What do you want from your membership?
by Caroline Simpson AE
Kia ora
What do you want from your membership and your branch? That’s what we want to know. We are contacting all our branch members during March and April to hear what you have to say. Branch committee members are all volunteering our time and energy and, in the interest of serving NZ editors, we want to know what we should focus on to help you and meet IPEd’s broader aims.
If we haven’t already contacted you, we will, so have a think ahead of time about what it was you were looking for when you joined IPEd. Have these needs been met? Do you have new needs? What do you wish we did more of? Remember that your views are important and your input will make a difference. Don’t be shy.
We have run in-person networking and speaker events in Auckland, Wellington, Whanganui, Nelson, Christchurch and now Dunedin. If you would like to see one in your area and would be happy to host a coffee or lunch at a local cafe, please contact Anne-Marie McDonald at edanz.events@iped-editors.org. There’s not much involved: you choose a venue and book it, we will promote the catch-up to NZ editors, and then you turn up on the day and meet your fellow editors. Simple.
See you soon online or in person.
Noho ora mai
Caroline Simpson, EdANZ Branch President
edanz.president@iped-editors.org
New members
We are pleased to welcome new associate member Beverly Ann Clunies-Ross and professional member Stephen Stratford.
Three new accredited editors for our branch
The 2021 cohort of accredited editors (AEs) was announced last month. Six editors sat the exam in Wellington on 5 December 2020, five of whom were EdANZ branch members. After a nail-biting wait (even exam markers and moderators need summer holidays) the results were emailed out. Our branch has now doubled its number of AEs from three to six. The new AEs described an initial feeling of relief, followed by excitement and pride. To those who put in a lot of hard work but didn’t pass this time, we commiserate and wish you all the best with your re-sit next year.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Beattie AE, Marja Stack AE and Caroline Simpson AE.
Past event
Grammar refresher workshop — 20 and 27 February and 6 March 2021
For three Saturday afternoons my sunny office became a conference room as I Zoomed into Linda Nix’s grammar workshop along with 25 attendees. Each session was split between listening and then applying our learning in group exercises. James Bean helped with the breakout room sessions as we took turns to nut out the answers to some curly grammar questions.
Over the three sessions, Linda led us from the building blocks of grammar in the first week to punctuation and syntax in the third week. No note-taking was needed because all the notes were provided after each session, meaning we could give all our attention to what we were learning.
Many of us edit ‘by ear’ and possibly never had any formal education in English grammar until we learnt a new language. It’s great to develop a deeper understanding of the ‘why’ to support our good instincts. With English grammar there is always something that can become a lightbulb moment when it is explained a different way. Linda’s material was well explained, and I picked up pointers that will make a difference to my editing as well as cementing in the knowledge I already have.
Thanks to Linda and James for a really useful workshop.
Coming events
Dunedin editors lunch
Date: Friday 16 April 2021, 12.30pm NZDT
Venue: Nova Café, 29 The Octagon, The Exchange, Dunedin
We are excited to announce our first southern South Island editors catch-up. Escape the confines of your office to meet fellow editors, ask questions and forge new friendships, all while enjoying a delicious lunch at Nova Café in Dunedin’s Octagon. EdANZ Training Coordinator Susi Bailey will be at the event, so you can also share suggestions with her for the EdANZ committee.
To book, email Susi at edanz.training@iped-editors.org so we can confirm numbers for our table booking.
Cost: Free, aside from the cost of your food and drink.
Panel discussion: Working with trade publishers
Date: Monday 3 May 2021
Venue: Zoom
We’ll be putting your questions to a panel of trade publishers as they discuss what qualifications and experience they look for in an editor, and what to expect when working with them. We have a great lineup for our panel covering a mix of fiction and non-fiction publishing. Submit your questions in advance so you can have plenty of time to think about what you really want to know. Keep an eye out for more information on the panel and booking details in your inbox.