Compiled by Janis Cleugh and copy edited by Andrew Silver
As we begin the new season, we would like to introduce you to your 2023–2024 Editors BC executive.
We asked the new executive a few questions. Click on any executive to jump to their responses.
Tara Avery
Treasurer, co-chair of communications and social media, and co-chair of the 2024 Editors Canada conference
What type of editing do you do?
I am a developmental, copy, and stylistic editor; writing coach; writer; and ghostwriter. I work primarily with fiction—though I also edit poetry, stage and screenplays, and the occasional academic paper.
Why do you love words?
Some people use paint or pencils to create, some use the physical form, and some build beautiful objects with their hands. Words are my medium, and I’m fortunate that I get to both create with them and help others refine their creations.
What’s the best advice you can give to an emerging editor?
Don’t undervalue yourself. I don’t just mean financially, either. You must believe in the value you provide before you can adequately convey to a client why they ought to hire you (at the rate you’d like to earn!).
Justin Chevrier
Volunteer coordinator
Why did you volunteer for the executive team?
I volunteered for the executive team because I am excited about the role of editors in our shifting society and I want to be as involved as I can.
What type of editing do you do?
At the moment, I mostly do academic copy editing, but I also do structural editing for non-fiction authors.
What is your dream job?
My dream job would be to live as a garden hermit in a seventeenth century French estate.
Janis Cleugh
Secretary
What type of editing do you do?
I’m a reporter and copy editor for a Metro Vancouver news outlet that went digital-only in August 2023.
What is the most perfect book you have read?
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.
Is there another publishing-related skill you’d like to try?
I’ve signed up for the indexing course at SFU this fall.
Amanda Goldrick-Jones
Program chair
Why did you volunteer for the executive team?
Last year, I was contacted by Editors BC and invited to be program co-chair. I enjoyed the experience so much that I’m back for a second year!
What type of editing do you do?
Primarily academic writing—books, articles, theses—and more informal pieces like blog entries, profiles, and client-centred writing. My favourite areas are education, communication, and social sciences. (Ask me anything about APA style!)
What’s the best advice you can give to an emerging editor?
I moved into editing after a career teaching academic writing and working in university writing centres. But just because I could teach or coach writing didn’t mean I knew how to edit—or even how to get started as a freelancer.
So, my best advice is to enrol in reputable editing courses or a recognized certificate program and learn the skills and strategies to help make editing a successful choice. It’s the best possible investment you can make in your editing future!
Kim Harbridge
Professional development co-chair
What type of editing do you do?
I offer a full spectrum of fiction editing services for indie authors of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and horror.
What is your dream job?
I like flexibility, variety, and the ability to change my mind and pivot to something new whenever I want. I’m pretty happy doing what I do now: a mix of freelance editing and copywriting, fiction writing, and arts and culture event administration.
What’s the best advice you can give to an emerging editor?
If you’re an early-career or student editor, take a minute to write down what you like most about editing right now. Keep this note on hand as a reminder for those days when you’re deluged with dangling modifiers, chasing overdue invoices, or driven to the edge of madness by Microsoft Word.
Merielle Kazakoff
Professional development co-chair
Why did you volunteer for the executive team?
I don’t have co-workers or company social activities, so it’s great to be a part of something that brings others in this profession together, whether it’s to learn or have fun.
What type of editing do you do?
I primarily work with self-publishing authors in all aspects of their publishing journey, which means I do a lot of encouragement editing—and I love it.
Is there another publishing-related skill you’d like to try?
With my background in journalism and publishing, I’ve used a lot of different skills, but now I’d like to try writing a book and becoming a published author (and, yes, I have started writing my manuscript).
Claire Majors
Professional development co-chair
Why do you love words?
I love words because they are magic spells that have the power to invoke deep sense memories and help us process emotions. Words are immortal conduits of experience and are one of the best ways for sharing and connecting human wisdom.
What is your dream job?
I would love to be a teacher librarian, although I’ve heard that position is disappearing.
What’s the best advice you can give to an emerging editor?
I think the first steps are to read books and listen to podcasts about editing and to take editing courses. Also, I recommend reading for pleasure every day. It’s an automatic skill-building activity that is also fun. If you love editing and you are skilled and patient, then you will find work.
Lola Opatayo
Publications chair and managing editor of West Coast Editor
What type of editing do you do?
Stylistic and structural editing.
What is the most perfect book you have read?
The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
What’s the best advice you can give to an emerging editor?
Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know; recognize what you don’t know and chase the knowledge for it.
Eva van Emden
Hotline coordinator
Why did you volunteer for the executive team?
I started volunteering for the executive team in 2011 in the role of professional development coordinator. I wanted to get more involved in Editors BC as a way of networking with other editors. It worked!
Is there another publishing-related skill you’d like to try?
I’ve put some time into learning indexing, a skill I’m interested in developing.
Liz Warwick
Past president
Why did you volunteer for the executive team?
It’s the best way to meet other smart, engaged, amazing editors.
Stephanie Watterson
Webmaster
What is the most perfect book you have read?
Without giving titles and putting tremendous pressure on an author, I think there is no perfect book to read. I do enjoy stories that are often untold and that make us feel, think, or act differently about a topic. That said, it depends on the genre and the author.
If you wrote a memoir, who would edit it?
Probably my parents. My father will read anything, and my mother will always point out anything that reads unclear or has a double meaning. If not them, hopefully my editing peers. They always teach me so much about the editing craft and the communications community.
What is your dream job?
To edit children’s books and be able to still find inspiration as a creative.
What’s the best advice you can give to an emerging editor?
Ask questions. Learn to love the subtle aspects of editing. Not everyone knows what you know, so it is better to share the wealth of knowledge you have.
Missing: Maureen McGuigan and Kyle Hawke
This article was compiled by Janis Cleugh, secretary for Editors BC, and copy edited by Andrew Silver.
Andrew Silver is a proofreader and editor of 8+ years. He previously worked as an in-house editor for System1, where he edited and published articles across the company’s wide spectrum of sites. Before System1, Andrew volunteered for the University of Waterloo’s student-run newspaper, Imprint, working as a copy editor and writing a weekly video game column.
Outside of editing, Andrew enjoys playing video games, reading magazines, and watching pro wrestling.