I started keeping tabs on Andrew Smith after I read about him in Quill and Quire magazine last fall. The Canadian author of two traditionally published non-fiction books couldn’t find an agent or publisher for his first novel, Edith’s War, so he decided to self-publish it. He has been blogging about each stage of the writing, publishing and marketing process ever since. I … Read the rest >
Being an editor, I need material to edit. That means it’s in my best interest to share the following tidbit about breaking through writer’s block with you, my fellow writers.
Geist magazine is holding a workshop to “help writers bust through writer’s block”. The workshop is being held Saturday, May 29 (2010) at the Listel Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver. … Read the rest >
You’ve probably heard the expression “write about what you know”. But how do you proceed when you must write about what you don’t know? I recently had that experience. I was hired to write about a subject I knew almost nothing about. So what did I do? Here’s my process. Maybe you will recognize yourself here. Or, more likely, you have … Read the rest >
I attended the first day of the two-day 2010 Northern Voice personal blogging and social media conference at UBC on May 7th. Northern Voice is in its sixth year, but it was my first time. My $50 day pass included seminars, lunch and networking opportunities with fellow bloggers. After one keynote address and seven … Read the rest >
Do you blog for profit? Are you comfortable with having other people’s paid ads on your website? If so, you may want to check out the new book by self-proclaimed dot-com mogul John Chow. Even if you don’t want to monetize your blog, the Vancouver-based blogging pro offers useful advice on how to increase traffic to your website in his 144-page … Read the rest >
Hello, writer friends.
Looking for tips on getting your book published? Wanting more people to find your blog? Seeking a sample edit of your manuscript? (You can ask Zen Editorial for a sample edit via this website, but you can also get one at the festival I’m about to mention.)
Here are just seven of the more than two-dozen workshops and … Read the rest >
The Globe and Mail’s John Barber explains how hiring an editor led to Vancouver Island author Chevy Stevens signing a New York book deal.
In his March 27 article, Barber says Stevens learned as much as she could on her own, then hired a freelance editor to mentor her. After doing numerous rewrites in response to feedback from her editor, her … Read the rest >
I’ve taken a number of publishing-related courses at Simon Fraser University, and each time I’ve been impressed with the quality of teachers and the comprehensiveness of the programs. Therefore, I don’t hesitate to point writers toward the SFU Summer Publishing Workshops. The new calendar is out and if you are a B.C. writer, I’m almost positive there’s something in there for … Read the rest >
Why did I name my company Zen Editorial, and why the slogan “We’re Word Conscious”?
There are several reasons. For one thing, I want my clients to feel relaxed and Zen-like when their work is in my hands. My job as an editor is to clarify and tidy up their message until their words are as uncluttered as a Zen … Read the rest >
