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October 17, 2018: Demystifying Metadata and E-Books for Editors

What: Editors BC monthly meeting
When: Wednesday, October 17, 2018, 7:00–9:00 pm
Where: New location | Alma VanDusen Room, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver | map
Cost: Free for Editors BC members, non-members, and students.

What exactly is metadata, and why should editors care? Why can’t an e-book just be a fixed-format copy of the print book? How can you leverage metadata to improve book sales? Learn about these topics in digital publishing and tips on how best to present your titles for online retailers. Covering topics such as what metadata and e-book files actually are, what to keep in mind when formatting a print book to e-book, metadata fields that drive discovery and sales, and common pitfalls of metadata, this session aims to demystify e-book production and metadata for editors from a production and retail perspective.

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Rows of desks face a projection screen in a classroom-like environment.
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October 27, 2018: Skilful Structural Editing

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What: Editors BC professional development seminar
When: Saturday, October 27, 2018, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Room 464, 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 October 23; early-bird rates are in effect through October 9.

Many editors are intimidated when they are asked to do a structural edit. Unlike other stages of editing, structural editing has fewer “rules,” and there is never just one way to solve structural problems. Structural editors are called upon to clarify, reorganize, and even rewrite. Negotiation with the author is also often part of the job.

This one-day workshop will deepen your existing skills by examining a sure-fire approach and process. You will learn how to break down structural editing into manageable tasks and resolve imbalance in content and ensure the manuscript is appropriate for the intended audience. At the end of the workshop, participants will know

  • How to assess a manuscript to identify structural issues
  • How to use an outline to reveal structure
  • What questions to ask when analyzing problems
  • How to avoid over editing and respect the writer’s work
  • How graphics and design can support structural editing decisions
  • Why diplomacy can be just as important as editorial skill
  • How to estimate how long editing will take

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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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September 19, 2018: Season-Opening Wine and Cheese

What: Editors BC monthly meeting
When: Wednesday, September 19, 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.

Please join us as we kick off the 2018–19 Editors BC season with a wine and cheese social!

Come ready to mingle with fellow editors, share your stories, and enjoy wine and snacks. Our returning and new executive members will be on hand to answer questions and listen to any suggestions you might have for the coming season.

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Rows of desks face a projection screen in a classroom-like environment.
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September 29, 2018: Tax and Finance for Freelancers

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What: Editors BC professional development seminar
When: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Room 481, 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 September 25; early-bird rates are in effect through September 11.

So you’re a freelancer. What do you need to know to keep track of finances and file your taxes? This six-hour seminar provides an introduction to basic tax and finance issues for freelancers, including GST/HST registration, bookkeeping and record retention, and building financial stability without a salary. The day will be a mix of conversational learning and hands-on training, using a variety of helpful tools and apps to keep your finances on track.

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A graphic of a video game controller that resembles a controller for a PlayStation or Xbox console is shown over a light blue background.
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Event Review: Editing for the Video Game Industry

Written by Jesse Marchand; copy edited by Holly Conklin

What does the term video game mean to you? For some, it may conjure up memories of childhood and playing Pac-Man or Mario. Others might be more familiar with tile-matching games like Candy Crush. More still may be deeply involved in the world of video games through multiplayer role-playing games like World of Warcraft or first-person shooters like Call of Duty.

The genres of games are as varied as the roles within game studios. So what does editing for the video game industry really look like? In a recent talk at the Editors BC’s monthly meeting for April, Michelle Clough discussed the role of writing and editing in video games and what the work entails. Clough is a freelance video game writer, editor, narrative designer, localization specialist, and quality assurance tester for both big-budget and indie games, and as she showed at the meeting, she’s a very engaging speaker too. Here’s a rundown of some of the things about editing for video games that she shared at that meeting.

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The photo depicts a large conference room full of rows of chairs in front of a flip chart, a projector, and a projection screen.
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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.

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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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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

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Seven Mistakes Many First-Time Editors Make (and How to Avoid Them)

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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.

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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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April 18, 2018: Editing and Writing in the Video Game Industry

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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.

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