Diversions
As editors and word enthusiasts, we pay close attention to new entries in the various dictionaries we use to do our work. But in these weird and worrying days, it’s hard to be enthusiastic about the new terms that not…
Georgina Montgomery’s painterly debut
Almost two years ago, when our partner Georgina Montgomery retired, we said: When she wasn’t meeting writing and editing deadlines, teaching, or parenting, she was dancing around the edges of art, dabbling in things like stained glass and collage. In…
Divine Threads: A silky, sumptuous look behind the scenes of Cantonese opera
What a huge delight it was to attend the February 28 launch of Divine Threads: The Visual and Material Culture of Cantonese Opera, by April Liu. The latest in a series of exquisite books co-published by Figure 1 and the…
Louise and Georgina down their tools—and pick up new ones
Ever wonder what editors do in their retirement? Does an armchair, along with a large pile of books, a steaming cup of tea, and a purring cat or two, come to mind? That might be the dream for some, but…
Season’s greetings circa 1992
As WCEA’s 25th anniversary year winds down, we’re casting a nostalgic look back at Christmas 1992. Brian Mulroney was prime minister. Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” topped the Billboard charts. Fax machines ruled, and CDs outsold cassette tapes…
Four decades of Room
It’s a year for anniversaries. As we mark our 25th, we raise a collective glass to Room, celebrating four decades of literature, art, and feminism. Three partners—Audrey McClellan, Lana Okerlund, and the newly retired Yvonne Van Ruskenveld—have been members at…
Cheers for the holidays!
The WCEA partners know how to have fun, but navigating deadlines through the holiday season can be a challenge. Here are some suggestions to help you gain some semblance of work-life balance during the dark days of December. Books and…
I is for illustrator, A is for alphabet
Recently, my book club read H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald. We discussed the book for the entire evening, a sure indication of a good read. At one point, Margaret, a former English teacher, opened the book at random…
Happy holidays!
’Tis the season when even hard-working language pros aim to kick back a little. Here are a few suggestions from our partners to help you enjoy this festive month: Merrie-Ellen’s musical offering is The Lamb, John Taverner’s setting of the William…
Cut and paste—collage as thinking tool
When I taught business writing, I found many participants grew weary of the “do-the-exercise-discuss-with-your neighbour” training model. Because the course covered a range of strategies for page fright, I hoped that at least one of them would stick. Enter collage.…