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…
Story and structure: Opening our minds
At an October 2017 seminar in Vancouver, Greg Younging treated editors and other publishing folk to a sneak peek at his forthcoming book, Elements of Indigenous Style. Since the book hit stores in February 2018, it’s been sailing off the…
Aids to editing
When I’m not editing, one of my favourite activities is horseback riding. For 10 years I owned my own horse, Cannon, a retired Quarter Horse “schoolmaster” with a huge personality—think Alistair Cooke with a glass of port and a wry…
Certifiably proud
We are beyond proud of partner Lana Okerlund, who has some new initials after her name: CPE. Lana has passed her final Editors Canada certification test, which means she has inserted, deleted, recast, suggested, transposed, restructured, queried, and stetted her…
Crisis time management: Are you ready?
Over the many years of my editing career and teaching editing courses, I have counselled hundreds of would-be freelancers on how to succeed. My short advice is simple: “Show up. Deliver.” I’ve worked with and hired enough freelance editors myself…
BC bestsellers
We're always thrilled to see a book we have worked on appear on the BC Bestseller List, and especially when it hits the number-one spot. That is the case with A Matter of Confidence, by Richard Zussman and Rob Shaw, which…
Handing over the red pencil
People often get a deeper insight into their profession when their table turns: teacher becomes student, doctor becomes patient, or, in my case, editor becomes writer. I’ve been writing for years and have been edited plenty of times. My graduate…
Praise for “a seething record of human passions and frailties”
Congratulations to author and naval historian Barry Gough for the glowing Times Literary Supplement review of his book Churchill and Fisher: Titans at the Admiralty, edited by WCEA partner Audrey McClellan and published by Lorimer in 2017. "This enthralling book...is a work…
Invaluable from stem to stern
Earlier this week, BC's Office of the Ombudsperson released Special Report No. 39, Stem to Stern: Crown Land Allocation and the Victoria International Marina. Providing what the report calls "invaluable" editorial assistance was WCEA partner Georgina Montgomery, who completed her work on…
Praise for delicious books
We were delighted to see several of our clients honoured at the recent Taste Canada Awards. Jennifer Cockrall-King and TouchWood Editions came away with gold for Food Artisans of the Okanagan in the culinary narratives category; Jim Sutherland and Appetite by…