PWAC Guelph

July Meeting — The Big Split
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

It's official. Come September 1st, 2009, Waterloo Region will have its own PWAC chapter. Heather Wright heads the operation and has launched the Waterloo Region PWAC Blog to keep you informed.

No messy, Hollywood-style divorce, this amicable split will provide the Golden Triangle a powerful one-two combination. If you miss a meeting you can get your PWAC fix with the sister chapter. We'll also co-host joint workshops and other professional development activities to benefit both regions.

But before Waterloo Region launches we've one more official joint meeting. The agenda includes:

• De-brief from the MagNet conference: highlights, hot tips, AGM need-to-knows, and inspirations for our own local events
• Strategize about taking care of the blog after Charmian (sniff) leaves
• Discuss Google groups, formal bulletins, and any other business related to the “big split”
• Go-around: pressing issues, brags, moans, etc.

If your surname falls between A and M, feel free to bring nibbles.

Photo © cheetah100. Published under a Creative Commons License.

Happy Canada Day!

This country has a rich and diverse literary history. To celebrate Canada's 142nd birthday, I'm asking you to proudly proclaim your favourite Canadian author or piece of Canadian writing. No author or piece is too popular or too obscure.

Just because we deal with non-fiction all day, you shouldn't feel limited to journalism. Is Leonard Cohen your man? Do you feel the only way to spell Anne is with an "e"? Or are you hurtin' for Pierre Burton?

To give your imagination a jolt, here's a musical tribute to writers by the now defunct Canadian band, Moxy Fruvous. Spot the Canuck references and then dance on over to the comments section and sing some praises for our homegrown scribes.

Photo © Rene Ehrhardt. Published under a Creative Commons License.

The Renegade Writer's Query Letters that Rock: The Freelance Writer's Guide to Selling More Work Faster
Written by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell
Reviewed by Charmian Christie

The Renegade Writers strike again. This time Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell team up to tackle the contentious topic of query letters. Having sold stories to Oxygen, Writer's Digest, Family Circle and almost every major US national magazine, these seasoned writers know how to capture an editor's attention — in a good way.

Organized into two sections, Query Letters that Rock (Marion Street Press, 2006) covers FAQs and examines real-life query letters that landed assignments. The opening Q&A section deals with the most common query questions from new writers and veterans alike. What if you don't have clips? How much research should you do before pitching? What do you do if an editor offers an "idea fee"? Other topics the Renegades tackle include kill fees, follow-ups, coping with rejection, pitching essays, selling your credentials and travel pitches.

The second section delivers 24 honest-to-goodness query letters that resulted in feature articles for big name publications ranging from AARP to Smithsonian. Formichelli and Burrell include the original query letter as well as interviews with the writer about their approach and the assigning editor about what sold them. What more could you want — other than an assignment?

This book is a must for anyone who struggles with the frustrations of pitching. Not only will you see a wide range of successful approaches, all your burning query-letter questions will get answered in just under 200 lively pages.

Last month, I said I suspected why so many PWAC Guelph members didn't have their own website. Time to come clean. I blame this dearth on easy-to-set-up public profiles like LinkedIn. The other culprit? One of the PWAC's biggest benefits — Writers.ca. You heard me. Our beloved Writers.ca. While I can't back this up with paperwork, I believe the tech-phobic treat public profiles as a snooze button on website creation. Some even consider it a flat-out substitute.

I disagree.

Don't get me wrong. Public profiles have their place. LinkedIn has lots of networking potential, but where are the clips? And while Writers.ca is an excellent resource for editors who are actively looking for a freelancer in a specific area or geographic location, it's little more than a list of credits. Yes, many PWAC members have landed assignments through this service, but many have not.

Why aren't these online profiles good enough? They're a database, not a showcase. When an editor finds you on Writers.ca they also find other writers with similar credentials. Put on your editor's hat. Which writer would you hire for a travel story? The one featured on the left or the one on right?

It's a bit of a trick question. They're both the same writer. The left is my writers.ca profile, which looks like every other writers.ca profile at first glance. On the right is my website. Without a website to link to, the information on the left is all the editor gets. With a website? The editor is one click away from a bio, clips, testimonials and more. And remember, not only does a website offer more information, it shows you've taken the time and trouble to set up a professional online presence.

So now you know why a website should be part of your marketing plan and why public profiles and online databases are not enough. The last barrier to tackle is the twin universal protests:

• I don't have the money.
• I don't know how.

Up next — some PWAC Guelph member websites, complete with a cost breakdown and benefits analysis. Oh my! Big words for a Friday.

Teresa Pitman wrote her first books at age six because her parents would only take her into town to visit the library once every three weeks and that didn't satisfy her voracious appetite for reading. Those stories were fiction. Today, after twenty-five years of full-time freelancing, Teresa's writing is more factual: she has twelve published books and writes for magazines (including Today's Parent ), newspapers, social service agencies, the University of Guelph and Ontario Veterinary College, and other organizations looking for clear communications with a little flair.

What's your writing passion?
Well, writing. Like the late Isaac Asimov, I love to write. In terms of writing content, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting feel like hugely important topics to me, but I'm increasingly finding I feel passionate about animals, travel, medicine and the natural world as well.

Proudest writing moment?
Probably winning the Toronto Star Short Story contest.

Who would you love to interview and why?
So many people! Stephen Lewis would be high on my list because I have such admiration for his intelligence and integrity.

What time of day do you write best?
Definitely early morning.

Best writing habit?
Keeping track of deadlines by organizing my "work in progress" files by month and noting due dates on the calendar.

Worst writing habit?
Probably procrastination.

Who has influenced your career the most?
I'm tempted to say the bank that holds my mortgage, but really it's a couple of editors: Fran Fearnley and Holly Bennett. Fran saw some book reviews I'd written for a catalogue, and offered me a chance to write for her magazine (then called "Great Expectations"). Holly was my editor for some of my books and magazine articles; I think she's a brilliant writer and editor and her insights have taught me a lot.

Favourite writing tool?
Does wine count?

Favourite words?
I like short, straightforward, honest words. Birth. Baby. Love.

What words would you like to see banned from print?
After many years of corporate/organizational work, my fondest dream would be to never see the word utilized again. Ever.

Most embarrassing writing mistake?
I think I've erased all these from my memory.

Must-have reference books?
Right now, my favourite is Query Letters That Rock .

What are you reading right now?
As usual, I have about a half-dozen books on the go. Newest one is The Private Patient by P.D. James.

What's on your desk?
A lot. My daytimer, two Rolodexes, a pile of index cards that I use for notes and lists, a multi-compartment container with pens, scissors, Sharpies, printer cartridges, etc., stacking shelves with file folders, writing pads and notebooks, and folders with articles and projects I'm working on now. Also my computer, computer monitor and passport.

Do you ever write in your pajamas?
Don't wear pjs - always a nightgown. And yes, I write in it all the time.

Best piece of writing advice you ever received?
Write what only you can write. In other words, your unique experiences and perspectives should always bring something to the piece.

If you weren't a writer, what would you be?
I'd seriously thought about being either a doctor or a vet, so probably one of those. I'm still very interested in medicine.

It's Friday. Your brain is softer than that black banana foundering on your countertop. But the deadline still looms.

The remedy for your mental malaise? Dr. Wicked. His tagline —putting the 'prod' in productivity — says it all. If you're unmotivated and needing a nudge, the Doctor is always in.

Just go to his website, enter your word goal, set a time frame and then write for your life. As long as the keyboard's clacking, you're safe. But hesitate too long over the right word, futz over a phrase or debate the plural of octopus? Well... don't say we didn't warn you.

I use this occasionally when a shot of espresso and a ticking clock aren't enough. Anyone else tried it and lived to tell the tale? After you've filed your article, stroll on over to the comments section and tell us your story. Take your time. Here, you're off the clock.

This month you'll find us in a wide range of glossy and not-so-glossy magazines.

And online. And in the newspaper. And in schools...

• Launches a special needs parenting blog for Today’s Parent Magazine.
• Helps preschoolers conquer their fear of dogs in “Fido Phobia” for Canadian Family Magazine.
• Mingles and nibbles on mini burgers and artichoke cigars at the National Magazine Awards Gala. Receives an Honourable Mention in the Service: Health and Family Category for “Empty Nest Envy” (More Magazine).
• Redesigns her website.

• Makes the cover of CCCA Magazine with “Restraining Orders,” a ten-point guide for in-house lawyers on how to control costs.
• Pulls together green energy information for farmers for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
• Makes the case for a network of marine protected areas on Canada’s East Coast in a joint brochure for WWF-Canada, CPAWS-NS and the Ecology Action Centre.
• Places in the top five for “best how-to article” at the recent Canadian Business Press KRW awards.

• Quizzed Governor General award-winning playwright, Vern Thiessen, about his writing habits for a playwright's newsletter.
• Beautifies boulevards for CanadianGardening.com.
  
• Chatted with wine pairing expert Shari Darling for her Cahoots column, Femme Vitale.
• Discussed a variety of Eat Local initiatives on her blog, Christie's Corner.

• wrote marketing materials about Fair Trade for Ten Thousand Villages
• tells why Fair Trade foods are good for the earth in the June issue of Most magazine

• Writes for the CBC about a nasty bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.
• Researched the food of both (former) Burma and Thailand for her Greenwood Press contributions.

• Writes about “seductive” orchids for Grand Magazine. Her article “One May Not Be Enough” is in the May/June issue.
• Writes about trusts and court procedures for Lawyershop.ca.
• Finished writing web copy for 3 websites.

• Relates several ways to save time in the kitchen in the May issue of Country Guide.
• Interviews Ken Knox, President, Innovation Institute of Ontario for his views on the future of agriculture in the May issue of Country Guide magazine.
• Describes how the Seeds of Diversity organization is preserving heirloom seeds for future generations in the May issue of Out Here.
• Writes about the successful Lavender Hills Lavender Farm for Ontario Farmer.

• Explores local seasonal food in the newsletter for the Guelph-Wellington Food Initiative.
• Goes green for summer in the continuing series “Green at Home” for the Toronto Star website.
• Expands the writing skills of teens in a workshop for the Guelph Public Library.

• Wrote “Talking to your Kids About Job Loss” in the June issue of Readers’ Digest.
• Contributed pieces on Edna Staebler and the Mennonite Central Committee for the Mennonite Heritage Project.
• Spoke to a Grade 12 class about being a freelance writer and editor, and managed to make them laugh.

• Recalls the somewhat terrifying experience of standing on the edge of a live volcano for the Toronto Star Travel Section.
• Mourns the death of her friend’s son in More magazine’s May issue.
• Answers questions about pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding on her Todays Parent Online blog.
• Interviews various interesting people for the University of Guelph and the Ontario Veterinary College.
• Develops policy and procedure manuals for Hamilton Catholic CAS and the Waterloo Region Healthy Babies Healthy Children.

• Develops new markets for Barefoot Books in Canada with her work with Fire the Imagination.
• Assists potter Jessica Steinhauser to explain her work in a quest for the world's biggest art prize.  
• Spoke on "Embracing Ambiguity" at Dublin St. United Church.
• Explores the genre of the spiritual profile.

Photo © daquellemanera. Published under a Creative Commons License.

Got so much on the go your head is spinning? With email to send and answer, assignments to write, research to conduct, contracts to sign, receipts to file, invoices to issue and a calendar to keep up to date do you feel a bit scattered? I do.

So this week, I ask the burning question on every busy professional's mind: How do you stay organized? Or do you?

Rush on over to the comments section and help us out — that is, if you can find the time.

Photo © yatoobin. Published under a Creative Commons License.

Every industry has its award season. For Canadian magazine writers, it just wrapped up. And while a PR guru I once interviewed recommends releasing bad news all at once but good news bit by bit, I'm giving into temptation and listing all the PWAC Guelph members who were honoured by their peers over the past week.

Jean Mills took home PWAC's Barbara Novak Award for Excellence in Humour/Personal Essay Writing for her lovely Globe and Mail piece, "The Roots of her Story," on seeing her adoptive daughter turn 18.

Amy Baskin glammed it up at the National Magazine Awards gala on Friday, winning an honourable mention for her story "Empty Nest Envy" in More Magazine.

Julie Stauffer (yes, I'm tooting my own horn) placed in the top five for "best how-to article" at the recent Canadian Business Press KRW awards for her CCCA Magazine story on coping with catastrophe.

And perhaps most relevant to readers of this blog, Charmian Christie walked away from Thursday's PWAC awards banquet with a richly deserved regional volunteer award.

Charmian has done many, many things for PWAC-Guelph, but among the most significant was launching this blog and shaping it into a vibrant resource, not just for our own members but also for professional writers far outside the Royal City.

She is the architect and visionary who put it together and the invisible writer behind so many of the postings you read here. So many thanks, Charmian, and kudos on your award. We all had our fingers crossed but, really, I suspect it was no contest.

The web is essential for professional writers. Sure, our magazine and newspaper articles usually appear online even if the publication is print-based, but do you have your own website? If you answered "yes" post a link to it in the comments section and go have an extra cup of coffee. With a biscuit. You don't need to read this.

If you answered "no", then read on. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200 — until you have that website up and running.

This is the first in a series of posts about websites for freelance writers. I know this topic has been written about extensively, but the message doesn't seem to be getting through. Fewer than half the Guelph members have their own website, so I think some of you still need a bit of convincing.

Whether or not you write online content, a website should be part of your marketing strategy. You all have business cards, right? Well a website is just as essential. Why? A website:

• Creates a professional image: A writer without a website is a bit like a photographer showing up to a gig without a camera. You work with words. Put them out there.
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• Sets you apart. Check out the websites of other writers. Without looking at their bio or clips, you can usually tell whether they write hard news, feel-good features, corporate copy or sci-fi. A website is the perfect way to show your clients why you're the writer for them.
• 
  
• Helps Google find you. No website? No search results. Or results that land so deep in a search an editor might give up. Help yourself out and get a website with either your name or your company's name in the URL. You want to land on page one when clients Google your name. And they will.
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• Showcases your writing. With unlimited space, a website is the ideal place for all those clips and writing samples that won't fit in a query letter or promo package. And it's a snap to keep current.
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• Markets upcoming events. Want to publicize speaking engagements, workshops, or awards? Or do you want to generate some buzz about that newly signed book deal? What better place than your website? And no one's going to complain you're playing favourites. After all, the website is all about you.
• 
  
• Acts as a store front. The marketing potential of a website is limited only by your imagination. Any time of day or night you can sell your e-book, reprints or photos. You can even create an online enrollment system for workshops or classes you're conducting.
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With websites offering so many benefits, why do a so few writers in this group have one? I have my suspicions, but I'll address them in the next installment. In the meantime, if you don't have a website, fess up. What's holding you back?

Photo © sudhamshu. Published under a Creative Commons License.