The Editor's Half Hour: Recent Episodes
Nadia Geagea Pupa
Step into the life of an editor for 30 minutes as we discuss the craft of editing, industry trends, and editorial resources. Join Nadia Geagea Pupa, host and co-founder of Pique Publishing, and her guests as they take a deep dive into the nuances and intricate details in the world of editing. Listen to real-life stories and secrets about the publishing process to help you build your editorial business and professional services.
Book Marketing for Editors
What happens after the edits are done? In this episode, I interview Aryn Van Dyke, founder of Book Rockstar and former HarperCollins marketing expert, about how editors can better understand the world of book marketing—and why it matters more than ever.
Aryn shares how her background in corporate publishing led her to create Book Rockstar, a boutique agency dedicated to helping authors build authentic, sustainable book marketing strategies that actually fit their values. She opens up about her journey from marketing professional to author, including her own Kickstarter campaign for her debut novel and what she learned about community, vulnerability, and creative entrepreneurship along the way.
If you’ve ever wondered how editors can support authors beyond the manuscript—or what it takes to turn a polished book into a thriving brand—this episode will give you real-world insight into the marketing side of publishing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What editors should know about the author marketing journey
- How to help authors think about visibility from the start
- The biggest misconceptions about book marketing
- Lessons Aryn learned from crowdfunding her debut novel
- Why marketing doesn’t have to feel “salesy”
- How collaboration between editors and marketers benefits everyone
Plus, in the exclusive after-party episode for Patreon supporters, Aryn gets personal about the emotional side of launching a novel, the lessons she’s learned about balance and burnout, and how she’s exploring the role of AI in modern book marketing.
Find Aryn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryn-van-dyke/
Learn more about Book Rockstar: https://www.bookrockstar.com/
Buy your copy of Aryn’s book: https://www.arynvandyke.com/
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In this episode of The Editor’s Half Hour, Nadia Pupa talks with Marie Ellis, founder of Muse Content and an experienced editor and content strategist. Marie shares how she helps authors and organizations shape their ideas into clear, meaningful content while staying grounded in the joy of editing.
Together, we explore:
· What it means to find your “happy place” as an editor
· How to create a balance between editorial precision and creative satisfaction
· The role of confidence in building an editorial career
· Practical ways to stay motivated when projects feel overwhelming
· Why connection—with writers, clients, and other editors—matters to sustaining joy in the profession
Whether you’re new to editing or a seasoned pro, Marie’s insights are a reminder that editing is more than correcting—it’s about clarity, collaboration, and content that resonates.
Learn more about Marie’s work at Muse Content: https://www.musecontent.co.uk
Reach out to Marie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-ellis-content/
Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!
Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcast
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If you’ve spent any time on LinkedIn, you may have seen this episode’s guest in action—Laura Poole. She’s become known for her signature ‘snip snip’ posts, where she takes a sentence, trims the excess, and shows how just a few smart cuts can transform writing into something sharper, cleaner, and more powerful.
In this episode, we discuss the art of concise editing: how to cut the clutter, keep the meaning, and make every word earn its place. Whether you’re an editor or a writer, you’ll come away with practical tools—and maybe even the courage to pick up the scissors and give your words a little snip snip.
With her decades of experience in scholarly nonfiction and her gift for teaching, Laura explains how the art of concise editing can transform writing from wordy to worthy. She reminds us that editing is not about judgment—it’s about clarity, flow, and nuance. Laura has been editing full-time since 1996, and shortly after, she founded her company, Archer Editorial Services, Inc., in 1997. She currently serves on the ACES Awards Committee as head judge for the Robinson Prize.
Visit her company website: https://www.archereditorial.com/
Follow Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapoole/
Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!
Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcast
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Subscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHour
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In “Not Your Grandma’s Grammar,” we dive deep into the evolving landscape of language, exploring what’s truly worth holding onto from the old-school grammar playbook and what’s time to retire.
Dave Nelsen shares what he thinks Grandma did get right, the most common mistakes he still spots out in the wild, and the grammar “hills” he’s ready to defend fiercely.
Dave has more than two decades of experience copy editing business collateral, academic writing, proposal content, marketing materials, and anything else that’s been put in front of him. Dave has been with Dragonfly Editorial since 2017. He began as a contractor, editing and writing proposal content for several of Dragonfly’s health care and IT clients. Today, as the deputy editorial manager, he works closely with the editorial manager to develop and maintain Dragonfly’s high editing standards. He also edits and proofreads proposal content and other communication for key clients. He’s especially proud of his super-nerd-level love of style guides. Ask him any question about the Associated Press Stylebook or The Chicago Manual of Style, and you’ll have a hard time shutting him up.
In this episode, we challenge the myths (yes, including that infamous “don’t end a sentence with a preposition” rule), and discuss how modern communication—think texting, TikTok, and Threads—is reshaping our understanding of language.
We also tackle hot topics like:
· Is autocorrect helping or hurting our grammar brains?
· Why punctuation in texts can sometimes feel like a secret message.
· How grammar rebels from history inspire today’s editors.
· Why editors might want to broaden their skill sets beyond traditional copyediting.
Plus, for exclusive content, Dave dives into the future of grammar in an AI-driven world. From how editors might become language ethicists to the challenge of editing algorithm-generated voices, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the craft of language. (Visit patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour to become a Patreon supporter to get access to the exclusive content.)
You can find Dave on LinkedIn and Bluesky:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-nelsen-0551588/
@thegrammargeek.bsky.social
Visit https://dragonflyeditorial.com/resources/top-4-english-myths/ to read the “Top 4 English Language Myths,” which is one of Dragonfly’s Field Guides written by Dave.
Visit https://dragonflyeditorial.com/training/ to learn more about the webinars they have to offer.
Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!
Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcast
Connect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_Hour
Subscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHour
Become a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour
Developmental editor and anthropologist Andrew Hodges shares his view of the editor’s role in shaping fictional worlds—especially in speculative fiction. He brings a unique perspective to the craft, blending editorial expertise with a background in cultural anthropology. We discuss:
- How editors can guide world-building without taking over the creative vision
- Common mistakes writers make when creating new worlds
- Approaches to handling culture and social structures with nuance
- Tools and frameworks that make complex worlds easier to manage
- Why developmental editing for world-building is really about strengthening the story’s core
If you’re a developmental editor working with fantasy, sci-fi, or even historical fiction, this episode is full of ideas for making world-building more intentional, inclusive, and story-driven.
Andrew Hodges is a developmental editor and the founder of The Narrative Craft (TheNarrativeCraft.com), where he works with speculative fiction authors to bring their stories to life. With a PhD in social anthropology, Andrew offers deep insight into how culture, structure, and meaning shape the worlds we build.
Here’s a detailed list of the resources mentioned in this episode:
- Andy’s podcast: https://www.thenarrativecraft.com/the-free-lancer-podcast
- Andy’s webinar https://payhip.com/b/UTCN9
- Sophie Playle Guiding Principles for Developmental Fiction Editing (Webinar) https://www.liminalpages.com/
- Jennifer Lawler Developmental Editing Courses https://www.clubedfreelancers.com/jennifer-lawler-editor/
- Beth Hill’s book, “The Magic of Fiction” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29510704-the-magic-of-fiction
- Janice Hardy’s “Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft: A step-by-step guide to revising your novel”: https://a.co/d/f5y6PQu
- Wonderbook: https://a.co/d/3YCnoWJ
- Blog, podcast, discord: https://mythcreants.com/
Leave a review or share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!
Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcast
Connect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_Hour
Subscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHour
Become a Patreon Sneak “Pique” supporter: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour
In this episode of The Editor’s Half Hour, Nadia Geagea Pupa welcomes editor Rachel Lapidow for an in-depth look at the role editors play in the world of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). From rulebooks and lore to quests and character creation, editing TTRPGs involves far more than just grammar—it’s about helping writers and designers bring expansive, interactive worlds to life with clarity, consistency, and heart.
Rachel shares how she got started in this unique niche, the editorial challenges that come with blending narrative and game mechanics, and why attention to detail matters just as much in imaginary realms as it does anywhere else. Whether you're deep into the TTRPG space or just curious about unconventional editorial careers, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse behind the screen.
What You’ll Learn:
· What editors actually do on TTRPG projects
· How to balance creativity with consistency
· Common pitfalls and continuity challenges in collaborative storytelling
· Why editors are essential to immersive, playable game narratives
· Rachel’s advice for editors interested in gaming and narrative design
Rachel Lapidow is a freelance editor with a passion for TTRPGs, collaborative fiction, and genre storytelling. Her work focuses on helping teams bring complex, interactive narratives to life—ensuring that even the most magical worlds stay grounded in clear, player-friendly language. Since 2019, she has been a freelance proofreader for DC Comics and has worked on more than 20 comic collections. Visit RachelLapidow.com to learn more about Rachel and the types of projects she’s done.
During this episode, we made reference to another podcast, Tech Lounge, where Rachel discussed her work on TTRPGs:
https://chrischinchilla.com/podcast/copy-editing-game-rules-with-rachel-lapidow/
The idea to cover this topic on the podcast came from Rachel Fowler, magazine editor for the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. Thank you, Rachel, for your input and ideas! Find Rachel Fowler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-fowler-1b523675/
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In this special double feature episode, I’m joined by two standout voices from this year’s ACES conference in Salt Lake City.
First, I interview Heather Saunders, president of ACES: The Society for Editing and CEO of Nova Arc Content. Heather shares her perspective on leading in the editing world, the importance of advocating for editors in specialized fields like STEM, and how she’s working to build a stronger, more inclusive professional community. It’s a conversation about vision, leadership, and the evolving role of editors in today’s content landscape.
Then, I sit down with Jamaal Pittman, this year’s Robinson Prize winner—one of the highest honors an editor can receive. Jamaal opens up about his career journey, what this award means to him, and the lessons he’s learned about excellence, mentorship, and community in the editing profession.
Whether you’re deep in the world of editorial work or just curious about the people shaping the future of content, this episode is packed with insight, heart, and inspiration.
Resources & Mentions:
- ACES: The Society for Editing
- Nova Arc Content
- Learn more about the Robinson Prize
- Purchase your copy of Jamaal’s book, The Copy Editor’s (Life)Style Guide.
Let’s be real—promoting yourself can feel like a microfiber cloth snagging on dry skin. Ick. We’re editors, not salespeople! But fear not, because in this episode, I speak with marketing guru, and work and life coach, Colleen Newvine, all about how to feel more authentic and less cringey when it comes to self-promotion.
Colleen’s approach to marketing makes you feel at ease, that promoting your brand is less selling and more serving, offering helpful and valuable services to those who need it. She soothes your worries and gives you comfort that you can do it! Colleen gives us all a push in the right direction and gives guidance for embracing imperfection when tackling the digital marketing world, whether you’re a freelance editor or small business owner.
Key Takeaways
· Answers why so many people feel “gross” when selling their services
· Teaches you how to reframe the intention behind self-promotion
· Shares tips to be less “salesy” and more authentic
· Unpacks how to get started on your marketing journey, focusing on the basics
· Gives you the pep talk you need to get started on marketing your brand
ColleenNewvine is a reporter and editor turned marketer and coach, providing marketing consulting for small organizations and self-employed people, and is a certified life and career coach. Her focus is on helping small organizations and self-employed professionals with marketing consulting services, where she gets to work one-on-one with the owners.
Check out her website: ColleenNewvine.com
Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleennewvine
Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleennewvine/
📖 Buy her book: Your Mini Sabbatical
Resources Mentioned:
· Chris Brogan’s marketing newsletter: https://chrisbrogan.com/#newsletter
· Bréne Brown on “feeling wobbly”: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-strong-backs-soft-fronts-and-wild-hearts/
· Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans: https://a.co/d/18DbzRE
Love the Show?
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📢 Share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!
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What if copy editing was more than just a profession—what if it was a lifestyle? In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Jamaal Pittman, author of The Copy Editor’s Life(Style) Guide, for a deep dive into the world of editing, career longevity, and what it really takes to thrive in the publishing industry.
Jamaal’s book isn’t just another style guide—it’s an insightful, engaging, and often humorous look at the editor’s life, from mastering the mechanics of clean copy to navigating the unique challenges of a career built around precision and clarity. Whether you’re a seasoned editor, a newcomer to the field, or just someone fascinated by the world of words, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways.
✅ The essential skills every copyeditor needs to succeed in today’s publishing landscape
✅ How to balance technical expertise with creativity when editing diverse content
✅ Common mistakes even seasoned editors make—and how to avoid them
✅ Tips for building a sustainable, fulfilling career as a copy editor
✅ The importance of maintaining your own editorial style while adapting to different projects
Jamaal Pittman is a professional copyeditor, writer, and publishing professional with a passion for clarity, consistency, and compelling storytelling. His book, The Copy Editor’s Life(Style) Guide, is an essential resource for editors at all levels, offering both practical guidance and witty insights into the daily realities of the profession.
Follow Jamaal on Instagram: @jamaaldpittman
Find him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jamaalpittman
📖 Buy his book: amazon.com/Copy-Editors-Life-Style-Guide/dp/1304540537
Learn more about Mary Moore, the editor of Jamaal’s book: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymoore866/
Love the Show?
💬 Leave a review to help others discover the show!
📢 Share this episode with your fellow word nerds and editing enthusiasts!
🎙️ Check out other episodes of The Editor’s Half Hour: piquepublishing.com/podcast
✍️ Connect with me on Instagram: @Editors_Half_Hour
⭐ Subscribe to my newsletter: tinyurl.com/EditorsHalfHour
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/EditorsHalfHour
AI is transforming the way we edit, write, and create—but where do we draw the ethical line?
In this episode, we’re diving deep into the ethics of AI in publishing to explore some of the biggest ethical questions editors and writers face in the age of AI.
Are AI tools a helpful assistant or a threat to creativity? How do we ensure fairness, accuracy, and integrity in AI-assisted editing?
I interview Amy Frushour Kelly, editor and AI content policy consultant who is an advocate for the ethical use of generative AI in the editing and writing professions by promoting AI ethics, literacy, and editor-specific training in policy development.
She teaches the AI Content Policy for Editors course and is a frequent presenter at conferences on AI ethics for editors and content creators. Amy has 30 years of editing experience in journalism, technical writing, finance, and content marketing.
Amy currently serves on the ACES Board of Directors and is a member of Editorial Freelancers Association (ACES), Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), and Professional Editors Network (PEN).
To learn more about Amy and to gain access to more resources, please visit frushourconsulting.com.
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Consider joining the podcast Patreon: patreon.com/c/editorshalfhour/posts
Visit piquepublishing.com/podcast to view or listen to other episodes.
The following lists other books and resources discussed and shared in this episode:
“Journal editors’ mass resignation marks ‘sad day for paleoanthropology”: https://www.science.org/content/article/journal-editors-mass-resignation-marks-sad-day-paleoanthropology
“Scientific Journal Publishes AI-Generated Rat with Gigantic Penis In Worrying Incident” https://www.vice.com/en/article/scientific-journal-frontiers-publishes-ai-generated-rat-with-gigantic-penis-in-worrying-incident/
Responsible AI by Olivia Gamblin: https://www.amazon.com/Responsible-AI-Implement-Approach-Organization/dp/1398615706/
Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick: https://www.amazon.com/Co-Intelligence-Living-Working-Ethan-Mollick/dp/059371671X/
AI Snake Oil by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor: https://www.amazon.com/Snake-Oil-Artificial-Intelligence-Difference/dp/069124913X
Welcome back to The Editor's Half Hour podcast! We're kicking off the year with an episode designed to help you work smarter, not harder. In this episode, I interview productivity expert and editorial pro, Lori Paximadis for a lively discussion about the systems and shortcuts that can revolutionize your workflow.
Lori has been a successful full-time freelancer for more than half of her 33-year career in publishing. Her background in project management and production makes her a sought-after copyeditor and proofreader for fiction and nonfiction. Her clients range from Big Five publishers to indies. She has been presenting and training on the topics of systems and efficiency since 2016.
In this episode, Lori shares:
🛠️ Her favorite tools and tech for streamlining editorial projects
🕒 Time-saving hacks for managing client communication, deadlines, and revisions
🧠 The mindset shifts that can help you avoid burnout while staying on top of your game
Whether you’re a seasoned editor or just starting out, you’ll walk away with practical tips to implement right away—plus, a peek into Lori’s productivity playbook.
📚 Mentioned in this episode:
Text Expander: textexpander.com
Calendly: calendly.com
Lori's website: systemsandshortcuts.com
Lori’s socials: about.me/loripax
2025 Inaugural Editors Calendar: https://2025-editors-calendar.printify.me/product/15393711/2025-inaugural-editors-calendar
📩 We’d love to hear from you! What are your go-to systems or shortcuts? Share your thoughts and tips on social media using #EditorsHalfHour or drop us a message.
Sign up to receive the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iXaVBU
Consider joining the podcast Patreon: patreon.com/c/editorshalfhour/posts
Visit piquepublishing.com/podcast to view or listen to other episodes.
In this special episode and season finale, I interviewed Madeleine Vasaly, the author of the newly released book, “The Proofreader’s Guide to Comic Book Style.” This book offers an in-depth catalog of style traditions in comics and explains how they’re different from the standards in other types of media. In this interview, we discuss grammar, style, and the heroic art of editing dialogue balloons.
Madeleine Vasaly is a developmental editor, copyeditor, proofreader, and consultant with over a decade of experience in publishing. Her comics background includes a temporary stint at DC Comics as a full-time proofreader in addition to freelance work for DC, IDW/Top Shelf, Yen Press, Tapas, and other publishers. She has proofread and copyedited series, one-shots, anthologies, graphic novels, and collected editions across all age ratings, and created company-wide style guides for publishers.
Outside her work in comics, Madeleine has edited and proofread hundreds of prose books and countless articles for online newsrooms. She has served on the board of the Professional Editors Network since 2018.
• Book website: https://comicbookstyle.com
• Madeleine’s website: https://madeleinevasaly.com
• "Resources for Comics Editors and Proofreaders" blog post: https://www.madeleinevasaly.com/blog/2024/9/25/resources-for-comics-editors-and-proofreaders
And social media:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleinevasaly
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/madeleinevasaly.com
When you pick up a cookbook, do you ever wonder how it all comes together? From the ingredients to the instructions to the tempting photos, a lot more happens behind the scenes than meets the eye. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the essential yet often-overlooked role of the cookbook editor.
Join us as we chat with seasoned cookbook editor Melissa Haskin, who reveals what it takes to turn a chef’s vision into a polished, reader-friendly masterpiece. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Melissa works on recipes, resumes, and research. Most recently, she edited "The Solo Stove Fire Pit Cookbook." She offers coaching for freelance editors and will be launching her first course, Recipe Editing 101, in March 2025.
In this episode, you'll learn why editing is essential—not just for correcting grammar but for refining recipes, ensuring accuracy, and creating a seamless flow that makes readers feel right at home in their kitchens. Discover the magic of balancing clarity with creativity, making dishes look delicious, and keeping flavors authentic.
Below is a list of resources mentioned in this episode:
The Modern Proper Website: https://themodernproper.com/
The Modern Proper Book: https://themodernproper.com/cookbook
World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/
Melissa’s website: https://www.melissa-haskin.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissahaskin/
Recipe Class (March 2025): https://www.melissa-haskin.com/courses.html
- Full price: $497 (similar in price to Erin Servais' AI for Editors Course and the Toronto Metropolitan University course)
- Automatic 10% discount for early registration (through February 1)
- Extra $25 off at any time for listeners of your podcast with code Nadia25 (valid for the March 2025 course)
- Currently slotted to be a 6-week course over Zoom/video call at a set time each week. Will be offered as a self-paced course in the future.
Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/melissa-haskin
Recipe Editing class through the Toronto Metropolitan University (no affiliation)
Other Resources:
The Romantasy Cookbook: Epic Recipes Inspired by Great Romantasy Novels and Their Fearless Heroines Hardcover – May 27, 2025by Gabriela Leon (Author)
Sandwiches of History: The Cookbook: All the Best (and Most Surprising) Things People Have Put Between Slices of Bread
Northwest Editors Guild Red Pencil Conferences
Recommended Books:
The Complete Recipe Writing Guide: Mastering Recipe Development, Writing, Testing, Nutrition Analysis and Food Styling, Raeanne Sarazen, MA, RDN, FAND
The Recipe Writer's Handbook, Revised and Updated Paperback – March 30, 2001, by Barbara Gibbs Ostmann (Author), Jane L. Baker (Author)
The Food Lover's Companion 5th Edition/The Deluxe Food Lover's Companion 2nd Edition
In this insightful episode, we dive into the nuanced world of editing for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) writers. It’s one thing to edit for grammar and flow, but how do editors balance maintaining a writer’s authentic voice while adapting the language for clarity and readability in English? This episode unpacks what it takes to work effectively with EFL writers, touching on topics like cultural sensitivity, linguistic diversity, and the unique challenges editors face when working with non-native English speakers.
Whether you're an editor, writer, or just curious about the intricacies of language, this episode sheds light on how editors approach the delicate yet crucial task of working with EFL authors. Tune in for expert tips and fascinating stories from Mekiya Outini—an award-winning author and editor with over ten years of experience providing editorial services to EFL writers, authors of literary fiction and creative nonfiction, and international students and scholars. He holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he met his wife and collaborator, Itto Outini. Together, the Outinis have garnered support from the MacDowell Foundation and the Steinbeck Fellowship Program at San Jose State University and co-founded The DateKeepers, a full-service author support platform dedicated to serving artists and creators around the globe.
Website: https://www.thedatekeepers.com
Mekiya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mekiya-o-1157b9184/
The DateKeepers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-datekeepers-–-a-hub-for-writers-and-creators-372831275/
The DateKeepers LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/names-dates-7147355807444049920/
Isabella Furth shares her insight about emotional labor and how it affects the editing process. Emotional Labor is defined as caring work or relationship work; it’s about managing emotional resources, but it can often become devalued or taken for granted.
Isabella explains the importance of recognizing emotional labor because it isn't something that should be avoided or ignored. As editors, we must find the moments in our work where we are taking the extra steps necessary to make our clients feel comfortable and safe.
In this episode, Isabella shares tips on how to factor emotional labor into your costs, and most importantly, how to recognize and manage it.
For more information about emotional labor, read the blog that covers this topic at www.sdpen.com. Search for "Editing and Emotional Labor."
Isabella's vast editorial experience includes journal articles, scholarly books, doctoral theses, biographies, textbooks, test prep materials, and general interest non-fiction. She also has more than 12 years of experience in policy research, writing, design, and structured dialogue. She is a member of the American Copy Editors Society (ACES), the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), and the San Diego Professional Editors Network (which she served as co-president from 2018 to 2020).
To learn more about Isabella, please visit her website at http://www.bluefisheditorial.com.
For about 20 years, the University of Chicago Press has been looking to publish a book about book design, and it has finally happened. In 2024, The Design of Books, written by Debbie Berne was officially published and it shares everything that authors, editors, and agents should know about book design. Debbie has been a professional book designer since 2002 and has designed hundreds of book interiors and covers in genres across the board.
In this episode, Debbie walks us through the basics of book design. She explains how the design process differs from the freelancer’s perspective to an in-house designer at a major publishing house. She also talks about timing and conversations with authors. When should the conversation about a book’s interior begin, and how involved should the author be throughout the design process? According to Debbie, it depends. Listen to this episode to gain valuable insight into what goes on behind the scenes of creating good book design.
Rebecca Scharpf of Scrollwork Edits provides an abundance of information about what it takes to work with neurodivergent clients. She primarily works with fiction writers and specializes in editing fantasy, sci-fi, and romance novels.
In this episode, she shares a variety of ways editors can create positive and affirming spaces for neurodivergent writers.
Rebecca shares several resources for both writers and editors:
Yo Samdy Sam (autistic and ADHD): https://www.youtube.com/@YoSamdySam/videos
Orion Kelly - That Autistic Guy (autism as it presents in men): https://www.youtube.com/@orionkelly
Purple Ella (nonbinary, autistic, and ADHD, parent to a neurodivergent child): https://www.youtube.com/@PurpleElla
How to ADHD (ADHD in women): https://www.youtube.com/@HowtoADHD
I am MindBlind (autistic / ADHD / mother / aphantasia / memory disorder): https://www.youtube.com/@HowtoADHD
Also, check out Meg McIntyre’s blog that shares additional tools and resources for both writers and editors: https://mcintyreeditorial.com/blog/tools-resources-neurodivergent-writer-editor
To learn more about Rebecca and her business, please visit: https://www.scrollworkedits.com/
Award-winning editor, Karen Yin joins us to discuss her latest book, The Conscious Style Guide: A Flexible Approach to Language That Includes, Respects, and Empowers (Little, Brown Spark). She provides insight and guidance on how to be more equitable in the way we communicate.
Karen explains that this is not a book of dos and don'ts. In fact, it's the opposite of that! This book is a cornerstone guide that teaches us to be more aware and to use critical thinking as language continually evolves.
She has also written several stories for children, including Whole Whale (Barefoot Books), So Not Ghoul (Page Street Kids), Doug the Pug and the Kindness Crew (Scholastic), Nice to Eat You (Scholastic), and “My Kinda Sorta Badass Move” (Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities, Inkyard). Acclaim for her writing includes a 2021 California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship, a 2020 SCBWI/Smithsonian Nonfiction Grant, selection of her flash fiction by the Los Angeles Public Library for its permanent collection in 2020, and a 2015 Lambda Literary Fellowship.
Karen was also the winner of the 2017 ACES Robinson Prize (Editor of the Year). She founded several acclaimed digital resources, including Conscious Style Guide, The Conscious Language Newsletter, and the Editors of Color Database. Conscious Style Guide was named by Poynter as one of the top tools for journalists in 2018 and is recommended by Poets & Writers, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and countless others, including NASA. The Editors of Color Database was one of Writer’s Digest’s Best Websites for Writers in 2023. Karen serves on the advisory board of The Chicago Manual of Style.
Find her online at KarenYin.com and her book recommendations at DiversePictureBooks.com.
There are several things that CaTyra Polland is known for, but the most notable is being the founder of National Black Authors Day, which is celebrated on May 4. In this episode, she shares valuable insight into how she started her editorial career, which led her to start her own business, Love For Words (love4words.com). She explains her mentality behind starting this national holiday and what it means for Black authors.
CaTyra spends her time serving her clients as a guide and mentor for the publishing process—especially in writing and editing. She is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, editor, creator, poet, and international speaker. After being recognized for her ambition, community service, and literary expertise in the Rochester area, CaTyra continues to build a legacy.
She also shares details about why she created the Literacy Love Scholarship for high school students, which is a way to empower young kids to write, edit, and pursue their dreams.
Last but not least, she is also the host of the Editor Knows Best, which is an international podcast for literary creatives. In between running her business and speaking at conferences, she also volunteers her time as the grant reviewer for the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts, chairwoman for the Innova Girls Academy (the first and only all-girls elementary school), and as a grant writer for the Rochester Black Authors Association.
In this “STET Special” one-hour podcast episode with the award-winning copywriter, Erin Brenner, we take a deep dive into her latest book, The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors: How to Take Care of Your Business, Your Clients, and Yourself from Start-Up to Sustainability.
We cover a variety of topics like branding, marketing, finances, setting rates, and last but not least, self-care. This book, published by the University of Chicago Press, has wonderful takeaways for newbies and seasoned professionals.
Erin Brenner is an award-winning copywriter who has been a communications professional for two decades, but before running her own company, she worked for ClickZ, IDC, and Epsilon, which gave her a deep understanding of marketers’ needs.
Erin shares her expertise in communications and business by speaking at industry conferences, such as those for ACES, Editors’ Association of Canada, and MagsBC. She also provides staff training in writing for private companies, such as Slipstream and Meister Consultants Group.
She is the former co-owner of Copyediting, a publications and training brand, where she was CEO and publisher. She is also a former instructor in the Copyediting certificate program at the University of California San Diego.
Erin is the author of Copyediting’s Grammar Tune-Up Workbook, 1001 Words for Success: Synonyms, Antonyms & Homonyms, and Quick Study Dictionary of Commonly Confused and Misspelled Words (with Steve Berner). She has written hundreds of articles and blog posts for Copyediting.com, Visual Thesaurus, and others. Read more of her work on Right Touch Editing’s blog (https://www.righttouchediting.com/blog).
The Universally Acknowledged Truth About Romance examines the editorial approach to romance through the lens of Jane Austen. Our special guest, Sarah Calfee—founder and owner of Three Little Words Romance Editing—has been a fiction editor since 2018 and specializes in romance.
In this episode, Sarah gets into the nuts and bolts of what it takes to provide dev editing and line/copy editing her way. With an MFA in creative writing and a deep, abiding obsession for Jane Austen, particularly Pride and Prejudice, Sarah gets to the core of what makes romance great. She shares her opinions and expertise about dev editing and story-level issues and how they can be solved using a Jane Austen writing strategy.
Visit www.ThreeLittleWordsEditing.com to view Sarah’s website and to learn more about her upcoming book, How to Pride and Prejudice.
Unlock the magic of what it takes to integrate your personal story with your business. In this episode, Sonia Alleyne shares advice that freelancers can take when they are forming their businesses or updating information on their websites. Potential clients need to be sold on an experience, but first, they need to be “seen.” Sonia got her start as an editor in New York and has interviewed high-profile business leaders including Ursula Burns, Oprah Winfrey, Don Thompson (former CEO of McDonald's), and Canadian billionaire Michael Lee-Chin. As press secretary, she has secured a significant and unprecedented amount of content placement in major media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, New York Post, Crain’s New York, Village Voice, ABC, and CBS.
Sonia has written two books and has co-authored one. She wrote I Kick Ass at Work! The Strategy Journal for Career Professionals (Hunter Publishing Group, 2020), which is the first journal of its kind to help women gain better insight and perspective about how they perform at their jobs. She is the co-author of Good is Not Enough: And Other Unwritten Rules for Minority Professionals (Penguin Books, 2008), which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. She was also a contributor to Tips for Life, by Maria Shriver.
As founding editorial director for the Women of Power Summit, Sonia created and designed the content of the event for 10 years. She is a member of Black Women of Influence, a by-invitation-only professional women's group, and a former advisory board member of the California Women's Conference—one of the largest women's conferences in the country.
In this episode, Sonia mentions a thought-provoking speech by David Brooks, who wrote, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. She highly encourages everyone to listen or watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwENbKn3tqI
Sonia also discusses her latest book, The Storytelling Business Journal, which can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Storytellers-Magic-Storytelling-Step-Step/dp/1662942966
To learn more about Sonia and her company, Storyteller’s Magic, please visit https://storytellersmagic.com.
What does it mean to find your community?
If there's one thing to be shared from my interview with Tara Whitaker, it's that there's power in numbers! Today more than ever, editors need to stick together, have more open conversations about what we do, and create a way to congratulate and encourage one another. Tara is pioneering a new wave of modern editors to create companionship, camaraderie, and community among editors. She is a book editor, business coach, and host of The Modern Editor Podcast.
Through individual coaching and her membership community, the Freelance Editors Club, Tara empowers modern editors to create a business and life they love. Her mission stems from a decade of work as a freelance editor herself, and a desire to change the publishing industry’s reputation for being isolated, exclusive, and unbending. Her podcast, community, and coaching programs have helped hundreds of editors feel a sense of clarity, belonging, and excitement about their businesses. Learn more about Tara’s work at tarawhitaker.com, or visit tarawhitaker.com/podcast to learn more about The Modern Editor Podcast.
In this captivating and final episode of 2023, Erin Servais and Nadia Geagea Pupa dive deep into the fascinating world of Generative AI. They discuss several capabilities of ChatGPT and how it's constantly changing. There is still "doom and gloom" surrounding the topic of generative AI, but Erin shares her positive outlook, opinions, and insight for the editorial community. Yes, ChatGPT has been replacing all types of jobs, but it's up to us as editors to learn how to embrace this new technology as a tool and resource to help, not harm, our editorial processes.
Erin Servais is an editor, educator, and coach. She serves on the board of directors for ACES: The Society for Editing and is the founder of the Editors Tea Club. Erin has presented about editing, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence for the Professional Editors Network (PEN), the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), Editors Canada, the Northwest Editors Guild, and ACES, and she has been a guest lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Media. Erin will start teaching copyediting for the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in January 2024.
Her current focus is training editors to uplevel their skills using artificial intelligence. She teaches the ChatGPT for Editors course and blogs about AI editing tips. Visit www.AIforEditors.com to learn more about her course.
One of the best things about being an editor is the interaction you get to have with your client. Developing this rapport can elevate your work immensely, but what do editors do when their client has passed away? What liberties is an editor allowed to take? How much is too much when editing in this way? What is an editor to do when they need clarification?
We discuss all this and more in Episode 11: Posthumous Editing.
In this episode of The Editor’s Half Hour, I am joined by Dan Letchworth of Desert Owl Press to discuss the challenges of posthumous editing. Dan, who currently works in corporate communications for Illumina, has over 15 years of professional publishing experience. We discuss the numerous and varied challenges he faced when he worked on two memoirs based on his father’s and grandfather’s military careers after they both passed away.
Dan also has experience working in a freelance capacity for Scholastic, Hachette Book Group, and Penguin Random House. With an MFA in writing from Columbia University, Dan is also a blogger and online journalist!
Find out more about Dan and the two books he posthumous edited on his website: desertowlpress.com
Connect with him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danletchworth
This episode is a continuation of PART I: Editing True Crime. In this Part II, Maria Carillo gives listeners a chance to explore the world of editing true crime (or narrative nonfiction). Maria Carrillo has edited several award-winning projects. She's the former enterprise editor at the Tampa Bay Times and Houston Chronicle and, before that, managing editor at The Virginian-Pilot. Maria is also a board member of the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism and the National Press Photographers Association and a six-time juror for the Hillman Prizes.
In this episode, Maria explains the significance of the editor-author relationship as a delicate partnership. She works closely with Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Lane DeGregory, and co-hosts, WriteLane, which covers the craft of narrative nonfiction (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/writelane/id1342271507). Maria also edited the book, "The Girl in the Window and Other True Tales," published by the University of Chicago Press, and written by Lane DeGregory.
During the episode, Maria makes references to other editors and writers listed below:
- Lauren Caruba of The Dallas Morning News: https://lcaruba.com/
- Leonora LaPeter Anton (Pulitzer Prize winner): https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonora-anton-22944b40/
Below are more links to articles or podcasts in which Maria has been involved:
- True crime series while at the Tampa Bay Times: tampabay.com/bloodandtruth
- Gang raped at 17. Therapy at 65:
- https://www.tampabay.com/news/Gang-raped-at-17-Therapy-at-65-_163790205/
- The saint and the sacrifice: https://www.tampabay.com/news/2020/11/10/barbara-burns-cared-for-her-sister-her-whole-life-then-she-killed-her/?itm_source=parsely-api
- 55 Minutes: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/55minutes/
- Serial indifference: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/serialindifference/
For the editors interested on the inner workings of academia, or for editors already entrenched in the world, this episode of The Editor’s Half Hour is for you! We discuss the realistic side of working with academic clients and the important work they do, in addition to future opportunities for editors, and how generative AI is affecting the academic industry. We also talk about other tips and tools editors need to know, such as using citation managers.
I interview seasoned professional, Cara Jordan, PhD, who worked as a freelance academic editor before cofounding Flatpage, an editorial agency and publishing house, in 2022. She is an expert copyeditor whose specialty is journal articles and book manuscripts. While her own scholarly specialty is art history, in which she earned a PhD from the City University of New York Graduate Center, she has worked on manuscripts across the humanities and social sciences.
As the chief editor at Flatpage, she oversees a team of editors and manages all projects, which has given her oversight into the various types of clients, editorial services, and manuscript genres. She has a certificate in editing from the University of California San Diego—where she currently teaches advanced copyediting—and is a professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders, and a full member of the Editorial Freelancer’s Association and ACES: The Society for Editing.
For more information the book, The Art of Academic Editing, please visit https://flatpage.com/publishing/
As discussed in this episode, this book is the first full-length guide to the different types of editorial services and when they happen in the life cycle of a scholarly text.
For more information about Cara Jordan and her company, Flatpage, please use the following links.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caramjordan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flatpage\_ep/
UCSD Extension Copyediting Certificate: https://extendedstudies.ucsd.edu/courses-and-programs/copyediting
Blog: https://flatpage.com/column/
Erika M. Weinert (known as The Werd Nerd) celebrates the one-year anniversary of her book, Cursing with Style. The book contains more than 100 entries and is meant to aid editors in keeping expletives consistent throughout their clients’ manuscripts.
Erika is a line and copy editor with more than a decade of experience in the industry. Having researched more bad words in her career than she cares to admit, Erika shares her knowledge with other authors and editors—especially those who edit fiction.
In this episode, Erika explains how she started writing the book and what led to the idea. Cursing with Style is hilarious, easy to read, and ideal for anyone with an affinity for spicy language. This interview is lighthearted, fun, and full of laughter!
- Cursing with Style: A Dicktionary of Expletives on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578296403
- The Werd Nerd's website: https://www.the-werd-nerd.com
- The Birth of Cursing with Style blog post: https://www.the-werd-nerd.com/post/the-birth-of-cursing-with-style
- Oddmall's Creepsmas 3 event page, where Erika will be selling autographed copies of her book in November 2023: https://allevents.in/monroe/oddmall-emporium-of-the-weird-creepsmas-3-dawn-of-the-toys/200024883461841
- My Word Publishing (the self-publishing project management and consulting service that Erika used to publish her book): https://www.mywordpublishing.com/
- Ron Lamberson's book that is mentioned during the interview, The Poachers of Immortality: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z3LYW1?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk
- Alex Galassi's book that I mentioned during the interview, Battle for Eklatros: https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Eklatros-Rebalancing-Cosmos-Galassi/dp/B0BLR5BZWC
It’s common for many freelance editors to get annoyed by having to maintain a social media account because it feels like another chore. It’s also uncomfortable having to be "salesy." But maintaining a social media account is a necessary thing for everyone—not just editors. However, there's one platform that many seem to neglect, or think is a waste of time, and that's Instagram!
This episode sheds some light on an area that is unfamiliar to several editors who are avoiding creating an Instagram account. Isobelle Lans, owner of Inspired Creative Co. (https://www.inspiredcreativeco.com) shares some of the successes she has experienced over the past few years on Instagram by connecting with editors and writers.
Isobelle is a UK-based fiction writer, editor, and book coach. At Inspired Creative Co., she helps writers at all levels grow, learn, and develop their storytelling skills through personalized coaching and solutions-based feedback.
She makes the whole process of maintaining an Instagram account seem doable, easy, and fun. Isobelle is also realistic in the way she talks about creating content on social media. We hope it'll inspire you to share more creative content with others!
Website link: www.inspiredcreativeco.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/inspiredcreativeco_
Book coaches guide authors through the writing process from ideation to publication. They hold writers accountable and assist them as they develop content into fully formed manuscripts. In most cases, however, experienced authors write in isolation, finish their manuscripts, and find copyeditors. In this episode, we speak directly to copyeditors who instinctively provide feedback to authors on how to improve their manuscripts. Even though it’s not asked of them, copyeditors might offer specific advice on how to better develop characters in fiction, arrange content for educational material, or pinpoint areas in content that seem vague. In doing so, copyeditors are leaning into the book coaching process, but are simply not getting paid for these services. They might continue and carry on in a back-and-forth conversation with authors, which is essentially book coaching.
This episode walks copyeditors through the book coaching process with Caroline Malloy, Ph.D.—a Chicago-based book coach who specializes in helping women write nonfiction (from scholarly to narrative to memoir) by providing them with the skills, strategies, and support systems to do it. From planning to pitch, Caroline helps women embrace being authors. Along with coaching amazing writers, Caroline puts her Ph.D. to good use as a resident historian with Viking Ocean. She also teaches indoor cycling and reads books on her front porch alongside her husband, Steve, and her two mutts, Boo and Emma.
Please click on the links below to visit her website and to follow Caroline on social media:
https://linkedin.com/in/thewritemalloy
https://instagram.com/thewritemalloy
https://thewritemalloy.substack.com
Given its intense subject matter, it takes a special type of editor (or writer, journalist, etc.) to work on true crime. Throughout the developmental process, editors ask questions that often go much deeper than expected. We question the nature of content and how explicit it should be. And depending on your role in the project, you may be called to make ethical decisions when you least expect it.
This episode is the first of two parts. In part one, I introduce Andréa Topper—a writing coach and editor—who has had a varied career in journalism, content marketing, and corporate communications in Silicon Valley. She describes her role in 2018 as a writer for CrossFit’s Journal to cover a new program, Redemption Road CrossFit, which supports health, wellness, and personal redemption within the prison system. She was assigned to visit the Limon Correctional Facility, a men’s maximum-security prison located roughly 100 miles southeast of Denver, Colorado. While attending one of the sessions, she met Damian Arguello who fatally stabbed his wife and toddler while high on crack cocaine. He is now serving a life sentence.
Andréa is currently working on a book that covers Arguello’s story and her first-hand observations about our country’s prison system. We discuss a wide variety of topics that come into play when handling true crime: the writing process, emotional unrest when stepping away from work, journalistic skills required for interviewing, and making ethical decisions related to developing content.
For more information about Andréa’s prison visits, click on the following links to her blog and other articles:
- Building Community Behind Bars—https://journal.crossfit.com/article/limon-seminar-cecil-2
- Reporter’s Notebook: CrossFit in Prison—https://journal.crossfit.com/article/limon-2-cecil
- Redemption Chronicle (blog)—https://medium.com/redemption-chronicle
- For a full list of posts, please use this link—https://medium.com/redemption-chronicle/stories/published
In addition to her experience in writing and editing, Andréa played a vital role in editing and contributing to the book, Speal: A David and Goliath Story, which sold tens of thousands of copies: https://www.amazon.com/Speal-David-Goliath-Chris-Spealler/dp/1544500564.
Not all beta readers are editors, but editors seem to be the best type of people to take on this task. This episode explains what it takes to perform this high-value task of providing writers with useful feedback. Beth Wojiski (https://www.bethwojiski.com) is an editor, writer, threshold singer, and artistic soul passionate about offering editorial support to other creatives. In addition to proofreading and copyediting, she provides beta reading as a professional service and explains how she discovered it, how to set rates, and most importantly, how it’s a fun and interesting way to supplement your editorial income.
Beth Wojiski's career spans more than twenty years in positions varying from legal assistant, development associate, or analyst with a major tech firm, but a common theme with every job has been perfecting written communication and analyzing language for its best use. In one past role, she trained machine learning algorithms to understand language to surface better search results. Several years ago, a friend and mentor asked, "If today were your last day alive, what would you regret?" Beth realized she was living for other people's goals, not her own, so she took training in proofreading, copyediting, and line editing and hasn't looked back. She is also writing her first book, a memoir about thriving after a traumatic event. Beth lives in southeastern North Carolina and enjoys reading (especially cozy mysteries), singing, and making pretty things with yarn.
Listen to this episode to learn how you can add beta reading as a new service line to your successful editorial business. For more information on the specifics of beta reading, visit Beth’s website at www.bethwojiski.com/services/beta-reading. Learn how she breaks it down for her clients and the specific mindset required to support writers in their publishing journey.
Editors around the globe have been waiting for the highly anticipated book The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction. With more than 500 novels and anthologies under her belt, Amy J. Schneider is a true expert when it comes to copyediting fiction. Amy’s book is a road map and go-to resource to help copyeditors navigate the world of fiction. In this podcast, we discuss the copyediting process for fiction, building your style sheet, and examining the copyeditor’s mindset when approaching the work.
Amy J. Schneider founded Featherschneider Editorial Services in 1995. She copyedits and proofreads scholarly and trade nonfiction and bestselling fiction in a variety of genres for traditional publishers and university presses. Since 2012, she has written articles and presented in-person and online sessions on various editorial topics for regional and national editors' associations.
When Amy is not working in the soft glow of her four-monitor desktop, she enjoys running, singing, and teaching her springer spaniels to do silly tricks (not all at the same time). To learn more about Amy and her company, visit http://www.featherschneider.com.
To purchase your copy of the latest book, visit https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo183690033.html.
In this episode, we also discuss some upcoming editorial-related events that are virtual and in-person where we can find Amy.
• March 7, join a live Zoom session with Amy on “That Word Chat” hosted by Mark Allen: https://www.markalleneditorial.com/thatwordchat.
• March 22–25, she will be presenting at the ACES Evolve conference in Columbus, Ohio: https://aceseditors.org/conference/aces-2023-columbus/evolve-scheduleofevents
• May 6, Amy will be the keynote speaker at the Red Pencil conference of the Northwest Editor’s Guild in Seattle, Washington: https://www.edsguild.org/red-pencil-2023
• May 8, Amy will be at the Bay Area Editors’ Forum at the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the EFA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/baef-and-sf-bay-area-efa-present-amy-j-schneider-tickets-560015109267
• June 17–18, she will be at the Editors Canada conference in Toronto: https://www.editors.ca/news/get-inside-scoop-editors-canada-conference-2023
• August 17–19, you can find her at the EFA conference (EFACON 2023) in Alexandria, Virginia: https://www.the-efa.org/event/efa-conference-efacon/
• September 9–11, she will be attending the CIEP annual conference in Glasgow, Scotland: https://www.ciep.uk/networking/conferences/
Erin Willard, copyeditor, walks us through what it takes to edit a fictional book in a series, how to manage the characters in the stories, and the detailed logistics into how the process should be managed.
Ellen Polk, copyeditor and proofreader, will explain her perspective on AI technology in the world of editing. What does this mean for editors, what are the pros and cons, and what are some of the things to pay attention to as AI gets more and more sophisticated?