Penniless Writer Presentations

The Penniless Writer Presentations offer lively, good‑humoured, and practical talks designed to inspire anyone with an interest in writing or publishing. Drawing on more than a decade of authoring experience and over twenty published titles, Neil Mach shares clear, down‑to‑earth guidance that will help aspiring authors move from an idea to a finished book—without breaking the bank.

Neil offers two new presentations for Autumn 2026-Spring 2027 season. See details (below)

The Penniless Writer Series offers lively, good‑humoured, and practical talks designed to inspire anyone with an interest in writing or publishing - photo credit Darius Bashar

1: Why You Should Start Writing Your Book Today

The successfully published author—now with more than twenty titles to his name—illustrates the merits of getting started on your book right now.

Neil explains why you should begin your best-seller today. Hint: it isn’t for fame, glory, or sales.

This in-person talk includes tips on:

• How to get a writing project started

• Generating ideas using plot, character, or theme as inspiration

• What constitutes a good idea for a book

• Developing a theme for your book

• Researching your book: practical tips and tricks

• Creating a daily writing schedule that works for you

• Strategies for staying motivated when your focus falters

• How to move forward in small increments

• Handling the “saggy bits” in the middle of a project

• Managing clunkiness and wonkiness in everyday writing

• Improving and editing your writing as you go

• Staying focused for the long haul

• Knowing when your masterpiece is truly finished
  

  

  Don’t assume you’re unable to publish because you’re penniless. In these light‑hearted but instructional presentations from the Penniless Writer series, Neil shows his audience how to publish a book on a shoestring - photo credit Vitaly Gariev

2: How You Can Publish Your Book on a Shoestring

Don’t assume you’re unable to publish because you’re penniless. In this light‑hearted but instructional presentation in the Penniless Writer series, Neil shows his audience how to publish a book on a shoestring —and still make it the best‑looking book on the shelf!

You’ll enjoy this engaging explanation of how to publish a book for free (or almost free).

Are you thinking about spending thousands to get your manuscript published by a publishing service? Stop!

Hold off spending hard‑earned cash until you see this important presentation.

Neil’s 50‑minute slideshow explains the distinctions between hybrid, vanity, full‑service, traditional, and independent (self) publishing.

Please note there are no strings attached to this author appearance. Neil won’t make a sales pitch and he won’t try to sell a book to your audience. He simply enjoys sharing his advice, insights, and experiences with aspiring authors.

In this 50-minute in-person talk Neil sheds light on:

• The pros and cons of traditional publishing

• The pros and cons of hybrid publishing

• The pros and cons of vanity publishing

• The pros and cons of self‑publishing
  

He helps his audience plan their book publication, leveraging free resources and tools to create a top‑notch book at low (or no) cost.

Neil explains:

• How self‑publishing works, including the free options available

• eBook and print formatting, and how to format a book’s interior for free

• How to use free print‑on‑demand services

• The steps required to obtain a professional book cover at minimal cost

To register your interest in one of the talks in the The Penniless Writer Series or to book Neil Mach for an event go to https://speakernet.co.uk/speaker/1888/neil-mach 

The Penniless Writer Series of in-person talks by English author Neil Mach

About Neil Mach

Neil Mach is a prolific English author known for his clean urban fantasy—such as the popular Moondog series—and his historical fiction. He claims English Roma heritage and lives in Staines, Surrey, describing himself as a “Hippy Grandad.” Alongside his writing, Neil is a well‑known public speaker and creativity advisor, with a background in rock journalism. He frequently shares his expertise on writing and the music business across television, radio, and podcast channels.

Since its launch in 2019, his extremely popular Myth & Magic podcast has provided enthusiasts of fantasy literature and fantasy art with more than 125 hours of audio enjoyment. Neil is a busy and well‑respected speaker, delivering over 70 in‑person lectures in the last 12 months.