Transitioning and Connecting: An Emerging Editor’s Journey (Part 2)

By Dana Sorensen

In On the Right Path, Dana described how editing “snuck up” on her as a second career and the value of being mentored by experienced editors. Previously an equity trader, Dana now shares how she’s building on her professional experience to transition into and structure her freelance practice. She also stresses the importance of connecting with other editors by attending editing and writing events—the more, the better!

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Travels with the Grammar Table: Q&A with Ellen Jovin

We had the pleasure of interviewing Ellen Jovin, proprietor of the Grammar Table, the star of Rebel with a Clause—a new documentary filmthat premiered January 10—and the author of the US national bestseller Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian (HarperCollins, 2022). 

We invite you to join Editors BC and Ellen for “Winter Grammarfest!

When: Saturday, January 18, 2025, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm PST
Where: Online via Zoom. Registration is open until January 17.

Enjoy the Q&A below!

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Rhonda with her hand on her chin

Crafting a Meaningful Land Acknowledgement: The Why and the How

When: Saturday, January 27, 2024, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm PST
Where: Online via Zoom

Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report was released in 2015, land acknowledgements have become an integral part of many events, websites, and email signatures in Canada. But some people question their value. Are these acknowledgements simply “woke” culture getting out of hand? Are they performative exercises? Or can they be meaningful statements about the lands we call home and the roles Indigenous Peoples have played in stewarding these lands for millennia? This three-hour interactive seminar will give participants the information they need to ensure that their land acknowledgements are sincere.

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For the Love of Books—a Reader’s Dream Job

When:  ​​Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 7:30 to 8:30 pm PDT

Where: ​​Online through Zoom

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

An avid reader and closet fiction writer, Pat Dobie had no idea that editing books was a job—until she realized it was the perfect one for her. Today she runs Lucid Edit, a thriving business, editing fiction and nonfiction books, teaching developmental editing, and working with writers all over the world. How did that happen? What does this dream job look like, day by day? We’ll talk about mistakes, happy accidents, and creativity in the service of creating your own dream job in editing.

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A photo of Onjeinika Brooks standing with her hands on top of one another and smiling. She is in front of a yellow and black wall.
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Aligning Expectations: Contracts Between Editors and Indie Authors with Karin Horwatt Cather

When: Saturday, March 11, 2023, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm PST

Where: Online via Zoom

“Aligning Expectations” will discuss the need for a contract between an editor and an author. This webinar is for freelance editors who are interested in protecting the rights and responsibilities of both editor and author with a written service agreement. A clearly worded service agreement aligns the expectations of both authors and editors, which prevents disagreements and hard feelings on both sides. Aligned expectations between the parties prevent editors from feeling exploited and authors from feeling ripped off.

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A picture of Letitia Henville smiling.

Antihustle: A One-Day Planning Retreat for Your Freelance Business with Letitia Henville

When: Friday, February 10, 2023, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Where: Online via Zoom

Running a solo editing business can be challenging, especially when the day-to-day overwhelms or when you’re stuck in a feast-or-famine cycle. But with a little bit of time and focus, you can find your footing, articulate your vision for your business, and determine the steps you need to take to bring it into being.

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business woman making decision between time or money, time is money concept. Balancing Time and Money.

Running Editing Businesses with Data: An Interview with Maya Berger

To wrap up the year, the West Coast Editor chatted with Maya Berger about TEA, a data analysis tool she developed for tracking business progress. Maya shares the story behind this tool and how editors can use it. Maya is January’s seminar facilitator. 

WC: Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today. Can you share a little about yourself and what inspires the work you do?

I’m Maya Berger, an editor, a proofreader, a business admin educator, and an unapologetic Excel fan. I worked as an editor and editorial manager in the higher education publishing sector for over 10 years before deciding to start my own editorial business, What I Mean to Say, in 2016. I love helping authors get their meanings across and working with them to remove any barriers to clear communication.

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Excel Tips for Self-Employed Editors with Maya Berger

When: January 28, 2023, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Where: Online via Zoom

When a client approaches you about a new editing job, wouldn’t it be great if you had a tool to help you:

  • quote a fair rate and accurate time frame for the project;
  • track whether you get paid on time;
  • compare your estimated hourly rate and editing speed with your actual rate and speed; and
  • analyze how valuable this client is to your business?
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