Editors BC is proud to spotlight our February volunteer, Michelle Hardy. Michelle volunteers as a Blue Pencil editor. In this interview, Justin Chevrier, Editors BC’s volunteer coordinator, asks Michelle about her proudest editing moment, her favourite punctuation mark, and more.

What or who makes you laugh out loud?

Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek. I love her confidence and style, her syntax and vocabulary.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Cookies. 

What is your dream vacation destination? Why?

Italy. I look forward to exploring Italian food, art, architecture, and coastline and listening to the language. 

Which actor would play you in a biopic of your life? 

I had no idea, so I asked a few friends and family members. Their responses varied, but I’m going with the Elizabeth Zott character from Lessons in Chemistry, played on-screen by Brie Larson. 

If you were presented with a book that told the story of your life from start to finish, what would you do with it? 

I would be thrilled to accept such a book and read it. What a gift! 

What is the last book you read? 

Run Towards the Danger by Sarah Polley.

What are you currently working on? 

I’m writing a book review of a short fiction collection, creating social media content, and improving the SEO on my website.

What is your favourite punctuation mark? 

The em dash—I have an entire page on my website dedicated to why I’ve incorporated the em dash into my brand logo: Michelle Hardy Editor—.

What is your favourite word? Why? 

For over a decade now, I’ve liked the word spectre. I was at a literary conference during grad school, and a student read one of his short stories during a creative writing panel. The story, set in the woods at night, featured a grandmother in a white nightgown besieged by a mystery. He described her as a spectre. His reading was dynamic and hilarious, and though I’ve forgotten the specifics of the plot, the word spectre lodged in my mind that day and has been my favourite ever since. 

What is the best book you read in the last year? 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

What are your favourite book genres? 

Poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and literary fiction. 

What is your favourite thing about being an editor? 

That reading, my favourite pastime, is now my work. 

What is your proudest editing moment? 

When one of my clients secured an agent after I edited her manuscript during a “revise and resubmit” request. 

What is your favourite Editors BC memory? 

My Helijet flight from Victoria to Vancouver last summer to blue-pencil edit for a kids’ writing camp at the Vancouver Public Library. 

What’s the most important lesson you ever learned? 

When I was around twenty, I was paid in advance to complete a large managerial task for a summer skating school. I had the opportunity to complete my work on my own time and chose to leave it to the last minute. I then told my boss, “I’m not sure I can get this done in time.” He responded, “Now you’re making your problem my problem, and I’ve got enough problems of my own.” I worked round the clock for a week and completed the job.

What advice do you have for new editors? 

Social media contains a gold mine of free professional development information for writing, editing, and publishing. Dive deep. 

What advice do you have for new members of Editors BC? 

Sign up for webinars offered by Editors BC and Editors Canada. Not only are these packed with information, but they are also a great place to meet other editors and learn about additional websites and resources. 

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About Michelle

Michelle Hardy transitioned to a freelance editing career after retiring as a high school English teacher. She completed a master’s degree in English at the University of Regina in 2012 and obtained an editing certificate from Simon Fraser University in 2021. A member of Editors Canada, she lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Connect with her at mhardyeditor.com.

About Justin

Justin Chevrier is an editor and the owner of Erasmus Editorial. He has a BA in history from the University of the Fraser Valley and has completed the Editing Certificate program at Simon Fraser University. His freelance clients include non-fiction authors in the genres of business, memoir, and religion, and he copy edits academic journal articles of all scientific disciplines.

Outside of editing, Justin enjoys going on walks, making art, and spending time with his four young nieces.

If you would like to volunteer with Editors BC, please email Justin.