ISSN 1030-2557 PO Box 254 Broadway NSW 2007 Phone (02) 901 9033 Kditor (iary Hayes February 1993

Next Speaker: John Ferguson

A Life in Publishing Our next speaker is a personality identified with one of the most respected families in Australian publishing. At Angus and Robertson, his father was publisher and George Robertson was his great grandfather. He himself began his life in publishing at that trail-blazing firm in 1957 and he has been at the forefront of the book industry in this country for over thirty years.

Perhaps his own point-to-point synopsis of his career conveys something of the flavour of John Ferguson, as well as the qualities and interests that shaped his working life. • Born 1937

• 1957 Started work at Angus & Robertson . Had to do at least two years in the shop before being let loose in publishing!

• Halstead Press printers for basic training in ail aspects of production

• A&R production department

• 1960 London. Worked for a year at University of London Design

• 1963 Sydney A&R Design department

• 1964 A&R Sales Manager

• Constant travelling in UK, Asia and USA

• Ran first Australian stand at Frankfurt Bookfair

• Opened A&R in Singapore

• Published Young Australia Series for children in 1968 (It is still going!)

• 1971 Returned to London after takeover to expand London publishing.More travelling, including Asia and USA

• 1974 Left A&R to start Batsford Australia. Worked briefly with James Bennett

• 1975 Started John Ferguson Publishing. Wide involvement with publishing groups, including ABPA, ABA, ALA, Time-Life and more. More travelling and working trips to Bologna and Frankfurt

• 1991 end of John Ferguson Publishing

• 1992 Halstead Press reborn- many new and exciting ventures in sight •

Minutes of AGM 2 February 1993

The Annual General Meeting of the Society of Editors (NSW) was opened by the President, Shalom Paul.

The President referred to the President's Report which had been published in the current issue of Blue Pencil.

The Treasurer, Pamela Smith, gave the Treasurer's Report.

Treasurer's Report Main working account: S Cheque account -Opening balance 541.32 Closing balance 299.92

Investment accounts: Commonwealth -Opening balance 3677.84 Closing balancc 3743.11

St George -Opening balance 240.70 Closing balancc 244.71

Income: Membership 4,020.00 Meetings 1,774.00 Freelance register 348.25

$6142.25

Expenses: S Blue Pencil 2,660.43 Meetings 2601.38 Postage/stationery 488.72 Freelance register 77.10 Auditor 500.00 Insurance 167.25 Phone 332.65 Miscellaneous 60.00

S6887.53

Newsletter of the Society of Editors

(NSW)Inc.Blue Pencil

The Treasurer noted that a qualified auditor is not required by law to audit the books of the Society.

A question was raised from the floor why the excess money in the investment account had not been spent, for example, on meetings and travel costs for special guest speakers. The President explained that the Society had agreed to cover the production costs of the freelance register if Hobsons had been unable to recoup their costs by advertising revenue. He reminded members of the Register-Hobsons saga, and com-mented that, thanks to hard-working members of the Society (especially Margaret Foster), this money had not been called upon. The President recommended that the money should be put towards organising educa-tional workshops and so on.

The committee also reminded members that using the savings to pay for the production of the next register, rather than trying to make it finance itself, would soon drain funds.

Discussion continued about the freelance register and its distribution. The Secretary, Sharon Paull, advised that various groups had been notified about the register and had been requested to advertise it in their newslet-ters. These groups included: National Book Council, Library Society, Australian Library Information Association, Australian Socicty of Authors, Fellowship of Australian Writers NSW, Media Monitors, NSW Children's Book Council, Poet's Union, NSW Writers' Centre (who have agreed to sell the register on the Society's behalf), ABPA (who included 200 inserts in their newsletters). Margaret Foster also added groups to this list. The Secretary requested members to distribute registers to their local libraries and to contact commit-tee members about advertising in other appropriate newsletters/venues etc.

Robin Appleton suggested the register be sent to other editors' societies in Australia. Robin also reiter-ated her previous suggestion that talks by guest speak-ers at meetings should be taped and kept in the Soci-ety's library (which is presently held at the Writers' Centre). This suggestion was popular with those present.

The President thanked the committee members for all their effort throughout the year(s). Michael Wyatt, on behalf of the other members, also thanked the committee, particularly Janine Flew for unflaggingly organising catering at meetings.

The President informed the meeting that only two committee members would be standing again for re-election: Margaret Foster and Margaret McPhee, and welcomed other nominations from the floor.

After some soul-searching, the new committee emerged as: Margaret Foster (President), Margaret McPhee, Gary Hayes (Blue Pencil Editor), Beverley Barnes, Robin Appleton, Judith Simpson (Treasurer) and Maria Karlsson. It was agreed that other roles within the committee could be decided at their next meeting.

The past committee wished the incoming committee every success. •

GRAHAM GRAYSTON, editor of the Style Manual has left AGPS. He would like us to know that he can be contacted on (06) 297 7163

The Australian Society of Authors have appointed a new executive officer to replace Gail Cork who has left for southern Tasmania,

her new home from which she will pursue a full-time writing career.

Her replacement will be Lynne Spender - who is quite a catch.

In the 'YOU SAW IT HERE NEXT category , the notice in the Slay in Touch column (SMH January 4,1993),deserved your attention:

BASICALLY, THEY'RE BAD

HOT on the heels of the new words of 1992 according to the Oxford Dicxtionary (SIT Dec, 29) come the words which almost made it but got the last-minute veto.

'Empower', 'gridlock', 'down-size' and any sentence beginning with 'basically' were ruled out of order yesterday by English-language word-watchers at Lake Superior State University in Michigan.

Their annual list of misused.overused and useless words also exiled "team chemistry',' victimless crime';, 'win-win situations','open-heart surgery', associates' (once called employees),'going ballistic'(instead of 'going berserk') and 'proactive' (substitute for assertive or diligent), according to Reuter. D

. : _ _

Committee 1993 • Margaret Foster (President)

Ph/fax 528 6315 (Foster Communications)

• Judith Simpson (Treasurer)

Ph 925 0419 (freelance)

• Margaret McPhee (Membership)

Ph 660 8461 (freelance)

• Maria Karlsson-Lillas (Publicity and Catering)

Ph 8882555 (CCH); home 519 9247 (freelance)

• Robin Appleton (Future Development)

Ph 560 1017 (Hands-on)

• Beverley Barnes (Future Development)

Ph 417 4288 (McGraw-Hill)

• Gary Hayes (Editor of Newsletter)

Ph 6655705 (frcclancc)

Members will note the absence of a secretary. The position, we hope, will be filled at the next meeting.

\ • ' ' J

21 Blue Pencil

Last Speaker Cathy Peake, Managing Editor of The University of NSW

Alumni Papers Conjuring tricks in an empty hall?

Isolation and loneliness may be feelings recognised by many of us, Cathy's talk seemed to suggest, but that feeling of wanting to be appreciated, and even the concomitant feeling of wanting some broad guidance , just won't go away. Cathy's work as managing editor of the Alumni Papers has been rewarding, but not in every way. She knew those feelings as well as any of us.

While she had a readership of some 71,000 ( which might be reduccd to an active audience of 3,000 to 4,000), feedback was disappointing; and getting contributions was a tribulation. At the same time she felt that her brief from the powers that controlled her work was almost too general. As well as this, she missed colleagues or working companions to share her ideas with and lest her ideas on. Hence the title your editor has attached to her talk.

While Cathy gave us one or two titbits of information that exemplified this isolation (but which were Not for Publication), she remained well aware of the benefits of her position; and at least the vacuum of her working day was soon to be opened up - for she was soon to be moved, geographically speaking, closer to some colleagues in the same general field at least, within the university's press and media service.

She was proud too of the achievements that were part of her solitary working-life, like teaching herself the desk-top publishing program, which bccamc an essential tool in her quarterly production of the 'Papers'

The title of her magazine points to its beginnings as a broadsheet. It has now grown to a highly professional, full colour-illustratcd quarterly, whose appcarance is much looked forward to by the graduates, especially with regard to favourite columns like Where are they now? The University itself sees the 'Papers' as a vital part of a money-raising strategy that will provide for its present and future projects; and wants to keep a line of communication open to as many as possible of those 71,(XX) potential readers. Alumni scholarships, to give one example, arc advertised in the current issue.

Cathy sees one of her achievements as getting academics (that much maligned tribe) to meet deadlines. This was ' singularly hard', she says, for an interesting reason: they were more used to having their work appear in refcrccd journals; they thus expected to have the chance to proof and correct their work at every stage of the publishing process Alarming to think then that editors might shortcircuit this to-ing and fro-ing

Cathy herself docs the bulk of the work. It was as many-faceted as you might imagine. She docs have some good-quality assistance: a photographer who is 'very

good'; an advertising manager who handles the external advertising;- but most jobs are hers,certainly a lot of the writing. Stories, thankfully, can be discovered in many places, if one has a diligent set of antennae. Some emerge from openings in the other publications on campus: in Uniken the fortnightly (institutional) newsheet, in Focus the staff only publication, or even in Tharunka, the student newspaper once upon a time scandalous and notorious throughout Sydney. Ah, where are they now? Perhaps Cathy could do a piece on Martin Sharp. In all likelihood she's already thought of it

I'm sure that those of us who were lucky enough to hear her talk , in her relaxed and charming way, of her busy life, would realise, as soon as they looked over 'Alumni Papers', that she was not just keeping the ship afloat; it was full ahead. These articles would be of interest to any reader, we at least can assure her. Here was a intriguing article on the University of NSW Press and its staff; a thoroughly enjoyable portrait of actress and now impassioned drama teacher, Jennifer Hagan; and a fascinating look at teaching philosophy to primary school children by Philip Cam (partner of our fellow member and poet Heather Cam) These three alone were worth the price of admission

So the hall (yes that metaphor I started with, up there in the title) is not empty. With a range like this 'Alumni Papers' is not in danger of dullness. And Where are they now? is fascinating! I must write away to my own alma mater and see about becoming an active alumnus. •

Next meeting: Tuesday, March 2nd at 6.30pm

Where: the Rooftop Function Centre, the Australian Museum, corner of College and William Streets.

Cost: Drinks and tasty snacks: for members S7; for non-members and members who do not book before February 28th, S12.

RSVP: Please let us know if you're coming. The Society books and pays for all those who say they'll be coming. Up till Friday 26th make your reply to the Society's answering service (ph 901 9033); up till Sunday 28th by phoning Maria Karlsson at work (CCH) 888 2555; or at home 519 9247.

22 Blue Pencil

. . To talk of many things:' (our new column)

[Members will have that sneaking feeling that they have seen this title somewhere, and that semi-frustrated feeling that they should be able to put their finger straight on the source. So let's put those niggling sensations behind us: yes, you knew -Lewis Carroll. See p. 235 The Annotated Alice (Penguin):

'The time has come,'the Walrus said, 'To talk of many things:

Of shoes-and ships-and sealing wax-Of cabbages-and kings

And why the sea is boiling hot -And whether pigs have wings"

Over to you, Robin Appleton Ed.]

In the late 1960s I sat with other confused staff of the University of Sydney, in a room not far from jhe university computer, SILIAC, to hear of the newest machinery for typesetting. What a long 120 minutes we all spent, confounded by descriptions and processes we did not know would change the world, and lead to job retrenchments. Hot metal would go, the guild workers would have to learn knew ways,retrain or find new professions

The information explosion has overcome us and businesses and private citizens (who have sufficient capital) have become empowered with the buying of some kind of personal computer. This is progress but is it wisdom? Few can keep up with the latest programs. Printers, proofreaders,typesetters,graphic artists/designers have all seen their traditional training overturned and younger people, familiar with computers, taking their place. Newspapers tell the story: 'Is their any need for above named peple?"

Many of the 1990s people will welcome reform, then 'Spellcheck' will become obsolete. Spelling reform is a now-happening. Dictionaries are seldom used in word-processing areas and the keyboard operators have taken over as arbiters of style, grammar, spelling, design, and content/Following copy' is an archaic expression, often frowned upon by word-processing staff. Empowered they have often become the final 'wordsmiths.'

What of the editors? Editors seem to be 'born in cabbage patches'; and

frequently wander many paths before they chance by publishing. Few older editors consciously said ' I want to be a book editor', as they reached the age of dreaming of careers. They might have said they wanted to be actors or writers but most of us, in the mature-age group, chanced upon our careers, by default often. Some were secretaries, bookshop assistants, or teachers who made career changes,and found themselves, over time, pondering the

wisdom of this or that phrase in front of them - as an editor in publishing.

There are many anecdotes of how people 'fell into' editing. More recently there have been courses available, to leam the principles of book editing or to try one's hand at gaining some knowledge to support one's position. But, whichever way one came to the job, editors are needed more than ever before.

To maintain quality in publishing wordsmiths need to work in close harmony with the client, keyboard operator, and the typescript. Editors are needed now more than at other times in the publishing-history of the century. Self-published books, privately funded, and the volume of the written word all around us emanate from the ease of wordprocessing. People who believe in themselves, their skills, and their information, generously endow the public with their word produce.

Editors, more than ever, need to stand up and be counted.

In Western Australia editors are registering their especial skills towards job sharing and referral from one to another in areas that they know another can do better; and they are learning the origins of their skills.

It would be of value to this Society to know what paths you took from cabbage-patch to editor's desk, so we know your origins.

[Next month, watch for a special (and brief) questionnaire on these matters.

Hopefully by analysing it we can learn how best to help each other and in what way the Society can most effectively direct its activities. Ed.]

Robin Appleton •

23 Blue Pencil

Style Council '92 Condensed from a draft report on Style Council 92 prepared for the Australian Style newsletter - by Ann Atkinson

The keynote address by Michael Clyne, Professor of Linguistics at Monash University, placed Australian English in the context of other pluricentric languagcs-these being languages with several interacting centres, each providing a national variety. He drew an interesting parallel between Australian English and Austrian German, the latter suffering some degree of academic contempt at home ('calculated to subvert the young'), but seeming to be the preferred German for people in the newly democratised countries of Eastern Europe who see it as less connected with German dominance. The parallel suggests that Australian English may well be seen in South East Asia as free of the imperialist associations of both British and American English.

Pauline Bryant of the Australian National University drew our attention to the extent of the variation that exists within Australian English, beyond the well-known port/ suitcase, fritz/devon and so on. She identified four major regions as well as several sub-regions and suggested that those involved in communication should be familiar with the regional usages beyond their home areas. From internal variation we moved to the variation between Australian English and other varieties when Mark Ncwbrook of Monash University presented a list of grammatical usages that seem to be either solely Australian or more prevalent here than in British English. There were some surprising inclusions - surprising in that

few would have thought of these usages as distinctively Australian. Examples include the use of the superlative with since (his 200 was his highest score since his 190 last year) and as far as used prepositionally (as far as the rest, there are no problems).

The key part played by language in communicating science was discussed by Roy Tasker of the University of Western Sydney and Terry Lindsey of Geo magazine.Roy Tasker's lively presentation left the audience in no doubt about the success of his program Understanding Science and your Environment, aimed at giving groups of adults a knowledge of the scientific principles that allow informed decision-making. The role of dictionaries came into the discussion when he described the difficulties of his presenters in dealing with the difference between their audience's understanding of terms such as toxicity and concentration and their specific scientific meaning - to the scientists, their 'real' meaning. Lexicographers in the audience clutched their collective heads when Terry Lindsey explained biological nomenclature and presented the alternatives available in the capitalisation style of the common names of plants and animals.

The closing session of the Council covered house style in four different types of organisation- Terry O'Connor spoke about the Queensland Courier Mail's style book, Amanda O'Connell about the house style of publisher Allen & Unwin, Lorrie Mahcr on the proposal to develop an in-house style manual by the Association of Independent Schools of Queensland, and Julie Zilko on the Westpac Corporation's longstanding style guide. Some of these guides had not experienced an easy birth, with users' appreciation of guidance and awareness-raising mixed with conflict and dislike of prescription. And audience questions during this session went to the heart of Style Council - who should set language standards and on what criteria should such standards be based? •

24 Blue Pencil

The State of the Society An irregular report of events of significance to the Society

Right now, elections are all the rage, following, obviously, the trend we started on 2 February. Our campaign .however, was conducted with dignity and without smear,innuendo or acrimony. All but two of the 1992 committee decided not to stand and there were just enough nominations to fill the vacancies thus created. Canberra should take a leaf out of our immaculately edited book.

But to more important matters. Many thanks to retiring committee members Shalom Paul, Sharon Paull, Janine Flew, Derek Barton, and Pamela Smith for the work they put in last year to keep the Society going, and going well.

Whatever it was or wasn't meant to be, it wasn't easy. Most of the time their behind-the-scene efforts went unrecognised and unappreciated. Maybe that was why they decided to call it a day. Michael Wyatt's exclamation at the AGM perhaps said it all: "How did they do it for so long?"

In his rcport(fi/u<? Pencil, January 1993) Shalom Paul observed that the Society is constantly evolving and to remain vital it needs new blood,especially at committee level.

The Society's new committee,consisting mostly of new blood,met for the first time on 4 February. Margaret McPhee and I, the only remaining members of the 1992 committee, were almost knocked off our feet by the new committee members' rush of enthusiasm and ideas to invigorate the Society, to make it even more worthwhile for existing members and to attract new ones.

Among the many items discussed by the committee were:

• Canvassing publishing houses for new members

• Member-friendly meetings

• All speakers to be invited to become members for one year free of charge

• Tapes of speakers' presentations to be added to the Society's library

• Expansion,storage and improved accessibility of the Society's library

• Schedule for the next edition of the Register of Freelance Publishing Services

• A high profile person to be invited to become the Society's patron

• A list of future speakers

Keep reading Blue Pencil - better still - come to meetings to find out what's happening in your Society. And bring a friend. Remember, if you introduce a new member to the Society, you can attend one meeting free of charge. Margaret Foster (President) •

The Galley Club Next meeting: 17 March

Speaker: Linda Bottari

Time: 6.00 for 6.45 dinner. Speaker at 7.30

Venue: The Board Room, Exchange Hotel, enr Mullens and Beattie Streets, Balmain

Cost: $20 members,$30 non-members, ($5 meeting only)

RSVP: Katarine Rendell, Fax 519 3218 Phone 550 2355

25 Blue Pencil

Society of Editors (NSW)

Membership application and renewal 1993

Membership of the Society of Editors (NSW) runs from 1 February to 31 January.

Name Home address (if different from last application)

Telephone

Are you working as an editor? O Yes CH No If yes, are you working Freelance • Full-time • Part-time

Employed I I Full-time • Part-time

If employed, name of employer Address (if different from last application)

Telephone

This is a Renewal CH Subscription $30 New member application • Subscription $35

New members receive one year's subscription to Australian Bookseller and Publisher, which is worth $39.

The Society publishes a list of members and their addresses. Do you wish your name, work ad-dress and work telephone number to be included? D Yes CH No

Signed Date

Please make cheques payable to The Society of Editors (NSW), and return to: The Treasurer Society of Editors (NSW) PO Box 254 Broadway NSW 2007