THE BIO

WHO: Penny Caldwell, editor, Cottage Life; director of content development, Quarto Communications

ALSO TEACHES: Magazine and Web Editing, Magazine and Web Publishing certificate program, Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education

WENT TO SCHOOL AT: The University of Toronto, where she received her Bachelor of Arts

FIRST MAGAZINE JOB: Assistant editor, Canadian Yachting

AWARDS: Named Editor of the Year by the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors, 2006 and 2010. Has steered Cottage Life magazine to numerous national and international awards.

INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT: Member of the first Magazines Canada task force that developed advertising-editorial guidelines adopted nationally by the magazine industry in 2007. Has sat on the Curriculum Development Committees of both Magazines University and MagNet. Frequent guest speaker at magazine publishing and community events. Member of the board of directors and chair of the judging committee for the International Regional Magazine Association, based in Vermont. Past director and former chair of the judging committee of the National Magazine Awards Foundation in Canada. Past judge for the Western Magazine Awards and the Kenneth R. Wilson Awards.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT YOU, PENNY?
When not at Cottage Life, I enjoy off-grid cottage life with my husband and two daughters on an island in Georgian Bay.

SO PENNY, TELL US...

WHAT MAKES A GOOD EDITOR?
Editors will be faced with content decisions every day, and pressure from a number of different directions, including the advertising community. The bottom line, though, is to create content that will bring readers back to the magazine (and any other media platforms you're developing) over and over again. With every decision, ask yourself "What's in it for the reader?" We call this the "so what?" factor. Good editors create a package that is relevant, timely and indispensable to the audience.

FAVOURITE PART OF BEING AN EDITOR?
Working with writers, especially the many talented professional writers who park their egos at the door and work with our editors to create wonderful stories for our audience.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO EDITORS JUST STARTING THEIR CAREERS?
Be prepared to start at the bottom and do anything. If you start at a small publication, you'll have more chances to do more different things. My first job in publishing was as a sports reporter at a community newspaper. Though I was very green, I got to write a weekly column, shot and developed black and white photos, designed layouts, wrote general features in addition to sports news, and covered a murder! Never say, "This isn't my job." Be prepared to learn new skills: blogging, social networking, editing for different platforms, even shooting video.

WHAT MAGAZINE DO YOU THINK IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB RIGHT NOW?
Outdoor Canada, and not just because our magazines are stablemates at the Quarto ranch. Despite relatively small editorial page counts and a very small editorial staff, this little publication delivers a remarkable variety of well-written and engrossing stories and useful service pieces in every issue.

WHERE TO FIND PENNY ONLINE:
Cottage Life website: Cottagelife.com
Blog: Penny's Blog
Twitter: @PennyCaldwell

Editor Profile: Chantel Simmons

THE BIO

WHO: Chantel Simmons, hair editor, The Kit.

OTHER JOBS INCLUDE: Instructor (magazine writing, editing, online magazines), post-grad Book and Magazine Publishing Program, Centennial College; beauty expert, The Marilyn Denis Show; freelance writer ("I mostly focus on beauty, relationships, travel and home decor") for Elle Canada, HGTV, Food Network and a few other mags; author of two bestselling novels.

THE BIO

WENT TO SCHOOL FOR: Journalism, Ryerson

FIRST MAGAZINE JOB: Editorial Assistant, Elle Canada

SUBSCRIBES TO: "I'm a newsstand shopper because I'm too impatient to wait for [magazines] to come in the mail. Here's what I bought this month: Elle Canada, Fashion, Toronto Life, Style at Home, Canadian House & Home, Elle Decor, Vanity Fair, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, Seventeen and US Weekly. Online, I read Lonny, Apartment Therapy, Sweetspot.ca, The New Yorker.

BEST PART OF NOT WORKING IN AN OFFICE: "Sitting in the sun with my laptop."

WORST PART OF NOT WORKING IN AN OFFICE: "Having no one at my water cooler to discuss last night's episode of trashy TV/new restaurant/Justin Bieber with."

ADDICTION: "Manicures. There are weeks when I have to decline an event invite and say to myself, maybe I don't need a third manicure this week."


SO CHANTEL, TELL US...

WHAT MAKES A GOOD EDITOR?
A good editor is someone who knows how to both manage and mentor her writers. It's not just about fixing the mistakes in an article, it's about helping a writer understand why and how the article could be improved, so that the next time she writes an article, she can take those tips and apply them. A good editor grooms her writers so that they barely need editing. (But a good editor should also know how to spell.)

FAVOURITE PART OF BEING AN EDITOR?
Reading a story about a topic I know little about and learning so much.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO EDITORS JUST STARTING THEIR CAREERS?
1. Leave your ego at home. A good editor knows that it's not all about her. For the most part, you give up the byline and recognition being an editor and hand it over to the writer. And you should want to. Your writer's work should shine because of your help behind the scenes.

2. Say yes. You might think you're spreading yourself too thin to take on a freelance copyediting job or work a booth at some event, but I think the more things you can say yes to, the more experiences you'll get, the more contacts you'll make, and the more opportunities you'll be offered because you're so well rounded. Plus, if you get laid off at your main source of income (if you have a steady gig), you'll have backup sources of income – and people to call on to let them know you're looking for more work. And no stress.

3. Change with the times. I have a Kindle and a Kobo and people are always scolding me, because I'm an author, telling me that I should boycott technology and support paper books exclusively. But here's a question: How many new bands have you discovered because you were able to try one song on iTunes rather than committing to a full album you weren't sure you'd like? I'm already spending more money on books than I ever did buying them in paper because it's so convenient. And because of digital, I'm now a subscriber to the New Yorker without even realizing it. [See below.] You can change with the times, or they can change without you. Your choice.

MOST MEMORABLE EDITING MOMENT?
When I left Elevate after being the editor in chief for five years, I couldn't believe the number of thoughtful cards and gifts I received from my freelance writers, saying how nice it was to work with me. I was so touched. I hope it was true!

WHAT MAGAZINE OR WEBSITE DO YOU THINK IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB RIGHT NOW?
I'm addicted to XO Jane (Jane Pratt launched it in May 2011). I've loved Jane Pratt since her Sassy days, so to see her back in action is a great way to waste time during the day. And that's always the sign of a good magazine.

I also think the New Yorker is brilliant in their e-blasts. For the most part, I'm pretty exhausted by e-newsletters. But every time I get one from the New Yorker, there's always a story I want to read. Click the link, enter your email address, and you get charged for the article, but you get to read the rest of the issue for free. I think I end up buying every issue this way – which makes me wonder why I don't just get a subscription, but then I think it's a lot of money/I don't have time to read another mag. But I bet they're doing really well because I can't be the only one who actually, unknowingly, does have a subscription to the New Yorker because of their great articles, and great marketing of them.
WHERE TO FIND CHANTEL ONLINE:
The Kit website: Thekit.ca
Website: Chantelsimmons.com
Twitter: @chantelsimmons
LinkedIn

Reading List:

A weekly roundup of job-hunting tips, career advice and interesting articles relevant to the magazine industry and being an editor.

• "Bored People Quit" on Rands in Repose. Required reading for editors in charge of a team. If you don't want to lose your best editors, that is.

• "99 Tips That Will Help You Land a Job" by James Clear on Passive Panda (via Alltop). From having the right mindset to interview tips to how to negotiate a salary, some great gems.

• "Help! I Can't Land a Job Interview" by Rosa E. Vargas on YouTern's The Savvy Intern blog (via @ginidietrich). I strongly urge everyone to heed Vargas' advice about resumés: Yours must "outdistance" others – it is a marketing tool, not a list of everything you've ever done.

• "Orgasm Guaranteed: What I Learned While Freelancing at Cosmopolitan" by Katherine Goldstein on Slate. An amusing account of life in the fact-checking trenches.