In this series, editors share their experiences, insights, and tips on the practical aspects of working as an editor. In some of our previous “Editors Advise” instalments, our contributors have shared their thoughts on various topics, including advice for newer editors and formatting your résumé. This edition focuses on Editors Canada’s mentorship program. In Part 1 mentees shared their thoughts.
One of the best ways to develop skills in any field is to have a mentor who shows you the ropes. (It also prevents you from learning some lessons the hard way.) Editors Canada offers the John Eerkes-Medrano Mentorship Program as one of its member benefits. We were curious about the concept, the process, and how well it worked, so we spoke to Jenn Rossiter, chair of the mentorship committee, and a few mentors and mentees who were willing to share their experiences. In the first instalment, we focused on mentees. Now it’s the mentors’ turn.
Who can be a mentor?
Any Editors Canada member who has extensive experience as an editor – whether it’s in-house or freelance (or both) – can apply to be a mentor. The mentor’s goal is to help the mentee develop in their area of interest. Mentors should be patient, have some previous experience with mentorship or training, and be flexible enough to navigate a variety of goals and objectives. If anyone feels they have something to offer to those who are new to the profession, the mentorship committee would love to hear from you.
Jenn mentions that the committee plans to increase the number of mentors – French and/or English language – on its roster this year. So now might be a good time to become a mentor!
What do the mentors say?
We asked seasoned editors Jennifer D. Foster, Katherine Morton, and Berna Ozunal to share their experiences as mentors.
Jennifer D. Foster, Freelance Editor, Writer, Mentor
Jennifer is a Toronto-based freelance editor, writer, and mentor. She’s been running her own freelance editorial business, Planet Word, since 2003. Before that, she was an in-house editor for six years at various organizations, including the Art Gallery of Ontario. Jennifer loves variety and works on everything from consumer and trade magazines, web copy, (annual) reports, and white papers, to fiction, non-fiction, children’s/YA books, and book reviews.
She’s been a mentor with Editors Canada for the last 14 years and also offers mentorship through Planet Word. Jennifer mentors on how to set up and run a successful freelance editorial business, including how to network and get new clients, and how to stay motivated, current, and fulfilled.
Why did you volunteer to be a mentor?
I was so fortunate to have a few informal mentors when I was in the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University and then in the early stages of my professional editing career. I was always struck and inspired by the wisdom, skills, and selflessness these pros were willing to share with me and decided that if I ever got the chance, I would aim to pay it all forward. The mentorship program has allowed me to do just that.
How was your experience of the mentorship process?
Having a formal mentorship program with a national professional organization is brilliant! And giving mentees a choice of two levels of mentoring is wise, allowing them to tailor the length of the mentorship to their needs and setting them up for success.
My experiences as a mentor have been positive and powerful. I’ve had to turn down a few applications, as I felt I wasn’t the best fit, so honesty is key. Over the years, I’ve mentored everyone from student affiliates and new editors, to editors transitioning into different fields. And I love that each mentorship is different. Some mentees work from a detailed spreadsheet, checking off each goal as it is accomplished, while others need a less structured format and a more organic flow. Working one-on-one to help someone realize what is sometimes a lifelong dream is truly magical.
Anything you would like to add about the program?
I was a volunteer mentor with Editors Canada before the program was national and before honorariums were even offered to mentors! I was doing it for the sheer joy of helping others succeed and giving back to an industry that has given me so much, so the honorarium has been a lovely bonus to an already fulfilling process. Mentorship is a win-win for all parties, especially for mentees who are feeling stuck or may be experiencing the dreaded imposter syndrome. Having someone in your corner for a few weeks or months can make all the difference.
Working as a freelance editor can be an isolating experience, and so the sense of community I feel from being a mentor is wonderful. As I wrote back in fall 2021 in an article titled “The Benefits of Mentorship” for The Editors’ Weekly, lifelong learning is vital to me. And I’ve learned so much from mentees. They’ve helped to keep me grounded and current, they’ve strengthened my career network and enhanced my sense of well-being, and they’ve boosted my professional development profile.
If you’re on the fence and wondering whether to become a mentee or a mentor, just do it! Your editing career will thank you for it.
Katherine Morton, Senior Editor
Katherine is a Toronto-based Editors Canada certified copy editor who also provides structural editing, stylistic editing, plain language editing, proofreading, and formatting. She has training in advanced AI prompting for editors and provides human-centred AI support for clients. Katherine edits mostly academic, corporate, and government content, often for multilingual writers. She has been editing throughout her more than 20-year career and freelancing for the past five years.
Katherine provides mentoring on building and running a successful freelance business; what skills, experience, and resources are the most effective; and how to get them.
Why did you volunteer to be a mentor?
I believe in volunteering for my editing association. I volunteer in several roles for Editors Canada, the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), and ACES: The Society for Editing. One of my volunteer roles is as a speed mentor at the Editors Canada conference. When I saw an email from Editors Canada looking for mentors, I thought, I can do that and I’m happy to help.
How was your experience of the mentorship process?
It was great! Editors Canada has a smooth process for mentors and mentees to agree together whether they are a fit and want to work together, what the mentorship objectives are, and how long and in what format they’ll work together.
Anything you would like to add about the program?
The mentorship program is a wonderful way for experienced editors to help new editors who are just starting out or editors who might need help in a specific area. The program is time-bound, and an honorarium is provided. I think we’ve all been helped by others, so it’s a fantastic way to give back!
Berna Ozunal, Editor
Berna is a full-time English editor working for a national non-profit in Ottawa. She provides all stages of editing and has been working on non-profit materials for some time. She also teaches in the Editorial Skills Program at George Brown Polytechnic in Toronto.
She helps mentees to get clarity on their career paths, and provides guidance on positioning themselves in the industry.
Why did you volunteer to be a mentor?
I remember getting my first editing job and honestly not knowing what I was doing; nor did I know about Editors Canada or any other organization or program that could help and guide me. It was early Internet times – the late 1900s – as they say. Essentially, I was operating in a vacuum, and I wish I’d had access to a mentorship program. Editing is unseen in many ways, and editors work in all sorts of unexpected places. It can be quite mysterious, really. Mentors can offer newer editors insight into what is real and what is possible – all grounded in gritty experience.
How was your experience of the mentorship process?
I’ve mentored newer editors who wanted guidance on how to position themselves in the field and get well-paid work. Some are very clear about what they want to pursue, while others are in a more exploratory phase. My experience is that many editors drift into the profession with humanities degrees (like me) or with related work experience. So I love that there is a mentorship program for people who want to be more intentional and methodical about becoming editors.
I’ve had only good experiences as a mentor. I think it’s important to be honest about what you can offer. I’ve turned down requests because I did not feel I was qualified, based on the applicant’s requests. But when it is a good match, I think I can help mentees get clarity and develop a tailored plan for how to proceed with their careers. At the end of the day, mentees want to get well-paid work and advance in the field, and that’s often central to all of our efforts.
Anything you would like to add about the program?
I encourage anyone pursuing editing as their first career or as a different or part-time career to consider the program. It could be an important part of getting the work they want and the pay they deserve.
Editors who are interested in applying to become mentors or mentees in the John Eerkes-Medrano Mentorship Program can email Jenn Rossiter or read more on Editors Canada’s mentorship program web page. Watch for online and in-person promotion and recruitment events by the mentorship committee.
This article was copy edited by Jennifer D. Foster (she/her), a Toronto-based freelance editor, writer, mentor, and owner of Planet Word. Jennifer is a long-time member of Editors Canada, a former co-chair of Editors Toronto, and has been a mentor with the John Eerkes-Medrano Mentorship Program since 2012.
Credit for Jennifer D. Foster’s photo: Jessica Alex.
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