Year-at-a-Glance 2012

January 19—It’s All About the Client

Have you ever wondered why some clients are easy to work with—and some aren’t? Maybe it’s related to generational and communication style differences. Learn ways to readily adapt to all of your clients and be more effective with your projects. Maggi Payment, workforce development consultant and author, will describe the expectations and preferences of four generations that we interact with each day. Janis Whitaker, management trainer, speaker, author, and principal at JP Whitaker & Associates, will present four basic communication styles based on the DiSC assessment. Together, they will teach you ways to increase client cooperation and collaboration. You’ll be entertained and enlightened by this engaging and dynamic duo.

March 15—Keeping the Flame Burning!

Enjoy a “fireside chat” with Richard Lederer, author of the Anguished English series, as well as several new books: The Gift of Age, A Tribute to Teachers, a pair of dictionaries of animal jokes for children, and more on the way. He will talk about psychic mobility and how this skill helps him see the positives and possibilities in life. Richard will show us how to think outside the box and apply the principles he’s used throughout his life to our own lives. If you want to expand your vision to be as productive as possible, this meeting is for you! Audience participation encouraged. Come with your questions. Books for sale.

May 17—Editing Works of Non-Native English Speakers

Kim Lawgali, Coordinator of TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate Programs at UCSD, and Jane Starrett, an editor for non-native English speakers, are a proven and effective team to talk about editing for the non-native English speaker/writer. They will discuss the overall style of these writers, cultural differences in expression and citation of sources, and the importance of offering vocabulary choices. Kim and Jane will also discuss the different types of grammar problems common to non-native speakers of English and offer helpful strategies for expanding English vocabulary. There will be writing samples to analyze, so we can see how their suggestions actually work! Discover more about this growing field of editing.

July 19—What Must a Writer/Editor Know About the Law?

Learn about the top “dos and don’ts” of the following legal issues: proper marking and correct usage of trademarks, copyright permissions, doctrine of fair use and its limitations, prevention of defamation, usage of copyrighted materials, invasion of privacy issues, and basics of book and article contracts. Oh, yes, let’s add “portfolio”—what you can legally share when using screengrabs of images and logos. Local attorney Jim Clevenger, with over 30 years of experience in intellectual property law, will provide insights into these legal issues and more. Comprehensive handouts provided.

September 20—Satisfying the Needs of Clients and Authors

Editors need a clear understanding of the various levels of editing and how to apply them. Editors also need to know some of the main distinctions between style guides (e.g., AP, Chicago, APA, AMA, etc.) and which one works best with which project. Finally, editors face the challenge of respecting the author’s voice yet following editorial guidelines. Come and interact with instructors from the UCSD Extension Copyediting Program as they address each of these topics. Preston Hathaway, Rachael Post, and Jackie Estrada will also gladly answer your questions.

November 15—Taking the Mystery Out of eBook Production

If your client wants to publish as an eBook, are you prepared to make this happen? Do you know how to format the manuscript for an eBook platform and determine which platform works best? Will you develop the appropriate skills or collaborate with those who already have the skills? Will you complete the project (Production Manager) or hand it off to others (Production Coordinator)? Larry Edwards, author, editor, and publishing consultant, will share answers and his experiences in the eBook world. He teaches writing and publishing workshops and is a member of SD/PEN, as well as three other local “word” groups.