Monthly Archives: November 2011

YorkScene: Forget Professionalism, Remember Writing

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Check out my latest post on YorkScene.com – “Forget Professionalism, Remember Writing” – where I reflect on writing as a business venture, where each post becomes another page in your portfolio. This view is helpful and oftentimes necessary when art becomes public, but it can also be creatively crippling.

This YorkScene post is hopefully the first in a series of similar pieces written “Stream of Consciousness” style reflecting on the nature of writing. As always, please comment and review. Have you had a similar experience with writing? How do you balance the sometimes slapdash nature of creative inspiration with the methodical, meticulate needs of editing and reviewing? Let me know either on YorkScene or MiaHerrera.com.

Upcoming Panel: Buy, Sell, Trade? The Currency of Identity

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This Thursday, November 10, I will be attending the panel discussion, Buy, Sell, Trade? The Currency of Identity, hosted by Diaspora Dialogues and the Harbourfront Centre.

The event features writers Priscilla Uppal, Cherie Dimaline and Kate Taylor, and actor and playwright Ins Choi. The four will explore identity and representation issues, while audience members contribute one-word “identifiers” that will be used to build characters and discuss storytelling challenges.

The event starts at 7pm in the Harbourfront Centre’s Studio Theatre. Hope to see you there!

Tips from a Networking Noob

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Vito Marchese, event host and owner of Whiteboard Studio, and I

On October 19, I attended The Networker’s 3rd Distillery Business Networking event at Tappo Restaurant and Wine Bar.

An evening of business networking held in open format, the Business Networking event was a night of amazing hors d’ouevres (salmon + cucumber = AMAZING), great drinks, and fantastic people.

The event was a huge success with over 100 participants. It was my first experience at a networking event, and it felt a bit like speed dating for professionals (there were plenty of quick “Hi, Hello, this is what I do” speeches before moving to another), but I found my groove eventually. It was interesting to find myself among so many people in Finance and Real Estate, and I did get a few surprised looks when I introduced myself as a Writer, but I am assured in the fact that if I need an Accountant or Agent I will find myself in good hands.

The next Networker event will be next year in York Region – the 1st Annual MEGA Networking Event. Held at the Richmond Hill Country Club, the event will feature appetizers, drinks, a host and MC, and door prizes and draws. Be sure to buy your tickets now to avail of the early bird prize.

Curtis, Sam, Vito, myself and Rajvir - YorkScene Bloggers represent! Haha

Random Tips from a Networking Newbie:

  • Wear a blazer with two pockets – one to keep your business cards to hand out, another to keep the business cards people hand you. Do not mix these two pockets up.
  • Try all appetizers. They are generally delicious. If the salmon and cucumber apps appear, it is your lucky day.
  • If you’re at Tappos, ask for a red wine sangria. It is delicious! If you are anywhere else, ask for any sort of wine sangria, which is a never-fail treat for your taste buds.
  • Try to attend a networking event geared towards your profession. If you’re down for something fun and new, though, attend one for a completely different industry and have fun meeting new people with different perspectives