* A job in major newspapers, such as Toronto Star, means as much a corporate position as a creative one;

* The journalist's job is nevertheless exciting, 'leading to constant contacts with celebrities as well as obscure people who have incredible ideas', and you are facing daily challenges, ethical or otherwise. As for the critics, 'it's unbelievable how they are able to influence lots of people';

* Nowadays the doors to a position in major news organizations like Toronto Star are fairly tightly controlled; the new people there are easily 'highly qualified', 'know four languages, or familiar with, say, Pakistan'. Suggestions: 1. Start out freelancing, gaining credits; 2. Be a freelance foreign correspondence; 3. Work in a foreign news institution first (?); 4. Writers who are specialized in areas other than writing, such as sciences, are highly marketable (case: National Post);

* Being a good photographer helps marketing as a travel writer;

* The electronic submission could be preferred; the catching subject and opening lines help;

* To build an online personal archive helps;

* It's highly difficult to make a living by freelancing, unless you are 'highly disciplined and have very good contacts';

* It's impossible to make a living by writing poetry, unless the poetry-writing leading you to a position in a teaching post;

* A multi-approach helps creative writing itself: say the poetry-writing and dramatic writing in helping the writing of narrative / fiction;

* Literary agents: try to find agents who just start their career;

* Start the publishing career in small journal and then move on;

* It's obvious to organize handy information of the professional contacts;

* Non-fiction / opinion writing: Canada lacks the atmosphere --- publication such as Walrus is trying to change the situation;