the power of in-person networking for writers

Quite a few people have asked me to blog about the highlights of the MagNet conference and PWAC agm.  What I thought I’d do instead, is to give you my Top 10 from the time I spent in Toronto and illustrate how the benefits of in-person networking far outweigh the benefits social networking provide to writers (and all of us.)

By the way, the Top 10 lists that pepper the PWAC writers’ listservs following the national conference are a long-standing tradition. And the posts themselves that occur on the list are well worth the price of membership in PWAC. Particularly so for Steve Pitt, a TO-based PWAC & TMAC member who has turned his listserv posts into a hilarious book, which I am now reading and which is so funny it had me spurting liquid all over the back of the airplane seat in front of me as I read it returning from the conference. You can purchase “My Life and other lies” by Steve Pitt at Chapters/Indigo bookstores and online via Bridgeross Communications at: http://www.bridgeross.com/.

But back to my Top 10 list. As I am a Gemini, you will see that my list is comprised of purely social as well as purely professional moments, as well as several that are a blend of both. That’s a Gemini for you. We value the social and purely fun informal moments as much as the purely professional and we innately turn fun into learning and learning into fun.

Doreen Pendgracs’s Top 10 moments from MagNet/PWAC Conference 2010

1. Meeting my PWAC “buddy” who had been put under my wing under the auspice of PWAC’s new buddy system, pairing veteran members with new members and/or those who had not previously attended the conference. My buddy was Kim Lear, now living in Victoria, BC but originally from Winnipeg (also my hometown.) Kim had attended the conference last year but said she hadn’t met anyone. I think her experience this year was so positive she has offered to serve on the PWAC national board. Way to go, Kim! She’s young, bright and focused and will be a great asset to PWAC and any other organization that will have her. It was really interesting for me to hear her perspective on things. Meet her at: http://klear.wordpress.com/. See her in a pic here with me.

2. Nominating Craig Silverman of the QC chapter of PWAC (an amazingly focused member originally from NS) for vice-president and seeing him being acclaimed in the position. It’s going to be a great year for PWAC full of enthusiasm, energy and vision.

3. Seeing former PWAC Toronto chapter president, Leslie Smith, return to the fold after a multi-year absence and watching her receive the “Prodigal PWACer of 2010” award that Tanya Gulliver (PWAC President) had spontaneously conceived after hearing Leslie complain about how she had never been formally recognized by the assn. (The pouting occurred as we were speeding thru downtown TO in Leslie’s sportscar. Maybe Tanya was just grateful we made it to the CSI office safely.) But all kidding aside, it’s wonderful to have Leslie back in PWAC and participating and sweet of Tanya to have publicly acknowledged her. We should have this “award” again next year, as I have it on very good authority that there are other former PWAC members who are anxious to return. This may be the incentive they’ve been waiting for!

4. Walking to the subway station with Nate Hendley, Mark Kearney, and Christine Peets after the Friday night gathering at Virginia Heffernan’s, trying desperately to remember the name of Alan Jackson’s song that refers to front porch (guitar) picking and eating fried chicken. I missed the “front porch picking” of the mini-version of the PWAC band on Friday night as I was engaged in conversation in the back of Virginia’s house with a whole host of fascinating people. You know who you are. (What a great night!)

5. Scoring myself a New York agent for my chocolate book and knowing how I have to revise my proposal so that is emanates my passion for chocolate. Bonding with Katharine Sands occurred over the SOMA chocolates we indulged on in my fabulous suite at the Metropolitan Hotel. Joanne Carnegie and I had made the reconnaissance mission to Soma Chocolatemaker earlier in the week and who knew our cache would be put to such good use?   

6. Enjoying an amazing meal at the Milford Bistro & Gallery and watching Rusti Lehay of Edmonton write her winning slogan on their wall. (Keep in mind that Rusti is probably less than 5 feet tall and that she not only had to stand on their ladder, but climb on the cabinetry of the bistro in order to reach the place where her prose would be etched to inspire all.) Each time I see Rusti she is climbing to amazing heights (sometimes figuratively, but usually literally) and placing herself in photo-friendly places. Here’s a pic of Rusti taken during the wine tour.    

7. Tasting Soma Chocolates with Joanne Carnegie of Montreal (originally from SK) in the Distillery District of Toronto. Kathe Lieber and I ate some amazing chocolate in Europe last fall and the process will continue this fall. But I must say that Soma produces some of the best (if not the best) chocolate I have ever tasted. And it is the owners’ dedication to quality, ethics and originality that give them a well-deserved place at the top of the heap. They have definitely earned a place in my book.

8. Shaking all of my “jiggly parts” (learned that cute phrase from Niecy Nash on DWTS this season) during the amazing PWAC concert at the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) on Thursday night. We had Jacqueline Louie (from Calgary) playing the violin, Christine Peets on her bodhran (Celtic drum,) Nate, Mark, Rusti, Sandy, Bruce and others on guitar, Bruce also on harmonica, Nate also on the mandolin, me shaking my own parts as well as the shaky thing Christine had brought me and enough singing and dancing to make everyone happy. They say singing releases endorphins and that’s probably why we PWACers love each other so much. We always sing together. And we always eat chocolate — which also releases those treasured endorphins.

9. Chasing the beaver (with my camera) as he swam down the river at Dawn Boshchoff’s cottage near Buckhorn (about 2 hours north of Toronto in the Kawartha region.) This is Dawn’s “happy place” and I can see why. The gorgeous environment is perfect for fostering creative ideas as well as friendships. I had the privilege of experiencing similar bonding time at Virginia Heffernan’s place in Clairmont last year. Amazing atmospheres provide the fodder for amazing friendships. Can’t wait to see what opportunity will present itself next year!

10. Hearing Suzanne Boles’s name when the winner of the Lawrence Jackson Memorial Award of Achievement was called. I was one of Suzanne’s nominators and she is truly deserving of this award, given to a PWAC member whose dedication to the organization and to writers and the writing life are undisputed.  I was fortunate to have won this award in 2004 and I can truly say it was one of the most amazing honours I have been bestowed with to date. There is nothing better than recognition from your peers and Suzanne has long deserved this recognition. It’s just so unfortunate that Suzanne wasn’t there to accept the award (she was in in Israel for an important family event) but Mark Kearney did a terrific job of reading her acceptance speech.

So there you have it! My Top 10 of many amazing moments before, during and after MagNet. I hope they illustrate how important networking is to me, and I hope they will encourage you to attend next year’s PWAC conference in Montreal (if you’re a Canadian writer) and other conferences that may be of interest and value to you.

I’d love to hear some of your own networking stories. Can you think of a specific instance where in-person networking has benefitted you? Are you as big a supporter of networking as I am? Please share your thoughts, and if you like this blog, please share this link with your friends and colleagues.