Onjeinika Brooks is an independent writer and editor. She is the author of two self-published books and currently edits for LinkedIn News. In this interview, Onjeinika tells the West Coast Editor how she pivoted from engineering to editing.
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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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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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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?
Jennifer Lawler on Pursuing an Editing Career: “Just go out there and do it!”
Interview by Lola Opatayo; copy edited by Naomi Dobler
Editors BC is pleased to welcome Jennifer Lawler, this month’s seminar facilitator and successful editing tutor, to share lessons learned from her teaching career and business tips for prospective editors.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Let’s begin with your journey into teaching. What inspired you to start teaching other editors?
I fell into it! It wasn’t anything I intended to start doing. I began my career a long time ago teaching English literature at the university level, and I’ve always loved being a teacher, but working as a freelance editor (and writer) fit into my life much better.
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Diving into Development: Introduction to the Developmental Editing of Fiction with Jennifer Lawler
When: Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6, 2022, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm PT
Where: Online via Zoom
“Diving into Development” will discuss the basics of developmental editing and how it is performed by freelance editors. We’ll look at how to spot common developmental problems in fiction, using the fundamentals of storytelling (from a Western perspective) as the lens through which we evaluate fiction manuscripts.
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Editors BC Study Group: Stylistic Editing Facilitated by Iva Cheung
When: 7:30 to 9:00 pm on the following Tuesdays:
September 13
September 27
October 11
October 25
November 8
November 15
Where:
Online via Zoom
Optional donation:
$50
Editors BC Student Networking Event
What: Student networking event for Editors BC student affiliate members
When: Wednesday, May 4, 2022, 7:15 to 8:45 pm PDT
Where: Online through Zoom
Cost: Free
You’re invited to a 90-minute online networking event on Wednesday, May 4, to meet other student affiliates, share your knowledge and successes, and learn from your peers.
Seminar Contest: Enter to win a free spot at the next Editors BC seminar!
What: Giveaway Contest for the “Eight-Step Editing” Seminar
When: Deadline is March 15, 2022, 11:59 pm PDT
Hey warmhearted wordsmiths! Would you like to attend an @EditorsBC online seminar … for free?