AMPA Goes to the Edge of Print

This past weekend I loaded up my wee Yaris with boxes of member magazines, and hit the road (literally, that poor bumper was weighed-down) for At the Edge of Print, the 2011 Get Publishing Conference at Grant MacEwan University.

This was my first time at the bi-annual conference, which this year reached a record 100-plus participants. It was also my chance to meet more of our Edmonton members, interact with the larger publishing community, and ultimately get the word out about Alberta's magazines.

The Friday night keynote address connected our Edmonton audience via live video-conference (a brave a/v feat that went off without a hitch) with Andrew Steeves in Nova Scotia, the founder, owner, publisher, printer, editor (you name it, he does it, and it's all self-taught) of Gaspereau Press.

I missed the Saturday keynote, Minister Faust, to set up AMPA's tradeshow booth, but I hear it was a hit. And so was our booth! Writers, editors, publishers and students crowded to get their hands on the free samples of Alberta magazines, and to pick up their colourful AMPA swag (many compliments on our branding, courtesy of Gillian Bishop):

I started off my professional developing for the day by attending the AMPA-sponsored "Tales from the Blogosphere: Passions, Politics, and Profit" with panelists Dave Cournoyer (daveberta.ca), Jennifer Cockrall-King (foodgirl.ca) and Kathryn Burke (LDExperience.ca). Each panelist shared their unique blogging stories, and you can read the highlights on twitter (through @albertamags and/or #GPEdge).

I was also keen to hear from Joyce Byrne (@joyce_byrne), associate publisher of Venture Publishing Inc. (think Alberta Oil and Alberta Venture, amongst many others) with her session "Shifting Gears: New Trends in Magazine Publishing." Here are a few of her many quotable tips for writers (with my own comments included, of course!):

• Many editors no longer read the resume with your pitch, they just Google you (LinkedIn and blogs are the new resume)
• As a writer, breadth can be as important as your ability to write in different styles (specialization is so 1990)
• No Dumping Online: take care with your online writing, ensure that it's well-groomed & edited

Never fear, however, you aren't dependent on me to glean the gems from this presentation, since Joyce has kindly posted her presentation for you to read in all it's glory: http://portal.sliderocket.com/ARCJX/My-Presentation-1

The evening ended with a banquet and entertainment, as all evenings should, to cap off a great event. Kudos to the Get Publishing Communications Society, and the many volunteers who helped pull off this year's conference!

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Get Publishing 2011: At the Edge of Print

May 6 and  7, 2011

Get Publishing 2011: At the Edge of Print connects writers with editors and publishers to explore the outer limits of the written word. Registration is now open for this essential conference to get your passions into print and beyond. This year, the Get Publishing Communications Society takes you to The Edge of Print so you can keep pace with the shifting landscape of publishing in Canada — from magazines to books, from page to screen.

Pitch your ideas to a publisher. Draw inspiration from our keynote speakers. Attend the panels, browse the marketplace, don your thinking caps at the writers' circus. Join Get Publishing May 6 and 7, 2011, at the Robbins Health Learning Centre, Grant MacEwan University—and go where no pen has gone before.

This year's presenters, panels, and workshops include:

• keynote speaker Minister Faust, the award-winning novelist and radio broadcaster
• Sarah Ivany, managing editor of Freehand Books (“The Big E Made Easy,” panel)
• co-writer of the comic book Cowboys and Aliens, Andrew Foley (“Pop Culture Confidential,” panel)
• Jennifer Cockrall-King, author, magazine features writer, and foodgirl blogger (“Tales From the Blogosphere,” panel)
• Rose Scollard, Frontenac House (“21st-Century Publishing,” panel)
• food, travel, and memoir writer Judy Schultz ("The Multi-Niche Writer," workshop)
• "Shifting Gears: New Trends in Magazine Publishing"

To register, visit www.getpublishing.ca/edge

Alberta Magazines Conference Shaping Up Awesome

Yes, we know it's the holiday season, and all most people can think about is that, but for us AMPA folk, it's our big conference on March 6 & 7, 2008, that we're bubbling over about. We've secured an amazing speaker line-up, for sure one of our strongest to date.

For starters, Jason Brightman, director of web design for PC World and Macworld, will be our keynote speaker and give a hands-on workshop about strategies for taking your magazine online.
http://www.jasonbrightman.com/

He will be joined by Charlene Rooke, editor of Western Living magazine; Kim Machado, General Manager of CanadianBusiness.com; Mary Newberry, former manager editor for Descant magazine; Malcolm Brown, art director of Unlimited magazine; Glenn Mielke, art director for BlackFlash magazine; Kevin Menshik, director of the agency, Mediactive among others.

This will be all killer, no filler, for real.

More details soon. Must go check out the venue--which is the Red & White Club in Calgary by the way. Stay tuned.