Editors BC

Self-Publishing and the Role of Editors

For some writers, self-publishing feels like online dating—a lesser version of the “real thing.” It can be stigmatized: considered a fallback for those who couldn’t fulfill the popular image of “being published.”  But Megan Williams, CEO and managing editor of The Self-Publishing Agency (TSPA), views self-publishing as a powerful alternative that offers many advantages writers might overlook. 

At the Editors BC meeting on November 20, 2024, Megan talked about how she founded and sustained TSPA, described the evolving publishing landscape, and suggested how editors can help writers interested in self-publishing.

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Clarifying Legal Communication: An Editor’s Journey

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Written by Jane Kuang | Copyedited by Dana Sorensen

I was born and raised in a small city where English education was not advanced at that time. My curiosity about the English language and my struggle to break through my language limitations led me to attend the Plain Language and Editing programs at Simon Fraser University. The sense of vulnerability and the disquieting dependence on others for support bothered me for a long time until I learned to face my limits with grace and improve within my capacity. 

Now, as an emerging editor who worked as a paralegal in litigation for a decade, I have witnessed firsthand the communication barriers that arise from differences in language and culture. 

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“Writing for Tomorrow Today”: The Editors BC Virtual Panel at SiWC

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Written by Amanda Goldrick-Jones | Edited by Rainer Zhang

On October 27, 2024, the Surrey International Writers’ Conference (SiWC) offered four local editors—Amanda Goldrick-Jones, Amber Riaz, Lisa Hislop, and Molly Cernik—the opportunity to share their ideas and strategies for future-proofing writing. Panellists focused on writer awareness of audience diversity, inclusion, racial and cultural identity, understanding marginalization and acting on that understanding, and how large language models like ChatGPT can perpetuate biases in writing without human oversight. 

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The New Age of Publishing: Future Trends and Industry Tips for Editors 

When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 7:00–8:00 pm PDT

Where: Online through Zoom

Cost: Free for Editors Canada members, $10 for non-members, $5 for student non-members

As the publishing industry evolves, those of us working in the industry must evolve along with it. For editors looking to support their clients with the most up-to-date publishing information, Megan Williams, CEO and founder of The Self Publishing Agency (TSPA), will unveil insider information on the current and future landscape of publishing.  

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Editors BC General Meeting: Writers and Editors Together! 

When: Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 7:00–8:00 pm PDT

Where: Online through Zoom

Cost: Free for Editors Canada members, $10 for non-members, $5 for student non-members

Writers need editors and editors need writers. How do we connect with each other? Learn about the Federation of British Columbia Writers’ plans for 2024–25, Editors BC’s plans, and how we can work together. We’d love to hear your suggestions—or answer your questions—during this interactive member meeting. 

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The 2024 Editors Canada Conference: Reflections from the Co-chairs

Taking on the role of local organizer for an Editors Canada conference is a big commitment—but it can also be a lot of fun. Tara Avery and Kyle Hawke of Editors BC talk about some of the highlights and challenges of co-chairing “Present Progressive: Passion, Precision and Purpose” in Vancouver this past June. 

Find out what happened…and whether Tara and Kyle would do this again!

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Explaining POV to New Writers

Written by Lisa Hislop | Copy edited by Lisa Guglielmi

In this article, Lisa shares how to help new writers understand and choose suitable points of view. You can attend Lisa’s session, Helping Your Author Pick a POV That Pops, at the 2024 Editors Canada Conference.

When a writer asks me to explain narrative point-of-view (POV), they’re not looking for a definition. They’ve done their research and understand the main differences between first-person and third. Where they’re stuck is the glossary of associated terms: limits of perception, degree of objectivity, narrative distance, and narrative bias. They want to know how these aspects relate to each other and the POV they’ve chosen for their story. 

To give them a complete grounding, I invite them to translate the POV of a story, which I’ll illustrate here for you to use in guiding your writers.

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