News, events, tips and updates for members of the Editors’ Association of Canada
The beginning of a new year is when we reflect on what we’ve accomplished, but it’s also a time to look ahead to the changes we want (or need) to make. Did you resolve to focus on your career in 2015? In this e-news update, we’ll look at how EAC can help you achieve your professional goals.
In this issue:
1. DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS: Workshops, books and more
2. GET NOTICED: Stand out from the crowd
3. BUILD YOUR NETWORK: Connect with your fellow editors
4. GET HIRED: Find work in 2015
5. BOOST YOUR RESUMÉ: Get involved
6. PROTECT YOURSELF: Affordable insurance options
7. SAVE MONEY: Take advantage of EAC member discounts
1. DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS: Workshops, books and more
GOAL: Attend branch and twig workshops
Give your skills a boost by taking part in branch and twig seminars and workshops. Expert instructors help new editors build foundational skills and experienced editors build expertise. Looking for basic skills in copy editing, business finances or social media? Perhaps you’re after special-interest topics like editing government reports and graphic novels or writing proposals. With EAC workshops, there’s something for everyone.
For more information about workshops in your area, visit EAC’s seminars page.
GOAL: Hit the books
Whether you’re en route to becoming a certified editor or you’re brushing up on your skills, studying early and often is key. EAC’s publications will help you on the path to excellence.
NEW: Editing Canadian English, 3rd edition
Until February 18, the much anticipated third edition of Editing Canadian English is available only to EAC members and affiliates. This online edition provides instant, on-the-go access to the latest guidance on Canadian English usage, from Canadianization to spelling, abbreviations, punctuation, measurements, bilingual text and so much more. Written by expert editors, it’s a reference guide you can depend on. And thanks to regular updates, everyone who writes and edits “in Canadian” can stay on top of changes in language usage. Start your free 30-day trial today.
Professional Editorial Standards
What do editors do? That’s a question most of us have been asked at one time or another, and it’s the question addressed by the 2009 edition of our cornerstone publication, Professional Editorial Standards, revised and updated to reflect the skills and knowledge required by editors. Available as a free download.
Meeting Professional Editorial Standards
This four-volume self-teaching and self-testing package is a must-have for any editor’s bookshelf, whether you’re learning the craft of editing or you’re an established professional looking to broaden your knowledge. Available for purchase now.
Certification Study Guides
EAC’s study guides are primary resources for anyone who wants to become a certified editor. Whether you use the guides for independent study or in a workshop setting, you will learn more about the knowledge, skills and judgment required to earn your certification credentials. Available for purchase now.
UPDATED: Principes directeurs en révision professionnelle
EAC is pleased to offer the second edition of Principes directeurs en révision professionnelle. Updated in 2014, these French-language editorial standards are a tool for anyone just starting in the field and for established editors. They’re also a reference for anyone who hires editors. Available as a free download.
COMING SOON: Guide de préparation à l’examen
This year EAC will administer its first agrément exam. Agrément will assess the competence of candidates and is based on the recently updated Principes directeurs en révision professionnelle. Look for the Guide de préparation à l’examen (study guide) in May.
2. GET NOTICED: Stand out from the crowd
GOAL: Get certified
Make 2015 the year you join the ranks of editors certified by EAC’s landmark certification program. EAC’s certified editors benefit from official recognition of their high level of knowledge and skill—and a marketing advantage.
Registration for the 2015 tests in Copy Editing and Stylistic Editing will open this summer. For more information visit the certification website.
TIP: Start studying early
Studying early is one of the keys to success. Consider forming a study group with other editors who are working toward certification this year. Connect with your fellow members on the EAC email list or contact Sébastien Koch, EAC’s professional standards manager. Sébastien is collecting and coordinating study group requests.
GOAL: Plan for l’Agrément de l’ACR
The countdown for EAC’s first agrément exam has begun. This will be a noteworthy year in the development of agrément. The Comité Agrément/Principes is pleased to report its progress in the graph below.
For questions, comments or to help, contact Sandra Gravel.
GOAL: Tell the world about your achievements
EAC Member News is where we share information about EACers who win awards, publish books and make their mark on the communications world in other important ways.
EAC’s Saskatchewan branch has renamed its annual reception in honour of the late Karen Virag (Prairie Provinces branch). In September, Nancy Flight (BC branch) gave the inaugural address at the Karen Virag Memorial Lecture. It was a lovely event and a fitting tribute to the remarkable woman it was named for.
Do you have a recent achievement? Let EAC help tell the world about it on EAC’s Member News page. If you have member news to share, drop our member news coordinator a line.
GOAL: Receive an EAC award
Each year EAC presents several awards recognizing excellence in editing and service to the organization. While nominations for the Tom Fairley Award are now closed, the season for EAC’s other respected awards is still open.
Claudette Upton Scholarship
This annual national award of $1,000 recognizes a promising student affiliate from EAC. If you’re a student affiliate, or if you know someone who should be, visit the Claudette Upton Scholarship page for more information. The deadline for submissions is March 2.
President’s Award for Volunteer Service
The President’s Award recognizes outstanding service by member and affiliate volunteers to the organization, at the branch, twig or national level. From among the nominations received for the President’s Award, one volunteer is selected to receive the Lee d’Anjou Volunteer of the Year Award. Visit the President’s Award page for more information.
GOAL: Spruce up your workspace
Looking for some vibrant, useful and fun editing merchandise for your office?
Eight-Step Editing/EAC Grammar Tips Poster
EAC and Jim Taylor have teamed up to produce a vibrant poster that features practical highlights and tips from Jim’s popular Eight-Step Editing seminar, as well as helpful grammar tips from EAC members.
If you’re an editor or a writer, this colourful quick-reference guide is essential to have on hand to help you find and fix common readability problems in your documents.
Purchase your Eight-Step Editing/EAC Grammar Tips poster now.
EAC magnets
“I’m not obsessed. I’m an editor!”
Stick ’em up! EAC’s popular “I’m not obsessed. I’m an editor!” and “Je ne suis pas obsédé. Je suis réviseur.” graphics are now available as magnets. Boast proudly to the world what you do by sticking this on your fridge, filing cabinet, car and the robot you’re building in your garage.
Purchase your magnets now.
3. BUILD YOUR NETWORK: Connect with your fellow editors
Connections are essential for building and maintaining a successful career and for keeping up on industry news. Do you work in-house or as a business owner? Are you a student or a veteran editor with years of wisdom to impart? Networking is one of the primary benefits of belonging to EAC: you’re connected with editors and communication professionals across the country and abroad.
GOAL: Attend the first international conference of editors in Toronto (June 12–14)
Want to meet editors and writers from around the world? Plan to attend Editing Goes Global, the first international conference of editors, in Toronto this June.
EAC’s annual conference is a weekend event featuring networking opportunities and sessions led by expert presenters and panelists. Speakers include representatives from both print and online publishing as well as government, corporate, non-profit, writing and communication experts. 2015 marks the first year EAC and similar organizations from around the world will partner for an unparalleled weekend of international networking, learning and fun.
Early-bird registration is now open
Be sure to register by February 28 to save up to $200. Visit www.EditingGoesGlobal.ca to register and to learn about travel and accommodation discounts.
If there’s one EAC conference every editor or writer should attend, it’s Editing Goes Global. There may never be a better networking opportunity than this.
GOAL: Attend more branch and twig meetings and social events
If you resolved to get out and do more face-to-face networking, commit to attending more of the regular meetings and socials hosted by your branch or twig. Branches and twigs offer a variety of local events for members and non-members alike.
NEW: Lethbridge twiglet under way
Members in Lethbridge, Alberta, report their little twiglet of four is going strong. The twiglet says, “despite being busy in his own right, Dr. Robert Runte keeps us all on our toes, providing enormous support and sharing invaluable expertise. Author Lesley Little recently saw publication of her first major editing project, ‘Family Hiking Guide for Waterton Lakes National Park.’ Nuzreth Vanrobaeys, in partnership with her husband Mark, is hard at work developing two websites: her own and Elizabeth’s. And Elizabeth McLachlan is juggling a new book proposal and two new clients. We’re a jolly troupe, who meet every three months or so, lose track of time, and disperse in a late-for-appointments panic, thoroughly edified and energized to continue pursuing our writing and editing dreams.” For more information about joining the Lethbridge twiglet, contact Elizabeth McLachlan.
Many of EAC’s branches and twigs are now preparing for their winter/spring professional development and networking seasons. What’s happening in your neck of the woods? Visit EAC’s branches and twigs page to find out.
GOAL: Connect with other EACers online
Blog
Check out EAC’s official blog, The Editors’ Weekly, and take part in the conversations that crop up when readers leave comments about each blog post. New content is posted every week.
These are just some of the recent topics of discussion in EAC’s LinkedIn group.
- Partnership publishing
- Clear language and respect
- Triaging your time and editing
If you’re already on the world’s largest social networking site, “like” the Editors’ Association of Canada on Facebook.
Get the latest EAC and industry news by following us on Twitter. Find EAC @editorscanada.
Don’t forget: Several of EAC’s branches and twigs are on Facebook and Twitter, too!
Google+
Are you a G+ user? Find the Editors’ Association of Canada on Google+.
Flickr
Who says editors are all about words? EAC photos can now be found on EAC’s Flickr page. Check out national executive council meeting photos and pics from recent conferences.
The Editing Goes Global team is pinning! Take a look at our conference boards on Pinterest.
EAC Email List
Whether you’re looking for editing tips, want to share an employment opportunity or just feel like chatting with your colleagues over a virtual water cooler, EAC’s email list has something for you. Here’s a sample of discussions that took place in the last couple of months.
- Marketing under Canada’s anti-spam legislation
- New resources and references for editors and writers
- Help for a member in need
EAC Membership List
Trying to get in touch with a fellow member? Stay connected with EAC’s online Membership List. Not listed in this free opt-in service yet? Why wait? Visit your Online Profile join the Membership List today.
4. GET HIRED: Find work in 2015
GOAL: Give your career a boost
Online Directory of Editors
The Online Directory of Editors (ODE) is a searchable online resource that helps employers find the right editor fast. A well-written ODE listing can pay for itself many times over.
Learn more about your ODE listing.
Try before buying
There is an annual fee of $80 to be included in the ODE, but any member or affiliate can create a profile—even before paying for it. Create and preview your profile at any time. Once you pay for your profile, you can publish it. To get started, visit the Members’ Area.
Writing a great ODE profile
Your personal statement and the keywords you use in it are critical. In particular, the first 20 words of your personal statement are key. These 20 words show up in the results when employers and clients are searching for an editor to meet their needs. What makes you the best candidate for the job? Spell it out in these first 20 words.
Need more tips? Check out this helpful EAC LinkedIn group discussion for more information. (Please note that you need to join the EAC LinkedIn group to access the discussion.)
National Job Board
The National Job Board is where you’ll find notices of full-time, part-time, contract and freelance opportunities.
5. BOOST YOUR RESUMÉ: Get involved
GOAL: Make your resumé more impressive
Want to stand out from the crowd? Consider getting involved with EAC. Volunteering has many benefits for the association, but it can be beneficial to your career as well. EAC volunteers work with influential members of the publishing and communications industries, learn new skills, expand their portfolios and boost their career options.
Featured volunteer opportunities
Conference 2015: Editing Goes Global
Do you have mad skills with a camera? Enjoy meeting new people? The Editing Goes Global conference committee is looking for a photographer to document the first-ever international editing conference.
If photography’s not your thing, there are other fun ways to help out while gaining valuable skills such as managing projects, planning communications, and working on teams. And don’t forget the networking opportunities an international conference has to offer. To see how you can help, visit the conference volunteer opportunities page.
For further information or to volunteer for any of these positions, please email the volunteer coordinators.
Certification marketing copywriters
We’re looking for a team of certification marketing copywriters. We’ve planned several e-blasts along with a social media campaign that promotes the benefits of becoming a certified editor. This is an ideal opportunity to build your copywriting and social media portfolios and get feedback on your writing. Interested? Contact Sébastien Koch.
Marketing committee chair
We’re recruiting a chair for EAC’s national marketing and public relations committee, which coordinates and oversees marketing campaigns and public relations efforts for EAC and its committees. This includes helping EAC to define and project its “personality” (i.e., its business identity, the business solutions it offers and its unique selling points). The committee works to promote the association and its products and services, the value of editing and of editorial standards in general, and the value of the association’s members as editors. This pivotal role within EAC will enable you to build your portfolio, gain project management experience and oversee teams of volunteers. Interested? Contact Greg Ioannou.
NEW: Four new directors appointed to EAC’s national executive council
Speaking of getting involved, we’re pleased to announce the appointment of four new directors to our national leadership. The national executive welcomes Michelle Boulton (Saskatchewan), Breanne MacDonald (Hamilton-Halton), donalee Moulton (Nova Scotia) and Michelle van der Merwe (British Columbia) and thanks these dedicated members for their commitment to EAC.
Meet EAC’s Volunteer of the Month: Katherine Duncombe
A member of EAC’s Saskatchewan branch since 2012, Katherine Duncombe has consistently volunteered within the branch and is serious about pursuing a career in editing, says branch executive member Perry Millar. Last year, Katherine was membership chair and rebooted the monthly online newsletter. She currently acts as branch secretary.
Katherine completed a BA in English/Literature at the University of Saskatchewan and is now taking online editing courses at Simon Fraser University and working towards a publishing certificate through Ryerson University. She began freelancing full-time in November 2014. “I work on a variety of things,” she says, “from journal articles to non-fiction books, but eventually I’d like to focus solely on books.”
Katherine adds, “I first joined the association because I wanted to learn how to be an editor. I volunteered to work with the other executive members because they are great, knowledgeable people.”
“Volunteering with experienced editors teaches me the ins-and-outs of editing. My experience on the executive has been fulfilling, and I learn something new every day, which was my goal when joining the association. I continue to volunteer because the experience and knowledge it gives me is invaluable.”
The Volunteer of the Month highlights the dedicated people who keep EAC going. Volunteers are the backbone of EAC, a member-run organization. We are grateful for the many members who answer the call when help is needed. Visit the Members’ Area for more information about actively participating in EAC.
NEW: Volunteer reward program
The volunteer management committee is proud to introduce the first initiative of our volunteer rewards program: we will randomly award $50 discounts to 10 EAC members who volunteered during the 2013–14 EAC year [as listed in the 2013–14 Annual Report (PDF, 1.2 MB), national executive council excluded]. Recipients may choose between applying the discount towards EAC dues or conference registration fees.
The draw will take place on February 8, 2015, and we will contact the winners shortly thereafter.
Through this initiative and others upcoming, we hope to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of EAC volunteers. Our association can’t function without them.
6. PROTECT YOURSELF: Affordable insurance options
GOAL: Protect yourself, your family and your ability to earn an income
EAC is pleased to offer affordable insurance options for EAC members.
Errors and omissions insurance
Professional risks go hand in hand with the editing industry. E&O insurance protects you against lawsuits arising from allegations of negligence or wrongdoing, thereby protecting your assets. For a client who has suffered damages, E&O insurance helps to ensure there are adequate funds for compensation.
Health and dental insurance
These enhanced health-care plans can supplement your provincial government’s coverage and help protect you against unexpected health and dental expenses.
With a complete product package that spans term life insurance, permanent participating life, universal life, disability, critical illness and long-term care, these plans can offer you peace of mind, regardless of what the future might bring.
For more information visit EAC’s Member Services page.
7. SAVE MONEY: Take advantage of EAC discounts
GOAL: Save money on the products you already buy
A comfortable workspace with proper office supplies can help you be more productive. Why not save money on the products you already buy for your office? EAC partners with these suppliers, which offer members great discounts.
- Grand & Toy
- Staples Advantage
- Cult Pens
- Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC)
- PerfectIt
- JPASS
Visit the Members’ Area to take advantage of these discounts.
The EAC national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.