Virtual Meetings for Expanded Insight
By Assunta Maria Vickers, Inland Empire Branch
It has truly been an amazing year for the writer in me, for so many reasons of the craft. One of the things I have come to appreciate most about our 2020 Pandemic is the emergence of ZOOM and other on-line meeting sites. I predict that Zoom has caused a paradigm shift in the way the people of this world will be “commuting” to learn and interact, from now on.
For Instance, before 2020 I probably would not have ventured out from the comfort of my own home to attend a sister California Writers Club meeting in a distant city. Regardless of the topic being offered, I personally don’t have the extra time to commute, the extra gas money or even the extra courage to walk into another group of unknown people to hear a speaker I may, or may not, be impressed by. Especially when we do a pretty fine job right here in the Inland Empire, and at just about the right calendar intervals to fit into my already very full life.
But, thanks to ZOOM in particular, I HAVE ventured out, into a wider world of talented writing people at sister CWC clubs. And, I have enjoyed the additional networking, collegial spirits and talent that is now within reach of my tablet. Even if I want to stay in my pajamas on a Saturday morning!
On November 7th, 2020 I zoomed over to the San Fernando Valley Writers CWC Branch. I had noticed that they were hosting a guest speaker, who is both an attorney and agent, representing authors. He was to speak on the topic of the main ways that traditionally published authors make their money. I was mostly interested in hearing a perspective — any perspective — from an attorney in the writing universe. Paul Levine did not disappoint! He happens to be a member of the San Fernando Valley CWC, as well as an attorney who heads up the Paul S. Levine Literary Agency. From his presentation I gained some insights about how advances, royalties, sale of subsidiary rights (and the licensing of subsidiaries) and best-seller bonuses all work.
It boggles my mind at just the thought of the publishing world, and all it entails. I’ve felt so intimidated that I have shied away from researching that essential aspect of the craft of authorship. So, I have been writing away but none of it has gone anywhere, for lack of knowledge, but also for lack of courage to put my toes into those waters. Mr. Levine provided many details of that world for my introductory knowledge, and while I did take notes, the information was so comprehensive that I couldn’t quite grasp it all, and I truly would like to hear from him again! Apparently, he has an entire one-hour presentation just on the topic of CONTRACTS, which I would be most interested in.
And I must say, the warm welcome I received from the club officers at the San Fernando Valley CWC was genuinely nice and much appreciated. I would not hesitate to go back to join them for a future topic of interest, and I hope they would do the same, by joining one of our branch virtual events. AND… If I might encourage my fellow members, at the Inland Empire and beyond, to consider reaching out to other branches, I know you will learn and grow as writers by enlarging your world of writing colleagues! We are after all, a collective, from a heritage of writers helping writers!
“Virtual Meetings…” originally appeared in
“To and From the Editor” in the
December 2020 issue of FRESH INK,
newsletter of the Inland Empire Branch