Blog

Paying tribute to the women who inspire us

2013-04-03T23:16:23Z

I proudly support the Women's Wall of Honour at Mount Saint Vincent University.

I can't claim to be unbiased when it comes to my feelings about the Mount. It's a place that has given me so much—education, friendships, employment, volunteer opportunities, mentorship and more.

Through the Women's Wall of Honour, I was able to give back and invest in the future of the Mount. For $1,200 I reserved a place for my mother's name to be etched permanently into the soon-to-be-constructed Women's Wall of Honour. I also got to write a tribute to my mom that's included in the on-line Virtual Wall (see below).

My mother was notified that I'd done this for her and to say she was delighted is an understatement. I dug deep when writing that tribute to describe how she's been such a wonderful role model for me. It was excerpted in Folia Montana, the Mount's alumnae magazine (disclosure: I am the editor), and several of my mom's friends and relatives saw it there. One day at her house I saw she was clipping and saving copies of this tribute, and although she's usually quite modest, she was mailing it to a few of her closest friends. "I can't believe you said all those nice things about me," she said. The donation and tribute were a much bigger gift to her than I realized they would be and truthfully they brought us closer.

The people I know at the Mount are dedicated to educating and supporting both genders. While this particular initiative honours the many fantastic women who have inspired and influenced us all, men are involved too, giving their support through volunteerism and donations. The campaign is truly an inclusive one.

What's best about this initiative is that the funds raised will be used to build the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research. The McCain Centre will be the first new academic building on campus in 40 years. An astonishing $12 million has been raised so far to help in its construction but the need for more funds continues.

Let's focus now on the potential this initiative offers, the intentions of the Women's Wall of Honour, and the future of this great university.

The dirty dozen and how to avoid messy online content

2013-03-11T00:04:57Z

Here are 12 common mistakes people make when writing web copy and easy fixes.

1. The presentation is hard on the head and the eyes.
You can't take text from a report and upload it onto your web site. The writing will be too formal, and the presentation too dull. Instead, break up your pages into bite-sized chunks of easily readable copy by using:

How to get your letter to the editor published

2013-02-12T14:29:43Z

So you want to write a letter to the editor. Why? Perhaps you want to criticize—or praise—a newspaper article. You may wish to clarify a perceived error or misrepresentation in an article, or add new information or an expert opinion. Maybe you want to write a letter in response to an editorial, column or another letter, i.e. you have an opinion on an opinion. You may wish to generate new discussions around issues being debated by governments and its citizens. Whatever your reason, writing a letter to the editor is an excellent form of engagement.

The catch is that typically many more letters are sent than a publication has room to print. Even in on-line editions, news publications typically only include those letters that made it into their printed versions.

To maximize your chances of claiming some of this precious real estate for yourself, here are some tips on how to get an editor to select your letter:

Read the publication thoroughly.

Snow Way!

2013-02-10T00:33:29Z

It wasn't until last evening that I eventually summoned up the energy to go outside into this snowstorm. When I finally bundled up and went for a walk, I was rewarded with these scenes, all discovered within a kilometre of my Halifax home. The winds were fierce and the banks were high, making it treacherous, beautiful and exciting. Perhaps it's all perspective; if you can see past the inconvenience and drudgery of shovelling, you discover a tiny bit of magic in each differently shaped snowflake. I love a good winter storm, and this is the biggest wallop we've had in years. Did you dig it?

In Earnest, Style is Indeed the Vital Thing

2013-01-27T00:00:32Z

Chausable: "No married man is ever attractive except to his wife."

Miss Prism: "And often, I've been told, not even to her."

It's zingers like these that will keep you laughing all the way through The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's comedic tour-de-force now playing at Neptune Theatre in Halifax.

Although set in late 19th Century England, the play has a surprisingly contemporary feel with pokes at social climbing and courtship that still amuse us today. It has been 'Wildely' popular since it opened in 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London and has been performed many times since, but I suspect the recent popularity of Downton Abbey has further revived interest in this period of British history. In fact, Lady Bracknell has a decidedly Lady Grantham (as played by Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey) -esque way about her, especially with lines like this: "I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people an opportunity of finding out each other's characters before marriage. Which I think is never advisable."

The Funeral Skirt

2013-01-19T20:25:38Z

I smoothed the fabric over my hips and noted how luxurious the silk lining felt against my legs. It was a lovely skirt with strong, straight seems. It fit me perfectly, falling just to the top of my knees, with a narrow patent leather black belt that cinched my waist.

"Buy that skirt. You'll get a lot of use out of it," said my friend Denise.

I couldn't imagine how. I had recently left a staff position with a big publishing company to work as a freelance journalist. I was at the stage of researching and pitching story ideas from my home office while wearing yoga pants. I hadn't had a face-to-face meeting in months and didn't have any on the horizon. How would a charcoal grey, high-waisted pencil skirt prove useful?

2013: Create more, consume less

2013-01-02T23:13:35Z

I reached a few personal milestones in 2012, like finishing my masters, publishing my first book, and landing a regular part-time teaching gig. I am admittedly a little concerned about keeping the momentum going in 2013, but hope that these resolutions will help me stay focused. My guiding principle for 2013 is to create more and consume less. I was criticized for not being specific and measurable in resolution lists past, so how's this?

1. Run 1,000 kilometres.

Nine suggestions for promoting your book

2012-12-13T15:46:35Z

Authors today are more responsible for marketing their books than ever before. For self-publishers this is assumed, but even for authors such as myself who publish using a hybrid model (assuming more production costs up front for a larger percent of sales royalties), the commitment to actually getting our books into the hands of readers can take as much time and energy as the writing itself.

While this list is in no way complete, it does reflect what was successful for me, and may help guide new authors wondering where to begin. Although my experience was in publishing a printed book, I believe it can be modified for e-books. This list assumes you've written a compelling, well-edited and sellable book. Without that, no amount of effort will save you.

Before your book is published:

1. Connect with writers, editors, publishers, librarians, and booksellers.

What I really learned in school

2012-11-26T13:57:56Z

Yesterday I handed in my final paper in my final course of my masters degree. After 27 months, 10 courses, and an estimated 200,000 words amassed into blog posts and assignments, I have met all the requirements of my program and expect to walk across the stage at Mount Saint Vincent University in May to pick up my Masters in Public Relations degree.

Perhaps by then the reality will have sunk in. I will be used to waking in the morning without doing a mental inventory of all the school work I plan to do that day. I won't be scheduling appointments around class times and trips to the library, balancing work assignments with group projects, reading Pierre Bourdieu in the wee hours of the night, and dragging my laptop to my kid's soccer practice to do research while he kicks balls.

Book Review: The Night Has Teeth

2012-10-31T17:15:40Z

The Night Has Teeth
by Kat Kruger

Most novels are strong in either one of two things: plot or characters. Generally, I prefer character-driven stories. I read to better understand human nature – what drives people, how they react in situations, what they think about and how they feel – and to make an emotional connection to the characters.

That said, The Night Has Teeth is stronger on the plot side, and though I don't often read young adult and supernatural fiction, I believe this is typical of that genre. There is tons of action, suspense, and mystery, which I expected, but I was surprised and delighted by how relatable the main character is, too. What sets this book apart is how real the protagonist is, even when he's a teenaged boy with a history of biting people until they spill blood on the schoolyard.