“I’m a copyeditor, not a copywriter, so what would be the point of attending a writers conference?” It’s always worth going to a copyeditors conference, as Carol Fisher Saller, the author of The Subversive Copy Editor, makes clear in her most recent CMS Shop Talk blog. But, based on my experience at this year's Association of Writers & Writing Programs conference, here are the reasons I would consider making the trip to Washington DC to attend the event in 2017. 1. The opportunity to learn This year’s AWP program included sessions such as Think Like an Editor; Women Who Edit Literary Journals; What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Redline (a session about the book and magazine editing process); Revising Nonfiction; and Writing and Editing Sex. Although not exclusive to copyediting, these sessions illuminated the editorial process as a whole, and copyeditors who understand their place within the process have an advantage over those who work in a bubble. I also think it behooves smart editors to consider increasing their earning potential by adding more strings to their bows, so to speak: the different types of editors at AWP certainly inspired me to further develop my skills in substantive and line editing. 2. For the love of literature Whether being writers of fiction or nonfiction makes us better editors is a moot point, but this much I believe is true: good editors are prolific readers. The more we consume quality writing, the better we understand the art of effective wordsmithing. The brutal truth is that if you are not a voracious consumer of language, editing may be the wrong profession for you (ouch!). But if you’re out of the reading habit, there’s nothing like a writers conference to rekindle your passion for the written word and remind you why you went into editing in the first place. 3. For insights into publishing For those of us on the outside looking in, the publishing industry is a mystery, but many of the AWP conference sessions highlight what’s hot and what’s not in the world of publishing. Understanding the latest trends will make you a particularly valuable resource to the writers you work with. The AWP also hosts a gigantic book fair that would take three whole days to cover thoroughly. The fair is a chance to meet a range of small presses and journal publishers...all of which may be in the market for a professional copyeditor. The fair directory is a great resource, and at some point this year, I will get around to contacting as many of the fair exhibitors as I can. I was also greatly encouraged by seeing the number of independent presses and bookshops represented at the fair: I’m happy to report that traditional and digital publishing in the US is alive and well! 4. For the chance to connect Networking at the book fair was easy because exhibitors are specifically there to talk to attendees. Once outside the exhibition hall, however, it became more challenging. I always find it difficult to strike up conversations when the goal is self-promotion, but I enjoy getting to know people. My only advice on this subject is “Be yourself.” Cliched, perhaps, but true. Let conversations begin naturally so that, if you make a connection, it’s easy to exchange contact details. Although I made only one significant connection at the conference this year, it’s the quality of the connection that counts. That one person taught me a lot about writing and publishing and introduced me to a wealth of useful resources—and we’ve become the best of friends to boot! Read the first AWP blog post, “Editors and Writers: Are They On the Same Page?”
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Lessons from the 2016 AWP conference #1: It's Good To Talk It was fascinating to hear several panelists at the AWP16 conference describe the writer-editor relationship as “fraught.” There was a widespread feeling among the speakers that writers (especially emerging ones) have a deep suspicion of editors and are overly sensitive about feedback. The most established authors, however, openly recognized the value of and their dependence on collaboration with editors of all varieties. The issue arises when writers with little or no publishing experience fail to understand that editors want the same thing they do: a manuscript that has the power to grip the reader. But how can we, as editors, build good working relationships with authors? Many of the professional editors talked about the importance of one-to-one conversations in person, by phone, or by video conference. Editors often find themselves playing the role of therapist, and no therapist worth their fee communicates via email or letter! The editor-as-therapist's role should be to illuminate a problem and, instead of imposing a solution, enable the author to find a fix that fits. Writers and editors both practice their respective crafts in their own unique ways and, ultimately, it’s only through building personal relationships that they can collaborate with maximum effectiveness. Of course, the challenge we face as copyeditors is that we often work through an intermediary and not with the author directly (as a content or developmental editor might do). But, even at the lightest end of the copyediting spectrum, where we may have many author queries, might it be more productive to get answers in one friendly conversation than in the back and forth of impersonal comment balloons on a manuscript? Unfortunately, we live in a world where texting and emailing have become the dominant modes of communication, and many of us are somewhat out of practice in the art of good, old-fashioned phone calls. That's certainly true in my case, so my personal goal is to force myself to start doing far more by phone and video conferencing, which, if nothing else, will ease the pressure on my email inbox. With regard to the Agency, I am aware that my goal should be to explore what other mechanisms could be put in place to help ensure editors and writers are always on the same page and able to establish a foundation for fruitful, long-term partnerships. Comments welcome! By Lorna W, Founder of Ideal Type and the Embark Editorial Agency If you've joined the Agency, you're probably embarking on a new career as a writer or editor. Whether it's your first career or your tenth, welcome aboard! When we're starting something new, it's always good to know that others are in the same boat, so here's my story. Twenty years it's taken me to figure out what to do with my life. I left university with an English Literature degree but no clue what to do with it. I got lucky and found a career in the nonprofit world, a vocation that made me happy for the next 15 years . . . until the inevitable mid-life crisis. Having written short stories for many years, I wanted to try being a full-time writer, so at age 35 I left the rat race to crank out a novel and several more stories. But two years later, I was restless again. Having always loved editing, I decided to get some formal training through UC Berkeley Extension. The Sequence in Professional Editing classes introduced me to a bunch of like-minded word nerds, most of whom hoped to change or supplement their existing careers. However, it quickly became apparent that many of my fellow copyeditor wannabes weren't sure how to transition from student to professional, and BOOM -- the idea for the Embark Editorial Agency was born. The Agency is the first service from my new company, Ideal Type, a mission-driven LLC that aims to facilitate collaboration between the three communities I'm most passionate about: writers, editors, and nonprofits. I've never run a company before, and it's both terrifying and exhilarating. This particular venture may go the distance or it may sink without trace, but fortune favors the brave, so here we go: "I christen this ship the Embark Editorial Agency. Bless her and all who sail in her." |
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November 2017
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