This article is part of a series that draws lessons from some of the research collected in Aaron Dalton’s “Empirical Research for Editors” list. Do you have the curse of knowledge? The “curse of knowledge” is a type of cognitive bias where someone unknowingly assumes, while communicating, that their audience …
In this series, experienced editors reflect on their Top 3 tools, rules and suggestions for clients and colleagues. Louise Harnby is a line editor, copyeditor and proofreader who specializes in working with independent authors of commercial fiction, particularly crime, thriller and mystery writers. She is an Advanced Professional Member of …
My two-and-a-half-year-old daughter has been asking for help since the day she was born. She first expressed herself, as babies do, with simple cries that left much to interpretation. Her expressions progressed from “Help!” to “Mama, please could you help me with ___.” While she clearly values doing certain things …
“Freelancing In America,” a study of the independent workforce, is now in its seventh year. While it doesn’t offer statistics about editors, the 2019 report confirms that 50 per cent of freelancers (57 million workers) consider it a long-term career. As freelance editors, we are aware of competition, industry and …
Conjugating the singular “they” Gender-neutral writing is fairly new. The Canadian government started using the terms “gender” or “gender identity” when referring to a person’s sex (unless referring to anatomical characteristics related to reproduction or development) in Canadian legislation in 2017. Most writers in Canada already avoid using “he” and …
Is writing art? And if it is, what is editing? If we say writing is “artful,” or “artistic” or “an art,” we mean that we appreciate it aesthetically and admire it for the skill it evinces. But if we say not “writing is an art” but “writing is art” — …
A lot of books came home from the library with me in 2019. Many of them were lugged back, unread or skimmed. But there were a few I could not put down. Turn off the bedside lamp, even though my eyes were refusing to stay open? Almost impossible! Permit me …
It’s 2020 and the year is still gleaming fresh. If you’re a business owner who would love to bolster your Government of Canada (GC) client revenues, the time is ripe for new goals and a motivational to-do list. (Or if you’ve never supplied services to the federal government and would …
I used to think I didn’t like networking because I detest small talk and won’t walk into a room of people all by myself. But a few conversations and experiences changed my mind. Connections A friend told me that I’m one of the best networkers she knows. This caught my …
I had occasion recently to teach someone how to write effective editorial comments. It was an interesting exercise as it forced me to articulate principles I had absorbed over many years, some learned from painful experience. Here’s what came to mind: Know your place. My job is to help the …