Brenda Leifso

Kingston, Canada
Contact

Professional Experience

My experience in editing, writing, and in online communications is extensive. I've edited everything from academic papers, fundraising books, and memoirs, to government publications. I've written and edited in print and online for NGOs, project managed website creation, and created and ran successful intensive and long term social media campaigns. I've also been been the managing editor for two literary magazines and sat as president of the board for Canada's only poetry magazine. I've received a certificate in Fiction Editing from SFU. I've taught business communications and developed curriculum at the college level. I hold undergraduate degrees in English and History and graduate degrees in English and Creative Writing. My creative writing has appeared in journals and anthologies across Canada. My first book, Daughters of Men, appeared in 2008. My second book, Barren the Fury, comes out in spring 2015.

Expertise

Copy Editor
5 Years
Editor
5 Years
Writer
10 Years

Specialty

Arts & Humanities
20 Years
Books & Literature
10 Years
Women's Issues
4 Years

Industries


Academia Teaching
2 Years
Professional Journal
4 Years
Nonprofit
4 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

4 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Inclusive Cities (10+), WIEGO (10+), Piper's Frith (1-2)

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

BC Government (1-2), John Stanley/The Legacy Group (1-2), Alison Gresik (1-2)

Technical Skills

Wordpress, Squarespace, Photoshop, Indesign.

Computer Skills

Word, Excel, OS 10, Windows XP

Equipment

Macbook air, Desktop HP PC, digital camera (Canon Eos Rebel T31), radio quality mike and iPhone recorder.

References

Demetria Tsoutouras (demetria.tsoutouras@wiego.org) Caroline Skinner (caroline.skinner@uct.ac.za)

Associations

Editors Association of Canada, Editorial Freelance Association

Showcase

Academic

This is just one example of the many policy and research papers I've edited for this global academic-research-action NGO.

Web Work

I project managed the development of this site, wrote the content for (I'm now in the process of rewriting), and continue to manage the site, create and add graphics, etc. as we slowly rebrand.

Non-Fiction

This piece describes a method of training in a Fair Trade project in Uganda, where I accompanied the director and wrote this piece as a result of (ghostwritten). I also took all the photos, recorded the sound, and compiled into a short video as seen.
This is a book-length memoir I substantively and copy edited over the course of 2 years. It will be released via ebook in early 2015, with hard copy to follow.

Book Review

This is my book review on Anne-Marie Macdonald's new novel, Adult Onset, which she published on her site.
A short review on a new book of northern poetry.

Poetry Book

Daughters of Men is my first book of poetry, which came out with established Canadian publisher, Brick Books, in 2008. My second book is coming out with Pedlar Press in Spring 2015.

Book

I provided early editorial direction and a full copy edit on this book, which details a new direction in philanthropic giving.