Online Class: Book Editing 101
We're sorry, this course is no longer open for enrollment.
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15Lessons
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32Exams &
Assignments -
14Hours
average time -
1.4CEUs
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.
Course Motivation
There is no way a book can be released unless it has gone through the editing process. It does not matter if you are Charles Dickens, or if you are writing a book about hammers and screws, editing is an incredibly important part of the writing process. One of the biggest mistakes that new writers make is not editing enough. One of the biggest reasons for this is the fact that many authors want to get their book published and receive their fame and glory of being a published author and editing is too long a process for them. While a book can take three to four months to write, editing can take six months. Editing is about patience, attention to detail, and wanting to achieve perfection with whatever one writes.
This is what an editor does.
- Collect, prepare, and arrange a book for publication.
- Revise and correct a manuscript.
- Eliminate something from a manuscript.
- Add something to the manuscript.
As we can see here, the act of editing is not just about spelling, changing some grammar, and making sure everything looks good. It is about adding and removing items to help the book. It is about preparing the book and it is about revising everything to make the manuscript ready for print.
Neither is editing just about knowing how things should read. When you edit, you are using your creative skills to help create a better story. You are using your human relation skills to ensure that your book is ready for publishing through a publisher and you are using your managing skills to oversee your editing process in both small and large detail so that you can be happy with the finished product.
Types of Editing
There are two types of editing, self-edit and peer edit. The self-edit should be the first edit you do and the last edit you do. Peer edits should be done in the middle, with self-edits done after each peer edit ... if you have the time.
- Self-edit. The self-edit must be done. You cannot write a book without being able to put together a self-edit afterwards. With the self-edit, you are editing after you write the book, after peer edits are done, and before your send the book away for publication. Often self-edits can be difficult because we do not see the errors which we make, while others may. Self-edits are also hard for new writers to do because they may be impatient to be published and do not want to spend the long amount of time on a self-edit that is required.
- Peer edit. The peer edit is the edit that is done by your friends, family, and editors. With a peer edit, grammar and spelling are not the main focus. Instead, readability, plot points, and clarity are what are focused on the most.
What Does Editing Encompass?
As we have said, editing is not just about spelling and grammar. It is about making a story readable and that encompasses much more than just spelling and grammar and punctuation corrections. The things that you need to focus on with editing are,
- Spelling.
- Capitalization.
- Punctuation.
- Sentence Structure.
- Grammar.
- Verb Arrangement.
- Subject Arrangement.
- Verb Tense.
- Word Usage.
- Minor Plot Point.
- Readability.
Conclusion
Editing is what has to be done whenever you write a book. There is no getting around editing and whether the editing is done by you or by someone else, it is of vital importance. No book has ever been published without being edited first (although self published books sometimes skip the editing process....and it shows!).
No publisher will publish without editing and no bestselling author can write a perfect book on the first draft.
All writers edit. Established writers know that editing is the most important process, while new writers feel that editing is something that their editors should do, not them.
Throughout this course, you will learn why it is not only important for you to edit, but how you can make a good book, a great book, through editing.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs
Course Lessons
Lesson 1. What Is Editing?
- Lesson discussions: Editing; Reasons for Taking this Course
- Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment
- Complete Assignment: An Introduction
- Assessment: Lesson 1: What Is Editing?
Lesson 2. Why Should You Edit?
- Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 2: Why Should You Edit?
Lesson 3. The Difference Between Light, Medium, and Heavy Edits
- Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 3: The Difference Between Light, Medium and Heavy Edits
Lesson 4. The Basics of Editing
- Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 4: The Basics of Editing
Lesson 5. The Editing Process
- Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 5: The Editing Process
Lesson 6. What Published Authors Say About Editing and Writing
- Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 6: What Published Authors Say About Editing and Writing
Lesson 7. What Publishers Want
- Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 7: What Publishers Want
Lesson 8. Spell Checking
- Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 8: Spell Checking
Lesson 9. Stepping Back and Putting the Manuscript Away For a Month
- Lesson discussions: Stepping Away
- Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 9: Stepping Back and Putting the Manuscript Away For a Month
Lesson 10. Common Writing Mistakes Which Editing Fixes
- Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 10: Common Writing Mistakes Editing Fixes
Lesson 11. Find-and-Replace as an Editing Tool
- Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 11: Find-Replace as Editing Tool
Lesson 12. Post-It Notes And Highlighters, The Editors Best Friends
- Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 12: Post-It Notes And Highlighters: The Editors Best Friends
Lesson 13. Why Fresh Eyes Help Your Edit Process
- Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 13: Why Fresh Eyes Help Your Edit Process
Lesson 14. Copy Editors
- Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 14: Copy Editors
Lesson 15. The Finished Product
- Lesson discussions: Submitting Your Work; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
- Complete: Lesson 15 Assignment
- Assessment: Lesson 15: The Finished Product
- Assessment: The Final Exam
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.
Student Testimonials
- "I felt the course was well organized. Instructor was knowledgeable and graded assignments and exams promptly." -- Linda B.
- "The instructor was great! I always enjoyed receiving feedback from her." -- Nicole N.
- "Every lesson was helpful. The instructor was a pleasure to work with." -- Cynthia S.
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