Maria Scala - Editor
I am an experienced and supportive editor with a Master of Publishing, focusing on inspirational memoir, travel, and architecture.
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Overview
Early on in my career, while employed at Penguin Books Canada, award-winning and bestselling author Ted Bishop (Riding with Rilke: Reflections on Motorcycles and Books) told me, “You're the kind of editor every writer wants to work with—someone who gets the project, sees where it is going, and helps guide you there.” Fifteen years on, I hold fast to that standard with each new client, regardless of the job at hand. Whether your first draft needs a thorough evaluation and developmental edit or is at the copy editing and proofreading stage, I am “all in,” offering expertise and guidance, support and collaboration, and a healthy dose of curiosity.
Along with working in the genres of memoir, travel, and architecture, I have extensive experience in the field of mother-centric writing, having spent nearly nine years editing columns for Literary Mama, as well as serving as its Editor-in-Chief for almost two years. Being part of that community made me a more compassionate and flexible editor, as I was working with writers at various stages of their careers, who were juggling multiple responsibilities. Former Literary Mama EIC, Caroline M. Grant, had this to say: "Maria is perfectly professional, cheerful, and a true pleasure to correspond with. I trust her work implicitly."
I am also a published poet and arts and culture writer, with my work appearing in Canadian and international magazines, literary journals, and anthologies. My love of poetry has led me to edit chapbooks with the University of Ottawa's Friday Circle series.
Languages
English (CAN)
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Architecture
Biographies & Memoirs
Design
Inspirational
Travel
Certifications
- Master of Publishing, Simon Fraser University
Awards
- Linda Waddell Memorial Scholarship in Publishing Studies, Simon Fraser University
- Scholarship to attend The Banff Centre’s Wired Writing Studio
Work experience
President
Self-employed
January, 2007
–
Present
(over 15 years)
I offer the following services to my clients: Manuscript Reading and Evaluation; Substantive/Structural Editing; Stylistic Editing; Copy Editing; Fact Checking/Reference Checking; Permissions Research; Proofreading; and Copy Writing.
Editor-in-Chief
Literary Mama
September, 2014
–
June, 2016
(over 1 year)
As Editor-in-Chief of Literary Mama, I was responsible for overseeing and providing final approval and sign-off of all content for a volunteer-run online magazine with over 40,000 monthly readers.
Working with the Managing Editor, I set editorial direction and format; ensured editorial standards and publishing schedules were met; developed and managed an international team of editors and writers; solicited new writers; interviewed, tested, and trained staff; built community; planned and implemented projects outside regular publishing schedule; and contributed to social media communications. As well, I was involved in business and financial decisions and processes, and in building links with similar organizations.
Editorial Coordinator
Penguin Group Canada
December, 1999
–
August, 2006
(over 6 years)
I wrote, edited, and proofread book jacket, catalogue, and sales brief copy; was in-house editor, performing substantive and line edits for several titles; evaluated manuscripts; ran profit and loss statements; solicited blurbs; and secured permissions.
Portfolio (9 selected works)
"Part travelogue, part ode to his bike and part literary criticism...a memoir infused with joie de vivre."―Publishers Weekly In this "joyful book" (Booklist), archive diver and Ducati enthusiast Ted Bishop takes readers on an epic trip from Edmonton to Austin, through the classic landscapes of the American West, and to some of America's and Europe's most famous cities as he considers what it m... read more
A rich and imaginative discovery of how ink has shaped culture and why it is here to stay Ink is so much a part of daily life that we take it for granted, yet its invention was as significant as the wheel. Ink not only recorded culture, it bought political power, divided peoples, and led to murderous rivalries. Ancient letters on a page were revered as divine light, and precious ink recipes we... read more
Back Over the Mountains: A Journey to the Buddha Within
Jane Marshall
A narrative with a deep philosophical insights hidden in every nook and corner of every sentence… Back Over the Mountains is the true story of unexpected friendship between a Buddhist monk seeking to establish himself far from his homeland, and a writer clinging to the remnants of fading borderland culture. When she unexpectedly meets exiled Tibetan Buddhist monk Kushok Lobsang Dhamchoe, she b... read more
Embodied Light
Hariri Pontarini Architects
The continental Bahá`í Temple of South America was inaugurated in fall 2016. The Bahá`í House of Worship, designed by Siamak Hariri and his team at Hariri Pontarini Architects in Toronto, Canada, creates a light-filled space esthetics and technology in perfect synthesis. With numerous drawings, models, renderings, and photographs, the book shows the design and construction process, and the bea... read more
Untamed Spirit: Around the World on a Motorcycle
Doris Maron
"It is my wish that this story will inspire you to live your dream, whatever that may be."In the summer of 2001, at fifty-three years old, Doris Maron sold everything she owned, except her motorcycle and a few personal belongings, to live a dream. On August 4 of that year, Maron left Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on her 750cc Honda Magna to begin her journey around the world. Over the next two ye... read more
THE WOLF'S HEAD - Writing Lake Superior
Peter Unwin
Venice, an Odyssey: Hope, Anger and the Future of Cities
Robbins, Neal E.
Maria has 4 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
It was a pleasure working with Maria! She took special care to provide more than merely copyediting input; I also wanted an outsider’s opinion on if any of the subject matter in my travel memoir might be interpreted badly or as culturally insensitive so her opinion was helpful here. Her pricing was extremely reasonable and she was very very accommodating to changes in my personal schedule and o...
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Caitlyn Lubas, April 2022
Reply from Maria Scala
Maria is an absolute pleasure to work with. I randomly selected her from the list based on "gut instinct" and made a smart move! From the ease of communication to our agreement on delivery dates, Maria made the process simple and achievable. Given the nature of my work is autobiographical and at times, delves into intimate, private moments, I trusted Maria with the content and felt she honored ...
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Lisa Bradburn, October 2020
Reply from Maria Scala
Maria provided an editorial assessment for an early-stage manuscript and her feedback/comments were exceptional. Thanks to her efforts, I learned a great deal about improving my writing, storytelling, and how to move forward with my manuscript. Maria was markedly professional and thorough during the whole process. I would recommend her services to anyone!
Paul Shields, June 2020
Reply from Maria Scala
Maria made very constructive suggestions and edits that helped me improve the book greatly. She was thoroughly professional and a joy to work with. I would recommend her to others without hesitation.
Neal Robbins, January 2020
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Reply from Maria Scala
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