Finding Ways to Promote Your Work as an Author or Expert By Doreen Pendgracs

I learned from my previous book, Before You Say Yes … A Guide to the Pleasures and Pitfalls of Volunteer Boards, that finding speaking engagements to promote myself as an expert on volunteering for non-profit associations would net me more of an income than the royalties I was earning from book sales.

As I’m an extrovert and love interacting with people, I find the speaking engagements to be more fun than the solitary task of writing.

With my current book, Chocolatour, A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate, it’s even easier to line up events where I can talk about chocolate and sell my books at the same time. Everyone loves chocolate, and so, in the short time since I published my book, I’ve been able to create a nice variety of events that will augment my earnings from book sales.

Thanks to a suggestion from Manitoba member, Irene Gordon, I made contact with the person in charge of the Community Classroom program at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg and have a Nov 2nd event at which I will first have a traditional book signing in the store, followed by a chocolate dinner in the Community Classroom at which I will give a talk about chocolate. The event sold out so quickly that Mc Nally’s has scheduled a second similar event for April 12^th.

The events at McNally’s are great in raising my public profile and connecting with readers, but they are small small, at a capacity of 24 paying attendees. They have, however, opened up the door to larger, more lucrative events. I'm now booked to give a chocolate talk at a 100-person chocolate dinner at Rembrandt's Bistro in Lockport, Manitoba on Feb 6^th. There will be a chocolate art show by WAVE artists, in combination with an exotic chocolate dinner prepared by the Rembrandt's chef with a brief chocolate talk by yours truly in between courses.

For both the McNally and Rembrandt’s events, I am being paid $10 per attendee. I’d have to sell a lot of books to match the $1000 speaker’s fee I’ll receive from Rembrandt’s! So the key is to write about something for which you can establish yourself as an expert. Carve yourself a unique niche so that people search you out when they think of that given topic.

I’m also leading a group Chocolatour to Switzerland from March 20-April 8^th with the Worldly Women Travel Club, sponsored by Journeys Travel of Winnipeg. I will receive a free trip in exchange for helping them devise a taste-tempting itinerary and encouraging a group of women to enjoy chocolate. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it! 

I have also taken my speaking abilities on the high seas and obtained a free cruise (and very inexpensive passage for my husband) in exchange for giving a series of talks on a cruise ship. My topic at that time was feng shui – not because I am an expert on the subject, but because I had written numerous articles about it and possessed a high level of enthusiasm. 

While reading this, did you think to yourself … I can do that! You bet you can! Just come up with a topic that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about. And if your speaking abilities could use fine-tuning, join Toastmasters International. I’ve been a Toastmaster for a dozen years and absolutely love it. And it has helped take my speaking abilities to the next level.

Good luck in developing your own marketing plan. I hope it helps you sell books, earn some incredible speaking fees, and have a lot of fun while you’re doing it.

Please visit my writer’s blog at http://doreenpendgracs.com/social-media-surviving-or-thriving/ and connect with me on any social media platforms you’re on. Social media has definitely helped me make global connections that have gotten Chocolatour into chocolate and book shops around the world. But that’s for another post! 

Thanks to Marie Powell for asking me to share this post with you. I've been a member of PWAC since 1997 and definitely credit past and present members of PWAC for inspiring and educating me on how to advance my career as a freelance writer and author. 

Setting up a booth at events: Is it worth your time and money?

On Sept. 21 and 22, writers, readers, booksellers, and professional organizations gathered in five cities across the country for Word on the Street events.

Described as a national celebration of literacy and the written word, the event features readings, signings, children’s activities, and a marketplace.

In Saskatoon, the Professional Writers’ Association of Canada Saskatchewan Chapter shared a booth in the marketplace with the Saskatchewan branch of the Editors’ Association of Canada. Our tables were set up by 9:30 a.m., and volunteers from each organization manned them all day until 5 p.m.

PWAC-SK member Darrell Noakes at The Word on the Street in Saskatoon.

photo: Ashleigh Mattern.

Was it worth the effort?

PWAC Sask didn’t gain any immediate new members from participating in the event, but then again, we didn’t expect to. This is an event mostly for readers, and while some readers are also writers, most people weren’t heading to the event looking for professional support.

But by the end of the day, we had spoken to dozens of people who hadn’t heard of PWAC before. Our name was in the promotional material, and who knows how many people took note as they walked past, without talking to us. As a way to advertise the PWAC brand, it was a pretty affordable venture.

Also, sharing the booth with the EAC gave members of both groups a chance to chat with one another. We even hatched plans to do more collaborative work together since our organizations have such similar aims. 

Organizing the event did not take too much effort. A form mailed, a cheque sent, a few emails, promotional materials ordered, and we were good to go. And now we have leftover promotional materials that could be used at our next event.

To booth or not to booth?

When the discussion comes up about whether we should do it again, I’ll vote that we do. Word on the Street is a fun event, so I certainly didn’t mind spending the day there.

Next year, I’ll also recommend name tags for the booth sitters, and more prominent signage to boost the advertising factor, both of which the EAC had at their table.

But not every event is created equal; fellow PWAC member Doreen Pendgracs posted a story about her experience at a trade show, but she did not see much value in setting up a table there. Her view is worth a read!

Access Copyright: Reminder for PWAC Members

It's that time of year again, when we remind PWAC members about Access Copyright, the agency that serves as the Canadian Copyright Licencing Agency.

If you hold the copyright for your published work, i.e., if it's not work-for-hire* with all rights owned by your client), then consider signing with Access.

Even though the Professional Writers Association of Canada is a member organization of Access, individual writers still need to submit their information, including publication credits.

Here's the FAQ blurb from the Access Copyright site:

If I am a member of PWAC (or any other Access Copyright member organization), does that automatically make me an Access Copyright affiliate?
No. Being a member of an Access Copyright member organization does not automatically make you an affiliate. Please click here to learn how to become affiliated with Access Copyright.

Access manages licensing, collection of licensing fees and distribution of royalties on affiliates' behalf, so that we can focus on what we do best — creating.  

Benefits of being an individual Access member include Payback royalties for your published work. Sign up before the end of December, 2013, to to be eligible to enter your publications for the next series of payments in 2014.

1. To learn more about joining Access as a creator, see: http://www.accesscopyright.ca/creators/.
2. To learn more about Payback royalties, see: http://www.accesscopyright.ca/creators/payback-for-writers-and-payback-for-visual-artists
3. And, to join, see: http://www.accesscopyright.ca/creatorregistration.html

 _______

And a note on that sometimes wonderful, sometimes contentious work-for-hire*  thing... This may be fine under many circumstances, especially if the pay is great... But keeping your own copyright to your original, creative work is also a wonderful thing for freelancers to consider. You can learn more about copyright by visiting Accesscopyright.ca and PWAC.ca - or by talking others in your local PWAC chapter.   

-- posted by Shelley Banks

Find a Writer in Canada's Prairies and North

Looking for a great writer to develop articles for your magazines, produce web content or manuals, write speeches, newsletters or annual reports?

The PWAC Prairies and North Regional Blog is a hub for a diverse group of Canadian professional writers who specialize in freelance writing, editing, and copywriting for the public, private and non-governmental sectors.

Some of us work full-time, some part-time, and some on the side, but we are all committed to producing great work for our clients, whether they are in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, or anywhere else on the Prairies and North — or across Canada and beyond! (We're centrally based in the middle of North America, so easy to access from wherever you are.)

To learn more about our members' skills and interests, and to find the best writer for your project:

• Check out the links to the Member Websites and Member Blogs at the right. 
• Visit Writers.ca, PWAC's virtual hiring hall, where writers and clients connect. Once there, you can Find a Writer by searching by name, location, subject or expertise for your next project. 

Happy writing! 

-- posted by Shelley Banks

Get the Most out of a PWAC Conference

10 Ways to Get the Most out of a Conference (on the heels of attending MagNet 2013)

1. Bring your business cards, give them out and take other people’s. Forgot yours at home? Get creative.  Elizabeth Johnston of Montreal went down the street, bought a bag of colourful, foam letters (the kind you would use to do an art project) and wrote her email address and website on them. When she ran into people, she opened her little mesh bag and asked them to pick their favourite letter. Mine is an orange “A.”

2. Be prepared for “manageable networking.” Very few of us can be “on” 24/7. Have a few brief conversations then slink up to your room, if you need to, before coming back down for the next stretch of chatting.

3. Take some time at the marketplace to talk with industry insiders (there are often fun freebies like pens and pads of paper for the taking).

4. Have a sense of humour. As one of my sources recently said: Three things will tick (I am paraphrasing) you off every day. How are you going to handle that?

5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at the registration area. Even after registration is long over, it is an excellent resource.

6. Follow-up afterwards. A quick thank you e-note to a presenter or request for a colleague to connect with you on LinkedIn demonstrates he or she has made an impression on you. And who doesn’t want to know that?

7. Select five people you want to meet before the conference is over and make an effort to find them. It won’t always be easy, especially if the conference is large. For example, I never managed to locate Max Fawcett from Alberta Venture or Jennifer Walker from Best Health, both of whom I work with but have never met. But I met Laurie Jennings from Chatelaine.

8. Be prepared for surprises. I literally ran into Trudi Down from Hamilton at the pre-dinner cocktail party who turned out to be a lovely connection. And Noreen Shanahan, who writes obituaries for the Globe and Mail. Really? Very cool.

9. Step outside the hotel. Go shopping, grab a coffee and stretch your legs. Consider taking part in the additional activities typically organized by the host city. But don’t feel obliged. Pick and choose the events which appeal to you. This conference is a precious opportunity. You want it to work for your needs.

10. Nobody is perfect, nor is any conference. Be prepared to give balanced feedback to the organizers. There is always room for improvement. 

PWAC Regional Seminar - Doing Business with the Government of Canada

Doing Business with the Government of Canada
PWAC Prairies and the North Regional Seminar
Friday September 6, 1:00-3:00 pm
Alternate: Tuesday August 27, 2:00-4:00 pm

Start your fall off right by exploring how to successfully sell your writing services to the federal government.  Darlene Chuka, Supply Team Leader with the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises (OSME), will offer this special free seminar to PWAC Prairies and the North region members who are interested in learning about the procurement process and how to sell goods and services to the Government of Canada. Members, associate members, and student members are welcome to attend.

Each member will be able to log in at his or her computer terminal, at the specified date and time, in a flexible webinar-style setting. At the same time, members from the same chapter will hear the information, have a chance to ask questions that target it to our region, and be able to discuss the information together afterwards, to get maximum benefit from the seminar.

Seminar topics include:

• Overview of the contracting process
• Registering in supplier databases
• Finding key purchasing contacts
• Conducting market research through searching previously awarded contracts
• Searching for opportunities on the Tenders mini site
• Finding subcontracting opportunities
• Obtaining security clearances
• Bidding on opportunities

To register, please send an email with the subject "Seminar registration" including the preferred date, your name, company name, email address, and phone number, to Marie Powell at pwacprairies@gmail.com

Please respond by August 15 so we can set up the seminar details.

Prairie Regional VOLUNTEER AWARD WINNER June 2013

The PWAC Regional Volunteer Awards were born in 2005 and recognize the valuable contribution of members who volunteer for the organization in their regions. This year’s worthy recipient from the Prairie and the North Region was Calgary chapter president Andrea Tombrowski.

This was her nomination:

Andrea has been the president for the Calgary chapter of PWAC for the last two years. She has demonstrated, during this timeframe, responsibility, initiative and creativity in fulfilling this role. She organizes and chairs regular meetings for chapter members and has invited interesting guests to these working groups, such as editor Jennifer Hamilton of Avenue and editor Terry Bullick of Apple. Chapter membership has grown under her “reign” and has been more active than ever. She works well with other writers’ groups such as the Calgary Association of Freelance Editors (CAFE) and the Writers Guild of Alberta, passing along important information from said groups and encouraging joint meetings. She contributes to PWAC policy discussions and list-serve discussions, she has attended regional conferences and has facilitated action on the regional blog. Andrea juggles these daunting duties while trying to get a documentary produced and raising two young children with her husband, and all the while maintains a sense of humour. Chapter members could learn from her dedication to her craft and her community.

This was Andrea’s response to winning the award: 

"It's thrilling to have received this award. I am honoured that I was considered for this recognition and am humbled by what it represents. I'd like to say that there are numerous opportunities for members to be involved in PWAC. And I am inspired by those persons who contribute their time, energy, talents and passion to this invaluable organization. The rewards of getting involved are abundant and can be - as in the case of receiving this award - delightfully surprising."

Let’s give a “shout out” to the winners from all the regions. Giving buckets of time to PWAC this way is truly appreciated and makes the writing world a better place.

Colleen Biondi
PWAC Calgary Chapter