Freelance agency out of the blocks with
50 client writers
We're pretty sure that when he announced plans for the Canadian Writers Group agency, Derek Finkle hadn't reckoned with a nose-diving recession. Still, it is a major accomplishment that today is the official launch and that he is representing 50 of Canada's best freelance writers.
This is half of what he hoped for but it's nevertheless a major step forward for Canadian freelance magazine writers. If it raises the boats of those who've signed on even a few millimetres in pay, they will probably find it worthwhile. Whether it will in the process raise all boats remains to be seen. And whether Finkle can make a smaller stable pay for itself? That, too, is an open question. If determination and focus are factors, the agency should grow and prosper.
A story in the Toronto Star reports that Finkle -- himself a prolific and successful freelancer -- is optimistic:
This is half of what he hoped for but it's nevertheless a major step forward for Canadian freelance magazine writers. If it raises the boats of those who've signed on even a few millimetres in pay, they will probably find it worthwhile. Whether it will in the process raise all boats remains to be seen. And whether Finkle can make a smaller stable pay for itself? That, too, is an open question. If determination and focus are factors, the agency should grow and prosper.
A story in the Toronto Star reports that Finkle -- himself a prolific and successful freelancer -- is optimistic:
"We might be in a recession right now, but once we get out of it, as we inevitably will, my intention is to see freelance rates increase as revenues increase, which wasn't the case before," Finkle says....Related posts:
The group opens its doors today with a stable of 50 prominent magazine contributors, a smaller number than was anticipated when Finkle launched the initiative last fall. As it is, the roster – including veteran writers Gerald Hannon, David Macfarlane, Don Gillmor and Trevor Cole – collectively received 59 nominations for next month's National Magazine Awards.
"It was a strategic decision to start with 50," says Finkle, a writer and former editor of Toro magazine. "We could easily be representing a couple of hundred writers. But starting with a smaller, more identifiable group sharpens the focus."
- Three questions and three answers from Derek Finkle of the Canadian Writers Group
- Canadian Writers Group has signed almost 200 to list; Vancouver meeting planned
- New freelance agency formally announced; more than 80 writers already signed up
- Freelance writers briefed about plans for new agency to represent them
- Former Toro editor Finkle plans literary agency for freelance writers
Labels: freelancers
posted by D. B. Scott at
2:22 pm
4 Comments:
I was courted by the agency and declined to join (it makes bad financial sense if you already earn a decent income, which many of us do). Seems to me a lot of us actually did the math and didn't sign on. The 200 list that was flouted last year was based on people who attended the info events, not people who actually indicated they would join. The current 50 does not represent a chosen few, but rather, the few that chose to join.
To set the record straight, as a CWG member, there was a list of about 80 writers back in October who indicated they would like to join the agency after two meetings in Toronto (a good number of the writers on the list didn't attend the meetings) . More than 200 writers then went on to fill out forms online to indicate their desire to join. The majority of these 200 writers did not attend "info events" (there was one other meeting in Vancouver in December). Close to 60 writers were sent contracts at the beginning of April; 50 signed. More writers will be receiving contracts in the coming months.
Okay sorry, sorry, to clarify... That 200 number flouted about was based on people indicating a desire to "learn more" from info events, website and so on....
same issue though: I got a contract cuz I wanted to read it, everyone I know ordered one cuz they wanted to read it. Doesn't mean we indicated a desire to join, just means we indicated a desire to read a contract prior to deciding!
best wishes to those who join, but keep in mind many, many of the people whose names were on the site a couple months back are anything but signed.
The "200 number flouted about" referred to the number of writers who filled out submission forms and sent them to the agency. One filled out a submission form to join the agency, not to "learn more from info events." There are less than five writers from last fall's list who received contracts this year and have not yet signed. Not sure that qualifies as "many, many" - or even just "many" - and I doubt you were one of them.
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