OIW Meetings Schedule

Guest speaker Leslie Wieterman of Right Management will explain the value of networking for career success and how authors, freelancers and others can use it to develop useful business and research contacts. Wieterman will explain how to network spontaneously, how to network at large events and how to follow-up with new contacts. The meeting will include an interactive networking exercise and prizes, including a free 45-minute networking consultation with Wieterman.

Guest speaker Peter Schneider of the Canada Council will explain the most effective steps authors should take to apply for a Canada Council grant. He will also touch briefly on how to prepare a manuscript for a publisher. 7 p.m., Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St. Room 156. Info: (613) 731-3873

This year's event takes place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 9 at Robbies Spaghetti House at 1531 St-Laurent Blvd. at Belfast. For a map, or to view the menu, please go to: www.robbies.ca. To reserve your spot, please contact Susan Jennings at: sajennings@sympatico.ca.

See the OIW Christmas Party poster for more details.

Ottawa author Nicole McGill will explain how writers begin, organize and end their stories.

OIW members will vote for a new board of directors and discuss OIW business. Some will read their work.

New York Times best-selling author Peggy McColl, self-published author Roslyn Franken and master speaker and executive trainer Steve Lowell will explain how to rise above the crowd when looking for a publisher and selling your book. Topics will include how to find a publisher, how to speak in public about your published work and how to transform your book into a money maker. 7 p.m. Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St. Room Exhibition A. $10 for non-members. Info: (613) 731-3873

A half-day follow-up workshop to Nichole McGill's presentation “What’s your Story” at the February OIW meeting, will take place on Saturday, April 9 in Room 156 at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St. The workshop will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Cost is $30. Attendance is limited to the first 15 people. Please mail your cheque to: Ottawa Independent Writers P.O. Box 23137 Ottawa, Ontario K2A 4E2. Bring your work in progress or your ideas for a story.

Contact: Mike Montreuil: mikemontreuil@sympatico.ca

Everyone needs to know how to make the best of any opportunity to get their message across, whether in person, in a panel discussion or meeting, or on that valuable radio or TV interview. Barbara Florio Graham, author of Five Fast Steps to Low-Cost Publicity will show the crucial steps in preparing for interviews, how to select salient points to make your appearance interesting, how to dress, sit, use the mic, handle props and rehearse.
These techniques are useful in all situations where you want to make the best first impression, so this is not just for authors.

Take part in memoir writing workshops led by Ottawa author Emily-Jane Hills Orford who will explain how to write a compelling family story or dedicate your time to writing in the privacy of your room or on the grounds at the Marguerite Centre in Pembroke.

Costs (including meals and accommodations):
- Basic Training in Memoir Writing $383.25 for OIW members; $438.25 for non-members;
- Retreat: $283.25 for OIW members; $338.25 for non-members.

Info: Click for details and contact Carl Dow, (613) 233-6225 or carl.dow@sympatico.ca if you are interested in attending.

How do promotion and marketing differ from publicity? What are various avenues to promote and market a book? Publicity: what is it, how do you get it? Do you hire a publicist or do it yourself? Speakers David Shaw and Michael Di Lauro will answer these questions plus explain the importance of promotion and marketing when selling books.

OIW members will read from their work.

Guest speaker Steve Lowell will offer sage advice to authors and others who get out and about to promote their work. Many authors, though highly-skilled word whizzes, often morph into rambling babblers or monotone robots the moment they stand at a podium. Lowell will explain how to deliver your stuff before a live audience and succeed from Page to Stage.

Author Nichole McGill will discuss five items that must be addressed if your book is to be published and become a hit with readers.

Nichole McGill is a published author and digital media specialist.

She's the author of two (print) books, has e-published and Google-mapped a novel and led discussions about the role of the author in the digital world at uToronto’s School of Continuing Education, BookCampToronto and last year’s Future of the Word conference hosted by the Writer’s Union.

She also adapted a short story into a film, which was an official selection in the 2002 Berlin Film Festival. And is contemplating her next creative print book and e-book creation. She blogs at www.nicholemcgill.com

More than 50 local authors and artists will display, discuss and sell their work.

Time: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Table renters take note: set-up begins at 8:30; take-down at 4:30 PM)

A raffle for a basket of books donated by The Dundurn Group will take place with all proceeds donated to CHEO. In past years the raffle has raised between $200 and $300 per year for CHEO.

Jack Purcell Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane (at Elgin Street) - Room 203 - 2nd Floor. Refreshments will be served.

To see the Jack Purcell Centre, please click here.

See the event poster.

At some point, aspiring writers decide it's time to put the stories swirling inside their heads down on paper. For 17 years Richard Taylor has taught writing at Carleton University. He's jump-started writers of all ages in more than 100 workshops in Ottawa, Tuscany, Hong Kong, Australia, and he offers an annual Write by the Lake summer retreat for writers. Guiding writers to the page, he loves helping them release their own personal voices through short stories, novels, poetry, blogs, memoir, humour or travel writing. He also gives information about various writing classes in Ottawa. For more information, please visit www.taylorswave.ca

Rob Clipperton reads the Dylan Thomas classic and there will be holiday music from Canterbury High School’s Vocum, Hopewell Avenue Public School’s junior choir, Robert Palmai and Marya Woyiwada. Nov. 26, 4 p.m., Glebe St. James United Church (First Avenue at Lyon). Cost: $15 (adults); free for kids 14 and under. Tickets available from the church and at Compact Music stores. Net proceeds to Reach Canada www.reach.ca Info: bluepoodlebooks@hotmail.com

Robbies Spaghetti House
1606 Walkley Rd
613 731 2485
www.robbiesspaghettihouse.com

Starts at 6:30 p.m. OIW will pay for coffee and dessert only.

Please RSVP to Neven Humphrey at neven_humphrey@hotmail.com and indicate how many will be attending (i.e. you and +1)

See the event poster.

Many of us are at a stage in life where we wish to assemble our own memoirs, or those of loved ones. Having been a member of the Association of Personal Historians, and having prepared a number of memoirs for clients, I am well aware of the need for competent instruction on how to tell these critical stories. Preparing a memoir in a professional manner is an extremely satisfying activity. I am pleased to announce that a former OIW President, Jon Pierce, is offering an all day memoir writing workshop on January 7 at the LAC at 395 Wellington St. All details are on the attachment.

Since Jon now lives in Nova Scotia, I am acting as his local agent for this workshop. The modest fee for the workshop ($75 for OIW members and $90 for others) can be paid by Visa, by calling me at 613-837-2166 evenings and weekends, or by cheque payable to Ottawa Independent Writers, and mailed to OIW, PO Box 23137, Ottawa ON K2A 4E2, with an email to me indicating you have sent a cheque. Please let your interested colleagues know about this workshop; all are welcome.

Please note that we must have confirmation of your participation by December 24. Please contact either Jon or myself with any questions.

Bill Horne
Past President and Corporate Secretary
wghorne@rogers.com

For more details, please see poster.

The market is flooded with ``how-to’’ books on everything from dieting and personal finance to home renovations and health and wellness. Author Dr. Denis Cauvier, who is also a professional speaker, trainer and consultant, will explain how to pick a relevant topic, how to find accurate and interesting information and how to get a book published and into bookstores. For more information about Dr. Cauvier, visit: www.deniscauvier.com.

Details to be announced soon.

OIW’s ‘Winter Reading Night’ for OIW members only, will take place after the Annual General Meeting on Thursday February 23.

Meet and Greet, with coffee and cookies, starts at 6:30 p.m. followed by the AGM at 7 p.m. at the Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St., Room 156.

Winter Reading Night will be shorter than the summer event and will begin at approximately 8 p.m. or immediately after the AGM. There will be 10 – 12 readers, who will have SIX minutes plus a short 30-second introduction/context-setting statement. Reading and introduction times will be strictly adhered too.

To Register, please send an email to Susan Jennings sajennings@sympatico.ca with Reading Night in the subject line and please include your name and the title of your reading piece. You may include a very brief synopsis for introduction purposes. Susan will send you a confirmation. Space is very limited so register early. If there are any spaces left you may register to read on the night, but it will be first come first served, those who have pre-registered will of course be first.

Is it possible to sell stories to help defray the cost of your travels? Ottawa Citizen travel editor Laura Robin and experienced freelance writer Laura Byrne Paquet will explain the ins and outs of writing travel stories. What kind of stories sell? Who's buying these days? How do you pitch your ideas and to whom? How much will you be paid? Paquet's articles have appeared in more than 80 publications in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. She is a past president of the Travel Media Association of Canada and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the Editors Association of Canada.

A panel of experienced poets will discuss poetry writing.

Dates and other details to be announced soon.

Details and speaker(s) to be announced soon.

Details and speaker(s) to be announced soon.