ACES Society for Editing VCon Conference 2024
September 25–27, 2024 | onlineIdeas on Fire is a proud sponsor of ACES VCon
Come on by our booth in the Whova app to say hi and meet our founder Dr. Cathy Hannabach
Welcome to the Ideas on Fire guide for the 2024 ACES Society for Editing VCon conference!
In this guide, we’ve curated a bunch of resources to help you get the most out of your conference experience.
ACES VCon is a 100% virtual event that draws together developmental editors, copyeditors, proofreaders, project managers, managing editors, freelancers, in-house staff, publishers, and writers for learning and connecting.
Wherever you are in your editing journey, the conference’s session tracks offer inspiration and skills you can put to use right away.
The virtual meetups offer attendees the opportunity to network with fellow #Edibuddies in your time zone and meet the folks you’ve been following on social media.
If you can’t attend synchronously, check out our tips on conference participation when you can’t attend, and join the conversations at the conference hashtag #ACESVCon24.
You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads, where we’ll be posting resources throughout the conference.
Academic editing courses
Intro to professional academic editing
Our flagship course built for those pursuing a freelance academic editing career in the humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplines.
Writing a Great Editorial Letter or Report
Our newest course built for academic developmental editors helping them deliver holistic and actionable revision recommendations to scholarly authors.
Getting the most out of ACES VCon
Research speakers and sessions beforehand
Review the conference schedule and session descriptions to find ones relevant to your interests and career goals. Don’t be afraid to check out new topics too—you never know when you’ll learn something awesome.
Don’t feel pressured to do everything
Being judicious with your time is crucial. It is totally acceptable to pop in and out of sessions as needed throughout the day. This targeted approach ensures you make the most of your time. You can always watch the recordings afterward.
Active participation makes for a better experience
Asking questions and commenting in the chat enhances your conference experience and lets speakers know what is resonating. Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to sponsors, fellow attendees, and speakers during breaks—these interactions can lead to meaningful connections and collaborations.
Explore meetups and hands-on events
Take advantage of meetups, sponsor demos, and hands-on sessions. These practical experiences often provide deep insights, and the unstructured nature of meetups and discussions allow for greater connections.
Connect with sponsors for career enhancement
Visit the sponsor booths to learn about job opportunities, explore editing resources, and grab some free swag and discounts. This is also a great opportunity to introduce yourself and build connections with industry leaders.
Schedule time for reflection and integration
Take time after the event to reflect on what you’ve learned and how you can apply it to your work. Create an action plan to implement new strategies and ideas, and make sure to follow up with the folks you connected with during the event.
Editing with critical generosity
In our editorial practice, we must take responsibility for the role of editors and indexers in shaping not only the futures of publishing but also the broader political and social worlds that publishing enables.
Learn more about Dr. Cathy Hannabach’s editing framework of critical generosity and how it forms the core of the unique Ideas on Fire approach to scholarly editing.
Editing and publishing resources
Grow in your editing career with our resources for working with authors and publishers.
Creating a Social Justice-Focused Journal Style Guide
How to design an academic journal style guide that embodies a social justice politics, ethics, and vision.
Helping Authors Budget for Editing and Indexing
How interdisciplinary scholars can best budget for editing and indexing on their books and journal articles.
When Authors Should Bring in Academic Editors and Indexers
A guide for authors on when to hire academic editors and indexers during their publishing journey.
Transitioning from Scholar to Academic Editor
Interdisciplinary scholars often make fantastic academic editors. Here’s how you can get started building your editing career.
Conference resources
Make the most of your conference experience with our resources for presenting, networking, and participating.
Conference Presentation Tips
Keep these conference presentation tips in mind to share your work with the clarity and confidence you need to connect to your audience.
Managing Conference Presentation Stage Fright
Conference presentation stage fright is very common. Here are some techniques to help you manage your nerves and deliver a great presentation.
Before and After Conference Checklists
Conference checklists are a great way to make sure you are prepared for a conference, get the most out of it while there, and remember to follow up.
Conference Participation When You Can't Attend
Meaningful conference participation from afar is absolutely possible. Here’s how to stay engaged even if you can’t attend.
Level up your editing career
Join our acclaimed powerhouse team of editors and indexers shaping the future of scholarly publishing