News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
1. TOM FAIRLEY AWARD: Submit your nomination
2. KAREN VIRAG AWARD: Tell us about the editing hero in your community
3. HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA: Professional development!
4. FEATURED VOLUNTEER: Rachel Keir
5. GET INVOLVED: Marcom volunteers wanted
6. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Mentorship
7. WEBSITE: Update on the new editors.ca
8. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
9. NATIONAL OFFICE: Holiday closure
10. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
1. TOM FAIRLEY AWARD: Submit your nomination
It’s our time to shine!
Editing might be an invisible art, but that doesn’t mean great editors should hide in the shadows. Help us shine a spotlight on editing excellence by submitting a nomination for the 2023 Tom Fairley Award. The cash award of $2,000 is made possible by Editors Canada and its generous donors.
The deadline to submit your completed nomination form is Friday, January 20, 2023.
Please spread this message far and wide. Nominees don’t have to be members of Editors Canada and self-nominations are encouraged.
For complete nomination instructions and other information about the award, visit the Tom Fairley Award page.
More than books!
Editors know that the fine art of editing extends beyond books and print media. While the Tom Fairley Award has been awarded to many outstanding book editors since it was created in 1983, we encourage nominations for a variety of written projects. Whether it’s a magazine, a corporate or government report, software documentation or a book, we want to hear about it. When it comes to editing, the variety of material is limitless!
2. KAREN VIRAG AWARD: Tell us about the editing hero in your community
Who are the heroes of editing? They’re the individuals or organizations that go out of their way to raise the profile of our profession in their communities. Editing heroes are the ones who champion what editors do and how valuable we are.
This award was created in memory of long-time association member Karen Virag, and in recognition of Karen’s many contributions to the profession. The Karen Virag Award recognizes the efforts of an editor or an organization to raise the profile of editing in their community.
Tell us about one of your editing heroes by submitting a nomination for the Karen Virag Award.
Submit your nomination
Nominees may be individuals or organizations, members or non-members. Nominations from members and non-members are welcome! Please help us spread the word about this award.
A nominee’s contribution may take a variety of forms, including one or more of the following:
- writing,
- public speaking,
- teaching,
- participating in broadcast or new media, and
- sponsoring editing-related activities and community building in Canada and abroad.
The deadline to submit your completed nomination form is Friday, February 24, 2023.
For complete nomination instructions and other information about the award, visit the Karen Virag Award page.
3. HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA: Professional development!
Still missing a gift for someone on your list? Consider giving the gift of learning with Editors Canada webinar recordings! We have something for everyone who’s interested in editing, writing or publishing, with sessions available on subjects like copy editing, accessibility, marketing, freelancing career tips, various niche editing fields and much more. And, as always, members and student affiliates get a 40% discount!
Check out the full selection on our webinars page.
4. FEATURED VOLUNTEER: Rachel Keir
Rachel Keir may volunteer on Editors Canada’s standards committee, but her BA in linguistics makes her all about flexibility with language. Rachel joined Editors Canada in 2020 as a student affiliate after graduating from the University of Toronto. She immediately volunteered for the standards committee because doing so, she says, would “help me meet knowledgeable people in the community and improve my understanding of what principles are important to know and why.” She balances that understanding with her awareness of the influence of culture and identity on language usage.
“These concepts are important for editing with an empathetic and story-focused mindset, rather than just meeting prescriptivist norms,” says Rachel.
Rachel is currently completing an editing certificate from George Brown College and runs her own freelance editing business in Toronto. She specializes in fiction copy editing and structural editing, especially in the thriller and paranormal genres. “I’ve always enjoyed helping others to finesse their writing and tell a compelling story,” she says.
Through Editors Canada Rachel has met many editors of different specializations and interests and learned that “there is no one path to becoming a freelance editor.” She enjoys using her varied work and volunteer experiences, including with two environmental justice groups, in her approach to editing. When not working or volunteering, Rachel spends time embroidering, crocheting, beading and snuggling with her two recently adopted kittens.
“It can be hard to balance volunteer commitments with other commitments in my life,” admits Rachel. “But it’s been a very beneficial experience, and I’m glad that I’ve stuck with it!”
~S. Robin Larin
The featured volunteer recognizes the contributions of our dedicated people who keep Editors Canada going. Volunteers are the backbone of the association and we are grateful for the many members and affiliates who answer the call when help is needed.
5. GET INVOLVED: Marcom volunteers wanted
Would you like to sharpen your marketing and communications skills? Or would you like to learn those skills? Get involved!
The marketing and communications committee (Marcom) has many exciting ideas to raise awareness about the editing profession, but we need people like you to help execute these plans.
Here’s what Marcom volunteers can expect:
- Gain marketing experience that you can apply to your own editing business.
- Improve your skill set by knowing how to apply improved communications techniques.
- Get networking opportunities that may lead to more work.
- Be part of a great team.
We’re not just looking for English-speaking volunteers. We’d like to include French-speaking volunteers to help us create campaigns for our francophone audiences. If you’re interested in joining the committee, or if you’d like more information, please email our committee chair, Merel Elsinga.
6. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Mentorship
The Editors Canada mentorship program now offers two levels of mentorship.
Level 1
- designed primarily for student affiliates and those who have a small, clearly defined topic they want to discuss
- 4–5 hours over 1 month
Level 2
- designed for a more in-depth mentoring experience
- 10–20 hours over 2 months
- can be extended up to 6 months
Visit the John Eerkes-Medrano Mentorship Program page for more details and to apply to be a mentor or a mentee.
Testimonials
“My first mentorship term was a wonderful experience! My mentor was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and inspiring. She tailored our conversations to my needs and was very generous when answering questions and recommending resources. Working with her over these last two months has given me many different perspectives on my editing career. Thank you so much to Editors Canada for making this possible.”
– Sarah Jefferies, PhD
“What a great opportunity to learn collegially and to benefit from the experience of a senior editor; we’re lucky to have a program like this. Thanks so much for this opportunity!”
– Claire Wilkshire
7. WEBSITE: Update on the new editors.ca
The website task force has sent out a request for proposals and has received many promising responses. The task of moving the current site and all of our subsites will begin in the next couple of weeks. As soon as a launch date has been finalized, it will be announced. Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest in this project!
Also, an answer to our top FAQ: once the main sites have been moved, all the subsites (webinars, branches and twigs, and blogs) will also be moved to a new multisite. Big changes are coming in the next few months!
8. MEMBER NEWS: A round of applause!
Editors Manitoba member Lauren Carter will celebrate the publication of her fifth book in April 2023. Places Like These is a short-story collection exploring character journeys, both internal and external. It is now available for pre-order from Book*hug Press.
Kathleen Foxx, co-chair of Editors Hamilton-Halton, recently signed a contract with Rising Action Publishing Co. to be their contract proofreader. She will start proofreading their titles in January. She is excited for the new year to begin.
Editors Toronto member Jahleen Turnbull-Sousa’s poem “Rapid Journey” won an Honourable Mention in the Writer’s Digest 91st Annual Writing Competition.
Editors Canada Member News is where we share information about members and affiliates who win awards, publish books and make their mark in other important ways.
Do you have an achievement you’d like to share? Are you excited about a new project or opportunity that has come your way? Let us tell the world all about it! Please send your stories to the member news coordinator.
9. NATIONAL OFFICE: Holiday closure
The national office will be closed for the holidays as of 12 p.m., EST, on Friday, December 23, and will reopen on Wednesday, January 4.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season. See you in 2023!
10. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
The national executive council (NEC) met on November 19, 2022, for a very productive meeting—and our last meeting of 2022. We addressed budget planning and requests from committees, task forces and advisers from the Q4 period. Our committees are busy working on some big projects for 2023, including branch and twig toolkits, the conference and the new website.
Kathleen Foxx and Jenny O’Reilly, co-chairs for Editors Hamilton-Halton, joined the November NEC meeting. Kathleen and Jenny are optimistic and enthusiastic leaders, and it was a pleasure to meet them and hear about their exciting plans for the twig.
The NEC does not meet in December; however, the meeting dates for the first half of 2023 have been determined. The NEC will be meeting via Zoom on the following dates in 2023:
Sunday, January 29, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST
Sunday, February 26, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST
Sunday, March 19, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EDT
Sunday, April 23, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EDT
Saturday, May 13, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EDT
Sunday, June 11, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EDT
Zoom links will be posted along with the agenda for members before each meeting; all Editors Canada members are welcome to attend any NEC meeting.
On behalf of the NEC, I wish everyone all the best this holiday season and a wonderful start to 2023.
Maria Frank
President
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.