Professional Kindness in Feedback: Saying the Hard Thing Well
Professional Kindness in Feedback: Saying the Hard Thing Well: Practical strategies for clear, considered editorial communication
Join PEG for an interactive webinar on how editors can deliver honest, necessary feedback with clarity, confidence, and care. This session explores practical ways to say the hard thing well without damaging the editor-client relationship or yourself.
Date: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Time: 18:00–20:00 (Central African Time: GMT +02:00)
Presenter: Robyn Veary
Platform: Online (Zoom meeting)
Level: Beginner/Introductory
Prerequisites/foundational knowledge: Familiarity with providing written editorial feedback to writers will be helpful.
CPD hours: PEG members will earn CPD hours according to the criteria published on the PEG website. Attendees of the live presentation will receive a certificate confirming their attendance and the duration of the webinar. Those who are unable to attend the webinar live may submit their receipt as proof of having received the recording.
Pre-webinar materials: N/A
About the webinar
Giving editorial feedback is rarely just technical. Writers are often emotionally invested in their work, and editors are frequently required to be both honest and constructive at the same time. This is professional kindness, but it doesn’t guarantee a smooth response. What this practice gives us is a way to stand by our judgement without becoming defensive, apologetic, or harsh.
This interactive webinar explores how editors can approach difficult feedback thoughtfully, using professional kindness as a set of practical communication strategies, boundaries, and editorial choices. Rather than aiming for perfect outcomes, the focus is on developing repeatable systems that support clearer conversations, steadier relationships, and more sustainable editorial practice.
Topics include language patterns that can help writers better hear challenging feedback, practical ways of separating the writer from the text, and recognising when honesty itself is an act of kindness … even when it feels uncomfortable.
Participants will be invited to reflect on their own experiences, share perspectives, and ask questions in a collaborative, supportive environment. This session is suitable for editors working across genres and experience levels who want to communicate more clearly and deliberately with their clients.
About our facilitator
Robyn Veary is the Original Sunshiny Grammarista of Sunshine Edits, the company she founded in 2015 to support writers across genres and experience levels through educational, compassionate editing. Known for her approachable style and focus on professional kindness, Robyn believes editing is as much about clear communication and boundaries as it is about technical skill. A lifelong lover of language, Robyn brings experience as both an accredited text editor and a self-published author, giving her insight into the emotional weight of creative work.
Cost
| Affiliation | Early-bird registration fee1 | Full registration3 |
|---|---|---|
| PEG members | R295 | R380 |
| Members of affiliated organisations3 | R400 | R500 |
| Non-affiliated members | R500 | R600 |
1Early-bird registration fee: Before or on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
2Between Thursday, 5 March 2026 and Sunday, 8 March 2026
3Professional Journalists’ Association of South Africa (ProJourn), Southern African Freelancers’ Association (SAFREA), South African Science Journalists’ Association (SASJA), the South African Translators’ Institute (SATI), Publishers’ Association of South Africa (PASA), Society of English-language professionals in the Netherlands (SENSE), Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd), Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and Nordic Editors and Translators (NEaT).
Take advantage of the early-bird special: save money and secure your spot at this webinar by registering early!
Please register by completing and emailing the registration form to the webinar administrator.
Deadline for registrations: Sunday, 8 March 2026.