Speakers
Session 6 – breakout seminars (running concurrently)
This session is for all editorial professionals who investigate how to index non-fiction books, those who are required to check indexes, and others who want to know more about indexing.
This session is aimed at proofreaders and copyeditors who wish to investigate how to index non-fiction books, those who are required to check indexes, and others who want to know more about indexing. The format of the session will be a presentation, practical indexing exercise and discussion. The session will cover:
• approaching indexing from a background in proofreading and copyediting
• the value of indexes and human book indexers
• how to train as an indexer and individual qualities required
• the challenges and joys of the indexing process
• reflections of combining proofreading, copyediting and indexing skills in a freelance portfolio career working for authors and publishers
• tips on proofreading indexes
• practical indexing exercise with guidance
• Q&A discussion.
Delegates should attend if they deal with indexes in their editorial work, have a particular interest in indexing that they wish to develop, or are keen to find out more about book indexes in the publishing process. Attendees will take away a greater understanding of the process of book indexing, the print formats of book indexes, and perhaps a wish to learn more about how to work as a book indexer alongside their existing editorial skills.
Paula Clarke Bain is a Fellow of the Society of Indexers (SI) and has been a freelance book indexer and editor for two decades, most enjoying biography, comedy, film, literature and music books, plus indexes on indexes (see also Index, A History of the by Dennis Duncan, which has both a computer-generated index plus a human index by Paula). She is an Advanced Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) and she was a freelance copyeditor and proofreader and member of the then Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) before training in indexing with the Society of Indexers. She is also an Associate Member of the Society of Authors. She now mostly does indexing work, but still likes to take on the occasional copyedit or proofread for variety and to keep these skills active. Her qualifications include BA (Hons) English and American Literature (UEA) and BSc (Hons) Psychology, and she has an employment background as an in-house proofreader for publishers and printers. Currently, she is Chair and Conference Director of the Society of Indexers, and she has enjoyed being involved in many other SI matters, including writing for The Indexer journal and being co-creator with Ruth Ellis of the first National Indexing Day in 2017, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Indexers by G. Norman Knight in March 1957. She is now part of the SI presentation team at the associated annual #IndexDay workshop events for publishing professionals, currently held at the Publishers Association in London.
Her website and indexing blog is baindex.org and she can be located on social media at LinkedIn and on Bluesky at @baindex.org.
Email: pcbain@baindex.org