Speakers, delegates, and organizers at IEP Summit 2026, PHD House, New Delhi.
On October 31, 2026, editors and publishing professionals gathered at PHD House, New Delhi, for the autumn edition of the Indian Editing & PublishTech Summit (IEP Summit 2026).
Organized by the Indian Copyeditors Forum (ICF) and Business Media Links (BML), the conference focused on the theme “Beyond Editing: Editors as Entrepreneurs.”
I had the pleasure of serving as emcee for the event. Having hosted the April edition earlier this year, it was good to return to the stage and meet so many familiar and new faces.
The day’s discussions covered editing, technology, freelancing, and new opportunities for publishing professionals.
Hosting the autumn edition of IEP Summit 2026 on October 31, 2026.
Looking Beyond Editing
The conference began with a welcome address by Vivek Kumar, a founding member of ICF.
This was followed by the keynote address by Dr. Vivek Mehra, Founder, MD, and CEO of Vikramshila Education.
His session, “Beyond Editing: Re-evaluating the Entrepreneur in You,” encouraged editors to look at their skills from a wider perspective. Editors already work with knowledge, language, processes, and people. Could these skills open doors to services beyond traditional editing?
It was an interesting way to begin a conference devoted to entrepreneurship.
The Craft of Copyediting
Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri has been an editor, writer, and critic for over 20 years. He has also recently taken on the role of Festival Director of the Waterfront Indie Film Festival, Mumbai.
In his session, “Copyediting: The Craft of Clarity, Precision, and Consistency,” he spoke about the importance of preserving the author’s voice. Editing is not simply about correcting errors. It requires care, understanding, and sound judgment.
He also explored how the roles of copyeditors and commissioning editors differ, even though both contribute to the quality of the finished book.
Technology and Editorial Work
Technology was an important part of the day’s discussions.
Mohit Odhikarry, Manager (Journals) at Aptara, explored how AI can help editors manage different manuscript styles and editorial requirements. His session also considered how technology could make certain assignments more practical and financially viable.
Namrata Dave from Cactus Communications took the discussion further with her session, “The Future of Editing: Human Skills, Technological Solutions.”
Together, these sessions offered different perspectives on how technology is changing editorial work and where human expertise continues to matter.
From Editor to Editorial Consultant
After lunch, Dr. Pallavi Narayan, consultant with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, discussed how the editor’s role is expanding.
Her session explored opportunities in consulting, mentoring, project management, and publishing advice.
Editors develop many skills through their everyday work. The session invited participants to consider how those skills could be used in other professional roles.
Building an Independent Editorial Career
The next session brought together Gina Malkani, Abha Agarwal, and Dola Basu Singh.
Gina shared her journey into editing. Abha spoke about working with international clients. Dola discussed the realities of building a full-time freelance editing career.
Their experiences showed that there is no single path to building a career in editing. Each professional journey comes with its own challenges, decisions, and opportunities.
Content: Product or Impact?
Eashwar KP, Chairman and Managing Director of Pragyasetu, raised an interesting question through his session, “Content: Product or Impact? An Editor’s Perspective.”
As technology changes the way content is created and delivered, editors need to think about how their roles are changing.
The discussion also encouraged a broader view of editorial work. Beyond producing content, we need to consider what that content achieves for its readers.
What Should I Charge?
This is a question many freelance editors struggle with.
Anupam Choudhury addressed it in his session, “What Should I Charge for My Services?”
Rather than looking only at what others charge, he explored the importance of understanding one’s own financial needs, circumstances, and professional goals.
It was a practical topic, particularly for editors who are building independent careers.
When Editors Become Authors
The final session brought a different kind of experience.
The Red Pen Anthology was officially launched, followed by a reading and discussion featuring Cora Pereira Bhatia, Preeta Priyamvada, Yamini Kaul, and Garvdeip Singh.
After a day of discussing how editors work with other people’s words, it was refreshing to hear editors share their own writing.
It was a fitting way to close the day’s sessions.
Beyond the Conference Sessions
One of the best parts of professional gatherings is meeting people beyond our regular work circles.
The tea and lunch breaks gave participants time to reconnect with colleagues, meet new people, and exchange experiences.
For me, serving as emcee was a rewarding experience. Preparing the script, coordinating speaker information, and managing the proceedings took time and careful planning. Seeing everything come together made the effort worthwhile.
I was especially touched by the appreciation and encouragement I received from participants.
A Thought to Take Away
The conference brought together people at different stages of their careers. Some had decades of experience in publishing, while others were exploring freelancing and new career opportunities.
What connected the discussions was the idea that an editor’s skills need not remain limited to editing manuscripts.
There is room to learn, adapt, and explore new directions.
Perhaps that is what “Beyond Editing” is really about: not leaving editing behind, but recognizing how much more we can do with the skills we already have.