Sessions are listed below in alphabetical order.
Presenter: Laura Standley
The job of the editor is to allow a writer their premise, to assume the writer meant what they wrote. After all, there are infinite ways to “solve” a sentence, and we shouldn’t confuse a writer by offering alternatives for no good reason. But when it comes to unintentional bias, this posture doesn't work. Instead, editors should assume bias is there and look for it and query anything that might say more than the writer intended. In this session, editors will learn how to identify more bias and flag it in a constructive way.
Presenter: Sagan Morrow
Do you feel overwhelmed with all the things you need to do as a freelancer? Do you wish you had more time in the day to accomplish everything on your to-do list—without burning out?
Foundations of Productivity identifies your productivity problem areas so that you can take action and fix those issues, using a unique approach of personality-based productivity.
Upon completing this session, freelancers will feel confident in their abilities to free up several hours each week, and have an action plan for restructuring their business in the most productive way possible for their unique life and business.
Presenter: Christina M. Frey
No Chicago? No problem. Developmental editing can sometimes feel like steering a rudderless ship, but there’s a way to chart your course. In this interactive session, we’ll explore book mapping, a valuable tool for developmental editing of longer narratives and for assisting authors with revisions. Book mapping breaks down the manuscript into its components, chapter by chapter or scene by scene, revealing what’s working and what’s not. We’ll discuss when and how to use this tool, navigating through examples of a stronger story vs. a weaker one.
Presenters: Wendy Lu and Cara Reedy
Phrases like "turning a blind eye" and "falling on deaf ears" are common in news stories and everyday parlance, but they actually do more harm than good. In this workshop, HuffPost news editor Wendy Lu and Cara Reedy of the Disability Media Alliance Project will explain why these types of idioms convey the wrong message and share alternatives and language best practices that will strengthen your writing overall.
Presenters: Christina M. Frey
The face of publishing is changing, and more authors than ever are choosing self-publishing as a means of creative control over their work and brand. Writers serious about their work need professional support to publish their best book possible—and that’s where freelance editors fit in! In this session, we'll discuss the unique needs of the editor-indie client relationship, including:
Presenters: Jessica DiDonato
Proofreaders defend against errors that could cost content creators their credibility. They protect the integrity of the work. One might say they are the unsung heroes of the publishing process. Proofreaders do not simply read and wait for errors to jump out at them. They take an active role in reviewing material, assuming that all content is guilty until proven error free. Herein lies the secret to great proofreading. Proofreaders find the most errors—shhhh—when they look for them. In this session, learn practical tips to make you the proofreading sleuth with the most “great catches!”
Presenters: Vee White and Andrea Klingler
Plagiarism is a complex topic: writers must avoid it and editors often recognize it. It may conjure assumptions of dishonesty and theft, and inspire feelings of fear and frustration. But distinguishing and resolving plagiarism can be challenging. This session will review findings from original research: an international survey targeting writers, editors, and publishers of English-language content. Results include respondent demographics and roles; their particular definition of plagiarism; their education and training around plagiarism; and methods they currently use to prevent, identify, and address plagiarism. Attendees will be encouraged to share their own experiences and methods during the Q&A.
Presenters: Daniel Heuman and Russell Harper
If you use The Chicago Manual of Style, the collaboration between the Manual and PerfectIt is a dream come true. But how does it work? What does it check? And what are its limitations? Most importantly, how can you use it to save time in your editing work?
Come along to see the collaboration of proofreading software and The Chicago Manual of Style in action and get your questions answered by the team that created it.
After attending this session, you will be able to: