Speaking & Presentations

Need a speaker for your organization or networking group? Karin Wiberg speaks about books, writing, strategy, and creative thinking. An experienced facilitator and speaker, Karin loves speaking with small, engaged groups.

Most topics appeal to consultants, coaches, professional speakers, and other entrepreneurs thinking about writing and self-publishing a book. Presentations typically are suitable for hour-long sessions or 2- to 4-hour workshops.

Karin is available in person and via Zoom.

A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know Before Jumping In

With traditional publishing contracts seemingly getting harder to land, more and more writers are deciding to take charge of their own literary career via self-publishing. But self-publishing is not quite as 1-2-3 easy-peasy as it is sometimes portrayed. In fact, parts of the process can be downright overwhelming. So before you jump in, make sure you’ve got the lay of the land.

In this session, we focus on the logistics of publishing your own book: what self-publishing is, how you make money, key steps in the production process, the major publishing platforms, ISBNs and other confusing elements, marketing, and more.

This topic appeals to writers in any genre who are are considering self-publishing.

Karin Wiberg on ballroom stage speaking to audience

The Business of Books

So you’ve got a book manuscript—or at least an idea for one. But how do you turn your manuscript into a book? Should you try traditional publishing, self-publishing, or hybrid? Regardless of the publishing path, you know you have to do some marketing, but what’s most effective? And will this book even make you any money?

The business of books can be confusing, overwhelming, and a little bit mysterious. In this workshop, we’re skipping the craft of writing and focusing instead on the business of books. We’ll cover the most common publishing paths, marketing and promotion for authors, and how to think about the economics of your book.

This topic appeals to writers in any genre who are are considering self-publishing.

From Children’s Lit to Business Legit: Lessons for Experts in Making Their Book Stick

What can thought leaders and business professionals learn from children’s novels? A lot! The same elements that make a compelling, memorable children’s book apply to adult nonfiction (such as business, thought leadership, and personal or professional development books).

Usually you are explicitly teaching something in adult nonfiction. By transporting your readers so they can pay attention and touching their emotions along the way, you have a much better chance of getting your message to stick. In this session, we’ll look at the elements of this model in action.

This topic appeals to entrepreneurs and business owners who are writing a book and want to know how to increase its memorability. This topic is great for short networking meetings or lunches and can be adapted for longer sessions and workshops.

What Writing a Book Can (Really) Do for Your Business

Every time you turn around, it seems like another coach, consultant, or speaker in your network is publishing a book. A book seems like savvy marketing, and you might even have your own book idea, but you also have a sneaking suspicion there’s more to it than you realize.

In this strategic session, we’ll look at:

  • Aligning your book goals to your stage of business—and the marketing implications;
  • Whether self-/indie-publishing or traditional publishing fits your situation better;
  • How to calculate your true ROI; and
  • How to repurpose your content to leverage your investment.

This topic appeals to entrepreneurs and small business owners considering writing a book. It works well for networking groups and can be adapted to longer sessions to go further in depth.

High 5 Conference, March 2017

How to Get Your Butt in the Chair & Write!

You want to write a book to help grow your business, but writing is not your primary gig. You write in support of your core business, but you’re not sure what really goes into writing a whole book.

In this interactive session, we’ll share:

  • How professional writers think about the process;
  • What a book timeline might look like for you; and
  • Tips for getting support and keeping the ideas flowing even when you’re feeling an onset of writer’s block.

This topic appeals to entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to write a book themselves. It is best for 2- to 4-hour workshop settings so there’s time for exercises.

The Brain within Its Groove: Thinking Tools to Get Out of a Rut

Sometimes our brain gets in a groove as in “flow” or “the zone,” and sometimes our brain gets in a groove as in “rut.” Emily Dickinson wrote of “The Brain within Its Groove” and the impact a “splinter” can have.

Thinking tools can help you escape a rut, explore new territory, gain new perspective, and construct new paths forward.

In this conversation, we’ll explore parallel thinking, lateral thinking approaches, and other methods for intentionally changing default patterns.

This topic is a survey approach to expose coaches, consultants, and others interested in thinking patterns to possible areas for further exploration.