Takeaways from TWUC
I spent all day yesterday attending panels as part of The Writers’ Union of Canada’s (TWUC) “Fast Forward at 40″, 40th Anniversary AGM and Conference. It was my good luck, as a first time member, that this year’s conference was in Ottawa (next year it’s in Newfoundland so good luck for me getting there!).
The panels I attended were:
1) Get That Grant! moderated by Marion Vitrac, a Program Officer for Canada Council’s Grants to Professional Writers program, with panel members: Denise Chong, Trevor Cole and Mark Frutkin.
Memorable moments:
Marion saying the success rate is 15 to 20 per cent, Trevor disagreeing and saying he thought it was more like 10 per cent, Marion sweetly and politely saying, “That is interesting, but it is wrong.”
Also, an audience member standing up to describe his rejection letter as, “Your dog is dead. We killed it.” The entire audience laughed and Marion (again, very sweetly) said, “I did not write that letter!”
Takeaway for me: This is the first year I’m eligible for Provincial and Federal grants. I think this workshop probably jumpstarted me ahead through several years of fumbling / failed attempts and reminded me, yet again, that jurors and program officers (just like agents and editors) are people too! Often very funny people. And they wish they didn’t have to say no to you.
2) Making the Leap from Self-Publishing to the Big Time, moderated by Hal Wake, with panel members: Katharine Fletcher, Sandra Gulland and Terry Fallis.
Memorable moments:
Sandra Gulland saying “I found a Romanian.” This was in fact, a typist in Romania who re-typed all her backlist into proper e-book form. It was funny but you might have had to be there.
Pretty much everything Terry Fallis said. This guy is so smart and it seems like he doesn’t even know how smart he is. He just seems to have great ideas naturally. The way he made The Best Laid Plans into a success is fantastic and inspirational yet, in some ways, quite simple.
Takeaway for me: It is possible. You can help make your book a success. Your efforts are worthwhile and make a difference. Interestingly, this panel didn’t really change my mind much either way on traditional or self-publishing but it did convince me, no matter what, as an author you really have to take ownership of your book. Katharine Fletcher, as a hometown writer, was very inspiring. I don’t know if I can be as dogged as she was in her self-promotion and sales efforts but I’m sure going to try.
3) Genre Wars, moderated by Harry Thurston, with panel members David Lewis Stein, David Chariandy and Diane Schoemperlen.
Memorable moments:
David Chariandy telling the story of a sign placed outside a community centre where he was going to read his novel (as in work of fiction) which said, “David Chariandy abandoned his elderly mother, who had dementia, and then wrote a book about it. Please join us in welcoming him…” To be clear here, David Chariandy did not abandon his mother, although the character in his novel may have – you’ll have to read it to find out.
Diane Schoemperlen dishing some very fun literary dirt – albeit in an elegant and polite manner.
Takeaway for me: Less about what was actually discussed in the panel and more about how to comport yourself. David Chariandy apologized for reading his initial presentation but I was impressed that he was prepared, had thought his words out, and stuck to the allotted time. Diane Schoemperlen also was generous in sharing her thoughts and ideas and, while fun and full of personality, stayed respectful and professional. A day of panels like this will give you many examples of how people act in public and help you figure out how you want to come across.
Also, it was a pleasure to see Harry Thurston again. He was my Freelance Magazine professor at King’s all those years ago. He has not changed one whit. In fact, if anything he may look slightly younger (and not in an unnatural way, just full of life and health). Freelance Magazine writing was my favourite class at King’s and it was the most relevant to the path I traveled to where I am today.
