Freelance editors provide a wide range of editorial services to authors and clients. In this Publishing CareerBuilder, we will discuss key stages in the editorial process, and explore services including developmental editing; book coaching; working with graduate students, international authors, and corporate clients; line editing, copyediting, indexing, and proofreading. Our panelists—authors and editors of The Art of Academic Editing and The Freelance Editor’s Handbook—will share their insights into how you can find clients, price your services, and build and maintain a profitable and enjoyable business as a freelance editor.
Suzy Bills, Assistant Teaching Professor of Editing and Publishing, Brigham Young University; author of The FreelanceEditor’s Handbook
Leslie Castro-Woodhouse, Ph.D., founder, Origami Editorial; co-editor, The Art of Academic Editing: A Guide for Authors and Editors
Cara Jordan, Ph.D., Co-founder, Flatpage; co-editor, The Art of Academic Editing: A Guide for Authors and Editors
Maria Snyder, Ph.D., editor and translator, chapter author in The Art of Academic Editing
Bios
Suzy Bills is an editor, author, and faculty member in the editing and publishing program at BYU. She’s owned a writing and editing business since 2006, working with clients to publish everything from books to dissertations to technical manuals. She loves sharing her skills with others, whether through teaching and coaching editors and authors, helping authors get their thoughts on paper, or fine-tuning their writing. Her book The Freelance Editor’s Handbook: A Complete Guide to Making Your Business Thrive was published by the University of California Press in 2021.
Leslie Castro-Woodhouse, Ph.D., runs Origami Editorial, which offers developmental editing services and book coaching for academic authors. She holds a PhD in History from the University of California, Berkeley and is the author of Woman between Two Kingdoms: Dara Rasami and the Making of Modern Thailand (Cornell U Press, 2021), based on her doctoral dissertation. She has extensive experience as a journal editor and peer reviewer, including a former post at the University of San Francisco as managing editor of the journal Asia Pacific Perspectives. Before becoming a developmental editor, Leslie taught courses in Asian studies at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of San Francisco.
Cara Jordan, Ph.D., worked as a freelance academic editor before cofounding Flatpage, an editorial agency and publishing house. She earned a PhD from the City University of New York Graduate Center. She works on journal articles and book manuscripts across the humanities and social sciences. As chief editor at Flatpage, she oversees a team of editors and manages all projects. She has a certificate in editing from the University of California San Diego Extended Studies—where she currently teaches advanced copyediting—and is a professional member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, and a full member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: The Society for Editing. Cara coedited The Art of Academic Editing: A Guide for Authors and Editors.
Maria Snyder, Ph.D., is an editor who also translates from French and German to English. She wrote the chapter “Working with International Authors” in The Art of Academic Editing. She has translated and edited texts ranging from literary to technical and early modern to contemporary. Previously, as a tenured professor, she taught translation and media studies.
Co-Moderated by Nicole Mintz, Career Services Director, College of Professional Studies, and John W. Warre, Director and Associate Professor, Graduate Program in Publishing, George Washington University
The publishing landscape has many contractions: a stable, mature industry, publishing has traditions and practices forged over decades and even centuries, yet publishing is also ever-evolving. Like the two faces of Janus, publishing faces its past while looking toward its vibrant future. From the transition from print to electronic journals and eBooks, significant growth in audiobooks and podcasting, and the integration of AI technologies, the industry continues to undergo a metamorphosis. Over my three decades in the field, I’ve witnessed and written about these shifts, and strive to continuously adapt our approach to reflect trends and best practices in our curriculum.
When eBooks burst onto the scene in the late ’90s and early 2000s, pundits speculated about print’s ultimate demise. The enduring pleasure of holding a well-made book, however, ensures that printed books remain the dominant format in book publishing, while eBooks hover around 20% of the market (with large variations dependent on the genre, audience, publisher, and market). Electronic journals dominate scholarly publishing. Audiobooks have grown by double digits for a dozen straight years, due to the proliferation of smartphones, platforms such as Audible and Spotify, and efforts by public libraries to make audiobooks more accessible.
Often overlooked by entrants considering careers in publishing are the fields of scholarly, academic, education, and professional publishing, including careers in scholarly journals, which provide numerous opportunities. Prominent associations and societies in STEM as well as the humanities and social sciences have significant publishing operations, which often serve as significant drivers of the association, and provide numerous, diverse, and rewarding careers. Our students also find opportunities with university presses and for-profit scholarly publishers. Other students find opportunities in trade (general interest) publishing with the Big 5 or with independent presses. A significant and increasing number of students launch their own ventures or find opportunities in publishing startups, services, audio, and more, or find jobs that involve publishing activities at organizations that are not predominantly publishers, but where publishing is nevertheless essential to their business.
Our curriculum has always included a commitment to developing ethical leadership in publishing, a theme that has become increasingly pertinent in today’s landscape. Our annual GW Ethics in Publishing Conference, in its 14th year in 2024,, encompasses a broader range of topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, the ethical implications of emerging technologies like AI, workplace equity, multilingual publishing, and more.
AI represents the most transformative change in publishing since the advent of computers and desktop publishing in the 1980s and 1990s. The integration of AI into publishing workflows presents both opportunities and challenges. While it has the potential to streamline processes and enhance efficiency, AI raises numerous concerns around authorship, research integrity, disinformation, job displacement and many other ethical considerations. As publishers, and educators, we must navigate these complexities while equipping students with the skills to harness AI responsibly.
My own experience with AI is cautious and optimistic. We must ensure that a human is in the loop at the beginning and at the end. We must ensure that AI makes our jobs more efficient, creative, and strategic, and not replace our jobs. For my presentation at a publishing conference in Guadalajara, Mexico, I utilized the AI-powered translation tools of DeepL to translate my presentation and tools I’d created to share in Excel. I subsequently verified and refined the translation before presenting in Spanish; still, using AI saved valuable time without compromising quality.
Maintaining a stance of cautious optimism, we can recognize the potential of new technologies to make publishing more agile and efficient, while remaining mindful of their ethical implications, including the very real dangers of bias and disinformation. As our graduates become leaders in the field and shape the future of publishing, they will be embracing innovation mindfully, upholding the principles of integrity and inclusivity that underpin our industry.
As publishers, we develop expertise in publishing the work of others, in acquisitions, editorial management, peer review, and in myriad roles that add value to authors and extend scholarship. In our upcoming Publishing CareerBuilder, we will explore the impact of getting involved with and contributing to publishing journals. We’ll discuss the benefits of writing for and publishing an article in publishing journals, serving as a peer reviewer, serving on an editorial board or as Editor-in-Chief. Join us as we explore the impact these activities can have on one’s career and the impact these journals have on the publishing ecosystem. Our webinars in the popular Publishing CareerBuilder series focus on career opportunities, publishing roles and sectors, and job search strategies. Publishing your research and articles about publishing forces, issues, and best practices contributes to the advancement of the publishing ecosystem and has a positive impact on your career.
Dr. Alyssa Arbuckle, Co-Editor, Journal of Electronic Publishing; Cluster Co-Facilitator, INKE Partnership
Tia Gracey, Managing Editor, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing; Associate Editor, American Political Science Association
Jocelyn Hargrave, Editor, Publishing Research Quarterly; Lecturer in Publishing, University of Derby
Lois Jones, Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing; Peer Review Director, Journals, American Psychological Association (APA)
Jodie Martire, Associate Editor of Publishing Research Quarterly, Ph.D. candidate, University of Queensland
Michelle Urberg, PhD, MSLIS, North American Editor for Learned Publishing, on behalf of Society for Scholarly Publishing; Client Success Manager, LybLynx
This event is sponsored by GW’s Graduate Program in Publishing,is free of charge, and is open to current and prospective students, alumni,and members or aspiring members of the publishing, library, and scholarly communication community.
Co-moderated by Nicole Mintzand John W. Warren
Bios
Dr. Alyssa Arbuckle(she/her) is the Co-Editor of the Journal of Electronic Publishing and a researcher with the Implementing New Knowledge Environments Partnership, where she co-facilitates its Connection cluster. Until 2024, Alyssa served as Co-Director of the Electronic Textual Cultures Lab at the University of Victoria as well as Co-Director of the Digital Humanities Summer Institute. Alyssa holds an interdisciplinary PhD from the University of Victoria; her dissertation focused on open social scholarship and its implementation.
Tia Gracey(she/her) is the Managing Editor for the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing and the Associate Editor for the American Political Science Association. She has recently earned her Master’s in Professional Studies in Publishing at George Washington University and, before that, earned her Master’s in Liberal Arts at McDaniel College. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and has recently picked up studying Japanese in her free time.
Jocelyn Hargrave (she/her) is an Australian-born Lecturer in Publishing at University of Derby. Her research intersects book history (early modern to nineteenth century), editorial theory and practice, and contemporary publishing studies, with particular focus on educational and academic publishing. She is the author of Teaching Publishing and Editorial Practice: The Transition from University to Industry (Cambridge University Press, 2022), The Evolution of Editorial Style in Early Modern England (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019), and numerous articles published in international journals such as Publishing Research Quarterly, Journal of Scholarly Publishing, Media History and Logos. Jocelyn is a practising editor, with more than twenty-five years’ experience working in the publishing industry; in July 2023, she was appointed Editor of Publishing Research Quarterly.
Lois Jones (she/her) is Editor-in-Chief, GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing, and Peer Review Director for the Journals Department at the American Psychological Association (APA), where she oversees the peer review strategy and operations for 90 journals. Lois is focused on ensuring a transparent and ethical peer review process for authors, while providing reviewers and editors with the exceptional support they need in the constantly changing landscape of scholarly publishing. She is a 2014 graduate of the MPS in Publishing from GWU and a 2017 Early Career Fellow for SSP.
Jodie Martire(she/her) is a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland. Her doctoral research focuses on minority-language publishing in Australia and its role in communities’ defense of their linguistic human rights. She has over 20 years’ experience in the book trade as a writer, translator, editor, publishing manager, and bookseller, and she is currently the Associate Editor of Publishing Research Quarterly (responsible for book reviews).
Michelle Urberg (she/her) is a publishing professional, a trained librarian, and a musicologist. She has deep knowledge of metadata standards, metadata creation in the library and publishing software industries. She has worked in academic libraries, as a metadata librarian for the ExLibris business unit of ProQuest (Clarivate), and an Implementation Project Manager for ESBCO Information Services. She is currently an independent consultant and the Client Success Manager for LibLynx and the North American Editor of Learned Publishing. Recent research projects include identifying options for standard identifiers and metadata exchange of audio-visual content and improving metadata for digital humanities projects. Michelle holds a PhD in Music History and a MS in Library and Information Science. She was previously active with Metadata 2020. She is currently active in SSP, NISO, and ACRL. She is an active member of NISOs VAMD working group.
Employers, GW Publishing faculty, CPS staff, and others invariably remark about the impressive and evident talents of GW Graduate Program in Publishing students.
Casey Aimer and Amber Avila-Aimer are exemplars of the creative talents, analytical acumen, and entrepreneurial expertise of our publishing students. In early 2021, Publishing director, John W. Warren, was in conversations with Amber, who was considering her application to the publishing program. A few weeks later, he spoke with Casey about applying to GW Publishing. As their applications indicated they both possessed MFA’s from Texas State University, in literature and creative writing, respectively, it seemed logical they were acquainted; a few weeks later, they revealed that they were in fact partners. Amber and Casey moved to the Washington, DC, area to take publishing graduate courses in person; secured jobs with local publishers; and were subsequently engaged and married during their two years of study—GW Publishing’s first married couple. Along the way, they launched Radon, a literary magazine, while working full-time and studying.
Let’s start from the beginning: You were the first couple to apply here simultaneously, and you got married while in the program! Congratulations! What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?
Amber: Like most college graduates, we had a hard time securing jobs during the pandemic. We graduated from our first master’s programs and moved into Casey’s childhood home in Central Texas thinking that we would be there for a couple of months until we secured a job. Well, two months turned into ten and we were still looking for our next opportunity. Frustrated with the job searching process, I began to investigate editing certificates to help me sharpen my editorial skills while we kept chugging out applications. It was during this search that I came across the MPS in Publishing Program here at GW. I was honestly a bit hesitant to begin another two-year program, but after a virtual meeting with John Warren, I knew that we both had to apply. John did an incredible job at making me feel supported as a prospective student and the descriptions for the courses made me feel like this program would be the perfect fit for us. We had also been gunning to leave Texas after graduation so the program being in DC was just icing on the cake.
You moved to Alexandria, VA, to study for your MPS in Publishing in person, and were able to secure jobs in the publishing industry before you even landed in DC. Why did you decide to move to DC? How were you able to find jobs before even starting the program? Was it difficult to manage work schedules while studying for your MPS degree?
Casey: That we were able to find quality jobs in scientific and university publishing before arriving in DC is a testament to this program’s prestigious influence. Both companies we ended up with have higher-ups from this program or teach in it as professors. Rather than being a program famous in name alone, the program is known for producing top publishing professionals, and anyone getting into or completing the program are known to be competent assets for any publishing firm.
The MPS degree was wonderfully considerate of our time as working adults, especially when compared to our previous full-time master’s degrees. Yes, we had to budget our time, especially when planning a wedding at the same time, but we never felt that the demands from our classes were more than we could handle on any given week. The professors here are focused on giving you the knowledge and experience one needs to function at a high level in the industry, and it is free of busy work.
Amber: Adding onto a bit of what Casey has already mentioned, we really must tip our hats off to John Warren and Nicole Mintz for helping us navigate the DC job hunt. Without Nicole’s coaching and program-specific knowledge and John’s infinite connections, I am sure we would have had a much harder time finding such great opportunities. For those of you who are planning on getting their first jobs in publishing, I highly encourage you to set appointments with them both!
“…the program is known for producing top publishing professionals, and anyone getting into or completing the program are known to be competent assets for any publishing firm.”
Casey Aimer
After only your first or second course in the program, you took an idea you developed in a course and launched your own literary journal, Radon, which recently published its sixth issue. It’s been impressive to watch your trajectory developing this journal and sustaining it into several issues. You pay authors! How did you develop this idea? Were you able to work through some course assignments in the publishing program related to your journal?
C: I’ll admit that the idea for a literary journal that combines science fiction, transhumanism, and anarchism was one I’d held in my head for years. It is everything I wished existed when I was a young writer looking for a home and finding nowhere that accepted my unique passions. Especially for sci-fi and radically political poetry that I was instructed to shy away from in all my formal BA and MFA writing education. Life is hard as a writer, and the world needed more semi-pro lit mag publishers advocating for their authors and helping them reach the next stage of their career. Though the kernel was in my mind since the 2010s, my courses here did allow me to flesh out the concept, run through the viability, and create everything from a mission statement to early webpage drafts. The encouragement to follow one’s niche passion in the publishing industry dug deep in my neurons and gave me the confidence to pursue the idea to reality.
What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?
C: Try to come live in Alexandria if possible and attend in-person classes. The additional camaraderie you receive from your fellow students and professors is exceptional. There are plenty of scholarly and scientific publishing jobs in DC, too!
What course or professor made the biggest impact on you during your time at GW?
A & C: The most impactful courses are often the ones that are the most unassuming. The professors here have a knack for making any topic relevant, exciting, and integral to your work life. Whether it’s copyright law or management, you won’t know what to do without the skills once you’re done.
“I’m incredibly lucky I was able to harness learned skills from the program and apply them to my job at the same time.”
Amber Avila-Aimer
How are you using what you learned in your publishing courses in your day-to-day work as Editorial Coordinator, AAAS (Casey); and previously at the American Psychological Association, and now as Managing Editor at Wiley (Amber)?
C: Every publishing course gave us a little more of the puzzle that is the publishing industry. The production classes set you up to help in the production arm of wherever you work, the marketing courses provide insight into the labor that is getting society to notice your authors, and editorial courses will sew-up any areas you lack in your developmental/copy/line editing skills. So, the cop-out answer is that everything we learn is relevant to our day-to-day work at publishers and will serve us well into whichever role we choose next.
A: By the time I had moved into APA full-time, I had a foundational knowledge of the scholarly book publishing industry through the accumulation of my courses in the program. This made it a lot easier to “jump right in” at APA, so to speak.
All the courses in the editorial block of the program’s offerings (Mastering Book Acquisitions, The Professional Editor, and Editing Special Projects to name a few) gave me the guiding principles and technical know-how for my role at APA. I have spearheaded projects that include peer-review outreach, comparative and competitive research, inputting data into title management systems, eBook management, and book scheduling. Most recently, I provided a developmental review of an APA title set to be published next year and received exceptionally positive feedback from both developmental editors on the project.
I’m incredibly lucky I was able to harness learned skills from the program and apply them to my job at the same time. It’s an amazing feeling to come into a job and confidently say “I’m actually quite familiar with that [insert publishing thing here].”
You have both worked with Nicole Mintz, CPS Career Services Director, and participated in events such as our Publishing CareerBuilder webinars. How did you benefit from some of the career services at GW’s College of Professional Studies and the Publishing program specifically?
C: This program’s focus on industry placement is refreshing, and helpful each step of the way. It highlights how this program truly is for professional studies and those wanting to be at the top of their game in their chosen industry. The CareerBuilders spanned a wide gambit of topics, with something for everyone no matter which niche in the industry you want to pursue.
I’d also like to highlight the yearly GWU Publishing Ethics Conference. Each October it grows and all walks of professionals across the US attend. I highly recommend everyone who can attend in person to meet fascinating and important industry professionals.
Isabella Greene was the recipient of the 2023 College of Professional Studies Graduate Distinguished Scholar Award at the 2023 CPS Commencement Ceremony. The College of Professional Studies Graduate Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes the graduate student who best demonstrates the college’s core competencies of strategic thinking, communication, collaboration, leadership, and ethics.
All who are familiar with GW’s graduate program in publishing knows that we are blessed with a plethora of outstandingly talented students. We think that the talent can’t possibly get better, and it goes up a notch. Isabella’s talents and practice in strategic thinking, effective communication, collaboration, leadership, and commitment to ethics exemplify the CPS Core Competencies.
Isabella is one of the most impressive students I’ve had the honor to work with in the eleven years that I have been associated with the program at GW.
She graduates with a GPA of 4.0, in the top 1 percent of her cohort. She worked full-time throughout most of the program as Project Manager for Pubvendo, a digital marketing firm for publishers and authors. Her contributions and projects have been consistently thoughtful, comprehensive, and strategic, while generously supportive of the learning and growth of her peers.
For her Ethics in Publishing capstone, Bella developed a project that combined both applied ethics and research, to improve accessibility and employment in the publishing industry. She conducted extensive interviews about disabilities, including hidden or “invisible” disabilities, developed a survey and a website to support her project, and conducted a case-study within a team of copy editors.
She then developed that project into her own company, AbiliTEAM Consulting LLC., to help employers support employees with disabilities and accommodation needs, including invisible or hidden conditions.
In October, she presented her project and survey at our 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference; the only current student to present at our hybrid conference, which was streamed to 400 attendees.
She subsequently entered GW’s prestigious New Venture Competition and reached the semifinal round; as the only CPS student and the only solo entrepreneur in her Business Goods & Services track.
I am honored to have worked with her over these two years. Bella is an accomplished student leader; ambitious and driven, while equally caring, empathetic, supportive and helpful to her peers.
Comments from GW Graduate Program in Publishing professors:
Randy Townsend: I enthusiastically support Isabella Greene’s nomination for this year’s Distinguished Scholar Award. In the Ethics in Publishing course, our discussions on invisible and chronic illnesses inspired Isabella to explore this topic for her capstone project. Isabella’s experience with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome made her project personal. Throughout the 2022 summer session, she mapped out a blueprint for AbiliTEAM Consulting LLC, a company she launched just a few short months after the conclusion of the class. Officially licensed as an LLC in Massachusetts, AbiliTEAM Consulting LLC now supports organizations in their pursuit to become more inclusive and accessible.
Puja Telikicherla: Isabella’s drive, focus, and dedication to positive change make her an outstanding recipient for the Graduate Distinguished Scholar Award. She represents the core values of this merit through her consistent pursuit of education in service to the greater good, her skillful problem-solving, her sincere empathy towards others, and her willingness to create innovative methods within the structure of an established industry. She embodies leadership and teaches by example and her passion for continuous improvement can transform the publishing landscape. I also had the good fortune to see Isabella’s name on our list of submissions for the 2022 Ethics in Publishing conference, held both online and in-person last October. (I am a co-organizer of the conference with John W. Warren and am responsible for evaluating submissions and scheduling presentations). Isabella’s submission, Publishing Accessibility Support Systems, centered on her work as the founder of AbiliTEAM Consulting, an accessibility consulting firm in the service of supporting workers with invisible and chronic illness. It is worth mentioning that the Ethics in Publishing conference occurred just at the conclusion of my Fall 2022 course that Isabella was enrolled in, giving her double duties at a particularly busy time of year. Not only does Isabella have extraordinary energy and motivation, but her time management skills demonstrate just how disciplined she is with her many pursuits and projects, both within the CPS and beyond, and how willing she is to help no matter how menial the task.
Please join me in congratulating Isabella Greene, our 2023 CPS Graduate Distinguished Scholar.
Professor Dean Smith was the recipient of the 2023 College of Professional Studies Faculty Excellence Award at the 2023 CPS Commencement Ceremony. This honor is awarded to the part-time faculty member in the College of Professional Studies who has provided extraordinary service to the students and the college. The award recognizes both enlightened teaching and meritorious efforts to advance the college and its programs.
Dean Smith has taught in the MPS in Publishing program since Fall 2012. His course, Book and Journal Publishing, is our students’ first entry into the program; for many of our students it is their first entry into the profession of publishing; a nuanced, complex, and challenging profession to summarize succinctly in a twelve-week course.
Professor Smith’s full-time role is Director of Duke University Press, one of the most prestigious university presses in the world and a rather large enterprise. He has plenty on his hands. Nevertheless, he comes to GW’s Alexandria campus once per week, from Durham, North Carolina, for his twelve-week course to teach the course in person, in addition to teaching the online course during the same twelve weeks.
In his course, Dean brings in a wide variety of guest lecturers to speak about the different sectors and roles in publishing. People such as the President/CEO of Elsevier, and SVP of Ingram Content Group, as well as well-known authors and other publishers.
Dean is a devoted mentor to students and an outstanding professor. He has been instrumental in introducing students to job opportunities. Here are some words of support from Dean’s students, typical of what I hear from his students every year.
From Isabella Greene, our CPS Graduate Distinguished Scholar:
Dean encouraged me to be bold in my pursuit of publishing jobs and to keep an open mind throughout the program. He really set the tone for what ended up being a fantastic program.
From Casey Aimer:
Dean exemplifies excellence and a commitment to the program that exceeds all others. His immense love for publishing and preparing the next generation of professionals propels him to travel from North Carolina to teach each week. His class is the cornerstone of the first semester and is the perfect introduction to the program.
And Kelley Robbins:
Tapping his own personal and professional network, Dean brings in longtime publishing professionals to speak to his students during class sessions and share their insights about the industry and areas of expertise. He goes above and beyond the basic requirements of being an instructor and serves as a springboard to help launch students into their publishing careers. I consider him both a friend and mentor and can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.
Join me in congratulating Professor Dean Smith for the 2023 CPS Faculty Excellence Award.
Our selection for book 6 in the GW Publishing Book Club is “Yellowface,” by RF Kuang. “With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.”
We’ve set a date of Saturday, Nov 4, at 4:00 pm EDT to have an informal discussion of the book, and we will have a special surprise.
We are enjoying the book and were pleased to see is set in DC, home of the George Washington Univerisity.
As always, we welcome Publishing Book Club members to attend our discussion whether or not they have read the book.
If you are not already a member, you may sign up here.
Book 7 selection
Vote for our seventh selection using this form by October 31, 2023. We’ll announce the selection at our meeting on Nov 4, and discuss it early next year. We’ve narrowed the list down to four titles that were suggested by members.
Two are from Princeton Univ Press, who have generously offered a discount to members. They all look great!
Here is our Bookshop.org list of books that members have recommended and previous books we have read and discussed. To date we have discussed five titles, and the authors of all five books have met with members to discuss their book.
The GW Publishing Book Club, organized by the MPS in Publishing program at the George Washington University, is a space for publishing students, alumni, faculty, and members of the publishing, library, and scholarly communication community to read and discuss titles on the history of the book, the history of publishing, and similar topics. The bookclub is free and open to all, and is designed for general knowledge, fun, networking, and community building.
GW Publishing Book club committee: Laila Keadan (chair), Casey Aimer, Amber Avila Aimer, Carly Fisher, Kathryn Kremp
The 13th Annual GW Ethics in Publishing Conference will be held over two days—one hybrid day, Thursday, October 12, and one virtual day, Friday, October 13. An in-person social hour will be held at the end of the first day. Presenters from Canada, Chile, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States will be presenting on topics including AI, DEIA, open access, workplace equity, multilingualism, digital publishing, open peer review, workflow, contracts, research integrity, library publishing, indigenous publishing, representation, and other topics on ethical issues in publishing.
Thursday, October 12, 2023 9:00 am-5:15 pm EST Hybrid Format—In-Person and Online Presenters and Attendees GW Arlington Education Center, room 102-104, Ballston 950 Glebe Road, Arlington, VA
5:30 pm EST In-person Social Hour to follow conference Location TBA
Friday, October 13, 2023 11:00 am to 4:00 pm EST Virtual: Online Presenters and Attendees
Registration is free of charge and open to all in the publishing, library, and scholarly communication community. Lunch will be provided to in-person attendees, and a social hour will follow the event.
Event Format: In-Person: Choose “In-Person Attendee” if you are able to travel to attend the conference at the GW Arlington Learning Center in Arlington, VA. Space is limited. (Note: In-person attendees will also receive links to the live stream and recordings.) Virtual: The conference will be live-streamed; sessions will be recorded subject to the individual preferences of speakers. Choose virtual attendees to register and receive a link to live-stream and recordings.
The conference is organized by Puja Telikicherla, Licensing and Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association Publishing, and Adjunct Professor, George Washington University; and John W. Warren, Director and Associate Professor, Master of Professional Studies in Publishing, George Washington University.
5/15/23 update: The submission deadline for proposals has been extended to June 30, 2023. Thanks to all who have already submitted a presentation proposal. We have some great ones and will be in touch soon!
The 13th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023, as a hybrid event, with in-person and virtual presentations and attendees, at the George Washington University’s Arlington Learning Center, in Arlington, VA (Washington, DC metro area).
Submit your presentation proposal by June 30, 2023 (extended from May 15). We welcome your proposals for presentations and will seek to accommodate as many presentations as possible. Please indicate on the form whether you are able to present in person or online.
We are soliciting conference presentations from (and for) publishing and library professionals, scholars, faculty, and students.
Potential topics include but are not limited to: • Salaries/compensation/openness • Sustainability of presses • Accessibility • Diversity & Inclusion • Inclusive practices in language editing and design • Community-centered peer review practices • Multilingualism • Demographics of university publishing—staff, authors, reviewers, & editorial boards • Author outreach and education • Free speech and censorship • New university presses & their relationship to established university presses • International partnerships between presses in developed & developing economies • Ethics in accounting for publishing costs • Ethical considerations of AI in publishing • Author integrity (plagiarism, et cetera)
Fall at GW
Alumni and current students in the GW Publishing program are invited to present their Ethics in Publishing Capstone projects.
Presentations will include invited speakers, multiple speaker panels, and short presentations. See presentations and slides from the 12th Ethics in Publishing Conference.
The 13th Ethics in Publishing Conference co-organizers are Puja Telikicherla, Licensing & Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association Publishing, and Adjunct Professor, George Washington University; and John W. Warren, Director and Association Professor, Master of Professional Studies in Publishing, George Washington University.
The Association of University Presses (AUPresses), the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP), the Council of Science Editors (CSE), and the Association of American Publishers (AAP) are sponsors of the GW Ethics in Publishing Conference.
Attendance (in person and virtual) to the conference will be free-of-charge.
We will endeavor to accommodate as many presentations as possible. Registration for the conference is free. Use this form to submit your proposal for presenting at the conference. A registration form for attendees will be available at a later date.
Tina Donnelly, MPS, is an Assistant Managing Editor at Penguin Random House, where she assists department heads with all aspects of audiobook production and record keeping, as well as supports the Managing Editorial team on audio and large print projects and metadata maintenance. She is a talented 2022 graduate of the MPS in Publishing program at George Washington University, and the program’s newest instructional assistant. In the latest in our series of alumni profiles, Tina shares her experiences in the GW Publishing program, her work on DEIA issues, and her work at PRH.
Tina Donnelly, MPS (2022)
Your current role is Assistant Managing Editor at Penguin Random House, where you work with audiobook and other products. Can you tell us about your work at PRH? What are some aspects you learned in the MPS in Publishing program have been helpful in your work?
As Assistant Managing Editor, I handle a variety of tasks within the audio department. While my main responsibility is maintaining the metadata of our thousands of audiobooks published each year, I also manage things such as web copy edits/updates, Canadian pricing conversions, and ONIX feeds, as well as proofing and reporting on titles in our Random House Large Print imprint, which is also handled by Audio. I enjoy my job immensely not only because I love books and audiobooks, but also because I get to work in so many different parts of the production and post-production process: all of which helps get our books into the hands of readers around the world.
Most everything I learned in the MPS in Publishing Program has been helpful in some way at improving my performance at Penguin Random House. One thing is simply a more thorough understanding of the publishing industry, and how a book goes from an author’s head to the hands of readers. A more solid knowledge of this process, not to mention the business behind it, went a long way in helping me understand just why we do the things we do at PRH. Additionally, the lessons on understanding brand image and audience interaction were essential at improving some of the more marketing-focused responsibilities at my job, such as celebrity narrator announcements and cover reveals.
…Getting to interact with the professors, all of whom are experts in their field and talented beyond measure… made understanding the real-world application of the material so much easier. Additionally, the professors’ stories and examples of working in publishing helped me to prepare for navigating the field.
What was the most challenging aspect of the MPS in Publishing program? What was the most rewarding?
The most challenging aspect of the publishing program was learning about areas of the industry that were not initially as interesting to me. As a reader and a lover of books, I was much more interested in the courses that focused on acquisition, copyright law, editing, and audience interaction. The more technical courses, ones that focused on coding, software, and technologies, were a bit more difficult for me. Thankfully, I had some truly gifted teachers that helped me along in areas that I struggled with, so it was more challenging than undoable, and I got exposure to a side of publishing that I otherwise would not have experienced.
The most rewarding part of the program was getting to interact with the professors, all of whom are experts in their field and talented beyond measure. The ability to learn lessons through the professors’ experiences in the field made understanding the real-world application of the material so much easier. Additionally, the professors’ stories and examples of working in publishing helped me to prepare for navigating the field.
What are some of the reasons you decided to pursue the MPS in Publishing degree? Why did you choose GW specifically?
I wanted to pursue a degree in publishing not only as an advantageous career move, but also because I have a genuine passion and interest in the field. As an avid reader, I have always wanted to work in publishing, and so I pursued a degree in the field. I firmly believe a degree in publishing will go a long way in securing one a position for an already highly sought-after job, not to mention that it will help tremendously with upward movement within the industry.
I chose George Washington University’s publishing program for several reasons, namely that their program simply looked the best. The curriculum was stacked with relevant and interesting-sounding courses, the instructors were all industry professionals, and best of all, the program was designed for “working adults,” which is what I was when applying. Plus, the program is at the George Washington University, a prestigious institution, and an affordable one at that.
Lastly, the staff and faculty while I was inquiring about the program were beyond helpful and informative; they were so patient and thoughtful in answering my many questions, phone calls, and emails. It was a level of care I had not received at other graduate programs, and it was something that really drew me to GW.
A highlight for us last year was having you present at our 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference—where you moderated the plenary with Kimberly Ayers Shariff, Executive Vice President, Strategy for Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Penguin Random House, and also presented your own capstone Ethics in Publishing project in a separate session! Can you tell us about the genesis and trajectory of your project, why you presented at the conference, and about your conference experience?
I took Randy Townsend’s Ethics in Publishing course in the Fall of my second year in the program. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did; I thought it was an important and relevant class to take, but I didn’t realize how much I would gain or learn from it. I was really intrigued and impressed. One thing that stuck out to me was just how little diversity there was in publishing. I had a basic understanding that it was not as diverse as it could be, but I was a little surprised to find out just how overwhelmingly uniform the industry was. This homogeneity is reflected in both the publishing workforce and product output. This bothered me because as a big reader, I have always been able to see myself reflected in various stories, circumstances, and characters, and it saddened me that this was not the case for all readers. Or rather, that their portrayals in literature seemed limited, while mine seemed endless.
Tina Donnelly (l) and Kim Ayers Shariff (r, on screen) at the 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference
I was so drawn to this issue that I wanted to make it my capstone project for the course. Thus, I set out to make a case for why and how the industry can be more diverse, as well as a snapshot at its current demographics. The latter was the easy part; my own company, PRH, had just released their yearly diversity and inclusion report, and statistics for other companies were not difficult to find since this is an oft-discussed topic. The hard part came when I had to formulate my own ideas and suggestions for how to rectify the problem and move forward to a more diverse and representative publishing landscape. This is where Kim Shariff came in. Kim is the Executive Vice President, Strategy for Diversity Equity & Inclusion at PRH, and I had several conversations with her over what should be done, what is being done, and what further we can do to address this problem. Kim Shariff is an outstanding and insightful intellectual, as well as an experienced Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and she was able to give me some helpful ideas, tools, and attitudes towards tackling this issue. It is because of her guidance and advice that the presentation turned out so well, and I was proud to have her consult on it.
I wanted to present my findings at the Ethics in Publishing Conference namely because I am very passionate about this subject; it is close to my heart as a lifelong booklover who wants everyone to be able to indulge in the joys of reading. Additionally, Randy Townsend and John Warren both gave me some solid feedback on my initial capstone project, and I wanted to incorporate their suggestions to make it even stronger and more informative—more of a call-to-action, instead of mainly a passion project. I am happy to report that not only did I have the privilege of presenting my findings at the conference, but I also had the pleasure to moderate the plenary session with Kim Shariff, as well as get to see some other incredibly interesting and thought-provoking presentations from other GW alumni.
Equity in Action: From Corporate Initiatives to Team Practices (Plenary session of 12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference)
What advice would you give to new or prospective students to the MPS in Publishing program?
The most important advice, in my opinion, is to study as broadly as you can and take classes outside of your normal interests. People move around in publishing a lot, and you never know what areas of study will come in handy later in one’s career. Also, another big piece of advice that seems basic but cannot be over-emphasized is to attend the online sessions. These are not technically required, but students will learn and gain so much more from the course if they attend the weekly online sessions. This is an opportunity to engage with other students, ask questions, clarify details of the week’s lesson and assignment, and bounce ideas of your classmates; one really goes so much farther if they can attend.
I chose GW’s publishing for several reasons, namely that their program simply looked the best. The curriculum was stacked with relevant and interesting-sounding courses, the instructors were all industry professionals, and best of all, the program was designed for “working adults,” which is what I was when applying. Plus, the program is at the George Washington University, a prestigious institution, and an affordable one at that.
What courses or professors had an impact on you during your time at GW?
Publishing Entrepreneurship with John Warren is exceedingly helpful for young publishing professionals. Even if you don’t plan to be an entrepreneur yourself, this course is great for understanding the basics of the business.
Copyright Law/Print & Cyberspace is an essential class for anyone who wants to work in publishing, no matter what area. Understanding the basic rules of copyright, trademark, and fair use is critical in any media field, and this course excellently teaches these concepts.
The Professional Editor is another course that anyone entering the publishing world should take. Even if one is not necessarily going into this department, this is an important course that covers not just editing, but also managing, proofing, team relations, and author interaction. If anyone wants to work with books or journals at all, this class is a must.
Production Management is a challenging course, but it goes without saying that this is a necessary course for anyone entering publishing. Having a basic understanding of the production process, even if one has nothing to do with the production side of things, is critical for understanding a book’s life cycle. Knowing this is vital because no matter what area of publishing one is in, production will affect them in one way or another, and it is best that one has a working knowledge of the process.
John Warren had a huge positive impact on my time at GW, not just as a professor but also as the program director. He was exceedingly helpful whenever I struggled and assisted me in navigating the program whenever I was uncertain how to proceed.
Dean Smith was also a major ally in my time at GW. As one of the first professors I had in the program, he helped prepare me for the rest of my education and gave me the confidence I needed to tackle my course load.
Both Josephine Sciortino and Rebecca Brenner were each such massive supports through their class, The Professional Editor. They each had so much wisdom and experience they shared in the course, not just about editing but also about how to successfully operate in all areas of publishing, as well as how to act as a true professional in the workplace. Their guidance and encouragement had such a positive impact on me in my last year of the program.
Greg Britton is another professor who is almost too good to be true. He is not only one of the kindest people I have ever met, but he is also an extraordinary talented professor and masterfully teaches his class on book acquisitions. His eagerness to connect with students and teach the material in a more interactive and collaborative fashion made such a difference in helping me to understand acquisitions more thoroughly, not to mention it made me much more interested in the topic.
The value of GW’s MPS in Publishing degree can truly not be overstated. The degree will not only bolster you as a candidate for publishing jobs, but it will also instill you with a sense of ease and confidence in navigating the field; one has, after all, mastered it. Personally, I have newfound respect (and responsibilities) at my own workplace because my team feels I can handle more, and they are correct.
Gatekeeping and Trade Publishing, Devyn Yan Radke, Tina Donnelly (12th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference)
What have you found to be the value of the MPS in Publishing degree, and how are you using what you learned, as a rising publishing professional?
It is unarguable that the value of GW’s MPS in Publishing degree can truly not be overstated. The degree will not only bolster you as a candidate for publishing jobs, but it will also instill you with a sense of ease and confidence in navigating the field; one has, after all, mastered it. Personally, I have newfound respect (and responsibilities) at my own workplace because my team feels I can handle more, and they are correct. I feel surer in myself as an employee and my own capabilities. The degree itself does a lot to impress one’s superiors too; just having it shows not only that you have a strong sense of how the business operates, but also that you cared enough to pursue higher education for your career, both of which go a long way in highlighting you as a dedicated professional.
Can you provide any other tips that might be helpful for prospective students?
Take as many electives as you can manage, and try to study things that are outside your comfort zone; you’ll be surprised at how much you may enjoy them. Business and entrepreneurial classes will teach you a lot about publishing on the ground level. Furthermore, take advantage of things like online sessions, office hours, Publishing Career Builders, and any conferences that you can attend. These are all great opportunities at GW to not only network but also sharpen your skills to prepare for the publishing landscape.
