Top 12 Alberta Magazine Blogposts: AMPA’s 2011 Year at a Glance

We're past due for an unscientific and entirely-biased selection of Alberta Magazines blogposts from the past year. More specifically, excerpted highlights from each month’s biggest AMPA news, industry insight, plus “a few of my favourite things” that we did in 2011:

 

January
Tips for those Magazine Tweets
[January 28, 2011, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

AMPA hosted the seminar "Social Media Fundamentals" with guest speaker Liz Hover, digital media manager for Canada's National Screen Institute. I've decided that—after two awe-inspiring hours (no exaggeration, this was a lot of info) of tips on everything from twitter and facebook to website and blogging... 

 

February

Editor of the Year; Who's Gonna Win?
[February 24, posted by Colleen Seto]

Forget the Oscars; the real contest to watch is the Alberta Editor of the Year Award (EYA), presented by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts... Can we say “all over the board” in regards to this year’s field of nominees? The EYA has always been immensely tough to judge largely because the variety of magazines in Alberta is so expansive…

March

Everyone's a Winner, Baby! Well, internally speaking...
[March 24, posted by Colleen Seto]

Okay, so not everyone can win. But that doesn't mean we can't all have a good time. And that's precisely what happened tonight at the Alberta Magazines Conference gala where winners of the Alberta Magazine Awards were announced to a full house amid swanky live jazz tunes and prime rib dinners…

April

An Idiot's Guide to Blogging
[April 20, posted by Colleen Seto]

Yesterday, AMPA hosted a blogging session with Granville editor Hilary Henegar in Calgary, and she’s doing it again today in Edmonton. Here’s a recap of what she had to share. First, set your online editorial mandate to parallel that of your magazine’s…

May

To Post or Not to Post?
[May 30, posted by Rebecca Lesser] 

Say what you want about the role of Canada's postal service in our "e-nabled" age of online billing, banking, emailing and socializing, but there's no time like the present day state of postal union negotiations to contemplate the reasons we'd miss our snail mail…

June

The Future of Digital Publishing (Part One of Two)
[June 27, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

There are no certainties when it comes to predicting the future, especially when it comes to digital publishing. Understandably, some prefer to sit back and see how this all plays out before launching headfirst into the unknown. It can’t hurt, however, to hear the perspective of some of the bigger players... All of this is to say that there was much to be learned at AMPA’s “Publishing in the Digital Age” luncheon with Evan Hansen, editor-in-chief of Wired.com…

July

Sayonara, or until next time...
[July 17, posted by Colleen Seto]

Some of you may be wondering about the posting for the AMPA E.D. position. Yes, it's official. I've resigned and will not be returning to steer the AMPA ship this fall. I thought I'd take a moment on the AMPA blog to share a fond farewell…

August

New Canada Periodical Fund Formula Based on Circulation
[August 31, posted by Colleen Seto]

After what may seem like an eternity for many publishers, Canadian Heritage has released its new formula for support under the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for the Aid to Publishers (ATP) component… While the case remains that few Alberta magazines qualify for any funding at all given our largely controlled circ marketplace...

September

AMPA AGM 2011: Fond Farewells, New Beginnings
[September 23, posted by Andrew Mah]

I’ve been to more than a few AMPA AGM's over the years—back when I was an intern, later as magazine editor, and then as AMPA’s incoming executive director last year… The spirits did flow, but I also attribute the atmosphere to some of my favourite people: magazine people. I’m clearly biased, but those who work for magazines are, with remarkable consistency, friendly, creative, savvy and good hearted…

October

Alberta Best on Page Celebrated the Power of Magazines
[October 27, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

We laughed, we cried, we oohed, we awed. Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but this past month we truly were inspired by the creativity on display at the Alberta Best on Page travelling exhibition. The show (held in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton) featured Magazines Canada's annual Best on Page display of national and international award-winning print ads…

November

Connecting Local Talent with Local Magazines
[November 21, posted by Rebecca Lesser]

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association is thrilled to officially launch the AMPA Contributors Directory, an initiative to connect local talent with local publications! Search the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association's comprehensive database of magazine creatives available for freelance and contract work for your publication or media organization...

December

How to Integrate Your Magazine with Social Media
[December 12, posted by Colleen Seto]

Now that Facebook is up to 800 million active users, (confess already, you just logged in and checked your Facebook, didn't you?) it really does make sense for magazines to use it for promotional purposes...

 Happy New Year AMPA Friends and Followers!

--- Rebecca Lesser

AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Connecting Local Talent with Local Magazines

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association is thrilled to officially launch the AMPA Contributors Directory, an initiative to connect local talent with local publications! 

Publishers, Editors, Creative Directors: Look No Further 
Need that special photographer for an upcoming fashion shoot? A writer who can deliver an environmental story from Fort McMurray? A designer to help with a custom publication?'

Search the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association's comprehensive database of magazine creatives available for freelance and contract work for your publication or media organization. Contributors in various creative disciplines from Alberta and beyond have listed their credits and credentials on our site — your one stop means of finding the right person for your next big feature or publishing needs.

Contributors, Freelancers, Contractors: Sign Up Now

If you’re a writer, editor, photographer, illustrator, fact checker, web designer or graphic designer available for hire, sign up to our contributors database now. Publishers, editors and creative directors are always on the lookout for talented magazine creatives and this is where you can be found.

Create your own user-maintained listing, featuring key phrase search, extended profile description, website listing, secure email contact, and uploadable samples. Annual subscriptions are currently free so sign up now.

Learn more about the AMPA Contributors Directory, and browse the database of over eighty (and growing!) profiles featuring Alberta's talented contributors, at http://directory.albertamagazines.com

A Cure for the Winter Writing Blues

You would think that with all this recent frigid weather your writing would be flourishing, filling the void that this long winter has created. After all, you are all cooped up in your cozy abode, eating out of boredom and longing for warm summer nights. So what better way to pass the time than to write, right? Here’s what I have to say about that: Easier said than done!

If you’re anything like me, you operate on motivation. Sure, you could write about the window frost or the gray clouds that loom overhead, but at some point you’ll lose interest. Here is a list of writing contests to help jump-start your creativity this spring season.

Script Frenzy!
Challenge: 100 pages of original scripted material
Deadline: April 1 – 30, 2011
Cost: Free
Prize: Self-satisfaction
For more information, check out the website: www.scriptfrenzy.org

Routes Magazine Short Story Contest
Challenge: A family-friendly short story up to 2,000 words
Deadline: April 15, 2011
Cost: $30 per submission
Prize: $1,000, publication in Routes magazine, and a one-year subscription
Check out the details on the AMPA website: www.albertamagazines.com/news_and_events/contests.php#RoutesContest

The Writers’ Union of Canada: Writing For Children Competition
Challenge: Any piece of writing for children up to 1,500 words
Deadline: April 24, 2011
Cost: $15 per entry
Prize: Winner and finalist entries will be submitted to three children’s book publishers
For more information, visit the website: www.writersunion.ca/cn_writeforchildren.asp

Dave Greber Freelance Writers Book And Magazine Awards
Challenge: Non-fiction for social justice writing that is exceptionally well-written and researched
Deadline: June 17, 2011
Cost: Free, but specific criteria apply
Prize: $2,000
Full details at: www.greberwritingaward.com/submissions.htm

Alberta Views Annual Short Story Contest
Challenge: Short story of a maximum 3,000 words
Deadline: June 30, 2011
Cost: $30 (includes one year subscription)
Prize: $1,000 and publication in the December 2011 issue
Further information on the Alberta Views website:
www.albertaviews.ab.ca/2011/01/25/alberta-views-2011-short-story-competition

---Andrea Cubala
Volunteer AMPA Blogger

Feature Speaker - Beverley Sinclair

Meet today's feature speaker - Beverley Sinclair.

Writer, editor and chair of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Bachelor of Journalism program, Beverley is a self-professed word nerd. She has written many magazine articles, several of them award-winning, co-written a book (Western Journeys: Discovering the Secrets of the Land), was editor of the Georgia Straight for seven years, and is kind of fanatical about clear, sharp writing.

Intrigued? You won't want to miss her sessions at the 2011 Alberta Magazines Conference:

2A - Care and Feeding of Freelancers

3A - Online Content Dos and Don'ts

To download the conference brochure, with a full itinerary, session descriptions and speaker bios, visit www.albertamagazines.com/conference

50,000 Words In 30 Days

by Andrea Cubala

On November 1^st, I opened my laptop and starting writing. With a story in mind (the same story that’s been in there for years, waiting for a push) I typed at 1,667 words every day to make sure I was off to a good start in completing the goal: 50,000 words by midnight on November 30^th. Well, it’s day twenty and where am I? About 16,007 words short… Seeing that number makes my heart hurt. But the stress is worth it.

Why do I do it? I came across Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) last year. Run by the Office of Letters and Light, Nanowrimo’s home base is in Berkeley, California—but the location doesn’t matter because anyone can participate! The premise is simple: write 50,000 words between November 1^st and 30^th. There is nothing to win but your own satisfaction. Last year, I got to 38,000 words and I can honestly say it was an extremely satisfying experience. Pushing your creative limits, getting to know your characters, and watching your imaginary world unfold before your very eyes are just some of the perks along the way. Plus, you get a taste of what it’s like to be a true writer; one who continues even in the face of adversity.

I know it is now more than halfway through the month (please, don’t remind me) but don’t let that stop you from joining in. Challenge yourself. Write 10,000 words and see how it feels. Or even just 5,000. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Beyond the Block

by Allison Onyett

We’ve all been there: sitting in front of a blank computer screen, watching the curser blink at us impatiently, without a thought in our head – writer’s block. We’ve all heard of it, many of us have struggled with it, successful writers have been haunted by it occasionally during their careers. Hollywood has even made a feature film, Stranger than Fiction, on the topic, proving that we’re not alone.

There are endless suggestions and tricks for overcoming writer’s block. A simple Google search brings up countless websites devoted to the topic, offering insightful suggestions on how to get your creativity flowing again. For example, I’d recommend http://www.writers-block-help.com/cure-writers-block.html which, among other things, offers 101 ideas on how to get past your mental roadblock and caters to various forms of prose. I was equally impressed by the extensive amount of free content devoted to helping writers produce quality work.

I also came across many articles that suggested allowing your originality to break free through other art forms, such as painting, drawing or simply “playing.” This makes perfect sense to me, since as children we often generate ideas through creative play. As adults we tend to forget to make time for “play,” a leisurely way to practice being inventive.

Personally, I find that as soon as I stop focusing my ideas start to come naturally, which is why I’ll go for a run or take a long shower if I find myself struggling. I also always carry a notebook in my bag, which I started doing when I noticed my purse overflowing with ideas scribbled down on napkins, post-it notes, and old receipts. I’ve also found that bouncing ideas off of a friend is a great way to generate a topic. Lastly, yet probably the most obvious, is reading. Growing up we learned at school that reading and writing go hand in hand. So when you’re stuck writing, try reading. Another author’s work can be very inspirational – hearing their tone, word usage and subject matter can often conjure up new ideas of your own.

All in all – there are many useful suggestions out there to help us get beyond the block. What works for one person may not for another – so on that note, I’d love to hear what works for you. Who knows, you may save a fellow writer from those stressful hours of staring at a blank screen.

Tips for Writing a Magazine Feature

On October 23, AMPA sponsored the LitFest session "Creating a Winning Magazine Feature," with writer and editor Lawrence Scanlan offering his advice on how to create a winning magazine feature from pitch to publication.

Scanlan can speak with considerable authority on the topic, as a former magazine and newspaper editor for publications including The Whig-Standard and Harrowsmith, a former CBC Radio producer, and the author of six best-selling books, including Wild About Horses and Little Horse of Iron. He has also won three National Magazine Awards for his journalism.

The seminar began with a discussion of "the pitch" (ie: selling your story to the editor). Scanlan advised writers to be clear and concise, offering just enough information upfront to pique the editors interest and appeal to the editor as a reader. Knowing and appealing to the specific audience of the magazine is of absolute necessity. Another sound tip: pick up the phone! It's easier to reject or ignore an email than a phone call, so send a pitch via email and advise that you'll follow up with a phone call in a few days time. 

As for the creation of a feature article, Scanlan suggested that writers invest time in their research, even if this means putting in the effort to dig through archives to provide that added touch and detail. He also shared his interview techniques, including taking notes during an in-person (recorded) interview: the very act of note-taking, and breaking from the pressure of eye-contact, will aid in putting the interviewee at ease. 

 Reassure the interviewee that you, or your fact-checker, will run any quotes by them prior to publication.

Some final tips from Scanlan: never underestimate the value of a good peer review, and always read your article aloud to ensure a sense of rhythm.

--- Rebecca Lesser
AMPA Communications & Programs Coordinator

Tax Matters for Freelancers

The Calgary Association of Freelance Editors (CAFE) will discuss tax matters for freelancers at their quarterly meeting Thursday, November 25, 2010.

Most freelance editors are better wordsmiths than number crunchers, but meeting tax obligations is a key part of running your business. Meet with a representative from the Canada Revenue Agency, who can provide advice to small business owners on such topics as record keeping, making tax payments, taking advantage of all your eligible deductions, and utilizing CRA services and resources. To tailor the presentation to your needs, CAFE invites you to submit questions in advance when you register.

Sign-in starts at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m. Refreshments and networking until 9 p.m
Free for CAFE and STC members; $10 for non-members
McDougall Centre, Media Room

455 6th Street S.W, Calgary

Registration is required by Tuesday, November 24. Contact Kerri Rubman, krubman@shaw.ca.

Bad weather date, if needed, will be posted at www.calgaryeditors.com