THE EDITORS' WEEKLY

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Marianne Grier

Asking for Help: Lessons from Toddlerhood

March 3, 2020 by Marianne Grier | 3 Comments on Asking for Help: Lessons from Toddlerhood

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 by herself, she has never […]

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Tanya Mykhaylychenko

Job Application Process for Freelancers

February 25, 2020 by Tanya Mykhaylychenko | 4 Comments on Job Application Process for Freelancers

“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 technology trends in our target […]

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Barbara McClintock

The Singular “They” — Conjugations and Some Particularities

February 18, 2020 by Barbara McClintock | 5 Comments on The Singular “They” — Conjugations and Some Particularities

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 “his” because readers understand these […]

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James Harbeck

But Is It Art?

February 11, 2020 by James Harbeck | 3 Comments on But Is It Art?

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” — or “this text is a […]

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Kate Johnson

Top Picks from the Borrowing Place

February 4, 2020 by Kate Johnson | 5 Comments on Top Picks from the Borrowing Place

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 to brag up three of […]

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Marion Soubliere

Your Government Goals for 2020

January 28, 2020 by Marion Soublière | 2 Comments on Your Government Goals for 2020

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 like to, check out Winning […]

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Gael Spivak

Networking, Introverts and Squirrels

January 21, 2020 by Gael Spivak | 4 Comments on Networking, Introverts and Squirrels

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 attention, especially since this friend […]

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Aaron Dalton General EAC

Notes on Notes

January 14, 2020 by Aaron Dalton | 16 Comments on Notes on Notes

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 author produce the best quality […]

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Rosemary Shipton

To Retire — or Not?

January 7, 2020 by Rosemary Shipton | 9 Comments on To Retire — or Not?

Ever since compulsory staff retirement at 65 ended in Canada, the decision of whether to leave their profession voluntarily has become a conundrum for many people. Some continue working because they need the money, but for others it’s optional. The only people I know who retire “early” are teachers, civil servants and others who contributed […]

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Anna Williams

Quick Topics: Procrastination and the Holidays

December 17, 2019 by Anna Williams | 3 Comments on Quick Topics: Procrastination and the Holidays

For a quick conversation starter today, let’s talk procrastination. “Procrastination is the assassination of motivation,” goes an unattributed quote. But is it? I’ve worked with business writers who, to the contrary, become more motivated the more they procrastinate. With the pressure of an imminent deadline and the looming threat of failure, inspiration strikes and creative […]

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