Editors BC must find a new event space to hold its branch meetings, starting in January 2019. We welcome ideas from anyone who knows of, or has, suitable meeting spaces. We have a few criteria for our ideal space: location, size and configuration, amenities, cost, and availability. Continue reading
Editors BC
Event Review: Lynn Slobogian’s “Abuzz with Networking” Workshop
Cartoon by Iva Cheung
Written by Amber Riaz; copy edited by Katie Beaton
Like the character in the cartoon by Iva Cheung, I actively avoid meetings—especially those labelled as networking meetings. The thought of engaging in awkward conversations to try to seem likeable enough for people to trust me with their work usually makes me want to run and hide under the covers!
The Editors BC monthly meeting for March, “Abuzz with Networking,” hosted by Lynn Slobogian, however, went a long way toward alleviating that anxiety. Drawing heavily on her experience with public engagement through her work for numerous non-profit organizations (before launching her freelance editing career), Lynn introduced the concept of networking to a room full of self-proclaimed introverts/editors. Not only did she put everyone at ease within minutes of starting her presentation, she also found a way to make networking a fun and engaging activity. Lynn led us all through the why and how of networking before asking us to actually network with each other.
May 16, 2018: Season-End Wine and Cheese, Volunteer Recognition, and Executive Elections
What: Editors BC monthly meeting
When: Wednesday, May 16, 2018, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: Welch Room, 4th floor, YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver | map
Cost: Free for Editors BC members, non-members, and students.
Summer is coming! Join us in winding down the Editors BC 2017–2018 season with a wine and cheese social and volunteer recognition night.
We’ll also be electing members of next year’s executive, and are looking for people to fill these positions:
- Professional development co-chair
- Programs co-chair
- Volunteer coordinator
- Communications and social media chair
- Refreshments coordinator
Seven Mistakes Many First-Time Editors Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Written by Lindsay Vermeulen; copy edited by Maggie Clark
So, you’ve decided to become an editor.
If you’re quitting a job to go freelance, the prospect of changing careers can be intimidating. And yes, there are plenty of opportunities to mess up. Never fear! They are all part of the learning process, and they will all make you better at what you do. But you don’t have to make all the mistakes on your own, because I’ve already made a bunch of them (or known others who have made them). Read on to learn how to avoid seven mistakes many new editors make.
Meet the Instructor: Moira White
Written by Carl Rosenberg; copy edited by Katie Beaton
On Saturday, April 28, Editors BC presents Moira White’s seminar, “Eight-Step Editing.” This seminar breaks the editorial process down into tasks to improve the readability of an author’s written work. The eight steps are to shorten sentences, take out the trash (i.e., unnecessary phrases), deflate long words and phrases, reduce negatives, eliminate the equations (i.e., equating or linking verbs), activate the passives, lead with strength, and parade your paragraphs.
Moira White is an Ottawa-based editor, writer, and trainer with decades of experience in plain language editing, writing, and teaching for government and corporate clients. She entered the work world as a social worker and later moved into social policy with a master’s degree in the field. In both professions, she found that her organizational skills, attention to detail, and love of words pointed her in the direction of editing. Currently, she teaches writing and editing courses in Ottawa and across Canada. Moira is a past president of Editors Canada.
Carl Rosenberg, a volunteer on Editors BC’s communications and social media committee, spoke to Moira about her work and her forthcoming seminar.
Continue reading
April 18, 2018: Editing and Writing in the Video Game Industry
What: Editors BC monthly meeting
When: Wednesday, April 18, 2018, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: Welch Room, 4th floor, YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver | map
Cost: Free for Editors BC members and student affiliates, $10 for non-members, and $5 for non-member students with valid ID. Registration at the door.
Branching dialogue, visual novels, role-playing games, narrative design, and game localization: welcome to the world of writing and editing for video games. Tonight’s meeting will reveal the ups and downs of working in a media niche most of us know only as consumers. Get the inside scoop on the unique process of game development, the roles that writers and editors can play, and the opportunities and challenges related to breaking into this competitive sector.
April 28, 2018: Eight-Step Editing
What: Editors BC professional development seminar
When: Saturday, April 28, 2018, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Room 810, 8th floor, BCIT Downtown Campus, 555 Seymour Street, Vancouver | map
Cost: $175 for Editors Canada members ($145 early bird), $240 for non-members ($210 early bird), and $110 for student affiliates. Advance registration required. Registration closes April 24; early-bird rates are in effect through April 10.
Eight-Step Editing teaches an approach to editing that helps writers and editors alike. Everyone who has ever clarified a sentence in an email, a report, or another written work can benefit from this workshop.
Event Review: An Introduction to Editing for Accessibility
Written by Ritu Guglani; copy edited by Maggie Clark
Iva Cheung, a certified editing professional and member of Editors BC, spoke to a room full of eager participants at Editors BC’s January 2018 meeting. Her presentation topic was editing for accessibility. While editors live in a world of nuances and judgment calls, Iva re-affirmed that it is always a good idea to use the basic principles of plain language to remove communication barriers for people with disabilities.
March 21, 2018: Abuzz with Networking
What: Editors BC monthly meeting
When: Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: Welch Room, 4th floor, YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver | map
Cost: Free for Editors BC members and student affiliates, $10 for non-members, and $5 for non-member students with valid ID. Registration at the door.
Do you feel bees in your belly at the word networking? Ever wonder how, when, where, or why to network? Does going to events alone fill you with dread? Are you biting your nails at the very idea you’ll be talking to new people in this interactive workshop? Well, this March session aims to take the sting out of networking for you!
March 24, 2018: Editorial Design Basics
What: Editors BC professional development seminar
When: Saturday, March 24, 2018, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Room 420, 4th floor, BCIT Downtown Campus, 555 Seymour Street, Vancouver | map
Cost: $165 for Editors Canada members ($135 early bird), $230 for non-members ($200 early bird), and $100 for student affiliates. Advance registration required. Registration closes March 20; early-bird rates are in effect through March 6.
Good design is so much more than just placing words on a page—it uses subtle visual cues to reinforce and expand on the sense and meaning of writing. Do you wish you had a better understanding of how text, images, and space complement each other? Do you want to know what you, as an editor, can do to make the design process run more smoothly, for clients and colleagues alike?