget the first time Scott Kedersha and I talked.

Scott’s a marriage ministry pastor and works with couples who are thinking about getting married.

He dreamed of giving these couples a book that would help them have 12 important conversations before they tied the knot. Only trouble was, the book did not exist! He wanted to write it and make it available to as many people as possible.

We talked about the path to get there—establishing a writing habit, building an online presence, expanding his platform, and pursuing book publishers.

Many writers get overwhelmed with the process. Here’s what happens:

  • They get an awesome book idea.
  • They start working on it.
  • They get stuck.
  • They give up and their dream of publishing a book dies.

But that’s NOT what happened to Scott.

Over the next several months Scott and I along with a supportive community helped him build his platform, improve his website, and pursue a book publisher.

Scott did the work, reached out when he got stuck, kept going, and you can see the result. I talked to Scott recently, and he told me his book, Ready or Knot? 12 Conversations Every Couple Needs to Have before Marriage, has exceeded his publisher’s sales expectations.

Now he’s thinking about his next book. And based on his first book’s performance, I expect his publisher will be very interested.

So why did Scott succeed when so many writers fail?

Two things:

1. long-term support and care

2. expert training

That’s why I created BookCamp.

Who will get the most out of BookCamp?

BookCamp is helpful to a wide variety of writers, but it’s an especially good fit for nonfiction writers who want a book deal with a traditional book publisher.

How much does it cost?


After the free 30-day trial, BookCamp is $49/month. There are no hidden fees or extra charges for special “VIP” sections.  Your subscription gives you 100 percent access to all the features of BookCamp, including all previous trainings, expert interviews, and coaching sessions. 

GET STARTED FOR FREE

Who’s Chad Allen?

Chad Allen is a writer, speaker, editor, and writing coach. A 20-year publishing professional, he served in acquisitions and directorial roles for Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, before going full-time with his own business. He has collaborated with numerous bestselling authors including Michael Hyatt, Jeff Goins, Caroline Leaf, Ernie Johnson Jr., Chip Ingram, Mary DeMuth, John Burke, Mark Batterson, and Phyllis Tickle.

He is the creator of Book Proposal Academy, an online course, and BookCamp, a mentoring and community hub for writers. His passion is helping writers get their books into the world, and he blogs at http://www.chadrallen.com/.

He has been published in such online places as LifeHacker, The Accidental Creative, MichaelHyatt.com, Goinswriter.com, and The Good Men Project.

Chad holds a B.A. in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Alyssa, live with their two children in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Hear more from Chad on his blog, or by following him on Facebook and Twitter.

10 Things You’ll Find in the BookCamp Members Area Right Now

01

A step-by-step guide that helps you add 100 email subscribers in the next few weeks

02

Conversations with Christopher Ferebee and Steve Laube, two longtime literary agents, about how to secure an agent

03

An exclusive interview with Annette Bourland, former Executive Vice President of HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest publishing houses in the world

04

An action guide for designing, planning, and scheduling a writing retreat that helps you experience more progress on your writing project than you ever dreamed possible

05

An invitation to a monthly Fireside Chat call in which you can ask me, a 20-year publishing industry veteran, any question you have

06

A support system of fellow writers in our private Facebook group so you don’t have to go it alone—where you can get unstuck and celebrate your wins with fellow BookCampers

07

An inside look into the daily work of an acquisitions editor

08

A video that shows you how to craft a compelling bio for your book proposal and website

09

An editor/proofreader database of freelancers who can help you make your writing shine

10

A 13-minute training that will help you decide once and for all whether to self-publish or pursue traditional publishing based on your unique situation

    FAQs


  • Satisfaction Guarantee?

    Give BookCamp a try. If it's not for you, cancel within 30 days, and we'll send you a full refund with no hassles.

  • I have some book ideas, but I don't know where to go from here. How do I know if I'm ready for BookCamp?

    Sometimes when you have book ideas, it's helpful to have some coaching around which idea is the best or how to strengthen a particular idea. Sometimes it's also helpful to be in a group of other writers with whom you can bounce ideas and trade encouragement. If you already have the coaching you need and a writing community or you don't need them at this time, no problem! But if you need either or both of these, we hope you'll give BookCamp a try. We'd love to support you!

  • How would BookCamp help me where I am?

    BookCamp uses a success trail map as a visual reference for where you are and where you should go next. Here's the map:


    At the beginning of your experience inside BookCamp, we ask you to identify where you are on the map, where you need to go next, and what part of the members' area will help you get there. It's a really effective tool!

  • How engaged is Chad?

    Every month, usually the first Monday at 9pm Eastern, Chad hosts a live webinar-style call. He presents a S'MORE (Something to Know, Maxim to Live By, Opportunity, Resource, and Encouragement), and then opens the floor for questions.

    You can submit up to two pages of content for Chad to critique in a Fireside Chat.
    You can also ask questions anytime in the BookCamp Facebook group. He regularly visits the Facebook group and responds individually to questions.
    Finally, you can comment with questions on any of the trainings in the Members Area. Those comments go directly to Chad's email inbox, and he responds promptly to all of them.

  • Is the Members Area updated every month?

    It sure is! Each month we host a new Fireside Chat call and upload the replay to the Members Area.
    We also record at least one new training or expert interview each month.

    For example, in the coming months we're planning to record a training on how to do a lead magnet swap to grow your email list, an interview with an expert on how to sell your book at a speaking engagement, and a training on how to identify agents and publishers who are a good fit for your book.

  • Is BookCamp for fiction or nonfiction writers?

    Chad's primary expertise is with nonfiction, but several writers of fiction are longtime members of BookCamp and receive a lot of value from it. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, some parts of the writing-to-publication process are the same. For example, increasingly novelists need to have a platform to be successful. BookCamp can help any writer grow a significant platform.

  • What if I'm not very tech savvy?

    No worries! If you know how to click on a video and watch it, you know everything you need to get started in BookCamp.

  • Will my lack of tech savvy prevent me from growing my platform?

    It's difficult to think of a successful modern-day author who does not have a website and at least one social media channel they engage (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, for example). You may be able to think of one, but suffice to say, such authors are very (and increasingly) rare.

    With that as background, if you're allergic to all technology, BookCamp's effectiveness will be limited for you. The good news is creating a website and using at least one social media channel has never been easier or more accessible than it is today. If you have a computer, access to a WiFi signal, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves and learn, you can figure this out, we promise, and we'll help you! Or if you're willing to invest a modest amount of money, we can point you to some tech pros who will help you get set up quickly and painlessly.

  • How much time does it take to work through BookCamp and get published?

    As with all significant achievements, getting a book into the world requires sustained focus and hard work. The time to publication varies depending on how much you have in place when you begin as well as your commitment to the process. If you want to self-publish and you already have a website and a compelling book concept, it can take as little as six months. If you want to pursue a traditional publisher and you're just getting started, plan on at least 12 to 18 months.

  • Will BookCamp provide publisher connections?

    We don't provide direct introductions to agents and publishers for liability and other reasons. What we will do is help you develop a short list of agents and publishers who would be a great fit for your book.

    Making contact with relevant agents and publishers is not the hard part. The hard part is developing a great concept, a solid platform, and enough writing skill to wow those to whom you pitch your book. And that is what BookCamp is all about!

  • I'm interested in self-publishing or indie publishing. Will BookCamp help me?

    When it comes to walking you through the steps of self-publishing, other places are a better fit than BookCamp. However, regardless of whether you self-publish or pursue a traditional publisher, you need a platform and a marketing plan so that however your book is published, it finds an audience and sells enough copies to make the biggest impact possible and to recoup your investment. BookCamp can definitely help you build your platform and launch your book! You also need to be a great writer so that people have a good experience with your book and tell their friends about it. BookCamp will help you become the best writer you can be.

  • Are you planning any live in-person events?

    We've been dreaming about hosting writing retreats for BookCampers for a long time. It's going to happen, and you can help us plan it! And yes, BookCampers will get a significant discount!

  • Do you guarantee success?

    I can't guarantee success because I don't know how you define success, but even if I did, so much of success depends on the writer. Are you willing to work hard? Are you willing to take the guidance I'm offering? BookCamp is not a silver bullet; you still have to do the work. But it does provide expert guidance and a strong supportive community. If you're willing to work on your book within the BookCamp community, your book and your sales will be so much better than they would be otherwise. That's a guarantee!

Close

Will my lack of tech savvy prevent me from growing my platform?

It’s difficult to think of a successful modern-day author who does not have a website and at least one social media channel they engage (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, for example). You may be able to think of one, but suffice to say, such authors are very (and increasingly) rare.

With that as background, if you’re allergic to all technology, BookCamp’s effectiveness will be limited for you. The good news is creating a website and using at least one social media channel has never been easier or more accessible than it is today. If you have a computer, access to a WiFi signal, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves and learn, you can figure this out, we promise, and we’ll help you! Or if you’re willing to invest a modest amount of money, we can point you to some tech pros who will help you get set up quickly and painlessly.

How much time does it take to work through BookCamp and get published?

As with all significant achievements, getting a book into the world requires sustained focus and hard work. The time to publication varies depending on how much you have in place when you begin as well as your commitment to the process. If you want to self-publish and you already have a website and a compelling book concept, it can take as little as six months. If you want to pursue a traditional publisher and you’re just getting started, plan on at least 12 to 18 months.

What BookCampers Are Saying

“BookCamp is a phenomenal experience! I can't say enough about the value Chad Allen provides through his mentoring and guidance. The benefits of having direct access to his expertise during the Fireside Chats is unmatched. BookCamp is helping me grow my audience in ways I had not considered before. Everything a writer needs to be successful can be found in BookCamp.”

- Doris Swift, www.dorisswift.com

“When you start to write a book, all the moving parts can be overwhelming. BookCamp gives new writers all the tools and trainings—neatly organized in one place—to get through the entire process. Chad is there at every step, too. With equal parts experience and heart, Chad is the mentor every new writer needs!”  

-Cory Peppler, www.parentingdigital.com

As a young girl, I felt the call to touch the world with words of hope. Through BookCamp, Chad Allen has made the path to publishing clear and doable. The knowledge and support from both Chad and the community have surpassed my expectations. Now my words are getting out!

- Evelyn Sherwood, www.evelynsherwood.com

BookCamp with Chad Allen has been a wonderful learning experience! Chad provides tools, techniques, resources, videos, and excellent support to help writers on their journey. I love the monthly Fireside video calls where we can ask questions and talk through any roadblocks or issues that we encounter in our writing. Chad is committed and passionate about helping writers with his expertise and time. I love the BookCamp course material and the community! It's been an encouragement and great source of support and learning.”

- Susan Bricker, www.leanintothelord.com