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April 2004
ASJA Members-Only Events
By Lisa Collier Cool
The members-only events at ASJA's annual conference just got better. Traditionally, we've held a one-day Members Meeting before our weekend conference. This year, however, the events have been expanded to two days so we can pack in even more money-making ideas, insider career and craft tips, and networking opportunities. Here's a preview of the exciting offerings and innovations the Members Meeting Committee has developed under the leadership of Sandra Lamb.
For the first time, we'll be holding Thursday evening mini-sessions for ASJA members who want to experience the power of small-group brainstorming. There will be a choice of four free programs, held from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on April 22. Sign up early, because each of these freebies is strictly limited to a maximum of 15 attendees.
- The Writing Critique, moderated by Jim Morrison, lets you submit your nonfiction work to a select group of colleagues and get their expert feedback on your words.
- Media-Ready, moderated by Sandy Lamb, helps you tune up your radio and TV skills before that big promotion opportunity comes along. You'll get coaching from professional trainers and a live practice session.
- Developing a Career Plan, moderated by Sam Greengard, starts you on the way to a concrete and achievable path to freelance success. Bring your questions and get ready to blast past obstacles that have been holding you back.
- The Art of the Interview, moderated by Ann Monroe, focuses on the key to skillful reporting, and how to get quotes that make your stories pop.
After being invigorated by one of the enticing Thursday sessions, you'll have lots more to look forward on Friday, April 23. Says Sandy, "We've expanded the benefit to members by setting up individual time with editors and agents." Personal pitching appointments will be available between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., so you can get your ideas in front of literary agents and assigning editors from a variety of magazines and book publishers.
To get the most out of these ten-minute appointments, Sandy suggests preparing up to five ideas to pitch in a few pithy sentences. "If the editor isn't interested in the first idea, you can move on to the next one," she says. Bring business cards to leave with the editors, then follow up with written materials after the conference. Also new is a networking room members can use, on a sign-up basis, to meet with each other.
There will be a range of lively seminars throughout the day. In the morning, you can soak up time management tips, ideas on making the leap to narrative nonfiction, insider insights on contract pitfalls to avoid, setting freelance goals, and straight talk from editors on how to get the best from your assignment.
You'll notice something new at the awards luncheon, Sandy notes. "We're going to set up the tables so members can seat themselves by areas of writing interest. Whether you write about travel or health, you can meet like-minded members, put a face to a byline you've seen, and learn from colleagues in your field." There will also be a drawing for two really cool conference premiums offered exclusively to ASJA members:
- A Sony Clié Handheld. This powerful little gadget offers wireless internet access, so that if you're in the vicinity of a wireless network set-up (say, a Starbucks or Barnes & Noble), you can use it to gain internet access. A $300 value, the Clié also has a built-in digital camera, MP3 audio player, and other valuable options. You can see it at www.sony.com, click on Electronics, then Handhelds/PDA's, then Clie Handhelds. Look specifically for PEGTJ37. This prize provided by LexisNexis, which provides access to hundreds of newspapers and magazines, as well as company, finance, people, and business information.
- A subscription to the Bacon's MediaCalendar, a powerful search application that lets you review upcoming features by topic, keyword, issue date, or editorial lead time, with editor and publisher contact information.
After lunch, choose from two more terrific seminars: a roundtable discussion on the changing face of journalism or one on making the journey from nonfiction to fiction. Afterwards, come to our annual business meeting for the inside scoop on what's happening at ASJA. Then, unwind at our evening reception. Expect to see a lot of new faces: Thanks to a recruitment initiative by Brett Harvey, we had a surge of pre-conference membership applications. So, be ready to greet first-time attendees and let them know it's great to be an ASJA member!
LISA COLLIER COOL of Pelham, New York, is president of ASJA. E-mail the president through www.asja.org/contact.php.
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