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A Taste
of Montreal
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AGM 2001 Professional Development Workshops
Twelve hour-long workshops on the art, science and business of writing
will be held as part of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada (PWAC)
Annual General Meeting in Montreal.
Each workshop will be given twice.
Choose from a host of hot topics led by professional writers with many years of hands-on experience.
When: Saturday June 2, 2001
9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Click here to see the exact schedule.
Where: the Hôtel de l'Institut de Tourisme du Quebec,
3535 St-Denis Street, Montreal
(just upstairs from the Sherbrooke Metro station).
Who can attend: All workshops are open to the public,
with admission $35 at the door.
The Registration Desk will be located in the lobby of l'Institut
and be open from 8:00 AM on Saturday, June 2. Register early to guarantee your spot.
Click to see more on any workshop listed below:
A LIFE IN THE PICTURES:
A Workshop on Photojournalism
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with Louise Abbott,
PWAC member,
author, photographer
and filmmaker |
In her workshop, Louise will trace her 30-year career as a photographer
and discuss how computer technology has affected her modus operandi. She
will also discuss how to break into photojournalism, develop ideas for
photography assignments, and pitch them to editors and publishers. She will
touch on a broad range of topics, ranging from professional ethics to
professional equipment. For the benefit of more experienced photographers,
she will speak about how to create, finance, and disseminate extended photo
essays.
Louise Abbott has been a professional writer and documentary photographer
since 1971, and a professional documentary filmmaker since 1991. Her feature
stories and/or photographs have been published in newspapers, such as The
(Montreal) Gazette; magazines, such as Photo Life; and books, such as
Children in Photography, Treasures of the National Archives of Canada,
Montréal au XXe siècle, Regards du Québec, and Taproot.
She is the author of The Coast Way, The French Shore,
and A Country So Wild and Grand.
Her photographs were also featured in a National Film Board documentary which
she directed, The Pinnacle and the Poet.
THE GENTLE ART OF NEGOTIATION
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with Tim Perrin,
member of PWAC and the
American Society of Journalists and Authors |
When it comes down to the moment of truth, that moment when you're face to
face with an editor and must negotiate money and contracts, do you go weak
in the knees? Take counsel from a man who knows how to play hard-ball when
negotiating. Tim Perrin, a freelance writer from British Columbia who was a
practicing lawyer, tells you how to get the most out the negotiation
process. Tim knows his way around copyright law and has some fascinating
strategies that will help you get the most out of your encounters with
editors so you walk into the process fearlessly and away from it with the
best possible deal.
Tim Perrin has been a freelancer since 1975. He has written five
books and hundreds of magazine articles for such markets as
Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, Science Digest, Architectural
Digest and many others. He's a former regional director and
national treasurer of PWAC, and a former director and current
newsletter editor for the American Society of Journalists and
Authors. He practiced law for seven years.
MARKETING YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS
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with Hélèna Katz,
PWAC member,
freelance journalist
and educator |
Hélèna hosts a hands-on, practical workshop that has already earned accolades
in Montreal and Eastern Canada.
She will show participants how to write concise query letters that will grab editors' attention.
A firm believer that newspapers and cans arenít the only things that should be recycled,
Helena will also offer tips on how to reuse research and stories to make more money.
Hélèna Katz's work has appeared in magazines and newspapers in Canada and
the U.S., including in Hooked on the Outdoors, Canadian Living, Maclean's,
Marketing Magazine, Providence Sunday Journal and Saltscapes. She was
recently nominated for a K.R. Wilson (Canadian Business Press) Award.
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD:
Food Writing to Make your Mouth Water
Cynthia David |
with Leslie Chesterman,
Montreal pastry chef
and food writer
and Cynthia David,
Toronto food writer |
Lesley Chesterman will discuss how she began writing about food, her
career path to date, the process involved in preparing a weekly column, and
the markets for this type of writing in Quebec and Canada. She will also
touch on a number of other aspects of food writing, including the
qualifications for writers interested in breaking into this exciting genre.
Cynthia David will discuss the importance of proper training and a passion for
food and cooking if you¹re interested in becoming a food writer. She will
also cover the different editorial opportunities open to food writers today.
Lesley Chesterman is a Montreal pastry chef and food writer. She trained for
three years at the Institut de Tourisme et d'Hotellerie du Quebec before
working in France and Montreal as a professional pastry chef. Between 1996
and 1999, she taught at the Pius X Culinary Academy and the Academie
Culinaire de Montreal. Ms. Chesterman began writing freelance articles for the Montreal Gazette and
Canadian periodicals in 1998. She was appointed the Fine Dining Critic of
the Montreal Gazette in September 1999. In October 2000, Lesley Chesterman
and her husband, professional pastry chef Bertrand Bazin, completed their
first book Basic Techniques: Baking and Pastry published by McMillan
Canada.
Cynthia David has been a journalist for 22 years and a food writer for 16.
She holds a journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute and a
cooking diploma from George Brown College. Her newspaper experience includes
stints as Food Editor of the Toronto Sun and the London Free Press. She has
worked in radio at CBC and Radio Beijing in China, and travelled
extensively. Cynthia currently writes freelance food articles for national
magazines, newspapers and corporate clients.
FROM THE SUPERMARKET CHECKOUT TO THE LOCKER-ROOM:
How to Find Stories Anywhere
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with Stephanie Whittaker,
PWAC member,
freelance journalist |
Ever wondered how journalists who churn out regular columns and features
find story ideas without getting stale?
Take some tips from a journalist who uses every opportunity she can to find interesting
stories and dish them up weekly to readers of The Gazette and the various magazines
for which she writes. Stephanie Whittaker will teach you to mine your networks.
A newspaper journalist since 1977, Stephanie has literally found her best stories
during conversations in locker rooms, supermarket check-out counters, school plays, parties,
doctorís office waiting rooms, on street corners while walking the dog and in sundry other places.
She'll also teach introverts how to beat shyness while networking their way to fascinating stories.
MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM PERIODICALS TO BOOKS:
How to Write a Book Proposal
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with Pierre Turgeon,
Montreal freelancer |
Have an idea for a book but don't know how to flesh it out on paper? Here's
a hands-on guide to writing a book proposal that sells your idea -- from a
successful and prolific freelancer who knows how to do it! Pierre Turgeon
shares his wisdom and offers tips on how to write a book proposal that will
reel in a publisher.
Pierre Turgeon has been a successful writer for more than 30 years. The
author of 16 books--history, novels and essays--Mr. Turgeon has worked in
various media. He has written for l'Actualité, Perspectives, Le Devoir,
Radio Canada and for film and television. He was editor-in-chief of Liberté,
a Quebec literary journal. And his recent collaborative hit The People's
History of Canada was broadcast last fall on CBC television. Three years
ago, he founded Trait-d'Union, a Montreal publishing house. Mr. Turgeon has
won the Governor General's award twice--in 1981 for his novel The First
Person and in 1990 for his history Radissonia, The Land of James Bay.
LITERARY JOURNALISM:
The "Do's and Don'ts" of Literary Journalism
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with Mark Abley,
feature writer,
Montreal Gazette |
Mark Abley, one of the most experienced literary journalists in Canada,
will describe what works and what doesn't work in terms of profiling authors,
writing book reviews and covering the literary scene.
A former contributing editor of both Maclean's and Saturday Night,
and a regular contributor to the Times Literary Supplement,
Mark Abley is now on leave from his job as a feature writer at The Gazette
to write a book about threatened languages.
He is the author of several books of non-fiction and poetry,
including the bestselling Stories From the Ice Storm.
HOW TO COVER BUSINESS
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with David Yates,
business editor,
Montreal Gazette |
The business of business-writing.
David Yates, a seasoned journalist and editor of The Gazette's business section,
talks about the stories that editors want to see and how to cover them.
He offers constructive tips that you need to know to cover the corporate,
small business and other business spheres.
Under David Yates' leadership, The Gazette business section has won three
"Best in Business" awards from the Society of American Business Editors and
Writers in addition to garnering one National Newspaper Award and a nomination
for another.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
How to Juggle Multiple Projects
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with Ann Searles,
President of the Institute for Business Technology |
At times, the freelancer's life is like a circus performer's juggling act.
You have to manage several projects--and clients--while still maintaining a balanced lifestyle
(that includes family, exercise, a social life...).
Ann Searles offers how-tos and other wisdom about the work side of this equation.
An insightful look at how to organize yourself better than you already do.
WRITERS, ERGONOMICS AND INJURIES:
How to Deal with Daily Life
behind a Desk
with Laura Leslie, Ergonomist
A clear understanding of proper ergonomics of the workspace can help ward-off unnecessary and potentially debilitating injuries. We will look at the do's and don't of workspace
ergonomics help relate these to possible injuries that may result and provide you with some simple tools in the form of exercises that can help relieve the stress and strain.
Laura Leslie is a Certified Athletic Therapist and an Osteopath who works as a clinical consultant to the Montreal Canadiens hockey team,
and a faculty professor at Concordia University's Department of Exercise Science.
A member of the world championship-winning Team Canada Women's Canadian National Hockey team in 1994, 1996 and 1997, Laura has lectured widely on ergonomics in sports, business and medicine.
CRITICAL REPORTAGE IN MEDICAL WRITING
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 |
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Marvin Ross |
Phillipa Rispin |
Bruce Wilson |
with Marvin Ross, Phillipa Rispin and Bruce Wilson,
PWAC members and medical writers
Three top medical writers examine how to report on medical stories.
A critical look at how to analyse what PR companies, scientists, health-care professionals
and drug companies are telling you about their latest "breakthrough."
The panel will discuss how to read between the lines, what questions to ask, where to find the unbiased information you need to research your stories, and more. A close look at how not to mislead or be misled by amazing medical advances --
and give seemingly unimportant stories their due. A thoughtful look at medical writing.
Marvin Ross has been writing on medical and health topics for over 15 years for a
wide range of papers including the Globe and Mail, Shoppers Drug Mart Health
Watch, the Canadian Medical Association Journal, and the Medical Post. He
also writes for Web sites, an executive health column, and
the pharmaceutical industry, and has authored several books on health care.
Phillipa Rispin has been a freelance writer and editor since 1986.
Most of her work these days is in continuing medical education for physicians.
Phillipa gained valuable insight into medical culture during her university years,
when she worked part-time as a hospital lab technician.
Phillipa has written and edited materials for print, workshops, videos, and slide kits,
some of them award-winning.
Bruce Wilson has been a freelance medical writer since 1993,
covering stories for both the lay and medical press.
Before embarking on his writing career,
Bruce worked as a medical researcher and health educator for a number of years.
He is currently working on a book tentatively entitled "Getting Beyond Getting Taken."
WRITING IN PHOTONS:
How to Write for the Web, Wireless and New Media
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Gordon Graham
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Mark Shainblum
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with Gordon Graham and Mark Shainblum,
PWAC members, authors and
new media writers/editors
Is Web writing a specialized skill? How does it differ from any other type of writing?
How can you adapt your writing to the growing market for the Web and other cyber media?
Two of Montreal's top new-media gurus will guide you through the strange wonders of cyber-writing.
From the World Wide Web to the wireless Web, this workshop provides an overview of
new styles, new guidelines, and new ways of looking at writing for ephemeral media.
Gordon will also present the highlights of his recent survey on how professional writers
are--and should be--presenting themselves on the Web.
Mark Shainblum is a Montreal freelance writer and author.
He is a regular contributor to Quill & Quire magazine on new media and computer books,
and currently works as head writer for Airborne Entertainment,
a world leader in the burgeoning field of micro-entertainment.
Mark is perhaps best-known as the writer and co-creator of the Angloman comic strip.
In 1998, he co-edited a collection of Canadian science fiction entitled
Arrowdreams: An Anthology of Alternate Canadas.
Gordon Graham has won many awards for technical and marketing writing since 1985.
Although he denies being a geek, Gordon has written more than 300 magazine articles on technology,
contributed to five computer books, and worked full-time as VP Marketing for a software firm.
Gordon is currently a partner in Gordon & Gordon,
a Montreal-based firm that does marketing and technical writing for high-tech companies.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
The following workshops will be held at the following times
(subject to change):
9:00 AM
How to Find Stories
Transition from Periodicals to Books
How to Write for the Web and New Media
Medical Writing
Marketing Yourself
The Gentle Art of Negotiation
Do's and Don'ts of Literary Journalism
Photojournalism
10:15 AM
How to Cover Business
Transition from Periodicals to Books
Ergonomics
Food Writing to Make Your Mouth Water
Project Management
The Gentle Art of Negotiation
Do's and Don'ts of Literary Journalism
Photojournalism
11:30 AM
How to Find Stories
How to Cover Business
How to Write for the Web and New Media
Medical Writing
Project Management
Ergonomics
Food Writing to Make Your Mouth Water
Marketing Yourself
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