Author: WCE Editor

Part of a calendar is shown with one pin lying on top of it, another pin stuck in the 26th of an unknown month, and a blue circle around the 24th.
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Branch Meeting: November 19, 2014

What: EAC-BC November meeting
When: Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: Welch Room, 4th floor, YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Cost: Free for EAC members; $10 for non-members; $5 for students with valid ID. Registration at the door.

Access to information: The role of editors
As editors, our job is to make sure that the material we’re editing is as accessible as possible for its intended audience. But what do we do if we’re editing for an audience we’re not familiar with? What challenges do different groups of readers face, and what can editors do to make reading material more accessible to all audiences? Join us for a panel discussion with three speakers representing a wide range of readers.

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Event Review: Communication Convergence

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by Amy Haagsma

Review of Communication Convergence (co-organized by EAC-BC; held on October 5, 2014)

“Communication convergence: The tendency for different communication fields over time to apply a common range of methods.” – Dr. Neil James

On October 5, EAC-BC participated in a new event, Communication Convergence, focused on clear communication and the importance of using plain language. It was held in conjunction with and in celebration of International Plain Language Day, which is recognized annually on October 13. This year’s theme was “Working Together to Promote Clear Communication.” With this in mind, Communication Convergence aimed to bring together different organizations with a focus on communication.

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Event Review: Advanced Proofreading with Ruth Wilson

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Written by Roma Ilnyckyj; copy edited by Karen Marshall

Review of seminar Advanced Proofreading with Ruth Wilson (offered by Editors BC on September 20, 2014)

Ruth Wilson’s advanced proofreading workshop was exactly what I had expected: fun, loaded with information, and the quickest six hours you could hope for when you’re indoors and just steps from the Seawall on a sunny late-September day (see photo). As an editor who is not quite a beginner but also not sitting on years of experience, I found this workshop a perfect match for my needs. Although you can’t become an advanced proofreader in one day, this seminar taught me three things that I can actively work on in my quest to become one.

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EAC-BC at Word Vancouver 2014

Written by Alexandra Bogdanovic; copy edited by Tanya Procyshyn

On Sunday, September 28, EAC-BC participated in Word Vancouver, a free reading and writing festival. It is also part of Cultural Days, a national celebration of the arts. The festival began on Wednesday, September 24, and was held over the course of five days. Events took place at several venues, including The Paper Hound, Banyen Books & Sound, The Cottage Bistro, Christianne’s Lyceum, Historic Joy Kogawa House, and SFU Harbour Centre. The main event was held on Sunday, September 28, at the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch.

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An Interview with Naomi Pauls, EAC President’s Award Recipient

Written by Frances Peck; copy edited by Joanne King

NaomiPaulsA highlight for EAC-BC over the summer was learning that Naomi Pauls, a long-time member of our branch, received a President’s Award for Volunteer Service at the EAC conference. The President’s Award recognizes outstanding service to the association by member volunteers.

EAC-BC member Frances Peck asked Naomi about the roles she’s taken on over the years and her most memorable volunteer moments.

First, a little background. Could you tell us how you got into editing?
Definitely through the back door. After majoring in anthropology, with a focus on museum studies, I worked in community museums in the mid-1980s. I enjoyed the research and writing aspects of this work, which also involved working with community volunteers. Moving on, I had ambitions of becoming a freelance magazine writer but ended up working on a small quarterly publication in an administrative role. Two years later, I was hired as an editorial assistant at a weekly newspaper, which is where I got real hands-on training in editing. I enjoyed editing, joined EAC, and have been an editor ever since. Now I work mostly on book-length manuscripts.
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Event review: Hitting-the-books wine and cheese

by Amy Haagsma

Recap of EAC-BC’s branch meeting on September 17, 2014

EAC-BC held its 2014­–2015 season opener on September 17, 2014. Before getting down to business, we drank wine, ate cheese, and reconnected with our peers after a summer away.

To kick off the evening, Roma Ilnyckyj, our new Programs chair, introduced the 2014–2015 executive and announced volunteer opportunities with the branch. We are particularly in need of two volunteers to organize refreshments for our branch meetings (update: Frances Peck and Connie Behl have graciously stepped forward to take on this role). The Communications and Social Media committee is always looking for volunteers as well, which allows us to participate in events like Word Vancouver and Communication Convergence. Writers and editors are also needed for West Coast Editor. Please contact Shelagh Jamieson for the Communications and Social Media committee, and Amy Haagsma regarding West Coast Editor.
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Communication Convergence: October 5, 2014

What: Communication Convergence
When: Sunday, October 5, 2014, 1:00–5:00 pm
Where: VSO School of Music, 843 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Cost: $50 for professional association members, $60 for non-members, and $30 for students and retired professionals

EAC-BC is co-organizing this event with Community Plain Language Services Corp.; the Society for Technical Communication, Canada West Coast chapter; and the Professional Writers Association of Canada, Vancouver chapter.

EAC-BC members Frances Peck, Joe Goodwill, Iva Cheung, and Elizabeth Rains will be participating in the panel discussions.

Check out the program or the Facebook event page for more details, and register online.

Branch meeting: October 15, 2014

What: EAC-BC October meeting
When: Wednesday, October 15, 2014, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: Welch Room, 4th floor, YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Cost: Free for EAC members; $10 for non-members; $5 for students with valid ID. Registration at the door.

Forks in the Road: Dictionaries and the Radically Changing English-Language Ecosystem

By at least one objective measure of use, English is set apart from all other languages today. UBC’s Stefan Dollinger will look at recent geopolitical changes influencing the language and the use of English as a lingua franca among non-native speakers, which raises questions of ownership and discrimination between “errors” and linguistic innovations. Stefan will focus on whether these novel uses have been, or should be, addressed in the Oxford English Dictionary and the Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles.

Word buffs and linguistics lovers, don’t miss this exciting discussion of dictionaries and the changing realities of English.
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Word Vancouver: September 24–28, 2014

What: Word Vancouver
When: September 24–28, 2014
Where: Vancouver; various venues
Cost: Free

Word Vancouver is Western Canada’s largest celebration of literacy and reading. Free events will be taking place September 24–28 at various venues throughout the city.

EAC-BC will have a booth on Sunday, September 28, in Library Square.

EAC member Michelle van der Merwe will give a presentation on freelance writing for magazines on Sunday, September 28, at 12:10 p.m., in the Vancouver Public Library’s Peter Kaye Room.

Check out the complete schedule or the program guide for more information!

Event Review: Battling Woes & Busting Myths

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 by Amy Haagsma; review of seminar Usage Woes and Myths with Frances Peck (offered by EAC-BC on April 12, 2014)

Although an EAC member for almost a year, I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to attend one of EAC-BC’s professional development seminars. Usage Woes and Myths with Frances Peck caught my attention right away, as I had learned a lot from Frances through her courses at Simon Fraser University. It initially occurred to me that I might not need the seminar, as I thought I had a pretty good grasp of word usage, but as I started reading the description I realized how wrong I was.

“You’ve sorted out imply and infer.” (Check!)

“You know it’s not all right to use alright.” (It’s not?)

“But what about more troublesome usage points, like the difference between may and might?” (Hmm. I may [or is it might?] need to take this seminar after all.)

“Or such commonly misused words as dilemma and fulsome?” (What’s a fulsome?)

“Is it true that you should always change though to although, till to until?” (I definitely need to take this seminar. Sign me up!)

“Is impact now officially a verb?” (Stop the madness!)
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