Natalia Iwanek Editing
I’m Natalia, a Canadian copy editor, stylistic editor, and proofreader.
Editing Services: I offer copy editing, stylistic editing, and proofreading services.
Additional Services: I also offer inclusive language reviews, plain language reviews, accessibility, and sensitivity reading on a variety of topics to ensure the authenticity of your manuscript.
Fiction: I focus on literary fiction and genre fiction (science fiction, horror, thriller, mystery, and romance/queer romance).
Non-Fiction: I specialize in plain language and inclusive language, with an emphasis on web copy and policy review.
(Sample edits are available to see if this working relationship is a good fit).
But who is Natalia, really?
A multilingual lifelong learner and reader
As a lifelong learner and admirer of language nuances and quirks, copy editing, stylistic editing, and proofreading always seemed to be what I was destined to do.
An absolute love of reading and writing and extensive time spent in various geographical locations (Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, and Poland), granted me
- a deep understanding of English grammar rules, sentence structure, and syntax,
- an appreciation of global literature and genre conventions,
- an understanding of linguistic hybridity/code-switching and cultural frame switching (especially in diasporic and equity-deserving communities), and
- an opportunity to speak several languages (including English, Spanish, Ukrainian, limited working-level Polish, and basic Russian).
A multidisciplinary editor
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Political Science.
An unlikely combination? Well, possibly. However, I bring this dual focus to my editing process each day. Language is never neutral; it is nuanced, ever-evolving, and often, tied to historical and political processes.
The fact that I enjoy these nuances of language is an understatement. For this reason, I also
- completed University Certificates in Editing and Plain Language,
- completed extensive professional development, courses, and certificates from Canada, US, and UK-based editing organizations (Editors Canada, Editors Toronto, ACES: The Society for Editing, the Editorial Freelancers Association, and the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading) and,
- attended considerable training in inclusive (or conscious) language and accessibility, and
- hold long-time membership with Editors Canada and ACES: The Society for Editing.
- as the assistant to the editor-in-chief of BoldFace,
- on the Editors Canada Marketing and Communications Committee,
- on the Editors Canada Nominations Committee,
- on the Editors Canada Student Relations Committee, and
- on the Editors Canada Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Task Force.
A fan of snacks, facts, sci-fi, and cacti
Finally, on a more personal note, you can often find me
- reading yet another book on my never-ending to-read list,
- (on the fiction side, I enjoy 1950s/60s hard and soft sci-fi, the Latin American dictator novel, northern Mexican literature, Argentine horror, Nigerian literature, and literary non-fiction),
- (on the non-fiction side, I enjoy decolonialism, post-colonialism, dependency theory, political philosophy, 1980s US foreign policy in Latin America, 1960s African history),
- cooking and baking (anything wrapped in dough),
- watching old movies (the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and 1950’s sci-fi!),
- travelling (preferably to the desert),
- taking photos (of old buildings and other people’s pets), and
- sharing my love of collective nouns and random facts.
Specific Skills
Education
- Master’s of Translation (Spanish to English) – England. (February 2025-Present)
- Editing Certificate – Simon Fraser University. Burnaby, British Columbia
- Plain Language Certificate – Simon Fraser University. Burnaby, British Columbia
- Bachelor of Arts: English and Political Science (with Distinction) – Athabasca University. Athabasca, Alberta
- Bachelor of Arts: International Relations – York University: Glendon College. Toronto, Ontario (transferred after 1.5 years)
Editing Certificates, Courses, and Professional Development
- Fiction Editing Certificate – Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
- Copy Editing Fiction Course – Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) (Lourdes Venard)
- Editing for Conscious and Inclusive Language Course – Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) (Crystal Shelley)
- Romance for Editors: Working with Archetypes, Tropes, and Genre Conventions Webinar – Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) (Megan Hennessey)
- Immersive Copy Editing for Science Fiction and Fantasy Webinar – ACES: The Society for Editing (Kristy S. Gilbert)
- SEO and Paid Search Course – George Brown College. Toronto, Ontario
-
WordPress for Blogging and Web Design Course – George Brown College. Toronto, Ontario
Editing-Specific Inclusion, Equity, Diversity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Training
- Editing Slurs in Dialogue – Editors Kingston (Louise Harby)
- Anti-Islamophobia Editing: Using Inclusive Language and Plain Language to Counter Hate Speech – Editors Canada (Amber Riaz)
- Tackling Antisemitism in Fiction – Editors Canada (Molly Rookwood)
- Some of the Things You Wanted to Know about Alt Text – Editors Canada (Amber Riaz)
- An Editor’s Guide to Assessing and Addressing Problematic Content – ACES: The Society for Editing (Crystal Shelley)
- Tips for Editing Genres That Include Violence, Suicide and Mental Illness – ACES: The Society for Editing (Karin Cather)
- Gender-Inclusive Editing: Becoming a Radical Editor – Editors Toronto (Alex Kapitan)
- Editing Indigenous Content: The Importance of Cultural Sensitivity and Respect – Editors Toronto (Kaitlin Littlechild)
- Balancing Cultural Sensitivity with Craft – Editors Toronto (Sangeeta Netha)
- Trauma-Informed Editing – Editors Transform: Editors Canada Conference (Iva Cheung)
- Microaggressions in Editing: Understanding Bias and Undoing Harm – ACES: The Society for Editing (Crystal Shelley)
Volunteer Experience
- Co-Editor-in-Chief of BoldFace – Editors Toronto – September 2024-Present
- English Conversation Partner – Toronto – November 2024-Present
- Assistant to Editor-in-Chief of BoldFace – Editors Toronto – February 2024-September 2024
- Contributor (Editor and Writer) to BoldFace – Editors Toronto – 2020-Present
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Task Force Member – Editors Canada 2021
- Marketing and Communications Committee Member – Editors Canada 2021
- Nominations Committee Member – Editors Canada 2021
- Student Relations Committee Member – Editors Canada 2020-21
- Contributor to The Editors’ Weekly – Editors Canada – 2020-21
Awards and Recognitions
- AU Institutional Leadership Award 2023
- Editors Canada – President’s Award for Volunteer Service 2022
- Editors Canada – President’s Award for Volunteer Service 2021
- North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) Silver Award 2021
- York University Scholarship
- Millennium Excellence Award
- Canadian Governor General’s Academic Bronze Medal
Memberships and Affiliations
- Editors Canada Member
- ACES: The Society for Editing Member
Speaking Engagements
- Intersectional Activism in the Online Sphere – Ignite Change Conference for the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC). Edmonton, Alberta, January 2023
- Nothing About Us Without Us: Accessibility, Accommodations and the Student Experience – AUSUnights. Edmonton, Alberta, July 2023
- Nothing About Us Without Us: Accessibility, Accommodations in Student Leadership – CAUS Conference. Edmonton, Alberta, May 2023
Languages and Language Teaching Skills
- Languages – English (Native), Ukrainian (C2), Spanish (C1), Polish (B1), French (A2), Russian (A1)
- Teaching English as a Second Language (TEFL) Certificate – University of Toronto: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Toronto, Ontario (120 hours)
- Advanced TEFL – Teaching Exam Preparation – TEFL.org Inverness, Scotland (40 hours)
- Advanced TEFL – Business English – TEFL.org Inverness, Scotland (30 hours)
- French Immersion Certificate – Université Sainte-Anne. Pointe-de-l’Église, Nova Scotia (125 hours)
- Advanced Spanish Certificate – Escuela Sol Latino. Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (400 hours)
- Intermediate Spanish Certificate – Ibero Spanish School. Buenos Aires, Argentina (300 hours)