Zoom events to continue
Hi all
With COVID-19 still complicating gatherings, the Editors Queensland committee decided at our September meeting to continue with online activities until 30 June 2021. This gives us some certainty around planning and buys time to ensure we can continue engaging members outside Brisbane.
We have held no workshops since early in the year so we are now looking at what we can do online to keep up professional development opportunities for members. Our crack team of events and training people are on the case but if you have a brilliant idea (or even a vague suggestion), let me know.
Our Zoom speaker events continue to draw an excellent crowd from across Australia and New Zealand (with the occasional virtual attendee from farther afield). Our September speaker was writer Gillian Lloyd who shared her insights into what writers want to know about, and from, editors. Gillian put out a call to her writer networks and received a vast array of questions that will help us better market ourselves (individually and as an organisation) to writers. The recording of Gillian’s presentation is online, along with the excellent ABM presentation from Jacqueline Blanchard.
We had hoped to have a physical celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Society of Editors Qld this year but like so many plans, that has gone out the window. Instead, we will hold a virtual celebration on 25 November in lieu of a November speaker meeting. More details to come, and we are very interested to involve anyone who has been part of the history of SocEd Qld.
Thanks to IPEd CEO Karen Lee and Chair Ruth Davies for their presentations at the members forum on 14 September. It was excellent to hear what is happening at the whole IPEd level, especially the advocacy work around COVID-19 and the changes to university fees.
Our EdsQ membership is currently 248 active financial members. In the past month, we have welcomed professional member Eliza Barwick, associate member Alexandra Blake and student member Calista Castles.
See you at our October member meeting with Maree Kimberly talking about young adult fiction.
Regards,
Christine Atkinson
September member meeting
‘I think editors perform a vital role in the writing process’ was the starting point for Gillian Lloyd’s presentation. Gillian has presented the Writers Group Convention since 2013 (except this year, of course), so she is well placed among writers. She went on to explore several areas, including:
- what writers believe in general about editors
- what writers look for when researching an editor
- a focus on writers and writers groups
- how writers help each other
- the value for writers in finding their tribe
- how editors can assist writers groups
- The Writers Group Convention.
Gillian talked about how non-professional writers process and progress their work, commenting that, for most, the notion of getting editing assistance does not arise until late in the process, if at all. Hence, editors need to approach discussions with an inexperienced writer in a manner that differs from dealing with professional writers.
Regarding the kinds of questions writers have asked her about editing and editors, she went on to illustrate what writers believe about editors and the typical questions they want answered. How do I even find an editor? How much do editors charge? Where does their experience lie? Can I ask about the published work they have edited? What kind of skills do they offer? What is the extent of an editor’s advice? Do they explain why? How many versions are you allowed? What is the timing for turnaround? How do I ask about structural or developmental or copyediting? What is the extent of reporting or feedback I can expect? Can I send a small amount for them to show me their skills? Can I send a couple of chapters for advice before proceeding with writing? Can I ask for a list of authors, publishers, websites they have worked on? Is there a difference between editing and proofreading?
Gillian referred to these questions to suggest ways for editors to ensure they make a good match with their writer.
She demonstrated a wealth of knowledge and experience about writers groups, and the benefits to writers of participating in a group. She talked about how interactions take place in such groups between writers and between editors and writers. She sees opportunities for editors to interact with and assist writers in groups.
Gillian promised that the Writers Group Convention will be back in 2021, maintaining the mix of formal and informal activities and interactions. Editors have been presenters at previous conventions, to the benefit of both writers and editors.
The recorded presentation is available free to members who registered for it and, for a fee, to other members. Check the IPEd website, which Gillian noted as having a mass of valuable information.
Next member meeting: October
October member meeting, by Zoom
Genre games: writing and editing young adult fiction
Topic: Genre games: writing and editing young adult fiction
Date: Wednesday 7 October 2020, 6:45pm
Bookings close: Tuesday 6 October 2020, 6pm
Book here.
The Zoom link will be emailed to you the evening before the meeting.
Author Maree Kimberley will talk about the elements that make a novel fit the young adult genre; the process of writing and editing a young adult novel; the role of an agent in the writer/editor relationship; taking an editor’s guidance for rewriting and editing; and the difference between the two.
Maree is a Brisbane writer. Her work is published in several anthologies, including The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2015 and Defying Doomsday.
Dirt Circus League, her first novel for young adults, was inspired by the remote landscapes of Cape York and her fascination with neuroscience.
Would you like to write a short meeting report for Gatherings? If so, please email Lee and Ian on edqld.events@iped-editors.org
Ian Mathieson, Events Officer and Lee Ellwood, Events Support
edqld.events@iped-editors.org