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A note from the departing Story Board editor
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade, but I became the editor of Story Board in July of 2012. I was fully freelance at that point, fitting writing assignments in between snack time, loads of laundry, school drop-offs, and all of the other work involved in raising two small children. Now, after nearly […]
How to avoid editors’ pet peeves
By Monte Stewart The dreaded phone call usually comes when Mark Reid is right in the middle of doing something. “[After] 45 minutes,” said Reid, editor of Canada’s History magazine, “we’re still talking, because you don’t want to be impolite, and the conversation always ends with: ‘Okay, now, can you send me an email about […]
People before protons: How to pitch a science story
by Monte Stewart Tim Lougheed has been guarding his secret for years. If he has his way, editors will never pry it out of him. “To other people, I will call myself a science writer,” he said. “If I’m selling a story, I will never use that term.” And Lougheed is adamant that he will […]
Freelancers face new challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic
by Monte Stewart This is part two in a series on the ways that Canadian freelancers are weathering COVID-19. Read part one right here. Lesley Evans Ogden shares her home office with a pet bird. Her feathered friend was there even before the coronavirus struck. But now the Vancouver-area freelancer, who specializes in science […]
Freelancers struggle to adapt to a shifting Canadian media landscape during COVID-19 pandemic
by Monte Stewart This is part one in a series on the ways that Canadian freelancers are weathering COVID-19. Read part two right here. Jeff Gaulin does not believe that the Canadian media landscape will go “back to normal” once the COVID-19 pandemic ends. The owner of the popular journalism job site says the pandemic […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #43 — Tom Hawthorn
by Monte Stewart Award-winning journalist Tom Hawthorn has spent most of his career as a freelancer. He is well-known for contributing obituaries to The Globe and Mail, but also writes about living people for other media outlets. During the 1990s, he served as a staff reporter with two daily newspapers. He has also authored a […]
The state of the travel writing industry
by Monte Stewart Mike Fisher has a decision to make. He is among disgruntled veteran freelancers who say well-paying travel writing opportunities are becoming increasingly rare due to revamped newspaper travel sections with reduced budgets, the outsourcing of editing services, and the proliferation of online publications that expect free stories, among other factors. “It’s […]
Travel writing tips from writer and editor Jennifer Bain
by Monte Stewart Jennifer Bain was a travel editor at The Toronto Star before she took a buyout in April. She is currently freelancing as a travel writer and completing a master of fine arts degree in creative non-fiction. In this Q&A, she discusses some of her experiences as a freelance writer and travel section editor […]
