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The Details:

  • This is the first Federation of BC Writers Mini Summit
  • The Summit is an online event again this year.
  • All sessions will be recorded and available to registrants for a 1 month period after the Mini Summit.
  • There will be one event a day at 11 am PT
  • Participants will receive a daily zoom link that can be used for all events.
  • Digital doors open 5 minutes before the event begins


    Welcome to the Federation of BC Writers 2022 BC Writers Mini Summit. The Summit runs November 21-25 2022. Registration is now open.

    Hot on the heels of our successful Spring Summit our team has worked hard to put together an event that will offer writers the skills to advance their career and market their books. Based on your feedback, we have worked with presenters to secure rights of recordings for most sessions. If you miss one, all registrants will be able to access the sessions for one month after the Summit concludes.

    Check below for a full schedule of events.


      Mini Summit Program:


      Digital discoverability is key to connecting with your reader. Two of the top three ways readers find their books are online: through reviews and web browsing. In this session, Meghan O’Neill, marketing director at Page Two Books, will introduce you to how you can use your website to create an effective and engaging home for your book online.

      After attending this session you will know:
      - Why every author needs a website
      - The type of content to include on a book landing page
      - Common pitfalls most authors make and how to avoid them

      This presentation is sponsored by: Page Two Books, Breathing Space Creative

      More about Meghan O’Neill:

      Meghan O’Neill brings extensive experience in media and communications to her role as marketing director at Page Two Books. Currently pursuing a PhD in publishing, Meghan also holds degrees in publishing and writing, plus a bachelor of international relations from the University of British Columbia.










      You’ve written it, edited it; designed it. Your publication date looms. What does your book need to have its best chance for success? Join seasoned publicist and book marketer Ariel Hudnall (of ZG Stories) for a workshop meant to help develop a marketing plan for your final days to book launch, regardless of your publishing track.

      Authors will learn how and when to perform certain marketing activities, including creating a social media game plan, reaching out for reviews and (some) media coverage, and building a launch event that fits their budget.

      This presentation is sponsored by: Page Two Books, SFU Continuing Education Creative Writing

      More about Ariel Hudnall:

      Ariel Hudnall is the Director of Marketing & Publicity at feminist communications agency ZG Stories. She has an extensive background in book publicity and platform strategies for small presses and self-published authors, as well as a Masters of Publishing from Simon Fraser University. An avid reader, tea drinker, and soil disturber, Ariel lives in the territory of the Lhtako Dené Nation, in what is now known as Quesnel, BC.










      We all know readers will judge your book’s cover, so it must be visually stunning and hook them in — but what specific elements grab readers’ attention and lead them to actually buy the book? This presentation by James Stewart (Promotion Specialist at FriesenPress) will highlight the many factors of a full book cover (front cover, spine and back cover) from the perspective of marketing in different genres. From this viewpoint, we won’t just be focusing on the art, but also elements like book description, blurbs, and much more.

      Attendees will learn genre-specific trends, cliches to avoid, and creative mindset to apply to the art of their book cover, as well as learning about the best techniques for all other aspects added to the front, back and spine (and flaps) of a book cover that hook a reader to pick the book off a shelf (or click to read more). Attendees should walk away with marketing-minded ideas to supplement their approach to considering their next book cover concept, as well as what to prepare to add to it to truly have their book pop off the shelf.

      This presentation is sponsored by: FriesenPress, Breathing Space Creative Literary Studio

      More about James Stewart:

      James Stewart is a Promotion Specialist at FriesenPress. In his work over the last nine years, he has had the opportunity to coach hundreds of self-published authors on the many facets of book promotion, guiding them on how to reach each of their individual book goals, and regularly trains other Promotion Specialists. James also enjoys photography, writing, art, and mental health advocacy. He lives on Vancouver Island.







      This session with Carolina Ortiz, marketing coordinator at NeWest Press, will go over social media best practices for new and established authors. It will demonstrate how authors can use social media to connect to the online literary community in an effort to broaden their audience. Although there are many ways to approach social media, this session will focus on the key steps authors can take to establish online presence that will help market current and future projects. 

      After this presentation, authors should have a better understanding of the tools they can use to establish and maintain a social media presence. In particular, how to create effective, accessible content to drive interaction and engagement with readers online. 

      This presentation is sponsored by: NeWest Press

      More about Carolina Ortiz:

      Carolina Ortiz has a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Political Science from the University of British Columbia. She was published in the Ignite Journal and served as Editor-in-Chief for the UBC Journal of Political Studies. You can usually find her halfway through a crochet project, playing with her puppy, or drinking copious amounts of tea.










      In this session with Kathryn Mockler, author and creator of the newsletter Send My Love to Anyone, attendees will get an introduction on all things literary newsletter such as how and why to start one, what to consider before you begin, sustaining and building an audience and community, using social media to grow, avoiding burnout, platforms, monetizing and more. 

      Attendees will gain a greater understanding of what goes into creating a newsletter and come away with some idea about starting their own.

      This presentation is sponsored by: SFU Continuing Studies Creative Writing and FriesenPress

      More about Kathryn Mockler:

      Kathryn Mockler has been involved in online publishing since 2011. She has published and/or edited five literary sites including her most recent projects Send My Love to Anyone, a newsletter on all things writing and Watch Your Head, an online literary journal that publishes writing and art about the climate crisis. Her debut collection of stories is forthcoming from Book*hug in 2023. She teaches creative writing at the University of Victoria.


      Thank you to our sponsors!  Your support makes our  Mini Summit possible.


      Gold Level

      Founded in 2013, Page Two is an independent publisher of leading non-fiction books by thought leaders, subject matter experts, and organizations. We take an innovative approach to book publishing, working hand in hand with our authors to create brilliant books that are as unique as they are.

      Our team combines decades of professional publishing experience with a nimble approach to today’s fast-changing marketplace. We specialize in genres such as business and self-help, and our books have won numerous awards and landed on bestseller lists across the globe.



      Breathing Space Creative Literary Studio works with individuals looking to transform their writing & publishing experience. Whether via our custom coaching packages, free workshops, or our membership space The Forever Writers Club, we help clear the path along the often fraught journey that is writing and publishing, through mindset work, stress reduction, support, knowledge sharing, and care. We help you discover what is important to you as a creator.





      Every writer needs the right tools, techniques and support to develop their work. The Writer’s Studio part-time creative writing program is designed for writers who are ready to immerse themselves in a manuscript. You’ll join a supportive community as you master your craft and establish a sustainable writing practice.

      FriesenPress is the world's only 100% employee-owned publishing service provider. Their mission is to embrace each book as their own and empower their authors to share their best stories with the world. From editing and book design to production, distribution, and promotion support, FriesenPress is the clear path to better books. Their unique process combines the professionalism and care of traditional publishing with the creative agility (and high author royalties) of DIY self-publishing. The result is a professionally bound and published book that’s 100% owned by the author


      Silver level

      Founded in 1977, NeWest Press is one of Canada's first independent literary publishing houses. NeWest publishes literary fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, and drama, as well as a line of mystery novels, with a particular interest in books by Western Canadian authors. Its Nunatak imprint is the longest-running first-fiction series in Canada.

      Supporters:


      Read Local BC is a project that celebrates the vibrant community of authors, publishers, bookstores, and libraries that make up our province’s literary landscape. Our campaign aims to highlight the diversity and accomplishments of BC publishers and to encourage reading, sharing, and purchasing BC books from local distributors.

      Supported by the British Columbia Arts Council

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