Your 2023 guide to conferences on editing
In-person editing conferences are happening again! While the pandemic is not quite behind us, we have once again started to travel, regularly gather in person, and attend in-person events. The benefits of attending conferences are many. Conferences are a chance…
Misappropriating the language of mental illness
Let’s celebrate plain language
Plain language week—October 11–15—is approaching and it’s time to celebrate. In the past, festivities have included public demonstrations, conferences, and art and music exhibitions of plain language. Sadly, there is no special feast or street party celebrating plain language this…
Making time for mental health
Over the past few months, I have had a great opportunity to work with a client to develop a mental health training program for post-secondary faculty, staff, and students in British Columbia. It has been exciting to be a part…
Consciously choosing our words
One of our responsibilities as editors is to be on the lookout for discriminatory language, hidden bias, and stereotypes in the text we’re editing. We want to use words and phrases that promote inclusivity, respect, and justice. But this process…
Recognizing communications excellence for an important publication
Our warm congratulations go to Legal Aid BC on their recent receipt of a Communicator Award of Excellence for the booklet Keeping Aboriginal Kids Safe: Your Family’s Rights, published in 2019. Judged and curated by the New York–based Academy of…
Acknowledging Indigenous territories
West Coast Editorial Associates recently included an Indigenous territorial acknowledgement on the Contact page of our website: We are grateful to the Indigenous keepers of the traditional and unceded lands on which we live and work: the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh,…
It’s cool to be kind
One of the best editing tips of all time, and one I apply in every project, is to begin query letters and emails to writers with a compliment before launching into the many surprising and creative ways the author may…
Supporting self-publishing authors
In March, I had the opportunity to attend the Book Publishing Boot Camp. Put on by LifeTree Media and business coach Pamela Chatry, this day was a chance to connect with authors, hear about their work, and talk to them…