In these final days of 2024, the editors of Editors Canada blogs The Editors’ Weekly, BoldFace, and West Coast Editor bring you an end-of-year wrap-up full of advice, reflections on our many successes and challenges, and book recommendations to add to your already full to-read lists.

Today, West Coast Editor presents part one of this three-part series: introducing readers to the blogs and their editors.

Who are you, and how did you become involved with the blog? 

Laura: My name is Laura Bontje (she/her), and it’s been my pleasure to volunteer with The Editors’ Weekly for the past three years. I joined the team as the proofreader and social media coordinator in 2021, then stepped into the managing editor role in summer 2023. I work as a freelance fiction editor, offering developmental and stylistic editing for novels (middle grade through adult) and picture books. I’m also a children’s book author! My palindrome-packed debut, Was It a Cat I Saw?, came out this year, and my second book, When the Air Sang, will be out in the spring.

Amanda: I’m Amanda Goldrick-Jones, managing editor for West Coast Editor (WCE), the official blog of Editors BC. After a previous academic career, I joined Editors Canada in early 2020 and volunteered with the student relations committee while launching Arrow Editing Services. In 2022, I completed the Editing certificate program at Simon Fraser University. As a specialist in academic and professional writing, the most rewarding aspect of my freelance editing work is helping graduate students and early-career faculty to succeed. 

I volunteered for WCE after serving two years as program co-chair, then chair, for Editors BC. I feel I’m still learning my new role with publications, having just started in September. Our previous managing editor, Lola Opatayo, was amazing and is a hard act to follow!

Natalia: My name is Natalia Iwanek (she/they), and I’m the current co-editor-in-chief of BoldFace, the official blog of Editors Toronto. I joined the Editors Toronto team last term as the assistant to the editor-in-chief. I’m a freelance copy and stylistic editor, working in both fiction and non-fiction. My areas of focus are plain language, inclusive language, accessibility, and style related to non-English terminology. With a background in English and Political Science, I completed the Editing certificate program at Simon Fraser University in 2019 before continuing with the Plain Language program in 2021.

Anneline: I’m Anneline du Preez, one of the co-editors-in-chief of BoldFace, run by Editors Toronto. Thirty years ago, I started my training in editing and translation, and I’m still editing and writing today. As a generalist, I have worked in the advertising, magazine, financial, government, education/academic, and publishing sectors. Education and publishing are my favourites—I have worked on several textbooks for secondary and higher education students in southern Africa. After relocating to Canada, I joined Editors Canada in April this year and quickly got an opportunity to volunteer for BoldFace. I find the differences in working with language between the two countries extremely interesting.

How would you describe the blog to readers?

Laura: The Editors’ Weekly is the official blog of Editors Canada—but we also welcome guest posts from outside the organization! We publish posts on a wide range of editing-related topics, from technical tips to advice on work-life balance. Some of our most-read posts this year discussed free tools for freelancers, a new Canadian dictionary, AI and academic editing and tips for editing sex scenes in fiction.

Posts are shared on The Editors’ Weekly on Thursdays at 8:00 am EST. Follow Editors Canada on social media for updates or subscribe to the blog to get posts delivered straight to  your inbox!

Amanda: West Coast Editor is the official blog of Editors BC. Like The Editors’ Weekly and BoldFace, we share stories and interviews that highlight editorial work, interests, and activities. While we primarily focus on BC, our articles—informal and inviting in style—are wide-ranging in topics. For example, postings from this fall include reflections on the June Editors Canada conference, practical strategies on plain language, an exploration of the self-publishing business, and highlights from a panel discussion at the Surrey International Writers Conference.

We aim to post at least 3–4 times a month, on Wednesdays and/or weekends.

Natalia: BoldFace is the official blog of Editors Toronto—although readers, volunteer copy editors, and contributors are from all Editors Canada branches, twigs, and beyond! Typically, we publish a new article each Wednesday at 9:30 am EST, covering a variety of editing-related topics. Popular articles this year have included various book reviews; articles on Artificial Intelligence (AI), immigration, writing tips, accessibility, italics, editorial niches (oracle card decks); and our popular columns, Editors Advise, What’s on Your Editing Bookshelf?, Editor for Life, and What’s in Your Editing Workspace?. None of this would be possible without the dedication of all copy editors and writers. Pitches are always more than welcome.

Anneline: Although BoldFace is officially targeted at members of Editors Toronto, it covers a much wider range of people and topics. Editors anywhere in the world would benefit from reading the informative and useful articles written by editors specializing in their fields. Many articles don’t just make you think; they are also entertaining. The Editor for Life column features experienced/seasoned editors who offer life lessons and answers to fun questions. The Editors Advise column offers helpful tips and advice on every aspect of an editor’s work. Our columns that take a peek at editors’ bookshelves and workspaces are pure joy—they might give you ideas for books or gadgets to improve your craft,  or just make work more fun.

Stay tuned for part two in BoldFace, the official blog of Editors Toronto, on Wednesday Dec. 18, and  part three in The Editors’ Weekly, the official blog of Editors Canada, on Thursday Dec. 19 !

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Copyedited by Jane Kuang