News, events, tips and updates from Editors Canada
In this issue:
1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Thinking of taking the Editors Canada Editing Essentials test?
2. WEBINAR RECORDINGS: Convenient resources for every editor
3. FEATURED VOLUNTEER: Maureen McGuigan
4. VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT: Thank you to our volunteers!
5. GET INVOLVED: Volunteer opportunity
6. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishment
7. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Thinking of taking the Editors Canada Editing Essentials test?
The Editors Canada Editing Essentials test is designed to provide an entry-level qualification for editors by evaluating basic competence in the areas of structural editing, stylistic editing, copy editing and proofreading. Successful completion of the test proves your ability to work as an editor based on your knowledge of the basics of editing. If you’re considering taking the test, you may be wondering how to prepare.
The first and most important resource is Editors Canada’s Professional Editorial Standards (2016). The Editing Essentials test is based on a selection of these standards, so the best way to prepare is to study them closely and consider their practical applications.
We’ve assembled a list of additional resources you may find helpful as you prepare:
Study resources
- Editors Canada Professional Certification preparation resources
- The certification test preparation guides (available for purchase) contain sample versions of the professional certification exams, but are also good practice for any editing test.
- The website also contains lists of useful books and courses, style guides and dictionaries and other relevant publications, including the Edit Like a Pro series.
- Editors Canada webinars
- The Australian Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) provides links to several helpful resources:
- Study resources for its accreditation exam, including style guides and handbooks useful for editors worldwide
- Recorded webinars
- The US Board of Editing in the Life Sciences (BELS) offers a free study guide.
- The American Medical Writers Association has a study guide and resource list for its Essential Skills certificate and other exams.
- The UK Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading offers a suite of courses in proofreading, copy editing and editorial skills, at levels ranging from beginner to experienced.
- The Editorial Freelancers Association provides many resources for editors, from business tips to editing education.
- Taking online quizzes and tests is a great way to practise! Try these:
- The Chicago Manual of Style has quizzes to test your knowledge of editing and proofreading.
- If you’re interested in medical or scientific editing, try the American Medical Association Manual of Style quizzes.
- The New York Times offers some free copy editing quizzes online.
- ProEdit offers the “Ultimate Editing Test.”
Unlock your editing career
Ready to launch your editing career? Wondering how to let employers know you’ve got what it takes? Visit the Editing Essentials page to learn more and to register today.
2. WEBINAR RECORDINGS: Convenient resources for every editor
Looking for ways to grow your business? Want to learn the basics of poetry editing? Interested in project management, using macros, or other tools and skills that can make your work easier and better? We’ve got a webinar for that (and much more). Stop by our webinar recordings page to see what’s out there. And don’t forget about the 40% discount for Editors Canada members and student affiliates!
3. FEATURED VOLUNTEER: Maureen McGuigan
When Maureen McGuigan joined the volunteer management committee in January 2022, she never dreamed that helping to make the VolunteerConnect spreadsheet more user friendly would lead to her becoming an Editors Canada featured volunteer herself. “I feel overwhelmed at being nominated,” Maureen says, “but I think it’s important that potential volunteers see that you don’t have to give a huge amount of time or be involved for years and years to have an impact.”
Maureen joined Editors British Columbia in November 2020. A self-described “prairie girl on the West Coast,” Maureen holds a BA in economics and is completing Simon Fraser University’s Editing Certificate. She currently works as a project manager, document controller and editor for a professional services firm. Although her favourite projects involve complex reports or documents, she’s just as happy “when a colleague trusts me to proofread an email or help them make sure their English is proper because it’s not their first (or third) language.”
In addition to the volunteer management committee, Maureen volunteers with the website task force, archiving and porting content to prepare for the association’s new website. This volunteer position is a great fit for Maureen, who would like to freelance with local small businesses, making sure their websites, blogs and other marketing copy are as clean as possible.
A mom to two young sons and dog mom to a Maltese-Poodle cross, Maureen enjoys travel, music, knitting and jigsaw puzzling in addition to volunteering. “Everyone I’ve met at Editors Canada has been incredibly supportive and kind,” she says. “Someone described our volunteers and office staff as the least “political” group they had ever volunteered with. There are no egos, and everyone just wants to help. I wholeheartedly agree.”
~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.
4. VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT: Thank you to our volunteers!
June is traditionally the time when our volunteer terms end. The volunteer management committee would like to thank all of the outgoing directors, branch and twig executives and chairs, committee chairs, committee members and anyone else who has volunteered for Editors Canada in the past year. We appreciate your time, your talents and your dedication! A special thank you to our outgoing president, Heather Buzila, for leading our organization with such grace and poise through some very challenging times.
To our incoming volunteers: welcome!
5. GET INVOLVED: Volunteer opportunity
Marketing and communications committee member (French)
The marketing and communications committee is looking for a French-speaking volunteer to help create campaigns for our francophone audiences. If you’re interested in joining the committee, or would like more information, please email committee chair Merel Elsinga.
6. MEMBER NEWS: Tell the world about your accomplishment
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.
7. NEC: Notes from your national executive council
The national executive council (NEC) met on Saturday, May 14, to discuss a number of topics, including the following:
- The NEC voted to continue holding the annual general meeting (AGM) online each year, even when the conference is held in person. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AGM was held in person and in conjunction with the annual conference. Beginning in 2016, a virtual component was added for people who were not able to attend in person, although this caused difficulties when unexpected votes were needed during an AGM, as well as with some technical aspects of running the meeting. Continuing to hold the AGM entirely virtually will promote more equality between participants (as opposed to having two distinct groups, in person and online, of attendees) and will make setting up and running the AGM easier for the secretary and office staff. It will also allow sessions to be spread out equally over the conference weekend, instead of having fewer sessions on Saturday, because of the AGM, and more sessions on Sunday to make up for it.
- Karen Crosby, one of the co-chairs of Editors Calgary, attended the meeting to ask questions about twig financials and how to more effectively recruit and retain volunteers.
- The NEC also discussed the auditors’ recommendations (which are included in the annual report) and how to effectively begin to implement them.
The next e-news update will include a summary of the Sunday, June 26, NEC meeting.
Heather Buzila
President
The national e-news update is produced on behalf of the national executive council by the national office.