The Latest Happenings From The WCYR
We had a great turnout for our annual general meeting on April. We’ve got so much going on this year. The WCYR is steadily working towards its goal of becoming a registered non-profit organization. The WCYR grant application is being assessed and we’re looking forward to the awards in June. Stay tuned. We are busy planning the York Writers Conference and also moving forward with eco-friendly meetings, where attendees will be asked to “lug-a-mug”. Members were also reminded about the open mic events held at Cardinal Press the last Sunday of every month. The meeting also highlighted the WCYR youth group for young writers in grade 7 to 12, which meets after the open mic at 
Cardinal. Members are also encouraged to sign up for meetings early to be part of the early bird draws for free meetings. There are also open volunteer positions waiting to be filled. Please check the website for details.
What Happens When Your Book Is Done?
The second part of the April meeting was all about self-publishing. MJ Moores, Kim McDougall and Sandy Day took us through the ups and downs of the publishing world, including information on the “big five”, and small and medium presses. They took us on the journey that led them to self-publishing. We were encouraged to hear that “print is not dead!” There are many authors that publish both traditionally and independently, and indie authors now earn nearly 40% of ebook dollars. They also reminded us that there is a lot of competition in the indie publishing world. We discussed Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Smashwords and vanity presses. They explained the differences between the four types of editing. We also learned that ISBNs are issued free from Archives Canada.
It still takes a lot of work to get a manuscript ready for publication. Without a publisher, authors have to do much of the work themselves. The manuscript needs to be edited professionally, interior design and ebook conversion need to be completed, and a professionally designed cover is also of the utmost importance. You need to create your own accounts with distributers, book printers, ebooks publishers, and audiobook producers. Another aspect that takes up more time than you might think is marketing, which includes your online platform. We were also presented with a prospective budget for how much all these ingredients for a finished work would cost. For anyone considering self-publishing, it was an interesting and informative meeting.
Upcoming Events:
Mega Local Authors Event – Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, Chapters Newmarket; Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9, 2019, Chapters Markham, 10:00am to 5:00pm.
Build Your Own Murder Mystery: A Collective Creation Project – Sunday, June 9, 2019, 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex.
The Bookshelf – Saturday, May 25th, 8:30am to 1:00pm at Newmarket Community Centre & Lions Hall.
York Writers Conference – Saturday, October 26, 9:00am to 5:30pm at Newmarket Old Town Hall.
