May 30, 2007: PWAC National Conference & AGM A Huge Success

Thanks to the hard work of PWAC's host Vancouver Chapter, the National Conference Committee and PWAC's dedicated staff, the 2007 National Conference & AGM was one of the most picturesque, informative, delicious and connective in PWAC's 31 years.

Highlights included an engaging keynote address from prominent BC editor (and soon to be PWAC member) David Beers. Mr. Beers, editor of The Tyee, BC's independent online newspaper, outlined how the independent freelance writer is uniquely positioned to create the very best journalism being published today.

Heather Robertson's Friday lunchtime address concerning her ongoing legal fight in Robertson vs. Thomson et al. brought the assembled to their feet for a standing ovation. That morning's "PWAC should..." strategic planning sessions saw delegates and observers sharing ideas, opinions and insight with each other and with their national leadership through a well-researched "dotmocracy" exercise. Results of this session will be distilled and shared with the entire membership, and will lead discussion for the Board of Directors as they set priorities for the coming year.

Friday evening's pub-crawl through historic Gastown saw PWACers sampling some of the best appetizers and wines Vancouver has to offer. Special thanks to the exquisite So.Cial restaurant and the fantastic Shebeen Whiskey House (those blue cheese and honey things they were passing around? more please).

Lower Gastown was again the neighbourhood of choice on Saturday evening as we all gathered at the Alibi Room for the PWAC Awards Dinner. Congratulations to all of the 2007 award winners including Liz Warwick, winner of the Lawrence Jackson Outstanding Achievement Award and Valerie Mutton, winner of the Barbara Novak Writing Award for Excellence in Humour/Personal Essay Writing.

The evening was hilariously hosted by local member Dave Preston, and featured wine from Tinhorn Creek Winery, a delicious buffet dinner of local salmon and pork, chocolate and tarts for dessert, and music and dancing into the night. All this after a daylong schedule of fantastic professional development sessions and guest speakers. The Editors panel discussion saw four of BC's top editors share insights and tips with PWACers, and our Canada Research Chairs lunch speaker, Dr. Vincent Mosco brilliantly distilled organized labour's recent response to the growth of freelance cultural work.

Sunday saw PWAC take another long stride forward in our administrative evolution as we set a new land-speed record for the Annual General Meeting. PWAC's constitutionally mandated business was addressed in full detail in just under one-and-a-half hours, leaving plenty of time for important member discussion, a full lunch and the first PWAC Board of Director's meeting of the new association year.

Those who chose to stay on in Vancouver for an extra day were treated to a delightful train and coach tour to Whistler, BC on Monday. The tour arrived back in town just in time for interested participants to take in a reading by PWAC Executive Director, John Degen, who was promoting his recent novel at the UBC Bookstore in Robson Square.

All in all, casual feedback from the conference has been extremely positive, and PWAC will be asking attendees to complete a short post-conference evaluation in our continuing effort to respond to member opinion.

Thanks again to Jane Mundy, Beverly Cramp and the entire Vancouver organizing committee. On to Winnipeg in 08!

May 11, 2007: PWAC highlights at MagNet

To all freelance writer and writers-in-training thinking of passing through the big smoke in June. Make plans to attend MagNet, the magazine industry super conference.

PWAC is a partner in MagNet, helping to plan a professional development line-up designed to put freelance writers in touch with the Canadian magazine industry's most influential editors and publishers.

If you haven't already registered for this groundbreaking event, please do so right away -- the Early Bird Deadline is May 15.

All PWAC members are eligible for member pricing for the full conference (just another great reason to belong to PWAC, don't you think?), and affordable hotel rooms have been secured for those traveling to Toronto (you can stay at the conference venue, 89 Chestnut, for as little as $84/night for a single room and $94/night for a double.

Conference prices can be found at:

MagNet RateCard

Sessions include:

7-Minute Pitch: Speed Dating for Writers and Editors
Writers -- ever wondered what you'd say if you found yourself in an elevator with the editor of your dream magazine? Editors -- you know exactly what you want from a pitch; why don?t writers? Here's the chance for writers and editors to meet, put a face to a name, and inform each other of their talents and their needs. We will provide a room full of Canada's most influential and engaged magazine editors, some bottled water and a tight schedule. Writers have seven minutes with each editor to deliver a pitch (or pitches).

The Necessary Freelancer
More and more freelance writers are being used in the industry and yet a recent PWAC Survey Report found average annual incomes for freelance writers dropping over the last decade. It is time for serious discussion on the rates writers are paid, what is being bought for those rates, and how we as an industry can work together to maintain our overall economic health.

Whither Copyright? Rights and Compensation in Digital Use
How can magazines fairly compensate contributors for second-rights digital media use? Who owns magazine content? We all do! The Supreme Court has confirmed that writers own what they write and publishers own copyright in the layout and design of their product. As technology advances new uses for content, how can we make sure everyone profits? Join Rob Weisberg of Access Copyright as he untangles the legal issues around digital use and offers clear guidelines for a sound system of author compensation.

For full details, check out the MagNet website

May 09, 2007: Finkle fundraiser announced

All Toronto PWAC members not attending our National Conference in Vancouver are encouraged to get out and party with Derek Finkle on May 24th. The following press release contains all the relevant details:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO'S JOURNALISM COMMUNITY JOINS TOGETHER ON MAY 24 TO SUPPORT WRITER DEREK FINKLE'S LEGAL BATTLE

Canadian writers, journalists, and members of the publishing community are joining forces on Thursday, May 24 at WRITE AID, a fundraiser for Toronto author Derek Finkle in his legal fight against the subpoena ordering him to turn over all research material related to his writing on the Robert Baltovich case.

WRITE AID gets under way at 7:30 p.m. at Stones Place (1255 Queen Street West), and will include a live performance by 3 Chord Johnny, Toronto?s literary R&B band, featuring Toronto Life editor John Macfarlane, author and playwright David Macfarlane, and journalist and author David Hayes. The dancing will continue under the direction of DJ Dave Morris, Eye Weekly's music editor, and special guests.

Tickets are $25 in advance ($30 at the door) and can be purchased by going to www.WriteAid.ca.

In mid-October of last year, a subpoena was issued demanding that Derek Finkle turn over the research for his book No Claim to Mercy, which examines the controversial 1992 conviction of Robert Baltovich for the murder of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Bain. After a number of court appearances, on January 18, Finkle's lawyer, Iain MacKinnon, filed a motion to oppose the validity of the subpoena. In response, a two-day hearing is scheduled for May 29 and 30 before Mr. Justice David Watt, the Ontario Superior Court judge who will be presiding over Baltovich's retrial in September.

Finkle has been supported in his fight against the subpoena by PEN Canada, the Canadian Association of Journalists, The Writers' Union of Canada, the Professional Writers Association of Canada, and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression who have, through their own lawyer, John Norris, obtained intervenor status at the hearing.

For further information and interview requests, please contact Laura Sosin at 416-8730784 or email writeaid@sympatico.ca.

May 08, 2007: Longtime industry editor takes flight

PWAC wishes Bill Shields all the best as he departs his longtime stint as editor of Canada's magazine trade journal, Masthead. During Bill's tenure, Masthead has shown a real interest in the challenges of freelance writing in Canada.

Industry events won't be quite the same without Bill sidling up to folks and asking sneaky questions in his disarmingly friendly manner. Always an excellent editor, Bill has also been a tenacious reporter of industry news. Bill's number on the call display has always been a prompt to focus and make sure you have your story straight.

Bill leaves Masthead magazine to pursue other interests, including riding very fast on motorcycles and becoming a pilot.

Thanks to the Canadian Magazines blog for the tip.

May 04, 2007: Award winner, Heather Pringle teaching book proposals for PWAC

Congratulations to PWAC member Herather Pringle on her recent BC Book Prize. Ms. Pringle received the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize for her book The Master Plan: Himmler's Scholars and the Holocaust (Viking Canada).

The win lends a little extra authority to Ms. Pringle's upcoming seminar presentation for PWAC -- Writing the Killer Book Proposal -- in which she will instruct writers on how to sell their book ideas to publishers.

The upcoming professional development day at PWAC's National Conference (Saturday, May 26) features 6 fascinating and informative seminars, plus a panel discussion with some of British Columbia's most influential editors, and a keynote address from David Beers, editor in chief of BC's brilliant alternative web magazine The Tyee.

Non-PWAC members are welcome to the Saturday conference line-up, and can register online at:

Public Registration