Friday 20 January 2012

How to get yourself published!

Date: January 24, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost: FREE!
Location: Perth Union Library

This 45-minute presentation will highlight the paths and pitfalls in getting yourself published. It will be followed by a 15-minute question period during which time participants may share their experiences in publishing, and pose questions. Jennifer Jilks will cover the following topics in her presentation: 
  1. First you read, and then you write!
  2. Writing: poetry, books, submissions, blogs
  3. Find a network
  4. Find a publisher
  5. The book proposal
  6. Using an editor
  7. The publishing process
  8. Marketing your book
Jennifer Jilks is a retired teacher, having taught all grades from JK to grade eight. She is a published author, and wrote a book about providing care to her late parents, Living and Dying in Dignity: A daughter's journey.  She has worked as a consultant for the NSM LHIN Aging at Home Project, presented to various support groups, and at the NSM Palliative Care Conference. She has been featured on CBC's White Coat Black Art radio show, and was interviewed by Greg Friese, at medicalauthorchat.com. Jennifer continues to volunteer through Community Home Support Lanark County providing respite care, and acting as their newsletter editor. She writes six non-profit blogs, including the Carleton Place Habitat build, to keep contact with various friends and family.

5 comments:

Powell River Books said...

Good for you. Wish I was closer, I would have liked to come. Hope you have a good turnout and lots of good questions to answer. - Margy

Kay L. Davies said...

What a lovely photo, Jenn.
I wish I could be there for your talk.
You're probably a lot more patient than I am with people who say "I could write a book"...they drive me crazy.
However, there are people who really want to write, and who are willing to learn when taught.
I was editor of a small sailing publication in the early 70s, and received a long, rambling story of her holiday from a woman who had previously sent in reports from her sailing club and therefore fancied herself a writer.
After the next issue was published and only her club report appeared, she phoned me. I told her I was having a quiet, post-publication day, and said I would do her a favor — edit her story and send it back to her.
I fully expected another phone call, but none came. The sailing club reports continued, and I didn't give the woman much thought until a few years later when I was back to working in my family's printing shop. A women's group was publishing a book of stories by BC women, and we were printing it. This woman had written one of the stories. She'd taken my advice to heart and had improved enormously. I was so proud of her.

Latane Barton said...

Boy, I wish I lived near Perth. What a treat to hear you speak on book publishing but alas, I am far away. I am writing a novel and could sure use some tips on getting it published. May just go the Amazon publish your book thing. I have no idea how to get an agent, even.

Red said...

Good luck on your presentation. It's rather interesting how many writers yearn to be published.

Jenn Jilks said...

Seriously, only one audience member, plus the head librarian!