PWAC Waterloo Region

New Workshop: Getting Your Non-Fiction Into Print

2011-08-02T10:57:00.001-04:00

Editor Nicole Langlois Smoothes the Rocky Road to Mainstream Publishing

If you have a non-fiction book idea that you want to submit to a mainstream publisher, Nicole Langlois has the insider information you need to take your idea to publication.

On Tuesday, September 20th at 7 PM, come to the Forest Heights Branch of the Kitchener Public Library for Nicole's workshop: Getting Your Non-Fiction into Print: Navigating the World of Mainstream Publishing and hear her speak on the following topics:

• Agents: When and why you need one and how to get one.

• Editors: What they want and how they work.

• The Proposal: Why you need one and how to write one.

• Your Profile: Why it's important and how to build one

Nicole knows mainstream publishing from the inside. In 1995 she began as Assistant Editor at HarperCollins Publishers (Canada) and progressed to Managing Editor. At HarperCollins, and now as a freelance editor, Nicole has worked on a range of genres, including biography, memoir and inspirational, and a range of topics, such as parenting, religion, personal finance, home improvement, and sports. Two of the books she edited were nominated for Governor General’s Awards for Non-fiction.

Nicole is passionate about books (both non-fiction and fiction) and about working with authors to find the publishing solution that suits them best.

Admission to the 2-hour workshop is $30, $20 for PWAC members, and $10 for students. Tickets will be available at the door, but if possible, please confirm your attendance by emailing waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com.

Upcoming Workshop: Getting Your Book to Market Using Print on Demand

2011-03-03T14:23:00.006-05:00

"Kindle books have now overtaken paperback books as the most popular format on Amazon.com."

Register now for Paul Lima's workshop: Getting Your Book to Market Using Print on Demand. Paul, a veteran freelancer and author, will give you the tips and information you need to help you make your dream of self-publication come true.

Print on Demand (POD) is a popular, affordable short-run publishing process that can be used to sell print and electronic copies of your book(s) from your website and/or from leading online booksellers such as Amazon and Indigo/Chapters. You can also sell your books at workshops, lectures and readings, and through book retailers.

This workshop will define POD, spell out how POD works, reveal the author’s responsibility (other than writing the book) and discuss the steps authors can take to prepare books. The workshop will also look at what various POD companies do (for you) at what price, and outline the kind of distribution you can expect from POD companies.

In addition, the following marketing topics will be briefly discussed: websites vs. blogs, Facebook vs. LinkedIn, and to tweet or not to tweet. Note: This is not a technical workshop, i.e., it will not look at how to use software to create books. It will, however, mention software packages that authors should get, or that designers should have, if they are serious about POD.

Paul Lima has worked as a professional writer, communicator and writing instructor for over 25 years. He has run a successful freelance writing, copywriting, corporate communications, business writing, and media relations training business since 1988. Paul is the author of ten books on writing and the business of writing, including these titles: Harness the Business Writing Process, How to Write a Non-fiction Book in 60 Days, Everything You Wanted To Know About Freelance Writing, and seven other books. You can visit Paul online at http://www.paullima.com/.

The 3-hour workshop will be held at 9:30 a.m. onSaturday, April 9th at the Country Hills branch of the Kitchener Public Library on Block Line Road, adjacent to St. Mary's Collegiate. Admission is $40 for the public, and $30 for PWAC members. Reserve your spot now by sending a note to waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com.

2011 - What's Ahead?

2011-01-13T16:51:00.000-05:00

At our meeting in January we are going to try something a little different and actually share our writing with our members. It will be a fun evening of readings and nibbles, and we're all looking forward to hearing each other's "writer voices."

On the agenda, too, in the next two months is deciding what professional development workshop we are going to treat ourselves to in the spring, and a revamp of our website.

Ongoing will be our continued sharing of updates on what we are writing, asking questions, giving answers and supporting each other in the crazy business of freelance writing.

Roll on 2011!

A Great Night

2010-11-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

A small-but-mighty group gathered last evening at the Country Hills library for three workshops presented by Waterloo Region PWAC members: Sharon Blomfield, Julia Browne and Heather Wright.

Everyone learned more about writing for children, interviewing skills and travel writing. They learned how to listen and how to guide an interview, how to use their senses and find the people that make a travel story come alove, and how to connect to kidlit resources on the Intenet and open a story with character and conflict. The audience's questions made for great discussions and the sharing of experiences and knowledge.

Thanks for a wonderful evening, everyone.

Please drop us a line if you'd like to know about attending our next meeting, which will be Tuesday, November 16th at 7 PM. waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com

NOVEMBER 9TH WRITING WORKSHOPS

2010-10-12T12:44:00.000-04:00

3 Writing Workshops
—One Great Evening

Three members of PWAC Waterloo Region give you an insider’s look at the following topics:

• Interviewing your way to great quotes
• Making your travel writing come alive
• Tips & resources for kidlit writers

When: Tuesday, November 9th 7:00 to 8:45 pm

Where: Country Hills Branch of the Kitchener Public Library, 1500 Block Line Road, Kitchener

Cost: Non-members $30, PWAC members $20, Students $10

If possible, please confirm attendance via email: waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com or via phone 519-744-9482

Summer Days and Planning Ahead

2010-08-04T11:33:00.000-04:00

Our July meeting marked the beginning of planning in earnest for promotion of our November 9th writing workshop to be held at the Country Hills branch of the Kitchener Public Library. On this evening, we plan to present three small workshops that will combine information, resources and audience participation. Currently, our topics are interviewing skills, travel writing and writing for children. The particular focus of each of these topics will be revealed in the fall.
We also look forward to revisiting and catching up with our former PWAC Guelph cohorts at a joint barbeque in August.
September may include a "field trip" to one of the One Community, One Book readings by author, Terry Fallis. Several members have read Best Laid Plans and look forward to hearing the author read from this very funny political satire.
The fall is a perfect time to make some resolutions and decisions about our freelance careers and we'll be sharing those at our October meeting.
In the meantime, we'll be trying to keep cool and creative as we work through the vacation, work, and getting-ready-for-school days that remain before Labour Day.
Hope you have a great August!
Heather Wright
President

Reports from the MagNet Conference

2010-06-17T11:59:00.000-04:00

During the first week in June, three of our intrepid members travelled to Toronto to participate in several PWAC workshops that were part of the MagNet Conference. We enjoyed presentations about SEO writing, marketing, business-to-business writing, research skills, negotiating contracts and several other topics of interest to freelancers.

The PWAC banquet was held on Thursday evening, and Waterloo Region PWAC executive members were given certificates to mark the inauguration of their new PWAC chapter. More stalwart PWAC members (and those that hadn't been on the 5:50 AM bus from Kitchener) attended the party after the banquet and participated in and enjoyed sing alongs and a fractured version of a Shakespeare play.

Tired and laden with fascinating gems of knowledge, our members travelled home on Friday inspired and ready to grow their freelance careers. Members heard more about the conference and the workshops at the June meeting and will soon receive copies of the seminar notes for their own reference.

Freelance Writing Workshop

2010-03-12T12:24:00.000-05:00

Please join our members for a Q & A session about freelance writing at the Forest Heights Branch of the Kitchener Public Library on Tuesday, March 23rd at 7 PM.

Bring your questions to our panel of professional writers. Learn more about where to find markets, how to build a client base through networking, how to manage tight deadlines and more. See why freelancing can be a rewarding – and flexible – career choice.

Call the library at 519-743-0644 to register.

Why It's Cool to be a Resume Writer

2010-02-27T10:29:00.000-05:00

Waterloo Region PWAC Member Stephanie Clark talks about her particular writer's craft.

Freelance writers come in many shapes, sizes and varieties. Perhaps most freelancers write articles for magazines; some write grant proposals for not-for-profits; and fewer still write screenplays. I am a rather rare breed; I am a professional full-time resume writer.

There was a time when I approached the writing of my own resume with all the enthusiasm I muster when visiting the dentist. (My apologies to dentists; my small mouth is to blame.) Now that I have the know-how to create interesting resumes —resumes certainly don’t have to be boring— I write several a week, along with professional bios, cover and networking letters, thank you notes, and project profiles.

Here’s the cool part: people so despise writing their own resumes that they are grateful to pay me for the service! And once they see how accomplished they look on paper their confidence is renewed, their hope reinvigorated, their luck reinstated, and I am the lucky recipient of their rather flattering words.

Yes, it’s a hard life, that of the resume writer! Well, it is lonely as many clients are virtual, and demanding, as oftentimes clients have tight deadlines. But it is unbelievably rewarding to lend a talent that promotes careers, an integral piece of most people’s lives. I love what I do for a living, and that’s my goal—to help each client find a job that evokes the words “I love what I do.”

January Update - What Our Members Are Doing

2010-01-04T17:55:00.000-05:00

Stephanie Clark
• Continues to support clients' career goals by strategizing and writing their resumes and cover letters (two business owners and an engineer recently completed; a manufacturing manager and a couple of students coming up).
• Continues to write career-related articles for the Waterloo Region Record's “Careers Weekly” feature. In January, look for three articles on job fair know-how: Being Prepared, Working the Job Fair, and Networking Post-Job-Fair.
• Wrote web-site copy for a past client who is launching an interesting summer business. After years of camping and canoeing in Canada's remote wilderness, he hopes to entice baby-boomers to return to camping, and young families to discover camping, by making the experience easier. "Glamping" (or glamorous camping) lightens the effort, and leaves all the magic!
• Edited a thesis for a bioscientist. Full of equations and diagrams, it nonetheless contains text that must be succinct and flow as logically as the equations.

Helen Lammers-Helps

• Described the benefits of heirloom seeds in the November issue of Ontario Gardener magazine.
• Discussed the history of food preservation for her November "Second Helpings" column in the Ontario Farmer newspaper.
• Heralded the launch of Barrie Bros. Local Food Company in the November issue of Out Here.
• Talked about how to solve generational conflict in the workplace in the November issue of Country Guide magazine.
• Detailed how the Magda family ventured into the green roof business for Ontario Farmer.
• Shared her favourite root vegetable recipes in her December "Second Helpings" column in the Ontario Farmer newspaper.
• Wrote about five farmers who are sharing their agricultural skills in third world countries for the December issue of Country Guide magazine.
• Gave twelve tips to help those returning to school in mid-life in the December issue of Country Guide magazine.

Heather Wright

• Wrote about Province of Ontario impaired driving penalties for http://info.lawyershop.ca/.
• Interviewed a family lawyer for most frequently asked questions about separation and divorce.
• Continued to prepare her manuscript for publication: Writing Fiction—A Hands-On Guide for Teens.
• Continued to blog about writing at http://wrightwriter.wordpress.com/
• Received an Ontario Arts Council Writers’ Reserve Program grant from Kids Can Press for a YA novel-in-progress.

Lisa MacColl

• Wrote an editorial for the Waterloo Region Record after nearly getting hit by a 2x4 at the Olympic Torch Relay.
• Wrote about gifts and food allergies for http://www.allergysense.com/
• Wrote about best gifts for teachers in December Readers' Digest.
• Blogged about conforming and being a reformed Grinch at http://lisamaccoll.blogspot.com/
• Prepared a corporate letter of reference for a client in Hong Kong whose contract is ending so that her boss could approve/sign it before he left on Christmas holidays.

Sharon Blomfield

• Joined the Twitter community.
• Finished a story for a March edition of the Boston Globe's travel section
• Continues work on her book.

Sandra Reimer

• Wrote a funding proposal that resulted in a client receiving a $15,000 grant
• Wrote a funding proposal for a local charity that provides housing and support to new comers to Canada
• Project managed, edited and wrote articles for two quarterly newsletters for charities and an employee newsletter for an industrial company
• Oversaw a holiday card contest for children of the employees of a client; chose winning drawings and designed and produced a holiday card
• Wrote and oversaw production and mailing of two fundraising letters for charities working with local people in poverty and new immigrants in Canadian cities
• Strategized about and developed website content for a small business owner who provides virtual office assistance
• Is in the middle of project managing and writing an annual report for a charity that starts new churches in Ontario
• Is writing an article for a Canadian men’s magazine about the religious freedom enjoyed by new Canadians who come from countries with restrictive religious laws

Where We're Blogging

2010-01-01T10:34:00.000-05:00

Julia Brown blogs at
http://www.spiritofblackparis.blogspot.com/

Lisa MacColl blogs at
http://lisamaccoll.blogspot.com/
http://www.allergysense.com/blog/author/lisa_maccoll/
http://www.everythingmom.com/entertaining/homemade-candy-recipes-for-christmas.html

Heather Wright blogs at
http://wrightwriter.wordpress.com/

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE DOING

2009-11-11T15:53:00.002-05:00

Helen Lammers-Helps

• Wrote about apples for her Second Helpings column, explained the benefits of windbreaks, described the improved fish habitat in the Grand River and highlighted Snyder's Family Farms successful re-branding for the Ontario Farmer newspaper
• Wrote about Laepple's Organic Farm for Fall issue of The Canadian Organic Grower magazine
• Discussed how to lower your stress levels for the October issue of Country Guide Magazine

Lisa MacColl

• Wrote about Halloween and food allergies for Allergysense.com
• Told her mother's story of life in an Ottawa boarding house in World War II for an upcoming issue of The Beaver
• Enlisted the aid of her child for an article about kid-friendly candy recipes for everythingmom.com

Heather Wright

• Is interviewing lawyers and writing about impaired driving and Ontario Ministry of Transport penalties, testamentary trusts, and 5 questions that family lawyers are frequently asked for Lawyershop.ca
• Posted 7 days of writing starters at her blog Needles & Yarns
• Entered the National Novel Writing Contest and is working to complete a 50,000 novel draft by November 30th
• Blogged about NaNoWriMo goals and other writing topics at Needles & Yarns

Sharon Blomfield

• Is evoking the romance of the Middle Ages in an unknown string of medieval villages in the Beaujolais wine region of France for a major U.S. newspaper

Julia Browne

• Is interviewing builders and writing copy for their real estate promotion books for a London area publisher.
• Is actively creating her professional writer's website, with great enthusiasm.
• Is beginning a weekly series of articles for a travel website.

Reflections and October Branch Meeting

2009-10-18T15:44:00.001-04:00

Our October 6th chapter launch workshop was a great success. We all worked hard preparing our notes and had the pleasure of an inquisitive and positive audience. We also had the extra pleasure of a visit from some guests from PWAC National: Tanya Gulliver, President; Lauren Stewart, Associate Director; and Christine Peets, Editor of Contact. Also, Nate Hendley, our Regional Director came and joined the others in wishing us well in our new endeavour.

Our branch meeting next week will include some well-deserved pats on the back but will also focus on what’s ahead for us. What do we want from our monthly meetings? What new things do we want to learn? How can we learn and grow as freelancers? And, of prime importance—when and where will we hold our holiday get-together?

Please click on the links on this page to find out more about PWAC or drop us at line at waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com to ask about our local branch activities

Chapter Launches with Writing Workshop

2009-09-27T13:53:00.011-04:00

PWAC Waterloo Region is celebrating its launch with a writing workshop on October 6th at the Forest Heights Branch of the Kitchener Public Library, 251 Fischer-Hallman Road, Kitchener. Open to experienced and novice writers alike, our workshop Freelance Writers Share Successful Strategies gives us the opportunity to share our knowledge and meet interested writers in our community.

Our professional writers will present their insights into the following:

Writing Persuasive Web Copy: know your client's client and write winning copy
The changing face of book publishing
Travel Writing: a changing market
Small Magazines & Trades: break in and stay in
Twitter and blog your way to writing gigs

Admission is $30 for PWAC members and $20 for the public.

The workshop begins at 7 PM and runs until 8:45 with presentations, Q & A, and a breakout session so that participants can meet the individual speakers.

If you are interested in attending or have any questions about PWAC or membership, please drop me a line at waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com.

Hope to see you on October 6th!

Heather Wright, President

Photo: Writing Challenge from www.flickr.com - Starbuckguy

Where You'll See Us This Fall!

2009-09-08T19:30:00.008-04:00

Daina Feick

• Waterloo Region Record; Builder of the Week feature; published every Saturday, one to two features per week, including photography. Ongoing/weekly.
• MOST magazine; October/November issue/assignments: Where are they now? (feature article), Pink Slip Survivor (feature article), Women and snoring (feature article), ‘It’s never too late to …’ (a new ‘in every issue’ feature being introduced this fall).
• Ideal Homes magazine: Two features for next issue (Adelaide Custom Homes, Claysam Homes).
• New Homes and Condos magazine, bi-weekly publication: Three features for September 22 issue (Esquire Homes, Fusion Homes, Terra View Homes, including photography); more assignments expected throughout the fall.
• The Home Magazine: assignments (including ‘Editor’s Message’) expected shortly for October/November issue.

Lisa MacColl

• profiled Cathy Jenkins, a retired teacher now living in Rwanda for September Grand Magazine.
• helped a University of Waterloo student with a series of appeal letters
• blogged about Wii Fit, and "real" parents on www.lisamaccoll.blogspot.com
• is researching the Laurentian Terrace, a boarding house for single female civil servants in WW II in Ottawa
• is beating her 3 day novel draft from 2008 into a workable novel manuscript
• asked teachers about best gift ideas for December Readers' Digest

Helen Lammers-Helps

• discusses ways to conserve electricity on the farm for the September/October issue of Small Farm Canada
• describes pollinator-friendly gardening in the September/October issue of Small Farm Canada
• provided three tasty tomato recipes for her Second Helpings column in the August 25th issue of Ontario Farmer
• is working on a story about the influence of generational differences in the workplace for the November issue of Country Guide

Sharon Blomfield

• spent three weeks this summer researching and photographing the Beaujolais wine region of France and another week in a French Alpine cheese-making valley
• completed an article, Beaujolais Villages: More than Just Wine for the November issue of MOST magazine
• continued work on her book-in-progress

Heather Wright

• is interviewing lawyers and writing articles about drug crime, appeals, personal injury law, joint care and custody, and immigration for Lawyershop.ca
• is writing web copy for a law firm in Sudbury
• is writing web copy and promotional material for an Ontario producer of wind turbines
• started her own blog called Needles and Yarns for knitters who love to write—and vice versa!

photo published under Creative Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/linlaw39

Getting into Gear

2009-09-04T08:29:00.011-04:00

PWAC Waterloo Region is getting into gear for our first 'official' meeting and our first public workshop.

Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 15th at 7 PM. If you are interested in joining PWAC Waterloo Region and would like to see if we are a good fit for you, we welcome prospective members to one free meeting. After that, you need to be a member. If you are interested in attending, please drop me a line at waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com. For information about joining PWAC, check out the membership page at PWAC National's site: www.pwac.ca/joiningpwac

Looking ahead, we are preparing for our workshop on October 6th at 7 PM at the Forest Heights Branch of the Kitchener Public Library. Freelance Writers Share Successful Strategies is designed for both new and experienced writers. We'll be offering short talks about persuasive writing for the web, travel writing, Twitter and blogging, writing for small magazines and trades, and the changing world of book publishing. A question and answer session will follow, after which attendees will be able to talk to individual presenters about the business of freelancing in Waterloo Region. The cost is $30 for the general public and $20 for PWAC members. If you have any questions about the workshop or want to reserve a place, please send a note to waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com with "workshop" in the subject line.

All the best in your writing endeavours.

Heather Wright

President

PWAC Waterloo Region

photo published under creative commons licence: http://flickr.com/photos/fpsurgeon/2384525600/

Read all about it! PWAC is growing and PWAC Waterloo Region is the latest addition to the Ontario roster.

2009-07-13T16:34:00.009-04:00

Here's the joint notice that went out to PWAC Guelph and PWAC National members:

Several PWAC Guelph members from the Kitchener-Waterloo area have decided to take the risk and start a new chapter to serve Waterloo Region—and to shorten the drive to get their monthly PWAC hit of advice, inspiration and friendship.

What does this mean?
More choice for you: When you renew your PWAC membership on September 1st, you’ll have two local chapters to choose from. You’re free to join whichever chapter makes most sense for you, regardless of where you live or work.

More opportunities for you: Ties will remain strong between the two groups. We’ll be establishing a reciprocal arrangement where members can attend each other’s meetings at no cost. We also plan to hold joint social events and pool resources for in-house and public workshops.

More growth for PWAC: We expect the launch of a chapter in Waterloo region will attract new members to PWAC, increasing the strength of our organization as a whole.

Mark your calendars
PWAC Waterloo Region will be meeting the 3rd Tuesday in the month, beginning in September. To get the group off to a strong start and to begin recruiting new members, they will be holding a public workshop, “Freelance Writers Share Successful Strategies,” at the Forest Heights Branch of the Kitchener Public Library on October 6.

PWAC Guelph will continue meeting the 2nd Tuesday of the month, with the exception of August, when we’ll be skipping the meeting and holding our annual summer BBQ on Tuesday the 18th instead.

Want more information?
To find out more about PWAC Waterloo Region check out their website at http://waterlooregionpwac.blogspot.com/ or contact Heather Wright at heather dot wright at wrightwriter.com. Keep up to date with Guelph PWAC at http://guelphpwac.blogspot.com/ or contact Julie Stauffer at jstauffer at gto dot net.

While change always involves some challenges, both groups look forward to growing and thriving in the year to come. Support, encouragement and a commitment to sharing have always been the hallmark of PWAC Guelph, and PWAC Waterloo Region is committed to carrying these traditions forward into their new adventure.

We wish you all a wonderful summer.

Nate Hendley, Ontario Regional Director
Julie Stauffer, President PWAC Guelph
Heather Wright, President PWAC Waterloo Region.

Summer Thoughts

2009-07-02T16:31:00.009-04:00

Since summer often signals a change of pace, why not try a change of pace in your writing as well. Once in a while, leave the keyboard and the screen on the desk and try the feel of pens and paper again. You might build new connections to your imagination that you can't find by clicking keys and gazing at a screen.
Once upon a time, you took your first steps toward become a storyteller with a pen or a pencil in hand. Claim those tools again and enjoy the freedom to scribble, write in any direction you want, squeeze words in between the lines, draw arrows and flowers and hearts, and be creative with more than just tidy black marks on a white background.
Hold a pen in your hand again and see what doors you can open to your creativity--and to your summer thoughts.

What our members are doing this month.

2009-05-01T14:52:00.005-04:00

Sharon Blomfield

researched the Hmong culture of northern Viet Nam and wrote marketing materials for a corporate client
read (or will read) one of her travel stories at the KPL's Writers Collective Readings on May 13

Julia Browne

recreated the medieval ambiance of the French town of Sarlat for Grand magazine
reported on the Open House of the Civic District latest planning phase for Community News

Helen Lammers-Helps

wrote about coping with Difficult People for the Spring issue of Country Guide magazine
described the projects of the LIFE renewable energy co-op in the April issue of the Out Here newspaper
summarized 10 Tips for Organizing Your Family for the April issue of Country Guide magazine
wrote about using solar power on the farm in the April 14 issue of the Ontario Farmer newspaper

Lisa MacColl

wrote about the Great Cookie War and the Mennonite CentralCommittee for the Mennonite Heritage Project

Heather Wright

wrote about the lure of orchid growing for Grand Magazine. Her article "One May Not Be Enough" is in the May/June issue.

2009-04-25T18:57:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Waterloo Region PWAC!

This is the on-line home of the newest branch of the Professional Writers' Association of Canada.
Beginning in September, our monthly meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of the month. We will be contacting our members as soon as a location has been chosen.
Soon we will also have exciting details about our workshop "Freelance Writers Share Successful Strategies" to be held at the Forest Heights branch of the Kitchener Public Library on October 6th.
To find out more about PWAC click on this link: http://www.pwac.ca/ To find out how to join the new Waterloo Region PWAC branch, send an email to waterlooregionpwac@gmail.com.
We wish you all the best with your writing endeavours.

Heather Wright, President