welcome to the
PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING COURSE FOR AUTHORS
Course Returns LIVE
September 17th through October 8th, 2026.
Learn how to locate speaking opportunities, develop speaking topics, pitch yourself as a professional speaker, and deliver presentations like a pro.
One of the most effective ways to sell books is to speak at events where your target audience spends time.
As an author and speaker, you can:
=> Get invited to speak at conferences.
=> Speak to professional associations.
=> Travel to fun destinations.
=> Land corporate workshops.
=> Deliver compelling webinars.
=> Sell books at the back of the room.
=> Attract coaching and consulting clients.
=> Earn speaking fees and paid travel expenses. (Or not! Paid speaking isn’t for everyone.)
Your nonfiction book gives you instant credibility.
This course shows you how to transform that credibility into speaking opportunities.
THIS COMPREHENSIVE LIVE COURSE SHOWS YOU
STEP-BY-STEP HOW TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER
MODULE 1: GET STARTED AS A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER
You will learn how to:
- Choose speaking topics that appeal to your target audience.
- Craft compelling titles and descriptions for your presentations.
- Outline a new presentation and fill it with interesting content.
- Create captivating slides that follow speaking industry standards.
- Setup your website to attract speaking opportunities.
- Create a speaker sheet and presentation sheets.
MODULE 2: SPEAK TO SELL BOOKS (SPEAKING FOR FREE!)
You will learn how to:
- Develop your speaking skills using proven methods.
- Overcome your nerves and dazzle audiences of all sizes (really!).
- Understand the differences between free and paid speaking.
- Identify the best venues for your speaking topics and goals: corporations, nonprofits, trade associations, schools, service groups, and more.
- Locate and pitch a TEDx talk.
- Prepare to sign and sell books at the back of the room.
MODULE 3: GET PAID TO SPEAK: KEYNOTES AND OTHER REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES
You will learn how to:
- Determine your speaking fees based on key factors.
- Use proven strategies to locate paid speaking opportunities.
- Negotiate fees, travel expenses, and other essential contract details.
- Pre-sell books to event hosts.
- Boost revenue with bundles, add-ons, and up-sells.
- Craft and send your speaker pitch to event planners.
Module 4: HOST PROFITABLE WEBINARS AND ONLINE EVENTS
You will learn how to:
- Be a guest webinar presenter for organizations—free and paid.
- Ask the right questions to assess any webinar invitation you receive.
- Follow a checklist to prepare and show up like a pro.
- Acquire the right equipment (web camera, lighting, microphone).
- Host your own webinars to grow your email list, engage with your audience, sell your books, and more.
- Follow step-by-step instructions to schedule and promote your webinar.
- Use a checklist to be fully prepared and confident prior to going live.
- Leverage marketing tactics to attract speaking opportunities and corporate sponsors!
FACT: Speakers sell books.
If you want to leverage speaking to sell more books or break into paid speaking (or both!), this course delivers everything you need to know to get started right away.
Feedback from PREVIOUS STUDENTS
This is an awesome course. I learned so much about professional speaking for authors. It was just what I was looking for! All the classes I’ve taken with NFAA have been outstanding. That’s why I keep taking them!
Excellent class for writers looking for a way to expand the reach of their book for broader audiences!
The Professional Speaking for Authors course was filled with helpful and detailed information to ease the process of breaking into the speaking realm. Stephanie shared personal experiences as well as those she had researched. Many thanks, Stephanie!
Stephanie, Thank you for your excellent speaking course. It will help me return to professional speaking.
This is the third Nonfiction Authors Association course I’ve taken. I’ve been in the publishing industry for 20+ years, but most of my work has been on the publisher side. As I transition into being an author, every course has equipped me for this new role, including the Professional Speaking for Authors course. Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your expertise with us and for your passion for helping nonfiction authors thrive!
Professional Speaking for Authors is a must-attend for authors interested in developing their work as a speaker. It was informative, comprehensive, and practical. Stephanie is a fabulous speaker! I also enjoyed connecting with other author/speakers.
meet your course instructor:
STEPHANIE CHANDLER, CEO OF THE NONFICTION AUTHORS ASSOCIATION
Dear Writers,
I’m a fellow author, both traditionally published and self-published, and founder and CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association and Writers Conference. I also have extensive experience as a speaker. In the 1990’s (AGES ago!), I was a course developer and trainer for a software company in the Silicon Valley. It was my favorite “real job” I ever had. During my time there, I completed several speaking skills programs and received course development training. These skills have been incredibly valuable ever since!
When my first book was published in 2005, speaking wasn’t part of my initial promotion plan, but quickly became a priority when I realized it is a powerful way to sell books. I have since spoken at hundreds of events, both for free and for a fee. I have learned SO MANY tricks of the trade over the years. I can’t wait to share them with you!
Speaking has always been a popular topic in our author community. It has taken countless hours to develop this course. I am confident you will find it loaded with value. I look forward to sharing this experience with you and hope you will join us!
Warm regards,
Stephanie
P.S. You will NOT deliver any speeches during this course. We cover the nuts and bolts of building a speaking business, including many strategies to become a better speaker. There are plenty of ways you can put what you learn into action and practice your speaking skills. We’ll review those options as well!
Join the Nonfiction Authors Association when you register and receive discounted member pricing
Authority and VIP members of the Nonfiction Authors Association save 33% off all our courses.
Thought Leader members attend for free!
Click Here to See a List of Membership Benefits
Membership benefits include:
=> Weekly Author Advisor email featuring podcasts seeking guests and outlets where you can publish nonfiction articles and essays so you can grow your platform.
=> Huge database of templates, checklists, webinar recordings, reports, and legal agreements to find the answers you need and make your author journey easier.
=> 36 Live community meetings held per year! Each month you can attend the Author Brainstorm Exchange, where members connect in small groups; the Author Round Table, an open discussion for brainstorming and Q&A; and Genre Groups, where writers connect by nonfiction subgenre, including self-development, business, memoir, spirituality, health/wellness, and history/sciences/academic.
=> Private Facebook group to connect with authors and industry pros.
=> Meet-the-Members program where you can share your book announcement with our email subscribers, blog, and social media community, plus share an excerpt of your book on NonfictionBookClub.com.
=> Discount (33%) off our year-round Nonfiction Book Awards program.
=> Discount (33%) off our exclusive courses, including the Book Publishing Master Course and Book Marketing Master Course, both with optional professional certification.
=> Discount (33%) off the Nonfiction Writers Conference, held entirely online since 2010.
=> Discounts with NFAA partners, including Lulu, Office Depot, publishing insurance, and more.
Premium Membership Options
- Special benefits for VIP and Thought Leader members, including Marketing Momentum Mondays delivering advanced marketing and monetization strategies to your inbox, FREE admission to the Nonfiction Writers Conference, and all downloadable Author Toolkits.
- Thought Leader members get an all-access pass to ALL live courses, plus immediate access to the Book Publishing and Marketing master courses (self-study), a FREE entry in the Nonfiction Book Awards, and a FREE featured listing on NonfictionBookClub.com.
I just wanted to tell you how much I value all that you are doing with NFAA. It is one of the best investments in a membership I have ever made. I have been listening to your webinars and taking copious notes during them. One of my favorites was Revenue Stream for Authors. I am using it as a checklist for the many ways I can promote my book. It helps keep me focused. Being a first-time author was daunting enough. I didn’t realize how much time and effort it takes to promote a self-published book. NFAA has given me the tools for structuring that process. I would recommend NFAA to both the novice and seasoned author. ” – David Petrovay, PhD, Author of Life Between Jobs: Out of Work…Not Out of WORTH
Since 2010, we have helped thousands of people learn to write, publish, and promote nonfiction books. We can help you find the answers you need to accelerate your path to success.
Add membership when you register for the course (below) or join us here.
If you want to deliver presentations with confidence, this course is for you.
This course is ideal for you if you want to do any of the following:
- Leverage speaking engagements to sell more books.
- Grow and engage your audience through speaking.
- Make a difference in the world by sharing your message with more people.
- Overcome the fear of speaking in public.
- Deliver professional presentations in person and online.
- Get paid to speak. (Or not! Paid speaking isn’t for everyone, and that’s totally fine. Either way, there are many valuable lessons here for all speakers.)
Satisfaction is always 100% guaranteed.
If for any reason this course isn’t for you, notify us within the first week of instruction and receive a full refund.
You Will Finish This Course With…
✓ A professional speaker positioning strategy
✓ Several presentation topics that will get you booked
✓ A polished speaker bio
✓ Professional presentation slides
✓ A speaker one-sheet
✓ A speaker webpage
✓ A list of organizations to pitch
✓ A proven outreach strategy
✓ The confidence to get on stage and dazzle your audience
Instead of wondering where to begin,
you will have a complete roadmap!
DOWNLOAD COURSE MATERIALS AS SOON AS YOU REGISTER FOR THE COURSE!
- Checklist of Items to Take to a Speaking Engagement
- Elements of a Speaker One Sheet
- Feedback Form Template
- Product Order Form Template
- Sample Presentation Sheet
- Sample Speaker Agreement Contract
- Speaker Intake Form Template
- Speaker Request Form Template for Your Website
- Webinar Process Document, Step by Step
- Equipment Needed for Webinars
- Zoom Webinar Setup and Tips
- Sample Webinar Welcome Script
Whether you want to speak to small or large audiences, get paid to speak, or focus on selling books, you will leave this course on the road to filling your speaking calendar!
JOIN THE LIVE COURSE
COURSE DATES: SEPTEMBER 17, 24, AND OCTOBER 1, 8, 2026
THURSDAYS AT 10AM PT / 1PM ET
Live learning sessions are interactive with students and last about 90 minutes.
COURSE REGISTRATION INCLUDES:
- LIVE course sessions on Zoom, including Q&A, beginning September 17, 2026.
- Course recordings shared shortly after each live session–lifetime access.
- All course slides.
- Weekly homework assignments (optional).
- Option to join the Nonfiction Authors Association and receive discounted member pricing with registration (33% off).
- Course handouts available for immediate download with registration, including a sample speaker agreement, speaker one-sheet template, checklist of items to take to speaking engagements, and everything you need to host your own webinars.
COURSE RATE: $397/MEMBER | $597/NON-MEMBER
3-Pay Option Available in cart.
Authority and VIP members of the Nonfiction Authors Association:
Visit your member dashboard for 33% discount code. Thought Leader members attend for free.
Not a member yet? You can join with course enrollment and receive the member discount instantly.
Ready to confidently speak to groups of all sizes while you sell more books and related services? This course is for you!
COURSE REGISTRATION OPTIONS
PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING COURSE FOR AUTHORS
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COURSE +
AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP
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AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP $867OR $297 X 3 PAY
COURSE +
VIP
MEMBERSHIP
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Price includes 33% member discount off course.
VIP
MEMBERSHIP$1,367OR $477 X 3 PAY
COURSE +
THOUGHT LEADER MEMBERSHIP
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THOUGHT LEADER MEMBERSHIP$2,770OR $727 X 4 PAY
Please note that we do not guarantee any outcome or financial benefit for participants. Results will vary and depend in part on the effort you put into participating in the course and then implementing your marketing plans. Course benefits, dates, and times are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. As a reminder, you can cancel and request a full refund for any reason within the first two weeks of the course. We look forward to having you join us. Questions? Contact us here.
