InsideMacquarie editing diploma ............... 3

Newcastle Writers’ Festival .............. 4

Committee announcement ............... 4

Write | Edit | Index ............................ 4

New members .................................... 4

Professional development ................ 5

Workshop information ...................... 5

Book events online............................ 6

IPEd WP4 update ............................... 7

SfEP online course discounts .......... 7

Apps, blogs, webs and bits .............. 8

News and notes ................................. 9

Trish Hepworth: The changing nature of copywrite

Fair ’s fa irTrish Hepworth is the executive officer of the copyright reform group, the Australian Digital Alliance, and copyright adviser for the Australian Libraries Copyright Committee, the peak policy body for copyright issues affecting libraries and the information sector. Those present at her ‘Fair’s Fair’ talk to the Society of Editors (NSW) on April 1 were treated to a scintillating demonstration of how current copyright laws work, and how they are or probably should be changing.

‘Copyright subsists in almost everything’ as Hepworth demonstrated by reference to things all around us, from children’s texts to home videos, from street posters to public sculpture, whether their creators are known or they are effectively ‘orphan’ works. The difficulty or unimportance of asserting copyright for minor, non-commercial breaches means relatively little risk of being sued for those who knowingly or unwittingly infringe it, but digital technologies have created an expanding universe in which copyrighted material can be reproduced and published by instant copying and transmission. Hepworth noted that even operating a search engine risks infringing copyright.

Current copyright laws in Australia are powerful in their reach, in the range of material objects and variety of uses they subsume. The period of time for

which copyright exists was quite recently extended (in 2006, as part of the Australia–US Free Trade Agreement) from 50 to 70 years after the creator’s death. Copyright includes the right-holder’s right to communicate the work to the public

ISSN 2202-1361 (Online) PO Box 254, Broadway NSW 2007 May 2014

Newsletter of the Society of Editors (NSW) Inc.

Next meeting: Tuesday, 6 May

20 years with good behaviour (or a handful of life-lessons in book publishing)

Rex Finch, Finch PublishingRex Finch started Finch Publishing at home and with little money (okay, no money, really). The concept was to develop a nonfiction, backlist-oriented publishing house. In the past 20 years, Finch Publishing has published more than 110 titles and established the Finch Memoir Prize – a national annual award for life-writing.

He will discuss finding your strengths, moving with the market, knowing your business and embracing change. His presentation will also touch on his experience in the benefits of specialisation, locating good authors, commissioning, creating new directions and developing the digital realm.

Sydney Mechanics’ School of the Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney at 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm start. Drinks and light refreshments provided. $20 for members, $25 non-members and $10 for students or concession card holders.

June meeting: Tuesday, 3

continued on page 2

2 May 2014

(by publishing or performance), to adapt or translate it, and to take action against even minor infringement of the copyright vested in the work. You can use copyright works under licence, with permission, if the amount you use is insubstantial or if there is an exception. The four main exceptions that an editor might come across in their work are the fair dealing exceptions: research and study, parody and satire, reporting the news, and criticism or review. There are also exceptions for private time and format shifting (recording the TV to watch later for example), some back-up and caching exceptions, and special rules for institutions like libraries and schools.

The interpretation of all this can be fraught, especially as to what counts as substantial in relation to the whole work. For long written works, it may be decided in terms of sheer volume, that is more than 10 per cent of the text, but for short works, for example a song, even a brief quotation may be deemed substantial: the 15 notes from ‘Kookuburra sits in the old gum tree’ were found substantial when Men at Work used them in ‘Land down under’. Anomalies also arise in relation to who can do what. Hepworth pointed to the curious fact that a comedian can remix published content for parody or satire, but an artist cannot do the same for artistic purposes.

Other kinds of copyright issues arise with unpublished historical works such as diaries and manuscripts held in archives. They remain in copyright indefinitely, since there is no publication date to provide termination to the copyright. Though their authors are known (unlike ‘orphan’ works), tracing the family descendants to discuss permission to use the work of their ancestors is often fruitless. At this point, those wishing to reproduce archival material can only publish the fact that they have carried out a ‘diligent search’ for the copyright holders, and minimise the risk of litigation by inviting anyone with a legitimate interest to contact them. The same issue applies to reproducing nameless/unsourced pictures on Facebook, except for the greater possibility that the copyright holder of the picture will come forward, especially if it is reproduced online. However, there is consolation to come for those challenged over reproducing ‘orphan’ pictures from Facebook. Hepworth noted the recent recommendation of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) that the legal compensation for copyright infringement in such cases should be a ‘limited remedy’, that is only what might have been charged in ordinary copyright fees.

The limited remedy to be applied in such cases is among various reforms to copyright law proposed in the ALRC’s report, Copyright and the Digital Economy (2013–4). It aims to adjust our copyright law to deal with the challenges of digital technology, and mobilise reforms that will make it ‘flexible, balanced, and technologically neutral’. Among other things,

it proposes replacing the various copyright exceptions with more broadly framed examples or areas of ‘fair use’, such as education, libraries, technical copying and meeting disability needs. The ALRC reforms reflect current practice here and elsewhere in the world, such as the US and Israel. The major bones of ‘fair use’ is that each use would be judged against fairness factors (similar to those in the current fair dealing exceptions) which in non-technical speak are: • the purpose to which the copyrighted material will be put

(e.g. public or non-public)• the usage/application of the material (research and study,

parody and satire, criticism and review, reporting the news)• the quantity (and substantiality) of the copyrighted material

to be used, in relation to the whole• the impact of its use on the copyright-holder’s market.

While the ALRC reforms mentioned so far serve to streamline copyright for the users of material created by others, it balances them with the emphasis on the effect on the market, also protecting creators. Additionally moral rights, introduced in 2000, protect a creator’s right to be attributed as creator of a work, and this cannot be alienated. It also protects their work against being treated in a derogatory fashion. The security of Digital Rights Management and software licences can be protected by the widely used TPM (technological protection measure). Provisions like these reflect the ALRC’s desire to balance the interests of users and creators of copyright material. Hepworth noted however that the Australian Society of Authors (ASA) was not in favour of the ALRC’s proposed terms of ‘fair use’.

Apart from detailing many fascinating aspects of copyright law itself, Hepworth drew attention to points of particular interest for professional editors. She noted that generally it was the authors or the publishers’ responsibility to clear copyright, but that it would be worth checking that everyone was clear on their responsibilities. With the rise in self-publishing, a good editor can add value by spotting and bringing copyright issues to the author’s attention, or maybe even dealing with those aspects. She noted also the fact that Library Services/Amazon were insisting that self-published e-books be professionally edited – good news for hard-working freelancers everywhere. Despite the complexity of the copyright scene – the ‘tangled web of copyright’ as Hepworth called it – there are roles for editors to play in it.

Reporter: Pam PetersVice-president

continued from page 2

Follow the Society of Editors (NSW) Inc. on Twitter: twitter.com/SocEdNSW

Join our Facebook family on: www.facebook.com/SocietyofEditorsNSW

3 May 2014

Even experienced editors can feel behind the times these days. The technology and processes associated with best practice publishing and editing turn over so quickly that it is almost impossible to keep on top of things without continuing professional development. But there are a lot of courses out there, so how do you decide which one is right for you?

Macquarie University’s revised Postgraduate Certificate of Editing and Electronic Publishing is a course that stands out from the crowd. Designed for those with at least one year of experience in editing, journalism, publicity or editorial management, it aims to widen and develop your professional skills across a range of styles and documents, scenarios and media for publishing.

Offered by the Linguistics Department of Macquarie University, the program addresses editorial issues in preparing texts for print publication and online delivery, and content management strategies for both. The three units of the course are delivered wholly online through the University’s multimedia learning management system, which gives you the flexibility to work from home while also encouraging discussion and engagement with fellow students through online discussion groups. These online discussions create a lively forum for exchanging ideas on alternative ways of handling editorial problems. Written assignments also focus on relevant professional questions.

‘We’re proud that two of our Macquarie students have been awarded the IPEd prize for very high quality essays on contemporary aspects of editing’, says Professor Pam Peters DE, past president of the NSW Society of Editors (NSW) Inc.

Pam continues to be involved in the running of the Macquarie

course with its convener Adam Smith and takes a personal interest in many of the students. Throughout my studies they were online every single day, always offering encouragement and insight, and participating in discussions.

The Macquarie course covers English-language editing in Australian English as well as overseas styles in British, Canadian, New Zealand and American English. An American student commented that it ‘allowed her to edit anywhere in the world’ – as she secured a new role as editor-in-chief of an international magazine.

With its ultimate aim to provide training in editorial project management, the program certainly achieves its goal. Whether you work in publishing, government, or business, whether you are freelance or in-house, you will find that this course offers unparalleled insights as well as a significant professional community to support editors and others who work in the publishing field.

‘This course has provided me with a deeper understanding of why and how I carry out my work as a project editor’, says Jacqueline Wright of Magabala Books. ‘[It has] consolidated my work practices and contributed to the organisation’s running operations.’

Rochelle Fernandez, vice-president of the Society of Editors NSW Inc. and currently an associate publisher for HarperVoyager, agrees:

‘The course has proved invaluable … helpful, useful and practical’, she enthuses. ‘I was quickly promoted to digital editor, where because of the Macquarie course I was aware of the many issues in digital rights management and metadata. Without that I would not have been as effective in the role.’

Macquarie’s online professional editing courseThe new Macquarie University Postgraduate Certificate of Editing and Electronic Publishing incorporates the latest advances in the field of digital media. Jiyan Dessens, who is currently undertaking her Masters in Editing and Publishing at Macquarie, reviews the course for the Blue Pencil.

4 May 2014

A national conference for editors, indexers, and publishing professionals Canberra, Australia, 6–9 May 2015

It will be hosted jointly by the Canberra Society of Editors and ACT Region Branch of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers (ANZSI) on behalf of the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) and ANZSI

Call for papersThe conference committee is inviting

expressions of interest to present papers on broad topical areas about editing and indexing for the conference in Canberra, 2015.

The committee will especially welcome practical, ‘how to’ presentations, both familiar and innovative.

Expressions of interest (up to 200 words) in presenting a paper or participating in panel or round table discussions are due by Friday 30 May 2014. Please send your submissions to writeeditindex@gmail.com

You are welcome to share this notice with interested friends and colleagues.

The committee reserves the right to select papers appropriate to the program.

More information will soon be available at writeeditindex.net.au

Newcastle Writers’ Festival

We are pleased to announce that Nicolene Hale has joined the committee. This brings the number of members on the committe up to twelve, making it a full house.

It is an opportunity for Nicolene to be in the ‘engine room’ of the society and it is not an onerous obligation: we meet for two hours once a month in the city and supper is provided.

Working collectively, the committee decides how best to serve the members and how to promote our editors in general, as well as taking care of the day-to-day running of membership, finances, promotion, events and

professional development.It is a rewarding commitment and

we all enjoy the camaraderie of the collective.

Specifically, Nicolene will take on the role of professional membership application processor. This involves contacting applicants’ referees to verify their statements of professional editing work undertaken, and it offers the chance to talk with a variety of people in the publishing arena.

Nicolene completed the Graduate Certificate in Editing and Publishing from the University of Technology and since graduating has been working as an

inhouse editor for a small company.Nicolene’s article on the UTS course

will appear in the June issue of BP. It is one of the series of articles that the Blue Pencil will be featuring monthly on the best editing courses available in Australia at a graduate level. Look out for her article in the June issue.

The committe would like to welcome Nicolene and we look forward to her input.

Susie PilkingtonGeneral committee member

New membersProfessional

Ian Dewar

AssociatesAnnabel Blay

Melissa-Jane Fogarty

Therese Kutis

Bronwyn O’Reilly

Anna Sheppard

Liz Stephens

StudentKerry Anderson

Sandra Marmulla

Committee announcement

It was a dark and stormy... well, day really, but it was certainly good weather for being inside discussing prose, purple or otherwise. Unfortunately, I could not make the Family Fun Day on Saturday with my clan, not unusual for soccer parents everywhere, or in our case drama parents.

The Newcastle Writers’ Festival had created a children’s program alongside their main program. In his talk to the society in February, David Gaunt of Gleebooks said that while sales are down in most genres, the one growth area is in children’s books. The organisers of the festival should be commended for recognising the popularity of children’s books as well as their significance to the people who enjoy them.

Most of the events on the children’s program had been on Thursday and Friday, focusing on involving local schools, allowing school children to meet authors and illustrators. Artists from the local area were included, such as author Deborah Kelly and illustrator Ben Mitchell. Novocastrians are proud of their talented individuals and this was evident on both programs.

So on that stormy Sunday we ventured out... well, in really. The distinguished crowd was dominated by shades of grey (and I am not referring to anything raunchy). Prominent in their absence were the bright young things of Gen Y. This surprised me.

We could not get in to see Creativity: The improbable aircraft with Jack Dann and Mark Shirrefs discussing creativity as it applies to science fiction and fantasy. We chose a discussion on the meaning of life. We saw What does it mean to lead a good life with Wayside Chapel pastor Graham Long; Philip Nitschke; writer Linda Jaivin; and director of the Liberation Prison Project, Thubten Chokyi; hosted by Russell Blackford. It was a fascinating discussion with many points of view, although very little dissension, until an audience member noted that they were all talking of life with a broad sweep of the brush, but missing the little picture.

Almost 60 per cent of the artists were Novocastrians past or present. There is an impressive list of published authors connected to Newcastle. Not quite the miners town anymore.

Meredith McGowan, Blue Pencil editor

5 May 2014

Working wonders with Word and PDF

Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2014Time: 9.30 am to 4.30 pmPresenter: Dr Hilary CadmanVenue: UTS Short Courses Venue, Level 7, 235 Jones Street, SydneyCost: $220 for society members, $350 for non-members (includes lunch, and morning and afternoon teas)

Most editors use Microsoft Word constantly in their work, but may not realise how the program can be expanded to make editing more efficient and effective. They may also be unsure of how best to transfer their proofreading skills to the screen, for marking up PDFs rather than hard copy.

This workshop will give participants a chance to use four of the most useful Word add-ins (PerfectIt, Editor’s Toolkit, Reference Checker and PhraseExpress), and discuss what each add-in can do and how best to incorporate it into the editing process. Participants will also use Adobe Reader XI to mark up PDFs.

(BYO laptop, PC only. Note, this workshop is NOT suitable for Mac users unless they are running Windows within the Mac.)

Online editing and web content strategy

Date: Friday, 6 June 2014Time: 9.30 am to 4.30 pmPresenter: Libby VarcoeVenue: UTS Short Courses Venue, Level 7, 235 Jones Street, SydneyCost: $220 for society members, $350 for non-members (includes lunch, and morning and afternoon teas)

Web content has reached an interesting point. Consistent standards, awareness around accessibility and best practice have finally emerged. The timing is particularly critical as our reliance on social media content rises and new technologies mean we can now tap in and out of our content via multiple devices.

This workshop will give you the practical skills to be able to prepare, edit and critique content in the digital age. Using visual examples, and individual and group exercises, you will be encouraged to think about online content in all of its shapes and forms (websites, e-newsletters, social media and blogs), apply the appropriate editing methodologies, and find a path through the digital jungle by creating a strategy.

Libby Varcoe is the director of Write-minded Pty Ltd, a boutique web content agency whose clients include the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of NSW, Arts NSW, the NSW Department of Education, and many more. As a web content specialist, Libby helps others adapt their print writing skills to the web. Her non-technical training sessions are jargon-free, entertaining and packed with practical advice and professional tips that are essential for anyone preparing – or signing off on – online copy. Libby holds a BA in Social Science (sub-majoring in journalism) and an MA in Professional Writing from UTS

Writing effective blurbs and publicity material

Date: Saturday, 21 June 2014Time: 12.00 noon to 4.00 pmPresenter: Susan KeoghVenue: UTS Short Courses Venue, Level 7, 235 Jones Street, SydneyCost: $110 for society members, $190 for non-members (includes an afternoon tea)

Editors often struggle when they are asked to write. For people used to working on pre-existing text, it can be confronting to produce the raw material from scratch. Part of the problem is that editors are rarely taught any techniques to help make the process of creating content easier. In this half-day course, Susan Keogh will share some simple techniques that you can use to help you produce more effective marketing and publicity materials, including book blurbs.

The workshop will cover: • recognising effective writing • reinforcing the product • finding the right words • using literary and grammatical effects • knowing what to avoid • analysing Obama: not empty rhetoric • using the author’s own words • writing the blurb before the book • playing with person • suiting the content to the product and audience • putting it all together.

P r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t

Workshop information

RegistrationTo register for a workshop you can book and pay online on www.editorsnsw.wildapricot.org two weeks before course commencement. Please note that we require a minimum of ten registrations, by the closing date, for workshops to proceed. The society reserves the right to cancel workshops if there are insufficient enrolments.Payment for workshops You can register and save a place at the workshop, then come back to your booking and pay later, if required. A tax invoice will be automatically generated and emailed to you. Workshops fill quickly and we often have people on a waitlist for courses, so please secure your place early. If you have any enquiries please contact the office manager at:events@editorsnsw.comRegional membersRegional members living more than 200 kilometres from Sydney receive a 40 per cent discount on the cost of the society’s regular workshops (excludes most computer-based workshops).

continued on page 6

6 May 2014

In the first stage of the new administration system that is being implemented to streamline the society’s business, we are happy to announce that you can now register and pay online for meetings and events.

This means you can organise bookings from any device and at any time to suit you.

The meetings and workshops will be loaded as details are confirmed and you can see what’s available, and make bookings, on:editorsnsw.wildapricot.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1653497

It is hoped the membership database will be completed shortly and I will then advise you of your membership ID, and how to log in so that you can access your membership information (if you wish to update your address, phone number or email address, for example).

You will also use your membership ID when making bookings, to qualify for the membership rates automatically. If you have misplaced your membership ID, you can request a copy by emailing the membership email address given below.

Your patience as we implement a new, web-based administration system is much appreciated and once the system is operational, emails will be sent to all members.

Presently the site is operating on full public access to enable you to register for events. There will be the option to log-in as a member when the database is loaded.

Any questions can be directed to Susie Pilkington on membership@editorsnsw.com

Susie PilkingtonOffice manager

If you are required to write short advertising materials as part of your work but you lack confidence when you have to do so, ‘Writing effective blurbs and publicity material’ is for you. The course will not cover marketing or publicity techniques; the focus is on writing techniques. You will be expected to have had some experience in writing book blurbs or similar material.

Susan Keogh, DE, is a Melbourne freelance editor. She is an honorary life member and former president of Editors Victoria, and was involved in setting up the national editing accreditation exam, for which she has also been a marker. Susan began her editing life in the last millennium, working in-house for Melbourne University Press, Lonely Planet and Cambridge University Press. She has been a member of the Australian Publishers Association’s copyright and training committees, and has taught in the postgraduate diploma in editing and publishing at RMIT for more than fifteen years. She has taught editing skills in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Singapore.

Ebooks 101 for editors

Date: Friday, 11 July 2014Time: 9.30 am to 4.30 pmPresenter: Sarah JH FletcherVenue: UTS Short Courses Venue, Level 7, 235 Jones Street, SydneyCost: $220 for society members, $350 for non-members (includes lunch, and morning and afternoon teas)

Do you want to learn about ebooks, but you are not sure where to begin? This is the course for you. Through a mixture of demonstration, presentation and small-group discussion, you will explore key editorial questions about ebooks:• What is an ebook?• What is the role of the editor in ebook publishing?• How are ebooks created?• How do you assess the quality of an ebook?• How are errors in ebooks corrected?• How can editors best work with technical staff and outside

suppliers?• What are some of the big-picture issues affecting ebook

publishing?• What is next?

After the course, you will be given access to an ebook and some optional hands-on correction exercises to try using free software.

This is a beginner-level course, designed for editorial staff with little (or no) experience with ebooks or code. It leads into the intermediate course ‘Ebooks 201’. ‘Ebooks 101 for editors’ focuses on the most popular ebook type: reflowable and text-focused. We will mention illustrated and fixed-format ebooks, but not discuss them in depth. We will not focus on marketing and pricing strategies, dealing with retailers, or app development.

Sarah JH Fletcher began her editorial career in-house at trade publishers before establishing herself in the rockstar freelance lifestyle. A longtime consumer of digital publishing, Sarah brings her editorial perspective to the development and testing of quality ebooks. www.sarahjhfletcher.com

Copy deadline for the next (June)

issue of

Blue PencilTuesday, 10 May

continued from page 5

Book events online

7 May 2014

The working party has been busy in the last month recruiting members to the various project teams. Ideally we would like one person from each state society on each of the project teams to ensure that all views are canvassed. So far we have two volunteers from the NSW society: Hilary Cadman who has joined the Professional Development team and Deborah Singerman who has joined the Communications team. We would still like to have NSW represented on the other three teams: Legal & Governance, Finance & Operations, and Membership. If you have skills or experience in these areas please think about getting involved.

The project plans for each of the teams are being finalised. These plans document the tasks that need to be undertaken to achieve the deliverables outlined in the project scopes (sent to NSW members by email on 20 March). The first team meetings will be held in May.

If you want to play a part in shaping the new organisation, please consider volunteering to assist on a project team, particularly if you have skills in one of the following areas:• Legal and Governance team: legal or business experience• Finance and Operations team: accounting experience• Membership: experience as a membership officer or

committee member.

Please contact me if you are interested in joining a team or would like to find out more. Phone: 4782 1821 Email: dholden@writingcentral.com.au

Denise HoldenIPEd WP4 NSW representative and communications team leader

IPEd. WP4 working party update

SfEP online courses: Society member discountsIPEd is pleased to announce that members of all Australian societies of editors are now eligible for a 35 per cent discount for online training courses, in proofreading, copyediting and grammar, offered by the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), our UK counterpart.

Introduction to Proofreading (P1) is ideal for those starting out in their career, taking about 10 hours to complete online. Proofreading Progress (P2) serves as both a refresher course and a way to further develop skills in proofreading. In P2, you will be assigned to an experienced personal tutor, who will provide written feedback on two exercises and a final assignment, as well as telephone or email support. (We already have one tutor in Australia who works with SfEP.) Successful completion of either P1 or P2 will qualify you to join the Australian mentoring scheme offered by the Canberra Society of Editors; successful completion of P2 will qualify you to join the SfEP mentoring scheme.

Introduction to Copyediting (CE1) and Copyediting Progress (CE2) were launched in December 2013. CE1 is ideal for anyone starting out in a career in copyediting and will take about

15–20 hours to complete. CE2 is both a refresher course and a way to advance your skills. For CE2 you will also be assigned an experienced personal tutor, who will provide written feedback on the first two exercises and a final assignment, for which you may choose between two exercises, as well as telephone or email support. Successful completion of either CE1 or CE2 will qualify you to join the Australian mentoring scheme offered by the Canberra Society of Editors; successful completion of CE2 will qualify you to join the SfEP mentoring scheme.

Brush Up Your Grammar is for those who have forgotten or are hazy about the rules of English grammar. It is suitable for anyone working with text and hoping to gain confidence that they are making good decisions in what they write (or change in someone else’s text). The online course should take about 20 hours to complete.

Note: As some differences exist between British and Australian standards for copyediting and proofreading marks, a PDF of the Australian mark-up symbols will also be available.

More information on the courses and booking details are on the SfEP website.

Under Online courses, Step 1, select ‘IPEd member’ to show the course fees in sterling.

P1 and CE1 are both £107, or about A$193. In the payment section, apply the code IPEDSCT1403.

P2, CE2 and Grammar are £161, or about A$290. In the payment section, apply the code IPEDSCT1404.

A handling charge of £3, around A$5, will be applied to credit card payments.

To enable verification of your membership, please insert the name of your Society of Editors in the bottom section (where it asks you to specify an organisation requiring you to take this course). Also let your membership secretary know that you have registered for a course.

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8 May 2014

I think of Adelaide as a city with the warmth and atmosphere of a country town, rather than a hyper-driven metropolis. It is certainly not a day trip away from any other major city. With this isolation, you might find it odd that I would recommend Adelaide blog writer Katy McDevitt’s site for finding information on global epublishing, networking and online editing. As McDevitt says, ‘Remote working using communications technology is now broadly accepted’. Perhaps it is the very nature of the physical isolation that fosters dialogue in a digital space.

McDevitt’s self-named blog promotes editing and educates the unenlightened to the usefulness of a good editor. Her advice consistently contains valuable information about epublishing. This can be anything from giving suggestions on how to format a manuscript for submission as an ebook to providing online resources.

It is worth going to her site just to cruise through the list of online resources that she provides on the right hand side of her blog page. They range from local to international links and provide information on publishing, design, ebooks, editing and publishing blogs, writing and creativity.

McDevitt asserts that being a good editor requires far more than being able to find errors. She has advice for editors that explores complexities and provides tips. Not only does she expound on professional standards, she discusses editing within the context of publishing. In McDevitt’s blog, the publishing process has moved beyond bricks and mortar, but not so far away that the process is unrecognisable. There are insights here well worth discovering.katymcdevitteditorial.com.au/editor-blog/

Bothersome Words is a blog about an editor talking to a writer, or you could say a blog that delivers advice to authors about writing and being edited. You do not have to be that writer. There are many insights to be garnered regarding the editor: there are practical posts on the various levels of editing; there are superb explanations about what editing is and how it relates to the process of reviewing and directing written works; there are ardent insights on building a relationship with an author for the purpose of bringing out the best in their writing; there are passions. This blog goes beyond demystifying editing for the uninitiated to express editing. It is not hard to understand why the Sydney Writer’s Centre awarded Bothersome Words Best Australian Blog of 2011.

With the growth of self-publishing and the changes in publishing industry, the need for editors to stand out from the background of anonymity and promote the profession of editing becomes ever more pressing. In this sense, Bothersome Words is excellent.

It also delves into some very interesting topics with perception and clarity. I am a great advocate of plain English, but ‘Use and misuse of language – get amongst it’ (Nov, 2011 Archive) argues that a prescriptive use of plain English can be detrimental to a more subtle understanding of the parameters of individual contexts in writing. (Careful, once you start flicking through the archives you may find yourself at the other end of several hours you were not intending to spend.)

Much is disclosed here about the mystery of editing. Ironically, there is no name on this site and the creator does not take credit for their own writing. I wish s/he would.www.bothersomewords.com

I must confess, before I begin this piece, that I do not tweet. So when a little birdie tries to tell me anything I get a bit lost in translation.

Despite being swept away in the stream of comments on @editorgroup, the Editor Group twitter tag, I did manage to find branches that led to some very interesting sites. There is the fun link on the ‘Good grammar bandit’, who has perfectly typed demand notes with good grammar and spelling, to the development of spritzing, where reading is recast for small screens so that content is streamed one word at at time at speeds greater than you would normally read. (Apparently, you could read a novel on an android phone this way in record time, but I think I would rather leave it for email reading.)

The focus of the Editor Group twitter site is content marketing. I cannot think of a better platform for marketing—which is constantly challenged by the need to connect and convince in the shortest time possible in an engaging way—than a twitter page. Pithy insights abound on the page, like the four Cs of content marketing: context, conversion, contact and content. These four words expanded into many interesting ideas for me. Once you start following the #CMWorld links the possibilities seems to be endless. There is an abundance of material on marketing from top ten tips on creating blog posts to engaging your audience, all along the lines of content.

For anyone marketing in the current dynamic and changing publishing industry, or if you are developing your marketing strategy, it is worth following. I am sure there are many sites on marketing, but again this is an Australian site and the advantage of relevance here is paramount.

https://twitter.com/editorgroup

Apps, blogs, webs and bitsThis month the focus is on Australian sites. Any foreign site will eventually lead you to a point of inappropriateness for the Australian market. These Australian sites are so much more than just ‘relevant’. These excellent, award-winning blogs and a twitter site are well worth investigating.

Meredith McGowan, Blue Pencil editor

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9 May 2014

N e w s a n d n o t e sThe ‘Editing demystified’ workshop at the Sydney Writers’ FestivalThe Society of Editors NSW Inc. is sponsoring ‘Editing demystified’ at the Sydney Writers’ Festival. Kate O’Donnell is presenting the workshop at the State Library of NSW on 22 May. She will address the misconception that editing is just finding typographical errors and allay the fear that an editor will cut all of a writer’s favourite pieces. The workshop runs for six hours, in which time Kate will be explaining what to expect from an editor, the different kinds of editing and how to hire an editor. This is one of the more expensive workshops at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, but the price is not deterring people; there are very few places remaining and it is proving to be a popular choice.

The society is delighted to be promoting the profession of editing at such a prestigious and popular festival. Being involved in such events helps raise the awareness of the society, directing writers who would not have previously known where to find an editor to society sites and members. A higher profile in the community and workshops on editing also provide the opportunity for the society to advocate accredited and professional editors, as well as IPEd’s Australian standards for editing practice. We would like to thank Kate O’Donnell for delivering the workshop.

The Sydney Writers’ Festival runs from the 19 to 25 May with venues in the CBD and many suburban centres. This year includes three regional venues: Bowral, Blue Mountains and Wollongong. The Southern Highland Writers’ Festival has its own web page, but for other regional centres and Sydney venues, go to the Sydney Writers’ Festival page.

Sydney: www.swf.org.au Bowral: www.shwf.com.au

The 2013 IPEd Prize winner has been announcedMeredith Bramich has been announced as the 2013 IPEd Prize winner for her essay, Editing in the 21st century, which

provides insight into the topics of editing and publishing through analysis of a carefully selected job advertisement.

The essay was written for a Postgraduate Certificate of Editing and Electronic Publishing at Macquarie University.

The judges commented that the essay was written in an accessible and engaging manner usually seen from senior writers and editors. It was well structured and well written with a clear argument successfully illustrated by secondary sources and concrete examples. The text was well edited and proofread and references were consistently styled.

The judges felt that the essay was strong, clearly argued and cogently written and offered an intellectual journey which did not disappoint.

The entries were judged by Robin Bower AE, Bruce Robins AE and Anne Ryden from the Society of Editors (WA) and Agata Mrva-Montoya from the Society of Editors (NSW) Inc.

Meredith’s essay is available on the IPEd website at www.iped-editors.org

New Australia Council editing grants awardedThe society would like to congratulate two of its professional members, who are both also committee members, for being awarded grants from the Australia Council. Agata Mrva-Montoya, Sydney University Press, has been awarded $15,000 for skills development in the area of acquisitions and editing. Abigail Nathan, Bothersome Words, has been awared $5200 to attend a series of UK conferences for skills development.

The grants support opportunities for professional development and cultural leadership for Australian book and journal editors to enhance their literary editing skills. To qualify for the grants both editors needed to provide evidence that they had a minimum of two years experience and that they had edited over five full length manuscripts.

The society is pleased that two of its most involved and active members have been recogised for their editorial expertise through these grants.

Beatrice Davis Fellowship winner off to the Big AppleSusannah Chambers, winner of the 2013–14 Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship, departed Australia on 2 February, heading from 40-degree Melbourne to the minus-20 degree ‘polar vortex’ in New York.

Susannah is a Senior Editor of books for children and teenagers at Allen & Unwin, where she works on an internationally acclaimed list of original and innovative young adult fiction, picture books and graphic novels.

Susannah reports that – after buying a winter coat – she will begin her fellowship by interviewing some prominent young adult literary agents, to get an overview of the New York Young Adult editing and publishing scene as a whole. Armed with that broad view, she will plunge into her longer placements at Little, Brown and Knopf/Random House.

Her program also includes a raft of shorter interviews with authors and editors, attendance at the New York City Teen Author Festival, and visits to some of the smaller independent publishers in the Big Apple. So, says Susannah, she will be ‘happily busy’ until she returns in May. In the meantime, interested parties can stay in touch with her activities at www.susannahandbeatrice.com

The Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship is named after the distinguished Australian literary editor and honours her contribution to Australian letters.

The Fellowship is sponsored by the Literature Board of the Australia Council, the Australian Publishers Association and a range of publishers and industry bodies, including IPEd.

New student associate membership tier The society added a new tier to its membership recently to include students. We are pleased that by introducing this tier, new members are joining the society and that the student membership is generating interest amongst students. To qualify a student needs to be enrolled in full time study at a university or an appropriate private college.

10 May 2014

Society of Editors (NSW) Inc.2014 committeePresident: Jacqui Smith

Email: president@editorsnsw.com

Vice-presidents: Pam Peters Email: vp1@editorsnsw.com Rochelle Fernandez Email: vp2@editorsnsw.com

Secretary: Shelley Reid Email: secretary@editorsnsw.com

Treasurer: Rosemary Peers Email: treasurer@editorsnsw.com

General committee members: Nicolene Hale

Email: membership@editorsnsw.com Owen Kavanagh

Email: committee1@editorsnsw.com Meredith McGowan

Email: bluepencil@editorsnsw.com Agata Mrva-Montoya

Email: committee2@editorsnsw.com Rosmary Peers

Email: committee3@editorsnsw.com Susie Pilkington

Email: membership@editorsnsw.com

Newsletter editor: Meredith McGowan Email: bluepencil@editorsnsw.com

Meetings coordinator: Rochelle Fernandez

Email: meetings@editorsnsw.com

Professional development coordinator: Agata Mrva-Montoya

Email: committee2@editorsnsw.com

Website coordinator: Abigail Nathan

Email: web@editorsnsw.com

Editorial Services Directory Email: membership@editorsnsw.com

IPEd Council Chair: Owen Kavanagh

Email: iped@editorsnsw.com

Accreditation Board representative (NSW): Alison Moodie

Email: accreditation@editorsnsw.comAdministrationOffice manager: Susie Pilkington

Administration officer for publicity, membership and events coordination.

Email: events@editorsnsw.com

Email: membership@editorsnsw.com

Society of Editors (NSW) Inc.PO Box 254, Broadway NSW 2007 Voicemail: 9294 4999www.editorsnsw.com© 2014 The Society of Editors (NSW) Inc.

Blue PencilEditor: Meredith McGowanAssistants: Pam Peters, Susie PilkingtonBlue Pencil is only available in digital format (PDF). If you require a printed version, please contact the officer manager.

Published: generally 11 issues a year (combined January–February issue).Your comments and contributions are welcome. Post them to the Editor, Blue Pencil, Society of Editors (NSW) Inc., PO Box 254, Broadway NSW 2007, or email the editor at bluepencil@editorsnsw.com

Copy deadline for the June issue is Tuesday, 10 MayThe views expressed in the articles and letters, or the material contained in any advertisement or attachment, are those of individual authors, not of the Society of Editors (NSW) Inc.

Advertising ratesFull page $375; half page $200; one-third page $125; quarter page $100; one-sixth page $75 (half of one column). Circulation: approximately 400. Please note that the committee reserves the right to decide whether advertisements are appropriate for this newsletter.

MembershipMembership of the Society of Editors (NSW) Inc. is open to anyone working as an editor for publication (print or electronic documents) and anyone who supports the society’s aims. Membership is available in different categories.

Membership runs for a calendar year. The 2014 fees are $85 for professional members (new or renewal), $65 for associate members (new or renewal) and $45 for student members. Interested organisations can become corporate associates for $400 per year.

To obtain a membership application form visit the Society of Editors (NSW) Inc. website www.editorsnsw.com, phone 9294 4999 (voicemail) or write to PO Box 254, Broadway NSW 2007.

Listing in the Editorial Services DirectoryThe Editorial Services Directory is available online at www.editorsnsw.com/esd New listings and updates can be added quarterly as follows:

• January (deadline 31 December)• April (deadline 31 March)• July (deadline 30 June)• October (deadline 30 September).The cost is $40 per year in addition to the fee for membership of the society. Only professional members are eligible for a listing. New listings should be submitted using a template available from the office manager at membership@editorsnsw.com

Committee meetingsAll members are welcome to attend the society’s committee meetings, generally held on the second Tuesday of each month. Please contact a committee member for details if you wish to attend the next meeting.

ABN 53 030 428 517