The new era

The past year was a great opportunity to return to presenting in person, as well as through online events, and I look forward to doing more of both in 2025. I love sharing info and insights, meeting colleagues virtually and in person, and traveling to places either new or familiar. I appreciate the ability to interact with colleagues via Zoom and other online platforms, but I’m the poster child for extroverts, so in-person gatherings will always be my preference.

Need a speaker or presenter? Contact me at 314-240-5034 or Ruth@writerruth.com! I can provide insights on a wide range of topics relevant to all aspects of the publishing world.

Want to learn? Watch this space for new online and in-person presentations in upcoming months.

2025 — Upcoming

February 12, “Basics of Book Proposals,” Zoom chat for Cat Writers’ Association (CWA members only)

February 28–March 1, “Freelancing 101: Launching Your Journalism Career on Your Own” and “All about Interviewing”; possibly “Editing and Proofreading as a Career,” in-person presentations at College Media Association conference in New York City (link to come).

Done

January 15, “Success with Query Letters,” Zoom chat for Cat Writers’ Association (CWA members only)

January 16, “Newspaper Editing in a Challenging Era,” webinar for San Diego/Professional Editors Network

January 22, “Honing Journalism Skills for Association Publishing,” in-person workshop for AM&P Next in Chicago

January 22, “Insights from Experienced Freelancers,” virtual STET Talk for Editorial Freelancers Association

January 29, “Success with Query Letters,” Zoom chat for Cat Writers’ Association (CWA members only)

January 30, “Communicating with authors: How to provide comments they'll accept,” webinar for Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders (CIEP), https://www.ciep.uk/events/events-calendar/webinar-communicating-with-authors-how-to-provide-comments-they-ll-accept.html

February 5, “Joining the Profession: What it Takes to be an Editor,” Zoom chat for ACES: The Society for Editing via Bluesky

2024 presentations
(in person unless noted otherwise)

Let me know if any of these topics appeal to you or your organization.

March, “Websites that Work for Writers” critiques/reviews, St. Louis Writers Guild, St. Louis, MO

“Launching Your Freelance Life” and “Plugging into the Value of Association Membership (for students),” College Media Association, New York, NY

April, “The Business of Getting — and Keeping — Freelance Editing Business,” ACES: The Society for Editing conference, San Diego, CA

May, “Contracts for Freelancers,” TechWrite STL (AMWA regional), St. Louis, MO

June, “Launching a Freelance Communications Business,” National Federation of Press Women/Missouri Professional Communicators conference, St. Louis, MO

“Making the Most of Interviewing from Both Sides,” National Association of Independent Writers and Editors webinar

October, “Getting the Word Out with Effective Press Releases,” the Acatemy, Cleveland, OH

“Make Your Book Better: Finding and Working with an Editor” and “Websites for Writers,” Missouri Romance Writers Association Fiction Workshop, St. Louis, MO

2023

March, “Freelancing on My Mind: Tips for a Successful Freelance Medical Writing Business” roundtable at “Invest in Yourself: Enhance Your Value as a Medical Communicator,” conference of the American Medical Writers Association/Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Bethesda, MD

“All About Editing and Proofreading/Self-editing and working with an editor,” St. Louis Writers Guild, St. Louis, MO

May, “The Business of Getting — and Keeping — Editing Business,” at “Seasons of an Editing Career,” Red Pencil conference of Northwest Editors Guild, Lynnwood, WA

You can purchase recordings of my EFA webinars, with handouts, from me at any time. Contact me at Ruth@writerruth.com for details about any that interest you.

2022

“The Future of Editing” webinar presentation for the Colorado chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) — inspired a post to the An American Editor blog: https://americaneditor.wordpress.com/2022/01/24/on-the-basics-the-future-of-editing/

“Websites for Editors,” virtual presentation for San Diego/Professional Editors Network.

Here’s what I covered: “Whether in-house or freelance, every editor can use a website to promote their skills and services. This Program Meeting will offer tips on why it’s worth having a website, what to include (and not include) in an editor’s website, how to manage a site, examples of editing colleagues’ sites, and resources for creating a website.”

Panelist in a session about negotiations during the first-ever Center for Independent Journalists conference. Here’s a description:

“Many freelancers don’t feel well-equipped to advocate for themselves at the negotiating table — especially given the backlash women and people of color often face when seeking better contract terms. This session will provide tips, advice, resources and strategies on how to negotiate everything from pay to perks. We’ll also explore pay transparency and the inner struggles that may be keeping journalists of color from asking for what they deserve. Panelists will discuss how to negotiate everything from pay to perks.”

“Freelancing 101: Taking the leap to freelance editing” and “Marketing magic for freelance editors,” ACES: The Society for Editing national conference, San Antonio, TX.

“All about Editing Your Own Work,” third-grade class in Rochester, NY, and “The Importance of Good Writing Skills for Your Future,” three English classes at Brighton High School, Rochester, NY

“Marketing Magic for Garden Communicators,” 2022 GardenComm national conference (virtual)

“Freelancing 201: Taking Your Freelance Journalism Business to New Levels,” Society of Professional Journalists MediaFest22 conference, Washington, DC.

“Marketing Magic: Using Awards to Promote Yourself and Your Work,” Missouri Professional Communicators (MPC), about ways for communications professionals and artists to garner new projects, clients and buyers by letting the world know about their achievements and honors.

2021

January: “Finding Editing Work: Mining Opportunities Beyond Books,” virtual presentation, Editors Association of Canada (EAC) 2021 conference

“Reset-Reinvent-Revenue: Increasing Diversity in Association Publications,” virtual roundtable, 2021 Association Media & Publishing (AM&P) conference session

June: “Improving Your Public Speaking Skills,” in-person luncheon for TechWrite St. Louis (AMA Mid-American Region)

September: “Freelancing 101: Establishing Yourself as a Freelance Journalist,” online session, 2021 Society of Professional Journalists convention — ranked at the top of attendance and popularity among sessions!

October: “Launching Your Freelance Business,” “Building Diversity and Sensitivity into Your Business and Your Clients’ Projects,” and “Making the Most of Your Website through Better Usability” (with Kathie York), 2021 Be a Better Freelancer® conference of Communication Central, the National Association of Independent Writers & Editors (NAIWE), and the An American Editor blog. Recordings of these and other conference sessions are available from NAIWE (www.naiwe.com).

December: “Going Solo - Launching a Communications Consulting Business,” webinar for the St. Louis chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) — a gratifying success, with more than 50 registrations from colleagues in several countries.

2020

January: “Putting Together Annual Reports: Resources for Small Nonprofits,” The Acatemy, Washington, DC.

“Protecting Your Computer and Your Privacy,” luncheon presentation for TechWrite St. Louis (AMA Mid-American Region)

May: “How cats can help us deal with the current (and any future) quarantine conditions, as well as life in general,” interview by Robbi Hess for the Crimeless Cat: https://tinyurl.com/y9bfze7m.

July: “Basics of Proofreading,” Editorial Freelancers Association webinar If you missed the session, you can purchase a recording from the EFA.

“Freelancing 101,” Editorial Freelancers Association webinar. If you missed the session, you can purchase a recording from the EFA.

2019

March: “Joining the Profession: Basics of Editing and Proofreading,” American Copy Editors Society (ACES: The Society for Editing) national conference, Providence, RI.

April: “Make the Move to Freelancing,” Society of Professional Journalists regional conference, Ocean City, MD.

May: “Basics of Editing and Proofreading,” Editorial Freelancers Association (webinar)

June: “Seven Deadly Sins in Pitching Your Writing Work,” 2nd annual Ladder Literary Conference, Writers and Books, Rochester, NY

June: “State of Journalism in Association Communications - Thriving or Dying? Relevant?,” Association Media & Publishing annual conference, Washington, DC

August: “Freelancing 101,” Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) national conference, Chicago, IL

September: “Websites for Editors - How to create yours” and “Building Better Relationships with Clients,” Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) annual conference, Birmingham, UK

“Getting Started as a Freelancer: Launching Your Independent Business,” “Build a Better Website to Promote Your Freelance Business,” “What Freelancers (Can) Do,” “‘Socialize’ Your Freelance Business,” Gateway to Success: Communication Central/NAIWE “Be a Better Freelancer”® conference, St. Louis, MO

My 2018 presentations included chairing and speaking on a panel about pitching to editors at the first-ever literary conference of Writers and Books (WAB) in Rochester, NY, and several classes for WAB; speaking on a freelancing panel at the annual conference of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) in Baltimore; and presenting a session about launching a communications consulting business at the Heritage Region conference of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) in Richmond, VA. (If you need information about these topics, let me know — I can usually arrange special offerings.)

Why book or attend presentations by Ruth?

I’ve received lots of gratifying compliments about my lively, upbeat presentation style; expertise and knowledge; and detailed handouts. Here are a few.

• “I have so far attended three of your courses, the final being ‘The Basics of Editing’ course, and first wanted to thank you for all your insights and generosity in teaching.”

• “I attended Ruth Thaler-Carter’s Freelancing 101 webinar recently ... Great course, by the way, lots of good information.”

• “You did a great job. Lots of additional information tonight and some great tips!”

• “You were superb as always.”

• “I knew it was going to be helpful, exciting, and resourceful. This class didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed it and learned so much. I want to take more classes with Ruth.”

For more testimonials to my speaking/teaching activities, go to: http://www.writerruth.com/testimonials