President’s report October 2023
By Margaret Trudgeon AE
As the weather starts to warm up, and we all prepare to vote in the upcoming referendum on The Voice to Parliament, our committee and subcommittee members are getting more familiar with their new roles at Editors Victoria (EdVic). Recently we held a planning meeting. Apart from brainstorming some ideas for EdVic events and professional development, it’s also an excuse to get the committee together in-person to meet each other properly and compare notes, as so much of our work is done in isolation, via email and Zoom. After the meeting we headed out to eat lunch and continue the chat at Arcadia cafe in Fitzroy.
Last month I gave a short talk at an IPEd Internal Communications meeting on the importance of student members to EdVic and IPEd, and their involvement in the organisation through student outreach programs, following our recent student cuppa, “Ask an editor”. As I was writing my notes for it I was reminded of the many benefits that joining IPEd and EdVic offer for our student members – such as direct access to the knowledge and wisdom of working editors who have managed to shape a career out of editing, along with opportunities to apply for the IPEd student prize and for branch committee positions, such as EdVic’s Student Adviser role, currently being advertised, where they get to have a say and get a bit of an insider’s view into the workings of IPEd. In return, the committee benefits from their fresh perspectives on subjects and their enthusiasm to find out what’s going on.
On Monday 25 September, our Inclusion and Access Advisor, Thirangie Jayatilake, interviewed Dr Renée Otmar on the second edition of her new book, Editing for sensitivity, diversity and inclusion, published by Cambridge University Press. There were close to 120 registrations, which I believe is a new record for EdVic events. The book is very topical and timely as it examines a growing area of involvement and concern for many editors. Kerry Davies has written an excellent review of the book, which appears in this edition of Gatherings.
Our Events Officer, Lee Ellwood, is heading overseas for a couple of months, but she has been busy getting two events ready before she goes, with the help of Kylie Howard, one of our new subcommittee members. The first is a talk by Tim Coronel of the Small Press Network (on 24 October from 6 pm to 7 pm via Zoom) to coincide with the upcoming Small Press Conference. Then on 6 December well-known linguist, grammar expert and author, Kate Burridge is booked to entertain us at our first in-person Christmas event for several years. It’s at Mr Tulk (near RMIT) and will be advertised very soon. Please book in and come along! There will be food, drink, prizes and giveaways!
Introducing the new Editors Victoria committee (Part 2)
Last newsletter, we introduced some of the new and familiar faces in the EdVic committee. But that wasn’t everyone! We are pleased to introduce you to even more of the people behind the scenes in the Victorian branch of IPEd.
Jenn Zabinskas, Budget Officer
I’m a fiction editor and writer who specialises in fantasy and cosy mystery. I have a background in archaeology and history of ancient civilisations and enjoy worldbuilding. I joined IPEd in 2020, then the EdVic Events subcommittee in 2021 and have now taken up the role of Budget Officer. Outside of the world of books, I enjoy ballroom dancing, aerial hammock and gaming with friends and family.
Caroline Arnoul, Professional Development Officer
This will be my second term as Professional Development Officer after joining the EdVic committee in 2021 as the Projects and Outreach Officer. I really enjoyed running the EdVic courses in the last term and am looking forward to lots of great PD in the coming year.
I’m a lifelong student, so professional development is a natural fit for me. I finished the RMIT Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing in 2021, and I also hold a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and an MBA majoring in Entrepreneurship. I’ve spent most of my career working in marketing, media and executive recruitment and moved into editing a couple of years ago.
Currently, I run the communications arm of Purple Frog Media and Communications, so most of my writing and editing work is for corporate clients, although I also enjoy thesis editing. I’m also a 2023 Wheeler Hot Desk Fellow.
Cecile Shanahan | Communications Subcommittee
I’ve been an IPEd and EdVic member since starting my editing studies in 2015. I’m glad to be joining the Communications subcommittee, where hopefully my background in journalism, corporate communications and education may be of use. As a freelancer I work on all forms of editing, but I do have a bit of a soft spot for copyediting and proofreading! I am very keen to specialise only in children’s/YA and educational publishing but currently work with authors of all fiction and nonfiction genres. I have volunteered on many committees, including time as a director on the board of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA). When I’m not editing, I am reading or talking about books to my family of three children, one husband, two dogs and two rabbits. I love to travel too, especially to places where sunsets can be fully appreciated.
IPEd editors meet in Ballarat
By Susan Pierotti
What do novelists, ballroom dancers, a psychologist, a violinist and a lawyer have in common? They are all IPEd members who met in Ballarat for a chat about things editorial on Wednesday 30 August.
The six of us met for coffee at Eclectic Tastes near Lake Wendouree, over the road from the old cemetery – the dead centre of Ballarat? After introductions, where we discovered our former careers and present-day interests, topics discussed included the Style Manual, rates of pay, thesis editing, writers groups and group culture. It was also noted that ACU’s Ballarat campus is possibly beginning a writers/editors course, something to be investigated for future IPEd connections. (Three of the editors are camera-shy so they directed the photo towards the evidence of our meeting.)
We agreed that the morning was profitable and will continue to meet every quarter.
New members
EdVic is pleased to welcome members who have joined or upgraded since the last newsletter.
Associate members:
- Lorraine June Grant
- Grace Hall
- Rebekka Morgan
- Shannon Haintz
Student/graduate members:
- Andrea Cosentino
- Elizabeth Lamb
- Alexandra Mykytenko
We look forward to seeing you at our workshops and events, and we encourage you to make the most of IPEd’s networks for news and support.