1-- You can join the Canadian Authors Association: www.canauthors.org/ but they can be expensive . If you are really into making a living by writing- this is one organization you might like to join.
2- The MetroActive Writer's Club ; www.metroactivewritersclub.com/ “ The MetroActive Writer's Club is a place for both established and aspiring writers, authors, and publishers to grow and flourish. We provide an environment for informal, open, and one-on-one discussions with industry people. It is a great opportunity to learn about the writing and book publishing trade and meet people that know the industry best. Over the past two years, we've had some of Canada's best-selling authors share their wisdom with our members. This year we have teamed up with the world-renowned talent from St. Michael's College to offer expanded perspective into the literary world.”
Baldassare B. Minaudo, B.A. (Hons.), M.B.A.
President, MetroActive Lifestyle Network
3-You can also try this one- visit http://www.torontobookcamp.org. But, I don't know too much about it. Still, it is worth investigating.
4 –Word on the Street Book Festival September ,2010. They will have a booth area for e-books this year. A must- attend event! Contact name and details below.
Amanda Shamshudeen
Marketing and Development Associate
The Word On The Street
67 Mowat Avenue, Suite 242
Toronto, ON M6K 3E3
T | 416 504 7241
E | amanda@thewordonthestreet.ca
W | www.thewordonthestreet.ca
B | http://read-write-think.blogspot.com/
Become our fan on Facebook: http://bit.ly/bnaU4D
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/torontoWOTS
5. The Editors Association of Canada (EAC) www.editors.ca/- “Promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communications in the corporate, technical, government, non-profit, and publishing sectors”.
6- The Periodical Writers Association of Canada (PWAC). www.pwac.ca/ “National association of professional freelance writers, providing services and benefits to members, and an online free "find a writer" service to businesses".
7- There are also Facebook groups , LinkedIn groups and various MeetUp groups for writers.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
TheFuture of E-Publishing and E-Reading—
Here below is an excerpt and link to a Panel Discussion on e-publishing. I thought you might like to see it as it may help you in developing plans for your e-book
The Future of E-Publishing and E-Reading—Panel Discussion—April 7th, 2010
Traditionally publishers have been printing books for authors, selling to distributors who turn it around and sell to retailers. A consumer buys the book and sells second hand book to other consumer or a specialist used book store. The digital publishing is changing the model and on its way by passing many middle businesses. The book is no longer a physical entity and an e-author can publish the book him or herself and sells directly to the consumers. The process has also created new vistas – eBook readers, self-publishing houses, e-authors, and e-books. Anita’s presentation has a lot of good info. See below for link.
Future of E-Publishing and e-Reading Panel Discussion Apr. 7 2010 http://www.sipgroup.org/events/e_publishing2010/index.htm
The Future of E-Publishing and E-Reading—Panel Discussion—April 7th, 2010
Traditionally publishers have been printing books for authors, selling to distributors who turn it around and sell to retailers. A consumer buys the book and sells second hand book to other consumer or a specialist used book store. The digital publishing is changing the model and on its way by passing many middle businesses. The book is no longer a physical entity and an e-author can publish the book him or herself and sells directly to the consumers. The process has also created new vistas – eBook readers, self-publishing houses, e-authors, and e-books. Anita’s presentation has a lot of good info. See below for link.
Future of E-Publishing and e-Reading Panel Discussion Apr. 7 2010 http://www.sipgroup.org/events/e_publishing2010/index.htm
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Writers' Associations and groups
These are a few resources I hastily put together for a friend a few years back re: writing associations I have come across on the Net-- so some of the links may have changed. You probably are aware of them but I thought I would put them out there for you anyway.
I hope it helps you in some fashion.
1- You can join the Canadian Authors Association but they are expensive to join. Apparently, a friend recommended that if you are really into making a living by writing- this is one organization you might like to join.
4- ( This blurb was taken from one of their emails) The MetroActive Writer's Club has a couple of hundred writer's many of them
have written best-selling books and others have written over the
years, perhaps published some articles and are working on our first
best-seller. They meet the last Tuesday of each month at the University of Toronto.
Details are found at www.metroactive.org in the upcoming events section. They
always have a panel of two or three experts; and they discuss relevant topics
to becoming successful authors
5- You can also try this one- visit http://www.torontobookcamp.org. But, I don't know too much about it. Still, it is worth investigating.
I hope it helps you in some fashion.
1- You can join the Canadian Authors Association but they are expensive to join. Apparently, a friend recommended that if you are really into making a living by writing- this is one organization you might like to join.
4- ( This blurb was taken from one of their emails) The MetroActive Writer's Club has a couple of hundred writer's many of them
have written best-selling books and others have written over the
years, perhaps published some articles and are working on our first
best-seller. They meet the last Tuesday of each month at the University of Toronto.
Details are found at www.metroactive.org in the upcoming events section. They
always have a panel of two or three experts; and they discuss relevant topics
to becoming successful authors
5- You can also try this one- visit http://www.torontobookcamp.org. But, I don't know too much about it. Still, it is worth investigating.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Common Sense Writing
I recently discovered the book “The Art of Plain Talk”-- real oldie but goodie-- by Rudolf Flesch . As the book quotes: ” it shows you how to say and write what you mean in English that people understand.”
It is well worth a look through for those interested in what I call “ common sense writing”.
It is well worth a look through for those interested in what I call “ common sense writing”.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Turn your blog into a book.. soft or hardcover
As you continue into the New Year of 2010, are you looking at ways to get your writing "out there" in a trendy, but cost effective manner?
Did you ever think about turning your blog into a book.. soft or hardcover? Well, here is a link that deals with this endeavor.
http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html
Did you ever think about turning your blog into a book.. soft or hardcover? Well, here is a link that deals with this endeavor.
http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Importance of Plain Language for the Web
A lot of websites suffer from a bad combination of “gobbledy gook” corporate speak addiction, excessive jargon use and superfluous words.
The literacy level of these sites are also often too high for their target audience/market niche. As a result, they are turning off existing users who may become potential customers and in the process, giving users/clients headaches who are trying to access the info. they need to use the service or product the site is offering.
Most websites have way too much info. that speaks too little about their services or programs . They fail to emphasize the “FAB factor” of using their product or services “Features, Advantages and Benefits”. Because most of today’s products and services are highly complex ,along with the barrage of daily communications from all directions and sources, we often end up acquiring the 21st century’s condition of attention deficit disorder/ information overload. Such a situation makes it critical that all content on websites be in Plain Language/Plain English- no matter what the type of info. it is and what format it is in.
The literacy level of these sites are also often too high for their target audience/market niche. As a result, they are turning off existing users who may become potential customers and in the process, giving users/clients headaches who are trying to access the info. they need to use the service or product the site is offering.
Most websites have way too much info. that speaks too little about their services or programs . They fail to emphasize the “FAB factor” of using their product or services “Features, Advantages and Benefits”. Because most of today’s products and services are highly complex ,along with the barrage of daily communications from all directions and sources, we often end up acquiring the 21st century’s condition of attention deficit disorder/ information overload. Such a situation makes it critical that all content on websites be in Plain Language/Plain English- no matter what the type of info. it is and what format it is in.
Monday, October 19, 2009
More tips re: writing for the Web
12. From your tracking analysis info, develop a profile of your readers before you start writing, e.g. who they are, what their goals, are, etc… What are the demographics of your clients: age, education, culture, geographic, etc..
13. Use pictures more often, if you can, to explain because people remember pictures more than words- images make the message more memorable. You can with the well-chosen pictures make an emotional impact upon a potential customer, which will help sell your service.
14. Overly large graphics can detract from your content delivery and your vital message to the client. Relevant and well-written content- impactive words should be able to stand on their own- even as plain text. Choose your graphics wisely--- the principle of “less is more” applies here. Keep the delivery of the content short and sweet. Avoid excessively long sentences.
15. Give them life stories on your site.. Try to include heartfelt stories by how your customers’ lives have been made easier or positively changed by using your service.
16. Don’t make the users work or think hard to get what they want or need.. i.e. don’t have them click 4 times to get back to the home page i.e. have a back button to Home page on each page of your site might prove useful in some cases. One click should get them to where they need to go on any part of your site.
17. Use the active voice and words that have impact. Whenever possible, make the subject of the sentence do something. Example:. The business proposals were reviewed by senior management. Can become- “Senior management reviewed the business cases.”
18. Understand that different audiences will have different needs and goals, and you must design for their diversity
19. Use short sentences, and paragraphs.
20. Provide sufficient visual space
13. Use pictures more often, if you can, to explain because people remember pictures more than words- images make the message more memorable. You can with the well-chosen pictures make an emotional impact upon a potential customer, which will help sell your service.
14. Overly large graphics can detract from your content delivery and your vital message to the client. Relevant and well-written content- impactive words should be able to stand on their own- even as plain text. Choose your graphics wisely--- the principle of “less is more” applies here. Keep the delivery of the content short and sweet. Avoid excessively long sentences.
15. Give them life stories on your site.. Try to include heartfelt stories by how your customers’ lives have been made easier or positively changed by using your service.
16. Don’t make the users work or think hard to get what they want or need.. i.e. don’t have them click 4 times to get back to the home page i.e. have a back button to Home page on each page of your site might prove useful in some cases. One click should get them to where they need to go on any part of your site.
17. Use the active voice and words that have impact. Whenever possible, make the subject of the sentence do something. Example:. The business proposals were reviewed by senior management. Can become- “Senior management reviewed the business cases.”
18. Understand that different audiences will have different needs and goals, and you must design for their diversity
19. Use short sentences, and paragraphs.
20. Provide sufficient visual space
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