Editors BC is proud to spotlight our January volunteer, Myriam Beaugé. Myriam volunteers as a copy editor for West Coast Editor. In this interview, Justin Chevrier, Editors BC’s volunteer coordinator, asked Myriam about her dream vacation destination, her favourite punctuation mark, and more.
What or who makes you laugh out loud?
My son and my sisters make me laugh out loud whenever they share their latest “common sense is not common” evidence. They get so animated, and it is very entertaining. Besides them, baby/toddler gibberish cracks me up.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Not actually feeling guilty about so-called guilty pleasures. Seriously.
What is your dream vacation destination? Why?
I would love to go trekking in the Himalayas, particularly in Bhutan, to discover the local culture and see the monasteries and incredible landscapes. It will be challenging, given my occasional vertigo, but it remains on my proverbial bucket list.
Which actor would play you in a biopic of your life?
Well, I don’t know who would sign up for the gig. That said, if I had my pick, it would be Marianne Jean-Baptiste (as in Secrets & Lies). She’s a great actress.
If you were presented with a book that told the story of your life from start to finish, what would you do with it?
I would save it for my son to receive after I’m gone.
What is the last book you read?
I just finished reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.
What is your favourite punctuation mark?
It is definitely the comma. It nuances written expression like no other punctuation mark.
What is your favourite word? Why?
Wholeness, because it represents a wonderful yet often elusive human state.
What is the best book you read in the last year?
That is a tough question. It is probably a toss-up between Trust (by Hernan Diaz) and The Lonely City (by Olivia Laing).
What are your favourite book genres?
There are many.
Fiction: literary, historical, and social science
Non-fiction: collections of essays, history, technology, and art
What is your favourite thing about being an editor?
I love the challenge of optimizing communication while staying true to someone else’s voice.
What is your proudest editing moment?
It is probably turning complex and jargon-riddled copy into plain language.
What’s the most important lesson you ever learned?
The most important lesson I ever learned is that context is everything in editing. You have to be mindful of it all the time.
What advice do you have for new editors?
My advice would be to consider editing a tool that we use to facilitate and improve communication between an author (or group) and an audience. It is not an end in itself but a function that serves a greater purpose. It’s not about impressing other editors or writers.
What advice do you have for new members of Editors BC?
It would be to periodically check the schedule of upcoming webinars. We editors often spend a lot of time working alone. Webinars offer a chance to not only acquire practical knowledge but also make new connections and explore a wide range of editing topics. Meeting other word nerds is always fun!
About Justin
Justin Chevrier is an editor and the owner of Erasmus Editorial. He has a BA in history from the University of the Fraser Valley and has completed the Editing Certificate program at Simon Fraser University. His freelance clients include non-fiction authors in the genres of business, memoir, and religion, and he copy edits academic journal articles of all scientific disciplines.
Outside of editing, Justin enjoys going on walks, making art, and spending time with his four young nieces.
If you would like to volunteer with Editors BC, please email Justin.
About Myriam
Myriam Beaugé is the founder and principal of SWYM Communications. She specializes in stakeholder engagement, content development, and strategic communication focused on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). An experienced writer and editor, Myriam holds an MA in Intercultural and International Communication from Royal Roads University. Connect with her via LinkedIn and at SWYMcommunications.com.