Ted has authored
18 bestselling non-fiction books and has received numerous prestigious awards
(please go to his website for more information on Ted).
Ted shared some of
his experiences as a writer, which inspired us all. I made a few notes to share
with members who weren’t able to attend.
- · Writing is half the battle, selling is the other half
- · The key to non-fiction is to have an uniqueness which illustrates your strength in a particular subject/area of interest
- · Focus on something in your writing which demonstrates your expertise and knowledge – even in fiction
- · Prove yourself repeatedly in a realm of expertise
- · Radio is still surviving – connect to talk shows. Each day they are looking for material. Getting exposure on radio will build your credibility and profile, and increase your media literacy
- · Every author should have a website. It helps to develop a profile. Wordpress is a good tool for website development and management
- · Fire Canoe: McClelland and Stewart saw an article in the paper and followed up with Ted
- · When pitching an idea for a book: provide sample chapter, table of contents, who you are and why you are the person suited to write the book
- · Present an idea that’s unique
- · Are there any days of significance/anniversaries/celebration which can be a hook for your story?
- · I don’t like to write a manuscript unless I know where I’m going with it
- · Each chapter has a different focus, but they are usually in chronological order – more or less in sequence
- · Start your book with a “bang”
- · If you have an outline, it can provide the publisher with some confidence or reassurance that you know what you’re doing
- · Legitimate publishing is desirable, but self-publishing might be more reachable and feasible. Friesen has a wing of their printing company that offers self-publishing services
- · Believe in good quality and building a readership using a legitimate publisher
- · I have never had an agent but use a lawyer’s services for my contracts
- · Have used the services of the The Writers’ Union of Canada and of the Professional Writers’ Association of Canada – they provide some guidance on the content of contracts, for example
- · Smaller publishing companies look for new writers
- · Agencies look on new writers favourably
- · There are grants available to writers, including through the Canada Council
- · I pay a student to transcribe the interviews I conduct (usually with veterans and their families)
- · I still use paper a lot. My desk has transcripts, a laptop, reference books, dictionary, Roget’s Thesaurus
- · It is imperative that a writer no plagiarize
- · Archives in Ottawa: due to staffing cuts, it is best to visit. It is not possible to search on-line and phoning them is no longer helpful
- · If you are contemplating writing a book, it might be best to consider getting an article/story published first. This serves as a stepping stone to credibility. Think smaller and then bigger
- · Review the magazine(s) to identify style, how they handle articles/stories – and tailor to their readership
- · Be braver!!