On January 28, Editors British Columbia presents two related half-day seminars for editors and writers. Heidi Turner will offer practical advice and tools for the business of freelancing from two different angles: using a business plan, and building and maintaining a client base.

Participants can register for each session individually or for both at a reduced rate.

Business planning your way to success
10 am–1 pm, Saturday, January 28, 2017

One of the most overlooked aspects of a freelancer’s business is business planning. A business plan is an important part of a successful business. It helps identify goals and priorities, sets out how much a freelancer has to charge to earn a living, and provides a means for determining how successful and sustainable the business is.

In this three-hour course, participants will learn the basic elements of a business plan. Through exercises and discussion they will examine what their business is, what they want their business to be, who their ideal clients are, what their budget is, and how they plan to market themselves. Visit the registration page for further details.

This workshop is geared toward newer freelance editors and writers, but it is relevant for editors and writers at all stages of their career.

Finding and managing good clients
2 pm–5 pm, Saturday, January 28, 2017

Finding good clients is vital to running a successful editing or writing business. Unfortunately, it’s an area of freelancing that we often dislike. Networking, cold calling, and marketing ourselves are usually low on the priority list. When we do find clients, we sometimes feel uncertain of how to manage the client relationship, and to ensure that our time and work are respected and invoices are paid on time.

In this three-hour workshop, participants will explore effective methods for finding clients and managing client relationships. Through class discussion and exercises, participants will better understand where to find work, steps to ensure invoices are paid, and tricks for managing their client relationships. Visit the registration page for further details.

This workshop is geared toward newer freelance editors and writers, but it is relevant for editors and writers at all stages of their career.

Heidi Turner is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years’ experience. In addition to her work for periodicals and corporate clients, Heidi runs the Vancouver Writing Jobs blog, a resource for people looking for jobs and contracts in writing and editing. She has also taught three courses as part of SFU’s editing program and regularly presents workshops and one-day courses for people in the writing industry.

In 2013, Heidi received the Abbotsford Arts Council’s Arty Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Literary Arts. She has served as the BC regional director for the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) and founded the PWAC Fraser Valley chapter. She also has a dog who remains unimpressed with her achievements.