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.