Blazej Szpakowicz serves on the Editors Canada training and development committee assisting with the webinar program. He liaises with presenters, hosts webinars and runs the software behind the scenes. When he joined Editors British Columbia in 2017, experienced editors advised him that volunteering for Editors Canada would be a great way to network and learn. “Since I came to the editorial world as a self-employed novice with no formal training and no professional contacts, both benefits had obvious appeal,” he says. “And with my academic and computing background (a PhD in history and a BSc in computer science), the webinars seemed like a good fit.”
For Blazej, the biggest hurdle was his first webinar. “I was absolutely terrified that I’d forget something important,” he says, even though he had detailed checklists, had shadowed other webinars and had a solid understanding of the software. In the end, everything went smoothly with that first webinar, and since then he has been responsible for running about half of Editors Canada’s webinars since 2017.
Prior to taking up professional editing two years ago, he proofread and beta-read for friends, colleagues and family. Blazej currently edits academic writing and fiction across a wide range of disciplines and enjoys writing science fiction and fantasy. “English is wonderful,” he says. “I love all the clever ways you can twist it around without quite breaking it.”
Blazej has found volunteering to be a valuable experience and says he has learned a great deal about being a freelance editor, including editorial techniques, time management, finances and communication. He has also met numerous people and made professional contacts. “Freelance editorial work can be very solitary, so any opportunity to meet people is great—even through a computer screen.”
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.
Want to make a difference in your association? Find out more about volunteering for Editors Canada.