in our own words: the value of the editors tea club
Networking isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the Editors Tea Club (ETC) isn’t your average networking group. It’s a place where you’re more likely to see tiaras than ties, and where discussion prompts can range from “What is one of your business goals this year?” to themed topics like “What’s your favorite memory from a childhood slumber party?”
It was one of these themed nights that first caught my eye. In fall 2021, I logged on to social media and saw some editors I admire sharing pictures from a virtual show-and-tell. I was a year and a half into my freelance career, and I yearned for that kind of community. But even though the name of their group evoked a tea party, I couldn’t help but picture a school cafeteria—and this looked like the cool kids’ table. Could I really ask for an invitation?
I could. I did.
And here’s what I learned: at the Editors Tea Club, you don’t need to worry about cliques and fitting in. This is a come-as-you-are group that fosters camaraderie as much as the networking itself.
On the last Thursday of every month, members (affectionately known as tea-sippers) grab their drink of choice and log on to a video call for an hour of discussion. We celebrate each other’s accomplishments, bond over amusing anecdotes, and share practical tips about editing and running a business. And, yes, sometimes there’s a show-and-tell or costume element. (My first ETC meeting fell at the end of October: I borrowed the Mary Poppins hat I had made for my child’s Halloween costume.)
The networking opportunities have only increased as the group has expanded: what was once a Zoom meeting has evolved to include a whole network of opportunities for editors to connect and learn.
To mark the launch of the Editors Tea Club website, our blog team invited tea-sippers to share their thoughts about what the Editors Tea Club means to them.
who can join the editors tea club?
My initial fears that I wasn’t part of the right in-group couldn’t have been further from the truth. Every month, I meet editors who are brand new and editors who’ve been working for decades, editors who’ve known each other for years and those who have never met an edibuddy in person.
We come from around the world, but there’s one thing we all have in common.
As the invitations explain, “The Editors Tea Club is a safe space created for editors who are trans women, editors who are cis women, and editors who are nonbinary people comfortable in spaces centered on the experiences of women.”
That’s not to say that the conversation topics are specific to women’s experiences; most discussion prompts aren’t. It does mean that this is a group that affirms and embraces the identities of all its members (and that it’s not uncommon to see more than one f— the patriarchy mug on show-and-tell nights).
If this sounds like the group for you, grab a tea cup and join the club!
tea-sippers on why they joined
“I joined for several reasons amid the loneliness of isolating during the pandemic. Among them: to learn and find friendship in a safe environment with kind, generous women and nonbinary people. My background is in journalism, and newsroom culture is often less than inspiring and healthy. In the Editors Tea Club, I feel accepted and appreciated—and I get a front-row seat to some of the best discussions about editing and life I could find anywhere.” —Carly Dubois
“The ETC is a fun, safe space for editors to find support and friendship. Members can engage how and when they’re comfortable, knowing there’s no judgment or feelings that they’re not [fill in the blank] enough.” —Crystal Shelley
“It sometimes feels like the last respectful corner of the internet, which is a real treasure to someone like me who has generally shied away from social media. I know that if I have a question—or if I just need to vent about something going on in my life—the fabulous women of the ETC will have my back.” —Laura Skorczeski
“I really wanted a space where I could get to know other editors informally. Although there are various venues where editors chat, I’ve seen some negativity and mansplaining, both of which made it harder to pop in and get to know people.” —Pam Eidson
“As a queer and non-binary editor, I joined early on, and I’ve continually felt included and seen inside of the Editors Tea Club. It’s a really unique space on the internet that’s both comfortable and professional, filled with diverse folks who are so generous with their expertise and knowledge.” —Tiffany Grimes
discovering the editors tea club
The Editors Tea Club began when editor Erin Servais put out a casual invitation on Twitter. Over the past two-plus years, it has grown to more than 200 members (though not all attend the meeting in any given month).
Some of us stumbled across the Editors Tea Club on social media. As editing conferences expanded back into in-person events as well as virtual ones, members started hearing about the ETC through word of mouth as well. And we hope that the Editors Tea Club’s new website will also help the group connect with prospective tea-sippers and editing enthusiasts.
tea-sippers on how they found the club
“I started my freelance editing business a few months ago, and some people I met at the ACES conference mentioned the Editors Tea Club. I’ve met the most amazing, supportive, knowledgeable, and kind group of people who have helped me develop my business.” —Cheryl Isaac
“I am always looking to connect with other editors to stay up to date with current trends in our industry and topics to be covered on my podcast (The Editor’s Half Hour).” —Nadia Geagea Pupa
“I recently joined after meeting some ETC members at an editors’ conference, and everyone has been so welcoming. There are several events each month, and there’s always a conversation going on in Slack.” —Jennifer Navarre
“I first joined the ETC when Erin put out a tweet for it in 2021. We were all in the middle of the pandemic, unsure of what the future held for us, and desperately in need of reaching out to others. There are so many things I have received from the ETC—resources, help, creative stimulation, visibility, and encouragement—but what I treasure most is the friendship. Many ETC members have been the wind beneath my wings, and I try to be the same for them.” —Sohini Ghose
“I recently reached out to several freelancers I didn’t know, because I was putting together a directory of editors for my website, and I mentioned how nice it was to chat with others in the same field. More than one of these editors suggested I should join the Editors Tea Club! I am so glad I did. Editing can be a lonely job, but the ETC is a warm, kind, encouraging community.” —Allison Alexander
finding community with the editors tea club
As a freelance editor, I don’t have a lot of face-to-face time with my clients or my editing peers, so I treasure the chance to connect at each monthly ETC call. (If I don’t get my kids to bed in time, I often let them stay up late so I don’t have to miss the call and wait another month to see everyone!)
It’s not all about fun and games (though it is always fun!). I’ve received and shared client referrals because of people I’ve met through the ETC, and I’ve learned a lot from other members. The ETC has been a gift: a networking group that fosters professional development and makes me feel at home.
tea-sippers on connecting with other editors
“The Slack space makes it possible for me to stay connected to this wonderful group. I’m part of EFA and ACES, but I’ve never experienced the camaraderie that feels so organic at the Editors Tea Club. The ETC attracts people who want to help and learn from each other with compassion and empathy, and that’s truly special.” —Kim Schebler
“I joined the tea club thinking that it could be a great place to meet other editors. What I didn't expect was a robust community of like-minded people who have a genuine interest in seeing everyone become not only their best at work, but their best selves as well.” —Jess Stampe
“Connecting with other editors helps to make working from home feel less like working alone. I’m new to the ETC, but I already love it and have already benefited from sharing resources, insights, leads, and camaraderie.” —Sarah Liu
“At first, I was reluctant to be in yet another social space … but I’m so glad I decided to join. The Editors Tea Club is a warm and welcoming space with great support and advice—an excellent place to learn and share.” —Julie Willson
“Working freelance can get lonely, and it’s hard to develop skills when you have no wider community to lean on. Enter the ETC. I saw it as a Twitter thread during the early days of Covid, and many of the editors I’d admired from afar seemed to be a part of it. Soon, my heroes became colleagues who became friends.” —Jennifer Dinsmore
pinkies up!
Whether you’re looking for a monthly get-together or a forum where you can drop in to engage on your own schedule, the Editors Tea Club could be the place for you!
If you’re already a member of the ETC, spill the tea in the comments: what does the Editors Tea Club mean to you?
See you at the next tea party!
“The ETC has grown into more than a social space. It’s a warm feeling, a spark, an embrace. Our members have made it community.” —Alicia Chantal
Laura Bontje (she/her) is a freelance editor in London, Ontario, Canada. She specializes in fiction editing, with a particular focus on children’s literature. Laura is the author of the forthcoming picture books Was It a Cat I Saw? (coming March 2024 from Amicus Ink) and When the Air Sang (Annick Press, 2025). Her tea of choice is orange pekoe with a dash of milk and a heap of sugar.
