Loch Baillie

The ‘Write’ Stuff

Raised by two English teachers, Loch has always had a love of reading and writing. Six years of French studies in the United States prepared him well for his arrival in la belle province, and he loves Quebec culture and the Québécois accent, despite it being a little different than the French he learned back home!

As co-editor of the 126th edition of The Mitre, Bishop’s student-run literary publication, last year’s copy editor of Bishop’s newspaper The Campus and this year’s senior copy editor, Loch has a vested interest in striving for written excellence. It’s also the career path he intends to pursue after graduation: Loch’s goal is to work as an editor in the Canadian publishing industry.

Loch was encouraged to apply for B.E.S.T. funding by his friend (and fellow B.E.S.T. funding recipient) Sally Cunningham. When he learned that Editors Canada’s 40th annual conference would be taking place in Eastern Canada, and that attendees would have the chance to try out the latest version of Antidote, a leading grammar and style correction software, Loch decided to go for it.

“I was curious to see how Antidote is used outside of an academic setting. I knew I could apply my learnings to my work with The Campus but I was interested to see how the program is used in the field I want to join. I also wanted to integrate more of a focus on editing for readability into my work, rather than a strictly grammatical focus,” says Loch.

Another draw for Loch was the chance to meet and talk with freelance editors to find out how they started their careers and to learn more about what it means to be a certified editor. Networking opportunities were plentiful at the conference, and Loch was appreciative of the support that Editors Canada offers to its Student Affiliate members looking to build a career in the industry.

“While I definitely accomplished my goals of discovering all the latest features of Antidote and learning more about freelance work and being a certified editor, I came away with other valuable insights that I wasn’t necessarily expecting,” explains Loch. “One of the workshops covered the importance of plain language, or how to distill complex material into writing that can be more readily understood. I also learned that translation is a form of editing, and perhaps most importantly, that editing is a profession—not just a job.”

Loch encourages his fellow students to apply to the B.E.S.T. Fund with a project they’re passionate about but might not otherwise have the means to undertake. “This fund showcases the generosity of Bishop’s donors and the support that students have from the school community to pursue projects that will enhance their success,” he concludes.