Letters to the Community: Presenting The ACES Guide for New Editors

By Gigi Sutton, MBA, executive director

Dear ACES members,

I am thrilled to announce the launch of the new ACES Guide for New Editors! This comprehensive guide has been in the works for over a year and is now ready to support anyone venturing into the world of editing or transitioning from another career. Are you new to editing or considering a career switch? This guide is designed especially for you. 

The ACES New Editors Guide serves as the perfect introduction for those starting out in editing, providing valuable insights into the various types of editing, how to kickstart your career, key topics editors encounter, and additional resources to guide you along the way.

I extend my deepest gratitude to ACES member Vee White, who led the ACES New Editor Guide Task Force that created this guide. Vee was joined by ACES Board members Lauren Filippini and Crystal Shelley, and ACES member Andrea Klingler. Dr. Krishna Kumar Venkitachalam wrote the International Perspective section. Their hard work and commitment have made this a valuable asset for all aspiring editors.

This invaluable guide is a product of collaborative efforts within the ACES Communications and Publications Committee. It is grounded in feedback from over 1,000 editors, both new and experienced, who participated in a survey in 2022. The insightful quotes featured throughout the guide are a testament to the wisdom gleaned from our editing community.

To accompany this guide is the Resources for New Editors: A Curated List, which categorizes the ACES content — blog posts, webcasts, and #ACESChats — that covers topics relevant for new editors. We are grateful to Kimberly Grow for curating this list. 

The guide and the resources list are free to all. Certain webcasts and publications are exclusive to dues-paying ACES members or may require a nominal fee for nonmembers.

Explore the Membership page on the ACES website to learn how you can benefit from these additional resources.

We are excited for you to delve into The ACES Guide for New Editors and embark on your journey to becoming a proficient and successful editor. Thank you for being a part of the ACES community, where knowledge and growth are always within reach.

Sincerely,

Gigi Sutton, MBA
ACES Executive Director

ACES: The Society for Editing

ACES: The Society for Editing is the nation’s leading organization of editing professionals, educators, and students. Founded in 1997 by copy editors, ACES is dedicated to improving the quality of the written word and the working lives of editors. It sets standards of excellence and gives a voice to editors in journalism, government, business, publishing, and beyond through top-notch training, networking, and career opportunities. ACES hosts an annual in-person conference and, since 2022, an annual virtual conference. ACES Academy hosts monthly webinars. ACES also offers certificates in editing, which it co-hosts with The Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalism.