CIEP Conference 2024

Session 1 – Ethical editing – Aki Schilz & Dr Kavita Bhanot 

A workshop for freelance editors about how to cultivate an ethical editorial practice and edit work by writers from a range of backgrounds with confidence. It is based on the Literary Consultancy's Ethical Editing training, which has been used in-house by a variety of commercial publishers. This session includes a mix of theory and practical application.

Session 1 – Helping experts help the court: An introduction to medicolegal report editing – Jahleen Turnbull-Sousa

Medicolegal report editing is a little-known niche that is a sizeable source of potential work for editors and proofreaders with experience or interest in editing medical content. This 90-minute session will explain what the medicolegal field is and why it needs editors. We will analyse excerpts of reports that are helpful or unhelpful to the Court, discuss tips for success in medicolegal editing, and talk about how to break into the field and find clients.

Session 1 – Worldbuilding for fiction editors – Andrew Hodges

This workshop delves into culture and groups in fiction developmental editing. First, I’ll present some anthropological perspectives on culture and groups in fiction and real life, drawing on my own experience as a fiction writer and cultural anthropologist. I’ll briefly discuss common problems when editing for worldbuilding and extend these to cover lazy cultural worldbuilding, cultural appropriation and harmful tropes. We will discuss tensions that arise when editing for creative, complete, consistent and compelling worlds. You’ll then apply this knowledge to novel extracts. Through interactive exercises and real-world examples, you'll gain hands-on experience in integrating cultural considerations into the feedback you give to authors. Whether you're a new editor or a seasoned professional, this workshop will equip you with clarity on possible fresh ways of approaching worldbuilding in fiction developmental editing.

Session 1 – ePlayer: A Microsoft Word add-in for copy editors – Dick Wynne

The editors who could make good use of the more technical facilities in Microsoft Word greatly outnumber those with the inclination or aptitude to grapple with them. ePlayer is an add-in for Word (on Windows) designed to organise the copyediting process and make sophisticated, appropriate automated tasks accessible in a user-friendly manner. It also enables those so inclined to create and freely distribute specialised extensions to the product. Its aim is to free editors from mundane tasks and let them focus on the quality and effectiveness of the author's writing. The session will demonstrate ePlayer and invite discussion and suggestions from the audience regarding how it can best serve their needs. A free, fully-functional evaluation version will be available by the time of the conference.

Session 2 – Embracing our changing language: From Agatha Christie, via Star Trek, to 2SLGBTQ+ – Lynn Fortin

For years I believed that editorial professionals were the guardians of the English language, ensuring the strict application of the rules which underpin it.

But are they?

Which English language do we mean? How strict are the rules? And are we guardians or mediators?

Join me in this session for a brief exploration of the history of the language and its perennially dynamic nature followed by a deeper look at the challenges we face today due to social media, the globalisation of English and the increasing awareness of issues such as colonialism, gender and sexual identities, neurodiversity and disabilities. We’ll then work together to discover some best practices for addressing these challenges while maintaining client 'voice', consistency and authenticity within each piece of work.

Session 2 – The impact of generative AI on writing and publishing: Industry perspectives – Imke van Heerden

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been heralded as “the new electricity”, “the new calculator”, and even “the new normal”. But does it belong on the bookshelf? In this talk, Dr Imke van Heerden discusses the impact of Large Language Models on writing and publishing, sharing the latest thinking from across the responsible AI ecosystem. She conveys key concerns and recommendations gathered from consultations with representative organisations in the UK, asking what principles should be put in place to protect and benefit the sector. In search of positive precedents, Imke turns to the history of computational creativity and explores questions of originality and artistic value.

Session 2 – Much ado about point of view – Christina Frey

Much Ado about Point of View

Curious about the limits of an omniscient narrator's knowledge? Perplexed by the concept of head-hopping? Ever wondered who gets a backstage pass to a character's thoughts? This session will unravel the complexities of editing narratives with point-of-view issues. While we’ll touch upon the nuances of first- and second-person perspectives, our deep focus will be on third-person narratives. We'll discuss what goes into choosing the right point of view for a narrative and how to help writers leverage third-person close narration to their advantage, and explore the subtle art of navigating and editing omniscient point-of-view narratives.

Session 2 – From a company of one to a company of thousands: Returning to full-time employment – Liz Dalby

A seminar on the theme of embracing change by returning to full-time employment after running a freelance editing business, based on my experience of returning to work as a bid writer in the foodservice industry after 15 years of editorial freelancing (and 10 years as an in-house editor before that). Topics will include making the decision to move from self-employed to employed; practical issues such as working hours and loss of flexibility/independence; transferable skills – using editorial skills in a new industry; adapting to a workplace that may have moved on; embracing learning; the employed mindset; positioning yourself as an expert within a new industry; working remotely; working in a context in which written communication may not be primary; working with extroverts when you are an introvert; adjusting to having a boss; ideas from working within a large organisation that could enrich freelance practice.

Session 3 – Coaching fiction clients – Aimee Walker

Coaching, like developmental editing, means different things to different people. This session will break down what coaching fiction authors can involve, what skills are required (or are at least useful), and differing approaches. We will also discuss how a coaching relationship compares to an editing one, how to hold boundaries, and the role of supervision. Using real-life case studies, we will break into groups and discuss how to approach a range of issues. Other editors who already provide coaching services will also share their experiences and expertise.

By the end of the session, delegates will have a better understanding of how to add coaching to their services and get an introduction to how to best help their clients.

Session 3 – Empowering multilingual writers: Using AI to support authors writing beyond their first language – Daniel Heuman

Research shows the significant challenges faced by multilingual authors. Despite being leading experts in their field, writers working outside their first language suffer prolonged writing times, more revision requests and higher rejection rates. In this session, we look at how AI can help you deliver faster and better edits to support the work of multilingual authors. We explore how AI can enhance fluency, improve language accuracy and ensure readability – all while respecting the author's voice. By demonstrating the application of these tools, editors will see firsthand how AI enhances efficiency while also fostering greater inclusivity and fairness in competitive fields such as academic publishing.

Session 3 – Your editor website is not IKEA: How to attract, retain and convert visitors – Debbie Emmitt

Unlike customers in IKEA, who browse within solid walls and follow a guided route through the store, visitors to your website can click wherever they want and leave at any time. But there are ways to rein them in!

During this session, I’ll give you clear, actionable advice on how to:

• attract your ideal clients

• keep them on your site for longer

• guide them where you want them to go

• increase your chances of converting them into clients or mailing-list subscribers.

You don’t need any pre-existing knowledge regarding SEO, accessibility and web best practice to enjoy this session, and I’ll explain any techy terms along the way.

Whatever your level of web knowledge, I aim to inspire you to be excited about improving your website and giving your visitors the best possible online experience.

Session 3 – Freelancing outside the box – Joanie Eppinga

This presentation is intended to show editors at all levels that they can be creative and even idiosyncratic in how they run their businesses; that many of the 'musts' they hear about are negotiable; that their ideas about running a business can be more open and expansive; and that they can run their freelance editing businesses in a way that leaves them feeling energised rather than worn down. This presentation is about the mindset and qualities editors can embrace to enjoy, and be successful at, running their freelance businesses. There will be time for discussion.

Session 4 – Thorns on the rose: Tricky editing issues – Laura Poole

No matter how much we train and how much experience we have, editors are still likely to be flummoxed by occasional tricky issues. Beyond an objectionable word or inaccurate fact, we confront text with problems that aren’t thoroughly or clearly covered by the major style guides. This presentation will go over some of these issues that might be special cases – such as song lyrics and pharmaceutical brand names – and require a more delicate touch. It will also cover biased language, trade and product names, plagiarism and creating citation styles for new resources.

Session 4 – Working with UN agencies and NGOs – Andrea Kay & Lydia Wanstall

Under the theme of 'Embracing change', this presentation suggests an avenue for nonfiction copyeditors to pursue improved income via work for nonpublishers such as United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organisations. This alternative to working with traditional publishing houses offers work that is varied, interesting and often well-paid, albeit with quite tight deadlines.

The session will examine editing for such organisations, using the World Health Organization as a main example, and touching on working with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Union and other institutions. It will consider the wide variety of types of document that need editing, which may be intended for different audiences and therefore need to be approached in different ways.

During the session, participants will be given the opportunity to work out how they might address particularly gnarly or unusual examples of text, and how they might best communicate with the authors for a smooth workflow. The session will also include some tips on how to use Word tools (primarily PerfectIt) to approach some common issues and features and save time during the editing process.

Session 4 – What you need to know to start editing games – Kate Nascimento & Katherine Kirk

Tabletop role-playing games have never been more popular. Games like Dungeons & Dragons have hit the mainstream in a big way over the past few years, which is great news for editors as well as players. Editing games is a fantastic way to hone your skills, whatever your level of experience or background. There’s story text, dialogue, tables, maps, illustrations, references, lists, and a whole heap of fun!

In this session you’ll learn more about what’s involved in editing and proofreading games, you’ll meet the types of clients you might find in the world of TTRPGs, and you’ll even be able to put your skills to the test on a game that you can take away and play afterwards.

Session 4 – Harnessing technology for superior editing – Hayley Milliman

Join us for a 90-minute workshop designed for professional editors, focusing on enhancing your editing efficiency and effectiveness using advanced tools. Learn to integrate cutting-edge technologies to streamline your workflow.

The session includes:

• Techniques for integrating multiple editing tools.
• Real-world case studies and live demonstrations.
• Best practices for maintaining high editorial standards while leveraging technology.
• Interactive Q&A.
• Elevate your editing skills, deliver superior results to your clients, and save valuable time by harnessing the power of technology.

Session 5 – Health literacy: How small edits can make big changes – Kia Thomas

Editing is about removing the barriers between the reader and the information the author wants to give them. Healthcare is a complex subject, and the barriers can be high.

This 60-minute seminar will explore the idea of health literacy and why it's so important. It will look at how we can use the principles of plain language writing and editing to hopefully improve health outcomes.

We'll also look at how editing for health literacy is different from other types of editing and how it’s similar. We'll look at how editing for health literacy might need us to embrace change – not just the changes we make to a text, but changes to the way we think.

Session 5 – How to start and scale your own editorial business – Rosie Tate

Making the transition from being a freelancer to running a company can be daunting – especially with zero business skills. In this talk, Rosie discusses the benefits of running a business versus working solo. She gives a whistlestop tour of pitfalls to avoid and tips for success and growth, based on the lessons learned through running her own editorial business over the last decade.

Session 5 – Communicating with authors: How to provide comments they’ll accept – Ruth Thaler-Carter

Communicating with Authors: How to Provide Comments They’ll Accept

Editors work with a variety of authors – colleagues, employees, clients and more; even friends and family members – and not all of them are used to being edited. Even experienced, well-published, professional writers can take offence at comments about or corrections of their work; co-workers and first-time authors are especially likely to respond badly to being edited. It’s easy to unwittingly make comments and queries that can come across as harsh enough to put people off and make them resist our input. This session will offer tips for providing diplomatic comments and editing approaches that prevent alienating, scaring or angering authors, to make it more likely that our editing input will be accepted.

Session 5 – Understanding self-publishing – Anna Davidson 

How does an indie author’s publishing experience differ from that of a traditionally published author? What services do an in-house commissioning editor, managing editor and the sales, marketing, publicity and production teams provide that a self-publishing author will need to source or deliver for themselves?

This session is aimed at fiction and nonfiction editors who would like to start working with indie authors or enhance the service they already offer. It provides an overview of the self-publishing process and considers how freelance editors can best support indie authors.

Session 6 – Editor blog 101: How to write blog posts that attract clients to your editing business – Dr Magda Wojcik

This session offers freelance editors an introduction to blogging as a means to enhance their online presence and expand their client base. Tailored for those with limited or no marketing knowledge, the focus is on practical strategies for promoting an editing business effectively.

Participants will gain insights into the fundamentals of creating and maintaining a blog, identifying a target audience, generating relevant content and structuring engaging posts. The session employs straightforward language, avoiding marketing terminology to ensure accessibility for all attendees.

By the session's end, editors will possess the necessary knowledge and tools to initiate their blogging journey confidently. Additionally, participants will receive a blog-post writing checklist to facilitate the application of the principles discussed.

Session 6 – Roaming editor: It’s a digital nomad life – Christina Petrides

One of the lessons we learnt in the pandemic years was that we really could work from anywhere. As freelance editors we already knew that, but for many, lockdowns opened up new horizons.

When we hear of digital nomads, co-living 20-somethings on a beach in Bali spring to mind. But what if you are no longer 20-something, don't want sand in your laptop and have put your co-living days long behind you?

Digital nomadism has many labels and definitions. This session is aimed at those with an unfulfilled wanderlust or who are curious about digital nomad lifestyles. It can help you find the one that fits your needs and give you some ideas and tools to put them into action. The session will also cover the main lifestyle challenges (insurance, banking, staying healthy) and some ways to overcome them, as well as give you the opportunity to ask questions.

Session 6 – Developmental editing of fiction: Notes from the field – Sangeeta Mehta

Of all the editorial services that freelancers offer, developmental editing (also known as comprehensive, content, structural, substantive and/or global editing) is probably the most subjective. It’s also one of the most creative forms of editing, making it an appealing option for experienced and entry-level freelance editors alike.

This session will open by exploring what developmental editing is and how it compares with adjacent editorial services, such as manuscript assessments. It will then reveal the results of a survey administered to developmental editors who actively take on fiction projects. Questions will cover the type of deliverables they provide (editorial reports, manuscript mark-ups or both?), the average length of their reports and the amount of time they spend evaluating a manuscript, among other considerations.

The session will close with an overview of best practices for developmental editors of all levels and a list of books and articles for further reading and reference.

Session 6 – Leadership communication workshop – Dominic Walters & S Lewes-Daley

Leaders and managers are the most effective communication channel within organisations. Editors and proofreading professionals often need to advise leaders and help them produce effective content that leads to action. This session – based on a well-received programme run by the Institute of Internal Communication – will equip them to have better conversations with leaders by having a deeper understanding of leadership communication, how to do it well and what gets in the way.

The session is a one-hour interactive workshop run by two experienced specialists. Through a mix of input, discussion and practice, participants will learn more about the three key elements of leadership communication – clarity, connection and conversation, especially:

- Making the case for leadership communication

- Helping leaders be simple and clear

- Ensuring messages are relevant, memorable and applicable

- Using conversation to help people make sense of messages