A career as an editor is often a solo adventure, especially if you’re a freelancer. So, we thought one way to better connect with fellow editors was to ask them to submit their responses to a set of questions based on the Five Ws: who, what, where, when, and why. Read on for some thought-provoking, … Continue reading Editor for Life: Gael Spivak, Senior Editor at the Government of Canada
Tag: writing
Plain Language and the Elegant Art of Interior Book Design
Design plays a pivotal yet little-known part in written communication. White space—the area between and around the text on a page—is a prime example of this phenomenon. White space can appear as blank pages, margins, line spacing, and kerning. It is a powerful tool that can influence the reader’s experience of the text.
The Basics of Website Accessibility
by Maia Kowalski In today's digital world, there are more readers of online content than ever before. Sure, you want to make your content engaging, shareable, and evergreen, but above all else, it should be accessible. According to the World Health Organization and the CDC, 16 percent of the world's population has a disability. That's … Continue reading The Basics of Website Accessibility
What’s on Your Editing Bookshelf? (#4)
In this column, members of the editing community share what’s on their bookshelves and mention some titles that are noteworthy to them. Books by Ursula K. Le Guin, Cheryl Stephens, and Sally Foster Wallace were highlighted in our previous instalment. In this, our fourth "Bookshelf" post, editors in Brampton, Vancouver, and Toronto share their favourites. … Continue reading What’s on Your Editing Bookshelf? (#4)
A Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of “Garner’s Modern English Usage”
by Bethany Lake It was merely an answer to a question. I wasn’t trying to be a know-it-all or a Language Police officer or anything like that. The question posed by a Twitter (now X) personality was, “What’s the smallest hill you are willing to die on?” My answer: “The l in almond is silent.” I pointed out that, … Continue reading A Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of “Garner’s Modern English Usage”
What’s on Your Editing Bookshelf? (#3)
In this column, members of the editing community share what’s on their (physical) bookshelves and highlight a few notable titles. In the past, our editors have shared such treasures as Storycraft, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, and an entire shelf of Haruki Murakami titles. In this, our third instalment, editors in Vancouver, … Continue reading What’s on Your Editing Bookshelf? (#3)
“The Art of Editing Speculative Fiction” (Recap of November Program)
by Jackie Goutor The first issue of Amazing Stories, signed by Hugo Gernsback, the first editor Speculative fiction is a new term to me, even though I’m a lifelong fan of the genre. One of my writing buddies used it a few years ago, but publishers often rebrand genres—Twilight’s vampires drained the life out of … Continue reading “The Art of Editing Speculative Fiction” (Recap of November Program)
English Usage: Variants, Dictionaries, and Editorial Judgement
by Keith Goddard Every Friday when I pick up pizza from my local Toronto pizza chain, I see a sign that tells me it’s fine to park in their parking lot whilst I’m in their restaurant. Whilst? Sounds quaint, but that’s not proper Canadian English, eh? My dictionaries label it as British, and Garner’s Modern English Usage, fourth edition (Garner … Continue reading English Usage: Variants, Dictionaries, and Editorial Judgement
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