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IVA CHEUNG..
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Images

Two dots

A one-frame cartoon based on the Spiderman pointing meme. Against the same backdrop, one ü points at another ü. The caption reads, "Umlaut meets diaeresis."
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Author Iva CheungPosted on September 1, 2026August 31, 2026Format ImageCategories LanguageTags ComicsLeave a comment on Two dots

Re-emergence

Six-panel cartoon. Panel 1: Bespectacled editor and curly-haired editor are sitting at a table enjoying coffee. Curly-haired editor is in the middle of telling a story when an arm bursts from the ground next to Bespectacled editor. She turns to look at the arm and screams. Panel 2: The being continues to emerge from the ground—we now see the top of a head and two arms. Curly-haired editor says, “What the hell is that?!” Bespectacled editor replies, “A project I completed six months ago!” Panel 3: Curly-haired editor says, “Why is it back? What does it want?” Bespectacled editor says, “I don’t know!” The zombie emerging from the ground extends an arm toward the table an utters “UNNGH!” Panel 4: Bespectacled editor carefully kneels down and says “Here… Do you want my coffee? And a muffin?” while handing the zombie those items. Panel 5: Curly-haired editor say, “Did that do it?” Bespectacled editor says, “I think so. It’s retreating.” Panel 6: The zombie is no longer visible, leaving only the hole from which it emerged. Curly-haired editor says, “That could’ve gone a lot worse.” Bespectacled editor yells into the hole, “I mean no disrespect, but I hope I never see you again!”
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Author Iva CheungPosted on August 1, 2026July 31, 2026Format ImageCategories Editing, Editors, FreelancingTags ComicsLeave a comment on Re-emergence

Stop checking for this

A bespectacled bald man meant to look like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sits at a boardroom table with Clippy. The Microsoft logo is on the wall behind them. Nadella says, “Copilot uptake isn’t growing as fast among Word users as we’d hoped.” Clippy replies, “I know what’ll help. Let’s funnel people toward our AI tools by making the native grammar checker immeasurably worse!”
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Author Iva CheungPosted on July 1, 2026June 30, 2026Format ImageCategories EditingTags Artificial intelligence, Comics, Grammar, Microsoft WordLeave a comment on Stop checking for this

Continuity

Four-panel cartoon. Panel 1: Bespectacled editor and a friend with a ponytail are sitting at a table talking. The ponytailed guest is holding a cup of coffee and is mid-sentence. Panel 2: The guest suddenly has 3 arms and is holding a cold drink with a straw with what appears to be a third arm. Bespectacled editor says, “Wait—how are you doing that??” The guest says, “Oh, geez. Looks like my author’s making continuity errors again. I hope…: Panel 3: The guest suddenly appears standing behind Bespectacled editor. She says, “DAMMIT. I hope she finds an editor who can fix the issues this time.” Frame 4: She is back in her seat at the table, but she is wearing a hat she did not previously have. She says, “They’re incredibly destabilizing!”
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Author Iva CheungPosted on June 1, 2026May 31, 2026Format ImageCategories Editing, EditorsTags ComicsLeave a comment on Continuity

A spectacle of myself

Six-panel cartoon. Panel 1: Curly-haired editor and Bespectacled editor sit at a table with a couple of piles of paper. Curly-haired editor looks at a page and says, “I thought you said you edited this.” Bespectacled editor replies, “I did.” Panel 2: Curly-haired editor says, “It’s still full of typos.” Bespectacled editor says, “What? You’re kidding.” Curly-haired editor hands over the page. Panel 3: Bespectacled editor looks at the page and says, “I don’t see any…” Panel 4: Bespectacled editor has removed her glasses and says, “Ohhhh, you know what? I’m wearing my self-editing glasses.” Panel 5: She holds her glasses over the page. Through the glasses, the text looks fine. The text behind the glasses shows errors, like “complimentary medicine” and “mucus membranes.” Panel 6: Curly-haired editor says, “The ones that render even the most egregious errors invisible? I have a pair myself.”
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Author Iva CheungPosted on May 1, 2026April 30, 2026Format ImageCategories Editing, EditorsTags ComicsLeave a comment on A spectacle of myself

Pedant by proxy

Six-panel cartoon. Panel 1: An author points to a marked-up manuscript in his arms. He says to Bespectacled editor. “What’s with all these edits? I thought you said you weren’t a pedant!” Panel 2: Bespectacled editor says, “Well, I’m not pedantic, but a lot of your readers will be.” Panel 3: She continues, “How much do you enjoy getting emails from random strangers with unsolicited grammar advice?” For the next 2 panels, the author hesitates, then looks down at his manuscript. Panel 6: The author turns to walk out of the room and says, “I’ll go make these changes.
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Author Iva CheungPosted on March 1, 2026February 22, 2026Format ImageCategories Editing, EditorsTags ComicsLeave a comment on Pedant by proxy

Truing test

Single-frame cartoon. Bespectacled editor sits next to an author going through a printed set of proofs with a red pen. The editor says, "You're stetting all those typos?" The author replies, "I don't want people thinking AI wrote my book."
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Author Iva CheungPosted on February 1, 2026January 25, 2026Format ImageCategories Editing, Editors, ProofreadingTags Artificial intelligence, ComicsLeave a comment on Truing test

Let it stand

Seven-frame cartoon. Frame 1: Bespectacled editor is talking to another character with long, curly hair, a metaphor for an author. The author character says, “How’s everything looking for my debut?” Frame 2: Bespectacled editor says, “Well, it looks like the back of your skirt is tucked into your leggings.” The author says, “Stet.” Frame 3: Bespectacled editor says, “And the buttons and buttonholes on your shirt are mismatched.” The author says, “Stet. That’s my style.” Bespectacled editor says, “Your style. Right.” Frame 4: Bespectacled editor says, “I think there’s some broccoli in your teeth.” The author says, “Stet.” Frame 5: Bespectacled editor says, “Um, is that barbecue sauce on your collar?” The author says, “Stet. I like it that way.” Bespectacled Editor says, “You like the barbecue sauce stains. OK.” Frame 6: The author turns and starts walking out of the room, saying, “Time for me to get out there. Can’t keep my audience waiting!” Bespectacled editor says, “Well. Good luck!”
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Author Iva CheungPosted on January 1, 2026December 30, 2025Format ImageCategories Editing, EditorsTags Comics1 Comment on Let it stand

Crowd work

Nine-panel cartoon. Panel 1: A stand-up comedian holds a mic and stands in front of a brick wall. He points to someone in the crowd and says “And what do you do?” Panel 2: Another angle shows the comedian pointing to Bespectacled editor. She says, “Oh, me? I’m an editor.” Panel 3: The comedian says, “Ah, a failed writer!” The rest of the room gently laughs. Panel 4: The comedian says, “‘Cause you know what they say…” Panel 5: He continues, “Those who can’t do, teach. Those who can’t write, edit.” Panel 6: The editor says, sheepishly, “I actually also teach editing, so…” Panel 7: The comedian says, “So you’re a failure at life!” The crowd erupts into laughter. Panel 8: Bespectacled editor says, “Well I AM one at one of your shows, so that must be true,” and the audience goes “Ooooooooooooh.” The final panel shows Bespectacled editor in bed, sitting next to her spouse, who is reading. She says, “…is what I SHOULD have said.” Her spouse says, “Are you still stewing about that comedian?”
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For the holidays, why not treat yourself to After the Feast, my little cookbook for turkey dinner leftovers? The PDF is free to download, and print copies raise money for the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre’s food security and food sovereignty initiatives in Nunavut.

Author Iva CheungPosted on December 1, 2025November 30, 2025Format ImageCategories Editing, EditorsTags ComicsLeave a comment on Crowd work

Overload

Two-frame cartoon. In the first frame, Bespectacled Editor sits at her desk. An author says, "How will I be able to tell when my manuscript is ready for you to see?" The editor says, "Oh, you'll just know." The second frame is captioned "A little while later." The author, dishevelled, thrusts a messy manuscript toward the editor. She yells, "I CAN'T LOOK AT THIS ANYMORE! TAKE IT, PLEASE!!" The editor holds out her hands to receive the manuscript and says, "Gladly!"
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[Self-promotional non sequitur: Check out After the Feast, my little cookbook for Thanksgiving (and other turkey dinner) leftovers! The PDF is free to download, and print copies raise money for the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre’s food security and food sovereignty initiatives in Nunavut, which is experiencing a hunger crisis.]

Author Iva CheungPosted on November 1, 2025October 30, 2025Format ImageCategories Editing, Editors, FreelancingTags ComicsLeave a comment on Overload

Posts pagination

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Recent Posts

  • Two dots
  • Re-emergence
  • Stop checking for this
  • The plain language movement in Canada, 1980–1995: Interview with Christine Mowat
  • The plain language movement in Canada, 1980–1995: Interview with Jan Catano and Gwen Davies
  • The plain language movement in Canada, 1980–1995: Interview with Nicole Watkins Campbell
  • Continuity
  • The plain language movement in Canada, 1980–1995: Interview with Michelle Black
  • The plain language movement in Canada, 1980–1995: Interview with Kate Harrison Whiteside
  • The plain language movement in Canada, 1980–1995: Interview with Cheryl Stephens

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