From the Editor's Desk • Closing Remarks Day 1

From the Editor's Desk

How to Not Get Exploited as a Freelance Academic Editor

Bailey Harrington, freelance editor; part-time staff editor, Washington State University

Many academics work with an academic editor to prepare their work for publication. They may hire an editor directly or use an agency that specializes in English-language editing for academic texts. Journals may require the use of an editor and often provide authors with information on these agencies; occasionally, journals even have direct relationships with one or more of them. This presentation will include real-life examples of rates from my own work for agencies, as an editor in a university writing center, and with freelance academic clients, as well as examples of exploitative procedures and rates, to help editors protect themselves and be compensated fairly for their work

Bailey Harrington has worked as a freelance academic editor since 2015; in 2022, she left academia to focus on editing. In 2023, she joined Washington State University’s Writing Center as a staff editor and began freelancing for trade publishers, including Macmillan. Bailey holds a PhD in Genetics and Molecular Medicine from the University of Edinburgh. Most of her academic editing work is in the areas of genetics, biology, and medicine, although she also edits for clients in other fields writing in English as a foreign language. Bailey is active in the freelance editing community, serving as the Programming & Events Coordinator and Book Club Co-Chair for the Academic Editing Chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association. At this moment, she is probably reading.

Protecting Their Innocence: Modifying Mature Content for Young Readers

Amy Hall, Amethyst Harbor, Inc.

To what extent should kids be shielded from difficult subject matter? Major publishers frequently print young readers’ versions of nonfiction books dealing with mature themes. It’s a balancing act to share this information in a way that captures the essence of the original material in an age-appropriate way. Using examples from my own experiences indexing books dealing with the #MeToo movement, two violent episodes in world history, and forensic science investigations, I evaluate the best ways to handle sensitive material. Today’s young readers may be more sophisticated than ever, but they don’t necessarily need to be exposed to graphic descriptions of events or vulgar language to gain an understanding of contemporary issues. By using simpler, nonspecific phrases, the author’s words can be studied in a less traumatic way.

Amy Hall is a professional book indexer with specialties in the areas of cookbooks, communications, criminal justice, and wellness issues. She holds a BS degree in Advertising from San Jose State University and a Certificate in Basic Indexing from the USDA. Amy has been a member of the American Society for Indexing since 2006 and was elected to ASI’s Board of Directors in 2022.

Authenticity as Ethos: Why Diversity Alone Won’t Build Integrity in Publishing

Liliann Albelbaisi, Publicity Representative, Stirred Stories

Kelsea Johnson, Co-Founder, Stirred Stories

In this presentation, we will make the case that the publishing industry’s diversity problem is rooted in its systemic superficiality. We will contextualize this startling reality within industry DEI priorities and data over the last ten years and present the Stirred Stories method as an alternative to inequitable norms. We will examine publishing DEI growth 2015 to date at the author, editorial, and executive levels, and discuss the Stirred Stories approach to equity in our publishing practices, profit-sharing model, and approach to equity in the workplace, building a seventy-five percent BIPOC team and publishing house that’s majority owned by women of color.

Kelsea Johnson is the co-founder of indie publishing house Stirred Stories, which has been recognized by the Children’s Book Council, Reading is Fundamental, and the Washington Post for its diverse collection of books and refreshing approach to publishing. Prior to Stirred Stories, Kelsea worked as a communications and advocacy professional for marginalized communities at local and national levels. A native and current resident of Washington, DC, Kelsea is committed to using storytelling as a tool for positive social change.

Liliann Albelbaisi works as the Publicity Representative at Stirred Stories. Liliann graduated in May 2023 with her MPS in Publishing from George Washington’s College of Professional Studies. Throughout her career, she has worked with a wide range of publications including local magazines, children’s publishers, and public policy periodicals. Liliann believes that an effective storyteller will be able to pass along some of the most important morals, no matter the kind of story.

Redefining the Future of Peer Review: Black Stripe’s Community-Centered Practices and Their Impact on Open Access and Diverse Submissions

Mikayla Lee, MPS Publishing student, George Washington University

This presentation will start by discussing the ethical responsibilities of scholarly journals in promoting and fairly representing marginalized voices. I will go on to examine how community-centered peer review practices can support the publication of work by Black and LGBTQ+ scholars, based on Black Stripe’s philanthropic grant funding approach. Finally, I will explore practical strategies for making scholarly and literary content by Black and LGBTQ+ scholars accessible to diverse audiences while also building a sustainable model, drawing from Black Stripe’s collaboration with the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing and other open access industry trends.

Mikayla Lee is a former high school English teacher who is in their final year of the MPS Publishing program at George Washington University. She is also the E-Publishing Lead for the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing. Mikayla specializes in ethics, digital publishing, and user experience design and has a passion for evaluating diverse voices in modern multimedia with the goal of making the publishing industry more accessible and representative of Black, queer, and female-identifying populations.

Closing Remarks- Day 1

Puja Telikicherla, Licensing and Subsidiary Rights Manager, American Psychiatric Association; Adjunct faculty, Publishing, George Washington University