Course Syllabus
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Course Description
Writers are a unique breed. They spend their lives creating things that were, or never have been, and they hope to make enough money so that they can live comfortably while others read their work.
To be a successful writer, one needs to do many things. According to Stephen King, it comes down to reading a lot and writing a lot. However, there is something else that a writer must do to be successful and that is to edit as well. Too many writers choose not to edit, believing that it is something someone else will do for them; but how can you know your book if you do not go through and edit it as well?
When you edit a book, you learn more about your characters, your plot and how they all mesh together. While you edit you may think of a new plot device that will work better for the book, or you may discover that the book would be better suited in a different genre.
Editing turns a good book into a great book, and all the great writers know the power of editing.
In this course you will learn everything you need to know about editing a book. From how much of an edit you need to do, the things that need to be edited and even the tools you should employ to make your edits successful. In addition, you will learn about what you should do before sending your manuscript away for review to raise the chances of successful publication.
Throughout the lessons, tips and quotes from the immortals of literature will show you that editing and even rejection are all part of the journey when you are a successful writer.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs
Learning Outcomes
- Define what is editing.
- Describe why should you edit.
- Describe the difference between light, medium, and heavy edits.
- Describe the basics of editing.
- Describe the editing process.
- Describe what published authors say about editing and writing.
- Summarize what publishers want.
- Demonstrate spell checking abilities.
- Determine stepping back and putting the manuscript away for a month.
- Describe common writing mistakes which editing fixes.
- Demonstrate find-and-replace as an editing tool.
- Summarize post-it notes and highlighters to help in the editing process.
- Describe why fresh eyes help your edit process.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Assessment Guide
Assessment | Points |
---|---|
Lesson 1 Assignment | 25 points |
An Introduction | 5 points |
Lesson 1: What Is Editing? | 10 points |
Lesson 2 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 2: Why Should You Edit? | 10 points |
Lesson 3 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 3: The Difference Between Light, Medium and Heavy Edits | 10 points |
Lesson 4 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 4: The Basics of Editing | 10 points |
Lesson 5 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 5: The Editing Process | 9 points |
Lesson 6 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 6: What Published Authors Say About Editing and Writing | 7 points |
Lesson 7 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 7: What Publishers Want | 10 points |
Lesson 8 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 8: Spell Checking | 9 points |
Lesson 9 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 9: Stepping Back and Putting the Manuscript Away For a Month | 10 points |
Lesson 10 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 10: Common Writing Mistakes Editing Fixes | 9 points |
Lesson 11 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 11: Find-Replace as Editing Tool | 9 points |
Lesson 12 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 12: Post-It Notes And Highlighters: The Editors Best Friends | 10 points |
Lesson 13 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 13: Why Fresh Eyes Help Your Edit Process | 8 points |
Lesson 14 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 14: Copy Editors | 10 points |
Lesson 15 Assignment | 25 points |
Lesson 15: The Finished Product | 8 points |
The Final Exam | 42 points |