Ideas on Fire

Academic editing and indexing for interdisciplinary scholars
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17 years of helping authors go from draft to published

Ideas on Fire is an academic editing and indexing agency helping interdisciplinary scholars across the humanities and social sciences write and publish awesome texts, enliven public conversations, and create more just worlds.

Our transnational team of developmental editors, copyeditors, indexers, researchers, and teachers work at the cutting edge of knowledge production, fostering the ideas and texts that help build new futures.

We offer a range of services including developmental editing, copyediting, book indexing, and publishing workshops.

With Ideas on Fire you don’t just get the perspective of one editor or indexer—you get the collective expertise of a full publishing team.

We’re right there with you from that first glimmer of an idea to publication and beyond.

Our services

Academic editing services

Developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, and manuscript reviews

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Book indexing services

Interdisciplinary indexes that increase accessibility and readership

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Scholarly journal editing

Detailed copyediting and style guide creation for scholarly journals

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Academic publishing workshops

Group support for the research, writing, and publishing process

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Our recent editing and indexing work

Cover of Trans Pleasure, with the title in neon lights
Cover of Everyday Futures, with a hand shaped as a road and person looking down the road
Cover of A Black Queer History of the United States, with bold yellow and black writing on a pink background
Cover of Good Sediment, with an artistic collage of people, water birds, trees, plants, and water in a marshland.
Cover of Braving All Borders, with a fabulous performer in a sequined gown with a giant headdress of snakes
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Why so many scholars, publishers, and departments trust Ideas on Fire

"Working with Ideas on Fire was an oasis, an opportunity to receive affirming, consistent, and constructive academic editing feedback on my writing. I have more confidence with my capacity as a writer and thinker from their edits."

Ronak Kapadia, author of Insurgent Aesthetics: Security and the Queer Life of the Forever War

"Ideas on Fire’s advice helped to draw out my book’s critical framework and gave me important direction for revising and reorganizing chapters. They are wonderful readers who offer exactly the right amount of critical feedback and positive nudging forward."

Minh-Ha T. Pham, author of Asians Wear Clothes on the Internet: Race, Gender, and the Work of Personal Style Blogging

"I am so grateful to Ideas on Fire for their expertise, professionalism, and prompt assistance. They get right to the heart of a chapter’s workings; it’s like a superpower." 

Lauryl Tucker, author of Unexpected Pleasures: Parody, Queerness, and Genre in 20th-Century British Fiction

“I recommend Ideas on Fire’s services to all of my colleagues who do critical cultural work. Working with IoF gives me comfort knowing my work won’t be misunderstood because of a lack of understanding of my intersectional fields.”

Kishonna L. Gray, author of Intersectional Tech: Black Users in Digital Gaming

"IoF helped me strengthen and clarify my argument and also gave me confidence with positive feedback on the things I did well. My book was accepted by Duke University Press thanks to Ideas on Fire’s editing."

Lex Lancaster, author of Dragging Away: Queer Abstraction in Contemporary Art

"Working with Ideas on Fire was an incredible experience. I have new expectations for copyeditors and indexers now, thanks to their work. I recommend IoF to all the academics and writers I know."

Tiffany Lethabo King, author of The Black Shoals: Offshore Formations of Black and Native Studies

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First Book Publishing Support

Get inside the first book publishing process with our free, on-demand webinar series.

Featuring acquisitions editors from leading scholarly presses, these sessions break down what to expect and how to move forward with clarity at every stage of your publishing journey.

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Join us for these upcoming events

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Leading an Interdisciplinary Journal - Stack of journal issues against a blue background

Leading an Interdisciplinary Journal

September 22, 2026

Part of the Ideas on Fire Publishing Series

Discover the challenges and opportunities of editing interdisciplinary journals, from peer review and workflow management to audience and community building.

Speakers: 

Register
Understanding Book Contracts, Royalties, and Rights - Person reads a contact before signing

Understanding Book Contracts, Royalties, and Rights

October 14, 2026

Part of the Ideas on Fire Publishing Series

Understand the key terms of scholarly book contracts, including royalties, subsidiary rights, permissions, and publishing obligations.

Speakers:

Register

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