We wanted to give Editors Toronto members and student affiliates another way to get to know their executive committee members, while also finding out what is involved in being on the committee. So, we asked executive committee members to introduce themselves and their roles by answering a few questions for our “Executive Unplugged” series.
Meet Adrienne Bartl, Chair
Adrienne Bartl is a freelance editor based in the Greater Toronto Area who loves to sink her teeth into a good cookbook or food-focused narrative. She is the owner of Barke Editing Services Inc. and is currently serving as chair of Editors Toronto. This is her second year as part of the branch executive committee.
What kind of editor are you? Tell us a bit about your experience.
I am a freelance non-fiction editor specializing in food writing, recipes, and cookbooks. My background is in international finance, but when I wanted to return to the workforce after several years away, I decided that a career change was in order! I chose editing because I have always loved languages and often found I was helping edit my colleagues’ work for clarity and consistency.
At first, I thought my time studying at TMU (formerly Ryerson) would lead me to contemporary fiction editing and I selected most of my coursework with that goal in mind. But in my second year, there was a new course offered that focused on cookbooks and recipes and, as an ambitious home cook, I was intrigued. Working through the course led me to take a good look at the sheer number of cookbooks, magazines, and books on the history of food and cooking that I have on my shelves at home, and I realized that I really love this stuff! I think you can learn so much about people when you share a meal with them. Some of my most treasured souvenirs are recipes learned from people I’ve met while travelling or while they were here in Canada.
My company, Barke Editing Services Ltd., reflects the passion I have for food and the belief I have that food can break down cultural barriers and bring people together. In fact, the name Barke is an amalgam of my Czech last name and my English maiden name.
What is your favourite part of the role you hold on the executive committee?
The role of chair has a wider scope than some of the other positions on the executive and I like that I can be involved in, and support many different initiatives from the group. I get a high-level look at what’s happening with Editors Toronto specifically, but I also get to connect with chairs from across Canada to learn from their branch and twig experiences and bring that back to our group. There are so many things happening throughout the year and I keep an eye on the monthly deliverables and pitch in when an extra hand is needed to cover a busy time or an absence.
Give us an elevator pitch for your role.
The role of branch chair is perfect for an ambitious Editors Toronto member who wants to support Editors Canada in their local area, while building professional relationships and increasing their experience and credibility in the industry. We welcome all members at all stages of their careers and co-chairs are encouraged to share the workload.
If you didn’t have your role on the exec, what role would you pick?
It may sound counter-intuitive based on what I just said I enjoy about my current role, but I think I would like the vice-chair position with its focus on the Word on the Street Festival and all the preparation that goes into that. Being a part of the festival itself, talking to people in person about our organization and our work as editors is something that I think I would enjoy. Half our work is explaining what an editor does anyway, isn’t it?
Why do you volunteer and what does it mean to you?
I joined Editors Canada as a student affiliate and then volunteered in-person at the 2023 conference in Toronto. Meeting other editors offline showed me how encouraging this community is, so when I saw the next call for volunteers and how I could help, even from the suburbs, I signed up. Really, we’re all here because we want to support the industry and our fellow editors. This is a wonderful and welcoming group of people to work with, so meeting with them regularly is a treat. Whether we’re discussing budgets or parties, it’s always a good conversation. And maybe it’s just the word nerd within each of us, but there is a wicked sense of humour in this group.
Fast five for fun
- Your ritual for settling in for work: I work best with music (and I don’t have a closed-door office at home) so I pop on my headphones, pick a playlist for the day, and focus on the work at hand.
- Preferred editing beverage and snack(s): Water always, and an assortment of sweet treats stashed away in my desk drawers.
- Favourite thing in your workspace: I have a broken mug from a trip to Yosemite National Park on my desk, filled with my pens and mementos tucked in by my daughters. A collection of happy little memories.
- Three favourite books – editing-related or not: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (a classic crime novel for a reason!), An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace by Tamar Adler (changed the way I run my own kitchen), and The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. Franklin (the list of notable authors Jones worked with is almost unbelievable).
- Things you do in your free time: I’m an absolute homebody (which my cat loves about me), so I look for reasons to get out and be active: yoga class, volunteering at my daughters’ school, and playing tourist with my family by going to new and unusual places. One day we were feeding and snuggling baby goats and another day we were trampolining in the trees.
This article was copy edited by Elisa Petrovich. She is a freelance copy editor and proofreader based in the GTA, and works primarily with fiction and short story collections.
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