The PNBA staff keeps things going in Portland

Thursday represented the first full day of activity for the 2011 PNBA Tradeshow, with a host of educational sessions, workshops, and speaker panels taking place all day at Portland’s Airport Holiday Inn.

Things piped up bright and early at 8am. Throughout the day, sessions were divided amongst three primary target audiences: author/publishers, booksellers, and librarians.

For author/publishers, sessions included panels for first-time authors and sessions with titles such as From Write to Read, Every Book is a Startup, Wholesaler vs Distributor?, Fund Your Writing with Grants, Northwest Novels for Northwest Readers, Indie Publishing & Kickstarter.com, and Behind the Stacks: Secrets of Library Marketing Revealed.

Bookseller sessions touched on introductions to the business for first-timers, the subject of co-ops, and boasted various titles such as Introducing the ABC Group @ ABA, What Can SBA Do for Your Bookstore?, Pick of the List for New Children’s Books, Bookstore Self-audit, Effective Author Consignment Plans, The Nuts & Bolts of Selling Google E-books, and Walking Fact into Fiction.

In addition to intro workshops for new librarians, sessions for this target audience included titles such as The Great Readalike, Smart Book Buying for Librarians and Bookstores, Kindles & Kobos & Nooks, Oh My!, and The Best NW Authors for Kids.

Throughout the day, numerous author book signings were also taking place. For a fee, trade show patrons had the opportunity throughout the 3-day event to stock up on author-signed books. The PNBA Fall Tradeshow also provides the opportunity for member meetings and other various groups within the org to conduct business.

I’ll speak in more detail to two interesting sessions I attended, Indie Publishing & Kickstarter.com, and The Nuts & Bolts of Selling Google E-books.

The Kickstarter session consisted of a panel of six warm bodies; publishers and authors who had used this funding platform to help launch their books. Kickstarter.com is a website that not only accommodates book projects, but basically any interesting idea that the site feels is compelling enough to generate public interest.

After the project (in this case, we’ll say it’s a book) passes muster with Kickstarter staff, the details of the project are packaged and marketed online (through compelling video and what I’d describe as a mini white paper of sorts) through an online campaign to find interested “donors,” who decide that the project is interesting enough to fund in advance of it being issued. I almost think of these donors as stockholders, investing in the project through its merits, or perhaps because they know the individual behind the project and want to invest in them.

In this example, the author/publisher would need to complete their project within a designated time frame, with the idea that once the project was launched they would receive the revenues that had resulted from the campaign. A panel member indicated that with some savvy marketing, enormous revenues were awaiting Kickstarter.com participants and project managers on the back end — thus, the incentive to finish the project to collect the revenues. I was under the impression that the funds available from the campaign were generally unable to be accessed by the project managers, but when I asked a panel speaker indicated some cases where funds could be accessed to serve as capital to fund the production of the project.

I was also curious to know if this program was aimed at first-time authors or project types, and learned that’s not necessarily the case. It seems like the perfect kind of incentive and revenue platform for the types of projects (or, more accurately, the types of project managers) who may have a tendency to procrastinate and not finish something that would otherwise be a marvelous product or creative endeavor. I’ve said it before, and I’ll take it to my grave….it’s the writers and artists who are the visionaries in society and help to advance humanity. They see what the rest of us can’t, and bring it to us. I’m ALL for a tool that helps to advance that cause. Go to Kickstarter.com to find out more about it!

The next session I attended involved the selling of Google e-books from the bookseller’s perspective. It served mainly as a Q&A session that jumped around the topic and addressed everything from new e-reader users to self-management of websites and viewpoints on selling platforms in the evolving world of e-books.

One bookseller described situations with longtime customers who are new e-reader users, and their learning curve. The panelist mentioned that when someone is interested in an e-book, it’s good to “brace them” for the learning curve on the front end of device use.

New e-book customers need to get over this initial hump and understand the arc of the learning curve itself in order to embrace the new technology….and that once it’s set up and they work with it a bit, that they’ll be up and running. He mentioned that folks were initially very intimidated by the device, and would come to them to buy an e-book, but they didn’t know what to buy because there was a technology gap….so the idea of “e-support groups” and “e-therapy sessions” formed, in which bookstore patrons would get together from all backgrounds and skill sets to figure out how to use their e-devices. The results being that in the end, people are happier and more comfortable with the technology, so they end up purchasing more e-books.

Focus on managing bookstore websites for the sale of e-books was also a focus. The panel seemed to indicated that the interface in Google was easy to work with, so book sellers could curate things to their own liking; creating book lists, quick price modification, and advertising specials. The platform gives you the ability to build e-book links, and post special deals, etc. One panelist indicated that while the price changing ability is a nice feature when competing with other sites, it involves quite a bit of work and monitoring.

The panel indicated that low priced e-books sell and serve as a siphon for sales of e-books that are not on sale. On the websites customers can sort e-books by price to see what suits their budget. While the website tools are helpful, they’re only as effective as the imagination and creativity behind them….so some savvy marketing needs to take place on the part of bookstores, such as calling out promotions with e-newsletters in which they continuously advertise the existence of the Google site.

The Google site is also a good vehicle for bringing in new customers with reminders on specials, etc. A panelist indicated that he issued a separate opt-in e-newsletter for folks who have already purchased from the bookstore, with the use of Constant Contact. Followup marketing with thank yous and questions, and ensure that you’ll get repeat customers.

A panelist indicated that mysteries and science fiction seem to be the e-books that are selling the best. Not all e-books are $9.99 — prices can definitely vary. There was mention of a marketing concept called a “petting zoo” (not really sure what that is in the e-book world) which sometimes worked, and sometimes didn’t. Cross-pollinating with Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites. A 25 cent promotion went viral for one bookseller, with orders coming in from around the country.

90% of people who get kindles get them from relatives, according to a panel speaker. He claims that then “You don’t own the Kindle, Amazon owns you.” Another panelist suggested checking out a site called bluefire.com, which helps with hookups and “arcing” to read “gallies.”

Someone in the audience asked about how a bookseller would get paid through the Google platform. Apparently every two weeks sales revenues are sent to you, with a spreadsheet from AVA, to an e-commerce site where they can be retrieved. Booksellers make about 23% of the listed price — so $0.23 on a $0.99 e-book, for example.

There was some discussion regarding sales of books on an “agency plan.” Apparently stores are not allowed to incentivize (if that’s actually a word, I like it!) purchases on agency plan books….the entity controlling the price (who was referred to as an “overlord” by someone in the audience) want the price to be straight across the board. One panel member sees it as a legal way to “fix” book prices in the industry, but later seemed to repudiate his statement. Is there price fixing going on?

There were differing opinions (albeit rather strong) on whether or not that was actually the case. Constellation Digital was thrown out as a solution to what some book sellers see as the platform in question “besieging” booksellers. It was widely agreed, however, that AVA (the OS behind Google’s Android) seems to be the “only game in town,” as it has all the supporting documentation and is more of a plug & play sort of platform.

As a customer, the “agency plan” thing essentially it boils down to this: if you see the same book varying in price between sites, it most likely is a non-agency plan book. If the price is the same, it’s most likely the other case.

That last session was quite a bit of information to take in from someone like myself who is a vendor to the publishing process, but it was absolutely fascinating to sit in and listen to what book sellers have to say about these evolving e-book platforms. Much of what I wrote about the Google platform was taken from notes as I scrambled to capture comments and information being thrown around the room at a jackrabbit’s pace….so if there seem to be any factual discrepancies about any of the technology I just wrote about, please let me know. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that I may have garbled some details here or there.

In the next post, we’ll review what authors have to say at PNBA Portland, along with the goings on with the exhibitor floor.

Over the next couple of days, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) is hosting its annual trade show in Portland, Oregon.

The event brings together publishing industry types, and features workshops for authors, publishers, book sellers, librarians, and others attached to the industry. There is also an exhibition floor, and opportunities to interface with current and aspiring authors. In many cases, authors and publishers attend this trade show to get a feel for one another, hoping to find the right fit. There’s also food and beverage….and restrooms (it’s good to know about those too) so you can powder up, regroup, and put on your publisher game face.

The trade show is not open to the public, but from what I understand there are secret handshakes that will get you inside. For me, I’m wearing a top hat and speaking double dutch to the gatekeeper at the door….so since I have the topper covered, you’ll have to don an emperor’s robe or a cape with sequins echoing early 70s Rick Wakeman….just make sure it’s something exquisite and over-the-top, and they should let you in!

The listing of the workshops, which serve the full spectrum of the publishing industry, appear to have lots of comprehensive information. From there, it’s meeting various folks and schmoozing over meals and cocktails. How about that! Now that sounds like my kind of event.

I drove down from Seattle early this morning and will be attending the whole event through Saturday. Look for other posts on this, and I’ll also be tweeting about it — follow “TopHatIndexer” at Twitter for all the updates.

Thanks for reading!

Let’s see. Where do we start….let’s start two years ago, just to confound ourselves.

In 2009, a magical event took place in Columbia City….it was known as Seattle BookFest. It was part of an effort to bring back the “old” Northwest Bookfest that had taken place on the Seattle Waterfront and later at Sand Point in the earlier part of the last decade….however it ended up morphing into a “new” Northwest Bookfest in Kirkland earlier this month.

In my humble opinion, Seattle Bookfest had the makings of something spectacular, and was everything a book festival should be: with authors, exhibitors, speaking panels, interesting food vendors, big crowds, centrally located in the region, and under the roof of a school reminiscent of something Gen Xers would have roamed the halls in during junior high school.

Oh, the memories. As I walked around during the event, it all came back to me. I could almost see the spit wads flying across the hallway….or the flames from Binaca and lighters heating up locker handles before the student onslaught arrived after the bell rang. Or the time when….well, I’ll spare you the rest of the details.

Anyway, with Seattle Bookfest I was heavily involved with this event; assisting with publicity, photography, and videography, among other things.  I also reported on the event in the Winter/Spring 2010 edition of Indexers Ink, the e-newsletter for our local chapter of the American Society for Indexing.

Like I was saying, Seattle Bookfest had all the makings of something spectacular….then for some reason it seemed to fizzle away. I’m not sure what exactly was happening behind the scenes, but for some time we thought it would take place last fall….and then in the spring of this year….but then that didn’t happen.

Finally, this last summer I received an email from Sheryn Hara of Book Publishers Northwest, who took over coordinating the event — now, once again, known as Northwest Bookfest.

It took place this fall, on the first weekend of October, but in a different form than its predecessor from two years prior. Its location bumped from Columbia City (Seattle) across Lake Washington into downtown Kirkland, with speaking panels, workshops, presentations, and book sales taking place indoors at the Kirkland Performance Center while exhibitors were set up outdoors in 10′x10′ booths strategically scattered around Peter Kirk Park. A few food vendors were also located outdoors (more options would have been nice) while an outdoor musical & acrobatics troupe echoing something between Cirque du Soliel, Spinal Tap, and a Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd concert performed periodically throughout Saturday at a central grassy spot.

The indoor space for the panels, while slightly tight and crowded, made for an interesting setup….but we wanted it to be a bit crowded, as that meant there were attendees — and where there’s attendees, there’s interest and things are being sold. Saturday morning I joined a panel, along with two other editors and a moderator, to speak about the indexing process in a roomful of about 40 current and potential authors. The questions from the audience were interesting, and with a fun bunch on the panel we had a few laughs.

My involvement didn’t end there. Throughout the weekend I was also maintaining an exhibitors booth along one of the main walkways outside, where I brought my own outdoor 10′x10′ REI shelter and rain-fly. Under the protection of that gear, along with two 8-foot tables provided by the bookfest, I was able to show off a display of services information, kiosks, signage, and a funny potpourri of antique items that rolled into an old-timey sort of motif focusing on the subject matter I work with.

From a marketing standpoint, this endeavor was slightly tricky and experimental. Since indexing, editing, and technical writing have limited “curb appeal” (a term normally used when considering home purchases, but applicable to a book fair exhibit with passers by, or so I figure) and are not that interesting for most folks to discuss at length, I decided to keep the focus on subject matter, framed within the spectrum of my brand. I capped off the exhibit with a laptop and extra monitor, in which I could perform “live indexing” for curious passers by….and I actually had a few folks inquire about it. A little signage helped to explain what I was up to.

While it might be considered atypical for someone in my line of work to venture down this sort of marketing rabbit hole, I approached this as an experiment to try something new and to roll a few balls to see if they pick up any moss. Since this was my first rodeo of sorts, I wanted to go through the process of figuring out what worked, and what didn’t. In some ways, I saw it as a dry run for potential exhibiting I’m considering for a more acute client base in the future.

Still, I seemed to get a positive reaction to the exhibit, made some new friends and potential clients, and learned a few new things….and while it was lots of work, I had some wonderful help from Russell, Kristin, and Todd. Thank you all so much for your support!

In terms of the overall exhibit setups throughout the book fair, there were about 70 in all. It was a positive, lively bunch. From direct conversations I had with a few other exhibitors, it’s worth reporting that there was some definite concern going into the weekend about weather, and the concerns were justifiable; the event was taking place at the beginning of October, when fall rain over the span of two days is a near-certainty. The concern didn’t center around lack of cover (which we had), as much as its effects on turnout.

While it was definitely “raining books” throughout the weekend, as the motto for the bookfest goes, we also alternated between a few light showers and some periods of sunshine.

The turnout seemed pretty good, but it was difficult to judge numbers since the activities were split between indoors and outdoors. From my vantage point, the weather forecast and availability of sunlight had an impact on the volumes walking by the outdoor exhibits, and I believe that component should be revisited in the future.

While in theory I can appreciate the idea of exhibitors outdoors in a beautiful setting such as Peter Kirk Park, unfortunately the realities of iffy weather conditions seem to dictate potential attendee behavior, and ultimately a potential exhibitor’s perception of viability within their marketing plan. At the heart of that plan exists an array of choices and expenditures….always something to think about.

Hopefully the numbers worked out and the event made it into the black on the accounting sheet. While there was no charge for attendees, donations of $5 or $10 were requested.

Bringing this event back into the fold of the book fair circuit in the Pacific Northwest is a no-brainier….and assuming it keeps returning and gaining momentum, how big should it get? Over time, these sorts of affairs can mushroom into something that’s too big and expensive, to where they become top-heavy and implode.

That being said, what direction does Northwest Bookfest go? Is the goal to morph and grow into a large regional attraction like that of Wordstock in Portland, or manage its size like that of Montana Festival of the Book in Missoula? Certainly, the space in which the event takes place has a bearing on this….along with decisions about whether to keep it outdoors and the time of year it takes place.

Many of us are eager to see how this evolves. Many thanks to Sheryn Hara for her efforts and for putting on a great event, which hints at even more future growth and potential.

Something new was brought to my attention the other day….something new and wonderful for those of us who work with the “search” feature on PDFs.

I was part of a project team for a land use matter involving town planning and a hearing examiner, in which we were working with a high number of PDFs….which can be more accurately described as a wasteland of literally thousands and thousands of pages of content. A huge chore. Biblical in size.

Originally these PDFs were scanned as graphics and not searchable, being essentially photocopies of documents….so sifting through them in search of particular information was like finding a needle in a haystack, and extremely time-consuming.

That is, until one of the team members emerged with copies of those same documents — except that this time, they were searchable.

I was thrilled, perplexed, and jealous all at the same time. How in the heck did he do that?

I’d never heard of such a tool that can convert readable text in your scanned (unsearchable) PDFs to ones that are searchable. I would have never guessed such a tool exists, and none of my tech writing colleagues are aware of it either….but then again most of us are still working with our old Adobe CS3 or CS4 suites, which have Acrobat Professional, and the older version clearly lacks such a converter tool.

Anyway, when I asked this fella on my project team about it, he said that he has the “full version” of Acrobat. Okay, so I asked him to clarify what exactly “full version” meant….CS5? CS5.5? A stand-alone recent version of Acrobat?

Come on man, spit it out! At least that’s what I was thinking.

In the end, I decided to do a little research on my own, and discovered that it’s a feature available on the professional version of Acrobat X. This version has the ability to take a scanned unsearchable PDF and “read” it for conversion into one that is readable.

The process isn’t perfect. If alphanumeric content is fuzzy or printed in an artsy font, the program can misinterpret the character into something else in the searchable document. In addition, there are paragraph stops at the end of each line, requiring the user to put on the cosmetic (or cosmic, for some) editor hat.

The editing is minor and not that big of a deal, but a slight nuisance time-wise….however if one intends to use the converted content in reports or something that needs to be presentation-ready, this makes for a little work on the back-end. I’d expect the tool to see improvements in future versions of Acrobat.

Still, no complaints from this corner of the room, but it’s an observation that’s important to note.

For those of you who aren’t technical writers, it’s impossible to articulate how stellar this development is. The existence of such a PDF converter tool makes the work of a technical writer, editor, indexer, or researcher that much easier – and can save literally hours of time.

The ways in which this tool helps:

1. Hours per day of needless combing through documents in search of information are literally shaved off the clock.
2. Cut and paste functions are now available for a scanned PDF following conversion.
3. Less strain on the eyes.
4. More productivity….which is especially important for freelancers, since time is money.
5. If you have clients who tend to send you files of content in scanned PDF format, now you don’t have to bug them (as much) about it anymore.
6. Quicker job turnaround….now you can REALLY look like a super hero to your clients.
7. File size reduction is another feature.

As the saying goes, “I’ve got to get me one of these!” I’m putting Adobe X in the budget, and will probably jump on it relatively soon.

Do any users of this tool wish to share any thoughts?

In early August, we had the pleasure of visiting indexing colleague and current PNW-ASI Past-President Nancy Gerth’s homestead in northern Idaho, located on a mountaintop overlooking Lake Pend Oreille.

It’s quite an amazing place she has up there, incorporating the old with the new, as she is advancing her efforts to thrive through the seasons in a sustainable lifestyle.

When I say “old,” I’m referring to practices that have been around for ages, such as gardening and raising animals to provide milk and food. The house derives its drinking water from a well on the side of the mountain, which is continuously recharged.

The “new” refers to advancing technologies primarily for power collection, such as a small stream dam/power generator near the property, and solar energy panels (separate systems for both electrical and hot water), electrical monitoring systems, and an intricate network of batteries to capture power for when it is needed.

The three-story house, while minimizing its footprint on the land, is designed in a compact yet open style to circulate air in the summer months while strategically placed windows take advantage of sunlight to keep inhabitants warm indoors during the winter.

What trumps the combination of all these cool components and features, however, is the silence. As urban (or even semi-urban) dwellers, it’s difficult to absorb the idea of such peace and quiet until you’re actually in it. If you didn’t speak, you heard NOTHING. No neighbors, no motor vehicles, no distant freeway noise, no sirens way off in the distance. Nothing….midday in the heart of summer, no less. The silence was literally deafening….a cliche of sorts, but so very true.

We’ll have a more in-depth review of Five Eagles Peak in an upcoming issue of Indexers Ink, the e-newsletter for the Pacific Northwest chapter of the American Society for Indexing.

Through your business dealings within your industry, you probably have a few organizations you are a member of….at least one or two.

You are probably drawn to these organizations because they help you in your business or weekly life in some way. Some inform you on developing matters within the industry, or perhaps they provide networking opportunities. Others might help you with different aspects of what you do; such as running and growing your business, marketing, or simply developing ideas.

If there’s an organization you’re a member of, and it benefits you or your business in some way, you might think about volunteering to lend a hand to the org’s mission, and pass along a nugget of your expertise.

Why volunteer? After all, you’re not getting paid for it, and it consumes time. Who would want to do that, and what could possibly be the benefit?

Let’s answer that question….as I believe there are several reasons to volunteer, and several ways in which you can volunteer.

10 reasons to volunteer:

1. It’s a way to give back, the way others have given to you.
2. It’s a way to make connections.
3. It’s a way to learn the inner workings of your industry.
4. It’s a way to gain experience.
5. It’s a component of your marketing plan, as essentially a free ad campaign.
6. It helps to elevate your status as an expert in your industry.
7. It’s good for your name, which is good for business.
8. It’s a consequence-free way (usually?) to stretch your legs into new areas and test new skills.
9. It’s a building block for your career path (or part of a career change strategy).
10. Maybe it’s just the right thing to do?

15 ways to volunteer:

1. Participate on an industry listserv…this is where your peers hang out. It’s a good way to get a feel for your industry, ask questions, and find out ways you can help; even if it only involves giving advice or recommendations to a peer.
2. Network. Getting to know others in your industry is the starting path to finding out ways to help out. Usually nothing happens (at all, let alone with volunteering) unless you communicate with others in your industry.
3. Help out on a committee. See if there’s a committee in one of your industry organizations that is of interest to you, and how you can help. In terms of how much time you give, typically you get out of it what you put into it.
4. Assist in organizing events. There might be a way to get involved with an upcoming industry event. This is an excellent way to make connections, and quickly.
5. Be on the Board of Directors. You usually need to work your way up to this level, but being on a Board is a huge way to help in your industry, and affect change…and in some cases there’s a few perks that can go with being on a Board, such as travel and meeting expenses being paid for.
6. Teach. If you have established yourself as an expert in your field, and you’re considering a new challenge, teaching is a fascinating direction to take things. It’s definitely work, and the role suits specific types of personalities, but it’s a way to become and be perceived as what I would call a “Jedi Master” or “Yoda” in your industry…and one could argue that helps business too. Paradoxically, part of the reward of being a teacher involves learning more about new ideas from students, which keeps the teacher on the cutting edge of the industry with things such as evolving trends.
7. Conduct a workshop. It’s a micro-version of teaching, and less commitment, but can be another way to work up to “Yoda” status if you perform repeatedly, fill a need, and experience regular attendance. People are always looking for new information and ways to get an edge in their industry, so don’t underestimate what you have to offer! Look at conferences in your industry and social networks that provide this sort of vehicle. IMHO, I would test the waters of workshops as a possible route to teaching.
8. Write. Most industries have journals, newsletters, or some sort of method of publishing. Contrary to what one might think, they’re always looking for writers, and moreover material that is interesting and provides new leans on subject matter. I can’t think of a more excellent way to get your name out; writing is a cornerstone to building yourself into an industry expert, and will help to bring in clients. Something that’s published in your name — especially if it’s available online — essentially provides unlimited mileage…and it’s a possible pathway to writing a book; the special author’s club where all the Jedi Masters clink brandy glasses and puff on cigars. Not really, but you know what I mean.
9. Edit. If you’re nervous about writing, most of the mediums I mentioned in the previous point are in need of editors. More often than not they’re in short supply. In my industry, I know many Superman indexers who double as Clark Kent editors during the day.
10. Encourage participation from others.
11. Give advice. Folks in your industry — especially newbies — appreciate advice. Remember when you were a newbie and fared favorably from advice? My point exactly.
12. Spread the word. It can be in the form of an article, a tweet, or providing information on a listserv. You come across information and ideas every day when you’re working online or reading the paper…if it looks like it might help others, share it!
13. Just ask. Sometimes you want to help, but don’t know how…just ask an insider of one of your organizations how to help.
14. …or simply listen. Contrary to the previous point, sometimes simply listening to a peer is a way to help, and allows you to reciprocate with a helpful response at the time of the conversation, or at a later time if you have been presented with a complex issue. Sometimes simply following up has more of an impact, and your effort will be remembered.
15. Say “Yes.” You know…it’s the opposite of saying “no.” (Get it?) If someone asks for your talents — be the request small or big — in the form of volunteering, they’ve obviously taken an interest in you and feel you have something to offer. Believe it or not, it’s a compliment…take it that way, and be appreciative. If the request is something you can’t say yes to, perhaps try offering up something comparable, or another idea that falls into your comfort zone.

Certainly these aren’t all the reasons and ways to volunteer…please feel free to share thoughts and ideas of your own on this subject.

To wrap things up, here’s an excerpt from a report I recently submitted to the Board of one of my local organizational chapters, and echoes perspectives on volunteerism through articles and written contributions to the newsletter I currently coordinate:

There’s a deep reservoir of talent in the PNW-ASI membership, and all over ASI…and I would like to encourage indexers to share a nugget of what they have to offer.

If a member of the newsletter staff approaches you with an idea or inquiry on writing an article, it probably means they have put some thought into identifying a talent you have, value your input, and they’re trying to figure out how you might share it in some way — and sometimes what’s proposed isn’t necessarily what you might have in mind for an article — however it’s helpful to explore alternative possibilities or play off a different variation of an idea, opposed to just saying “no.”

It can be a short article, a snippet, an anecdote, or something altogether different from an article. The idea of authoring a piece might seem intimidating or time-consuming, as we’re all busy; but you might be amazed how you can put something together in little or no time. Newsletter staff can also be of writing and editing assistance in any way you want them to be. Let’s honor the talents of one another and help each other to be successful.

That’s one way of putting it, I guess. The intent was that of a calling of sorts; to get more volunteers involved with the organization so they can share their talents.

These are all just some things to think about, but in my experience what one puts into volunteering usually comes back to them in spades.

Please share your thoughts.

The main courtyard at Bastyr University

The Pacific Northwest chapter of the American Society for Indexing met at Bastyr University in Kirkland, Washington last weekend for its spring meeting.

Attendance consisted of a couple dozen; both longtime indexers, some folks who had not been to a chapter event in some time, and some indexers new to the profession. Attendees came from British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, throughout the state of Washington, and from back east.

The meeting was run by Ann Yager, the current President of PNW-ASI. The beginning of the meeting featured committee reports, capped off with Judi Gibbs (the chapter Vice-President) who spearheaded the programming committee that put the Bastyr meeting together. Committee reports are important in these meeting, as it allows regular attendees to hear firsthand what each committee is focused on, and it’s also a little p.r. Each committee is always looking for new volunteers to help out.

Charlee Trantino, who flew out from Pennsylvania, headed the sessions for the day. The morning session centered around the process of rekeying indexes, and she covered both electronic methods and methods performed by hand. The afternoon session focused on concerns about the role of indexing in the developing world of e-books, and ways to address what appears to be a sea-change for the industry. A closer focus on Charlee’s sessions will appear in the upcoming edition of Indexers Ink, the e-newsletter for PNW-ASI.

Meetings like this also serve as fantastic networking opportunities. Two dinners, a luncheon, and plenty of chat time between sessions allowed colleagues to get some face time.

The fall meeting for PNW-ASI will take place at the Water Resources Center in Vancouver, Washington in October 2011.

I know, it is technically not Day 2 of the conference any longer.  I was hoping to get some of the Day 2 stuff posted yesterday, but sheer exhaustion and a 6:00 a.m. flight this morning had other ideas.

So, let’s catch up!  Day 2, Friday, was an action-packed, fun-filled day from start to finish.  In his Keynote Address, Joshua Tallent gave a fabulous talk summarizing his thoughts about the future relationship between indexing and eBooks.  In fact, his topic of choice was so popular that most couldn’t tear themselves away in time enough for the day’s break out sessions to start on time.

Once the seminars got going, they once again did not disappoint!  The first session I attended was Keeping Your Indexing Business Alive, led by Janet Perlman and Pilar Wyman.  This well-rounded session covered many relevant topics including rates, marketing strategies, range of service flexibility, and an evaluation of today’s indexing market–all topics important to both seasoned indexers, as well as first-timers.  Much of the discussion centered on the importance of maintaining high standards of quality combined with finding effective and creative ways to work smarter.

My second session of the morning, How to Start a Freelance Indexing Business, was an obvious choice for the first-time attendee.  The charming Frances Lennie answered a lot of questions and offered a wealth of knowledge on topics such as finances, marketing, training, time management, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the running a freelance indexing business.

The highlight of my day was the special lunch which featured the official announcement of the 2011 H.W. Wilson Award winner, Michael Brackney.  Michael spends much of his time in San Diego caring for his 102 1/2-year-old father.  We were fortunate that Michael was able to carve out a bit of time to join us at the ASI Conference and discuss his award winning index to Dogen’s Extensive Record: A Translation of the Eihei Koroku.  Michael stated his driving motivation when creating any index is to “lead the audience to the words of the author.”  Click on the link above to get a first-hand look at Michael’s masterpiece!

Another highlight of the conference lunch was the announcement of the ASI’s acronym challenge.  Connie Binder won with this masterful acronym creation for the word INDEXER:

Intuitive  Navigation  Designer  EXciting  Every  Reader

What did she win, you wonder?  Connie won the brand new Kindle 3, which was graciously donated by Joshua Tallent!

Back to business after lunch… First up, History Indexing:  Bringing the Past into the Future.  The four panelists, all members of the History/Archaeology SIG, were Connie Binder, Ina Gravitz, Margie Towery, and Carolyn Weaver.  Carolyn moderated while each of the other three panelists discussed various history-related topics.  As an established indexer of history trade books, Connie shared her joys and challenges, as well as several tips and tricks for those interested in jumping on the history indexing train.  Ina gave excellent, detailed information on ways to successfully index books for children and young adults.  Margie shared many effective strategies for the identification and indexing of primary source documents.  This very informative session concluded with an in-depth question and answer session.

My final Friday session was Marketing Your Business Through Social Networking led by Cheryl Landes.  This proved to be another wonderful session for both first-timers and seasoned indexers.  In addition to a handful of lesser-known social networking sites, Cheryl also identified “The Big 3″:  Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  She went on to explain the pros and cons of each site, as well as how to make them work for you in your business marketing efforts.

The official Wilson Award presentation was a nice finish to a fabulous day, and an all-too-short conference stay.  The conference theme this year was Transformation, and I believe we as indexers are successfully embracing the exciting changes and challenges ahead, while still remaining connected to our passion for the written word.

This year’s ASI Conference was a great experience, complete with an abundance of new information and new friends. I enjoyed meeting each and every one of you, and I look forward to interacting with you as colleagues and friends for many years to come…

Is everybody ready for San Diego in 2012?!

~ Jennifer

The first full day of the ASI 43rd Annual Conference offered up a heaping helping of information, new faces, and lots of fun!  With another whirlwind day ahead in a few short hours, figured I better get some initial thoughts written before I refill, and possibly overwrite, the information tank tomorrow.

As someone new to indexing, I found myself “skating dizzy” as the day’s events wound down.  “Skating dizzy” is actually a catch-phrase from Seth Maislin’s fabulous workshop, Principles of Indexing, which I attended for the full day today.  (If you don’t know what the phrase refers to, you’ll have to ask Seth.)  Staying true to this year’s conference theme of transformation, Seth effectively tailored his workshop to teach indexers at a variety of skill levels to think beyond just the nuts and bolts of indexing rules.  He offered a wealth of “real world” contextual tools and critical thinking tips for indexers at all levels to use when adapting to varying indexing environments.

Speaking of changing indexing environments, I wish there were two of me here.  One would be the first-timer attending all the events geared toward bringing new indexers out of their proverbial shells.  My clone would be able to jump into the exciting, highly anticipated eBook and technology themed seminars.

Alas, for this year I am on the “newbie” track.  Don’t get me wrong, however.  The First-Time Attendees Orientation was a wonderful adventure in meeting and getting to know a variety of indexers all in one room!  First, let me say that I might argue with those who say indexers are introverted…  By the end of the orientation gathering (before we ever even left the room for cocktails), there wasn’t a quiet person in the bunch.  The meeting room was packed from the get-go, and every one of us was engaged in often times multiple conversations at once.  The energy in the room was amazing and exciting!  As a first-time conference attendee, I was also struck by how welcoming and open all of the seasoned folks are.  Often, we as shy first-timers find ourselves with the notion that we are bothering those more experienced with our “newbie” questions…  Not so this evening!!

The Welcome Reception immediately followed the First-Time Attendee Orientation.  The energy and excitement did not disappoint!  The reception offered more opportunity for mixing and mingling, and it was nothing short of amazing.

Back to the clone idea…  I wish I had more to offer for those who weren’t involved with the same events I was today.  I imagine there was lots more excitement with the various other workshops, SIG, and Chapter Leaders Meetings.  About the closest thing I can say is that the CINDEX workshop in the neighboring Hartwell room must have been fun this morning; there was a lot of laughter radiating through the walls!

In any event, I’m looking forward to a variety of break out sessions tomorrow; some geared toward the new indexer, and others toward a more general indexing audience.  Additionally, I will (hopefully drag myself out of bed in time to) attend Joshua Tallent’s Keynote Address about the future relationship between indexing and eBooks.  Also, look for a post on the Wilson Award stuff.

That’s all for now!

~ Jennifer

The fun starts tomorrow afternoon!

The abundance and variety of seminars and workshops scheduled for the 43rd Annual ASI Conference promises something for everyone — from seasoned veterans to new indexers like me.  As a new indexer and first-time conference attendee, I’m looking forward to making new connections and meeting new friends!

As the “official” ASI Conference blogger, let me pass along a bit of information about the Hilton Providence hotel. As a person who is generally tied to my electronic devices, I contacted the hotel to find out more about our meeting room facilities.  While information was sparse at best, I did find out:

• Workshop rooms on Thursday are primarily set up with tables, either in a “U-shape” or in rows. Great for those bringing laptops or other note-taking devices.
• Break-out locations on Friday and Saturday are mostly set up as theater-style seating (rows of chairs only). Ashley in the Sales department was unable to be more specific, so it’s probably safe to assume tables won’t be available in many of those rooms.
• Internet access is $9.95 per day in guest rooms.  Sounds like internet access will be hit or miss during the workshops and seminars.  I’ve heard from some presenters that internet access will be available in specific meeting spaces, but not in others.  Let’s cross our fingers and hope for the best!

That’s all I have for now.  I will post any new information as I get it.  It’s going to be a full house and lots of fun!

I look forward to meeting many of you in Providence!

~ Jennifer