This was so exciting – I’m a recipient of a 2015 Big Pencil Award from Rochester, NY’s Writers and Books literary center for being “A teacher of adults who has inspired the creation and appreciation of literature” and someone who has “contributed significantly in the advancement, creation, and understanding of literature in the Rochester community.” The award presentation was on November 14 – and I’m still glowing.

This was fun – I’m a Featured Freelancer with uncompany: http://www.uncompanync.com/featured-freelancer-ruth-e-thaler-carter/

If you (or someone you’re close to) were to die, what would happen to your social media contacts and accounts? The July 3, 2014, NY Times has a useful article on “How to Digitally Avoid Taking It to the Grave.” You should be able to check it out at nytimes.com.

The article includes several tips that I’ve offered in the past, based on what I’ve seen happen to friends and colleagues in similar situations:

Give all your passwords to a trustworthy relative, friend or colleague so they can get access to your accounts, and close them if needed. Some people are OK with leaving things like a Facebook account open after a death, while others find it creepy.

Store the info in a safe deposit box, not on your computer(s).

Include a “digital executor” in your will (you do have a will, right?).

Established and aspiring freelance writers, editors, proofreaders and more face a daunting environment these days in finding not just projects, but projects that pay well. To help colleagues cope, I’m presenting a workshop on “Marketing for the New Paradigm” for the Indiana chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2013, at the Renaissance North Hotel in Carmel, IN. NAIWE members are welcome to attend.

Attendance is free, but RSVPs are required and participants will be responsible for their meals – a buffet lunch will be provided at $15/person or people may order from the menu (gluten-free options are available). To attend, RSVP to Denise Buschmann at denise.buschmann@gmail.com by October 24.

The world of publishing, and thus the world of editorial freelancing, is changing rapidly and constantly. Succeeding in a freelance communications business requires responding promptly and effectively to such paradigm changes. To succeed and thrive, freelancers must understand the changing marketplace and learn how to promote themselves effectively in it.

Copies of my “Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer” booklet will be available at the workshop at $10/copy, a 50% discount from the usual price.

Just a reminder that August 30 is the deadline for the best registration rate
for “Be a Better Freelancer – Marketing Magic and More for Your Business,” the
2013 conference of Communication Central, Sept. 27-28 in Rochester, NY, with a
separate Editorial Bootcamp on Sept. 29 at the same location. This should be an
unusually international gathering – so far, participants have signed up from
Canada, Spain and Egypt, as well as several U.S. states!

There’s a discount for NAIWE members.

There’s also a $50 discount on the Editorial Bootcamp’s Copyediting Intensive for conference participants.

You also can save a few dollars a night on your hotel reservation – there’s a
$107/night rate if you pay in advance, rather on departure, but beware: It is
nonrefundable. There may be opportunities to share hotel rooms as well.

For program, speaker and registration information, go to:
http://www.communication-central.com/2013/events/2013-conference/

The annual Communication Central conference is back in Rochester, NY, this year, coming up September 27-28, 2013, at the Staybridge Suites hotel, with a great line-up of noted colleagues, including NAIWE president Janice Campbell and other familiar and new names. This year’s conference theme is “Be a Better Freelancer: Marketing Magic and More for Your Business.” This event is a unique opportunity to pick up on tips and insights essential to a successful freelance writing, editing, proofreading or related business. For those seeking intensive hands-on help with with editing work, there is also an Editorial Bootcamp, on September 29, at the same place (separate registration fee).

NAIWE members are eligible for the colleague’s discount on registration!

Hotel rooms are eminently sharable – even a studio unit has both bed and sleep sofa, with a divider for privacy. If you would like to share a room, please free to contact me and I’ll put you in contact with other participants who would like to do so.

If you book your hotel room by phone, be sure to use the direct number in the registration form; dial zero when you hear the voice-mail prompts.

Current info is here: 2013-C-C-Conf-program. More details about speakers and sessions will be at the conference website throughout the coming week:

http://www.communication-central.com/2013/events/2013-conference/

Looking forward to seeing everyone. Please pass the word!