It’s not just JK Rowling that should have merchandise – find out how to develop your own.

If you’re an author and you think that having your own merchandise will have to wait till you’re JK Rowling, then think again. There are good reasons why you should develop your own merchandise and this workshop will help you do just that. 

What this workshop will cover: 

• 5 things merchandise can do for you as an author
• The difference between products and merchandise
• Case studies – from JK Rowling to part-time authors
• The new product development process: 6 steps to avoid mistakes
• Planning ahead – writing merchandise into your books 

We’ll also amuse ourselves with some truly terrible examples of author merchandise, practice finding product ideas by working on some imaginary book titles and look at how to write a business plan for your products (and yourself as a writer). 

You’ll take away lots of ideas for your own merchandise, a list of recommended reading and a business plan template. This workshop is ideal for authors at all stages – from just getting to started to full-timers.  Fiction and non-fiction both welcome! 

This workshop will be presented by Melissa Addey, the 2016 Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library’s Business & IP Centre. Melissa has over 15 years business experience developing new products and mentoring entrepreneurs, as well as being an author of fiction and non-fiction.  With guest speaker Shaun Levin, author of Writing Maps and author Jonathan Green.

These workshops are provided free of charge as part of the British Library Business & IP Centre’s Artist in Residence programme, generously funded by the Leverhulme Trust.