What You’ll Learn: 

Build a Profile That Tells Your Story. 

Go beyond a title. Craft a profile with a clear voice, a strong narrative, and a compelling Unique Value Proposition. 

Find and Grow Your Audience. 

Connect with the right people—not just more people. Learn how to engage with readers, editors, and influencers already in your space. 

Create Content That Gets Noticed. 

What works on LinkedIn today: posts, articles, newsletters, polls, and commentary. 

Why original content wins—and how to make yours stand out. 

Engage Like a Pro (Without Feeling Salesy)

Comment, share, and participate in conversations that matter. 

Understand how the algorithm really works: “people you know, talking about the things you care about.”

Become Your Own Publicist. 

Use LinkedIn as a 24/7 platform to promote your work, build credibility, and create opportunities—without spending a dime.

Why This Matters for Writers: 

Most professionals are on LinkedIn, but only a small percentage actively create content. That creates a huge opportunity for writers willing to show up consistently. Visibility leads to readers, speaking opportunities, collaboration, and book sales.

Saturday, May 9, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Where 

Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave., Napa 

Open to the Public 

NVW Members: $10
Guests: $15
Students: Free with ID 

Jim Lauria is an international business executive, author, and water industry thought leader who has been an active LinkedIn member since 2004, building a community of over 12,000 followers and 4,500+ subscribers to his LinkedIn newsletter To Know Water Is to Love Water. A chemical engineer by training, Jim has leveraged LinkedIn to establish himself as a leading voice in the water space publishing feature and cover articles for top industry publications, co-hosting the podcast Water We Talking About?, reviewing 75+ water books, and posting a daily water quote for over 500 consecutive days. He is also the author of How to Get Your Money Back From Big Companies and has used LinkedIn strategically to attract consulting clients, speaking engagements, and collaborations across the global water sector. Jim lives in Napa, California, and looks forward to sharing the practical LinkedIn strategies that have fueled his publishing and professional journey. Connect with him at linkedin.com/in/jimlauria.

The Art of Presence: Pro Marketing & Self-Promotion Tips for Writers

Contrary to what we often tell ourselves, sales and self-promotion aren’t nearly as scary as they seem. With more than three decades in advertising sales and marketing—and over a decade as a published author, Marketing Mentor, and Gap Mindset Coach—Shawn Langwell will walk you through five practical, proven steps to help you move past the fear of “selling yourself.”

You’ll leave feeling more confident doing what you already do best: telling great stories. This session will show you how to flip the script—how to tell the story behind your story—so you can connect authentically with new readers and build self-confidence along the way. The goal isn’t to push or pitch—it’s to shift your focus from what you want to what you can give, starting by simply showing up as yourself: passionate, present, and proud of what you’ve created.

Saturday, April 11, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Where 

Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave., Napa 

Open to the Public 

NVW Members: $10
Guests: $15
Students: Free with ID 

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers and Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com