Editorial Associations and Conferences for Writing, Editing, and Publishing Professionals
Networking online and in person has many benefits for freelance professionals in the publishing industry. As a global team, we share job ads, discuss software and style manuals, improve professional standards, get sound advice on running an editorial business, and more. If you are an editor, writer, publisher, or designer, you likely took the time to choose professional associations to join for networking, professional development, job board listings, and/or certification.
Membership in such associations offers training discounts, software discounts, workshops, and opportunities to attend annual conferences and industry events (including online) to develop your skillset and grow exposure. Membership fees range from $75 to $400+ per year.
Conference attendance is a great way to:
- Learn about the latest developments in the field (editing tools, editing rates, training opportunities, trends in the industries, updates to dictionaries and manuals, etc.).
- Meet editors, writers, journalists, literary agents, and other publishing professionals who specialize in various niches and introduce yourself as a specialist for potential collaborations and referrals.
- Build long-term professional relationships with colleagues whom you already know via online interactions.
- Get to know the association and consider contributing as a volunteer or presenter in the future.
Below are some of the US, Canadian, and international conferences that are popular among writing and editing professionals. As a specialist in resume writing, editing in the humanities, and writing for businesses, I have left out conferences for life sciences editors and technical writers.
For a list of science-related editing associations as well as other international and local networking groups, please visit the Copyeditors’ Knowledge Base curated by medical editor Katharine O’Moore-Klopf, owner of KOK Edit.
Writing and Editing Conferences, Worldwide
Editors Canada
Website: www.editors.ca
Head office: Toronto, ON, Canada
Conference dates: June
ACES: The Society for Editing
Website: https://aceseditors.org/
Head office: Gardnerville, NV, USA
Conference dates: April-May
Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)
Website: https://www.the-efa.org/
Head office: New York, NY, USA
Conference dates: August
Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)
Website: https://www.awpwriter.org
Head office: Riverdale Park, MD, USA
Conference dates: March
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Website: https://www.mla.org
Head office: New York, NY, USA
Conference dates: January
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)
Website: https://www.ciep.uk/
Head office: London, UK
Conference dates: September
Mediterranean Editors and Translators (MET)
Website: https://www.metmeetings.org
Head office: Tarragona, Spain
Conference dates: October
College Art Association (CAA)
Website: https://www.collegeart.org
Head office: New York, NY, USA
Conference dates: February
Association of Art Editors
Website: https://www.artedit.org
Head office: St. Louis Park, MN, USA
Conference dates: February, at the CAA conference
Book and Periodical Council (BPC)
Website: http://www.thebpc.ca
Head office: Toronto, ON, Canada
Conference dates: Book Summit, June
Books, Publishing & Libraries Research Network | Common Ground Research Networks
Website: https://booksandpublishing.com
Head office: Champaign, IL, USA
Conference dates: July
Writer’s Digest, a division of Active Interest Media
Website: https://writersdigestconference.com/
Head office: Cincinnati, OH, USA
Conference dates: August
American Booksellers Association
Website: https://www.bookweb.org
Head office: White Plains, NY, USA
Conference dates: BookExpo America, May
Clarity, an international association promoting plain legal language
Website: https://clarity-international.net
Head office: UK, multiple locations
Conference dates: October
PLAIN (Plain Language Association International)
Website: http://www.plainlanguagenetwork.org/
Head office: Canada
Conference dates: September
Association Media & Publishing
Website: http://associationmediaandpublishing.org/
Head office: Washington, DC, USA
Conference dates: June
Association for Women in Communications (AWC)
Website: http://www.womcom.org/wp/
Head office: USA, multiple locations
Conference dates: September-October
American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASPBE)
Website: http://www.asbpe.org/
Head office: Wheaton, IL, USA
Conference dates: GenerationB2B Conference, May
Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW)
Website: http://sabew.org/
Head office: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Conference dates: October and April
International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
Website: https://www.iabc.com/
Head office: San Francisco, CA, USA
Conference dates: June
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
Website: http://www.spj.org/
Head office: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Conference dates: International Conference on Journalism & Mass Communication, August
Society for Scholarly Publishing
Website: https://www.sspnet.org/
Head office: Wheat Ridge, CO, USA
Conference dates: May
The Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd)
Website: iped-editors.org
Head office: Wynnum, Australia
Conference dates: June
Career Advancement Conferences in Canada
Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling
Website: https://www.ceric-eric.eu/
Conference Website: https://cannexus.ca
Head office: Ottawa, ON
Conference dates: January
Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE)
Website: https://www.cacee.com
Head office: Toronto, ON
Conference dates: May-June
Internationally Educated Professionals (IEP)
Website: https://www.iep.ca
Head office: Scarborough, ON
Conference dates: March
Additional resources for editorial freelancers
Building a Stable Workload as an Editorial Freelancer – ACES: The Society for Editing
Job Search and Application Strategy for Freelancers – ACES: The Society for Editing
Top Tips for Résumé Writing and Editing – Career Professionals of Canada
How Editors Can Maximize Referrals – Editors Canada
How to Offer Your Authors Positive Feedback – Editors Canada
7 Ways to Improve and Maintain Your LinkedIn Profile as a Freelancer – Editors Toronto
Some Notes on Networking on LinkedIn for Editors – Editors Canada
Starting Your Editorial Blog – Editors Canada
Online Job Application: A Checklist for Freelancers – Editors Canada
Editorial Cover Letters – Editors Canada
Job Application Process for Freelancers – Editors Canada
Resources for freelancers on my blog
About the author:
Tanya Mykhaylychenko provides resume writing and career strategy services. Connect with her on LinkedIn for networking tips and ideas on career development.