Skilled Editors are in High Demand!

• Learn to edit any type of writing -books, articles, newsletters, magazines, etc
• A course for Editors, Writers, Proof Readers, anyone wanting to work in publishing, etc
• Start a business, find a job, or just get better at the job you already have

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Editing
   • The role and scope of editing;
   • what does an editor do,
   • tools for editing;
   • editing skills;
   • what makes a good editor,
   • danger signs (mistakes to avoid),
   • the publishing team (the publisher, business manager, production manager, designer, marketing staff),
   • the production process,
   • the production schedule.
2. The Mechanics of Clear Writing
   • Spelling,
   • punctuation,
   • grammar,
   • language,
   • style,
   • tense,
   • language level,
   • common mistakes,
   • style errors,
   • improving clarity and conciseness.
3. Assessing Manuscripts
   • The reader's report,
   • reviewing a manuscript (structure, punctuation, accuracy, illustration, other improvements),
   • author's responsibilities,
   • nature of a manuscript,
   • libel, slander, defamation,
   • what an editor should look for.
4. Copy Editing I
   • What the copy editor does;
   • basics of copy editing,
   • the procedure (check manuscript, read, edit text, edit other components);
   • style sheets,
   • house style,
   • introduction to mark up,
   • marking up copy.
5. Copy Editing II
   • Marking up;
   • parts of a publication (preliminary pages, text, end matter);
   • editing non-text material;
   • illustrations
6. Preparing Copy for Printing
   • Type design and page layout;
   • type size,
   • type face,
   • line spacing,
   • line length,
   • justification,
   • indentation,
   • windows and orphans,
   • running heads and feet,
   • folios,
   • headings;
   • proof stages:
   • galley proofs,
   • page proofs
7. Proof Reading
   • Proof readers role,
   • procedure for checking galley proofs,
   • proof reading tips,
   • revised galley proofs,
8. The Final Stages
   • Indexes,
   • preparing an index;
   • blurbs;
   • checking final proofs,
   • bromides,
   • dyelines, etc.

Aims

• To gain an understanding of the role and scope of editing.
• Explain the importance of clear, effective writing throughout all stages of the publishing process.
• Describe the procedure of manuscript assessment.
• Describe the procedures used by copy editors.
• Explain procedures used to prepare copy for printing.
• Describe the checks and procedures used in the final stages of preparing and printing publications.

What is the role and scope of Editing?

Very few people can immediately write a lucid and well-expressed piece of work. In most cases, the final draft is smoothed and polished so that others can readily understand the writer’s message.

It is the editor’s role to improve the quality of the writing, whether it is their own or someone else’s work.

The scope of editing ranges from self editing, where the writer examines their writing and improves it as best they can, to professional editing, where an expert is employed by a publishing company to improve the quality of a piece of writing prior to publication.

There are many other facets of commercial publishing that require the skills of professional editors. These include commissioning publications; reviewing manuscripts; overseeing manuscripts through the production process; liaising with writers, publishers, printers and agents; writing blurbs, captions and press releases; and researching and organising pictures. In smaller organisations the editor may also be responsible for the design and publication of documents, newsletters, reports, magazines and books using desktop publishing software and equipment.

Editing involves several stages, all of which will be examined in detail during this course. In summary, they are:

1. Reviewing the manuscript
2. Structural (substantive) editing
3. Copy editing
4. Proof reading
5. Checking proofs

Scope of editing

When someone writes or illustrates something, they are attempting to communicate with their readers. We naturally think of editing as relating to books, magazines and newspapers, which are the traditional media with which an editor would work. These areas, commonly referred to as “print media”, are still very much part of the work covered by editors, but today the scope is far wider.

Print media is generally “commercial” work; that is, publications that are created for selling. Writing and illustrations are also created for other situations though, beyond the traditional print media, including:

• Marketing material, such as advertisements, brochures, posters, signs, labels and packaging
• Newsletters (printed or electronic). Newsletters may be commercial (eg. for promotional purposes, or subscriptions) or non-commercial (eg. a school or club newsletter, or a family Christmas letter)
• Business letters
• Contractual documents
• Web sites
• Calendars
• Educational material (course notes)
• Scripts (plays, videos, radio shows, etc)

Writing and/or illustrations used in any of the above situations can fail in their attempt at communication to a lesser or greater degree, for many reasons, including:

• Typographical errors
• Unclear communication
• Ambiguity
• Incorrect punctuation
• Poor grammar
• Poor spelling
• Inappropriate use of language.
• Not writing for the correct “audience”

What is Needed to Be Successful?

• Does it make sense?
• Does it flow smoothly?
• Is the spelling and grammar correct?
• Does it present well (does text go over to the next page when it should not, are illustrations missing, are tables labelled)? 

Once you have finished re-read the document if necessary to see how it reads.

Editors also Need to Communicate

Editors must be good communicators both in writing and verbally. An editor is part of a team. Even if you work from home and communicate solely by email with other people, you are still part of that team. You are editing for someone else. You will be working with a publisher, other editors, an author, businesses, charities, or others. You are part of that team and need to be a good team player.

As more of the world's business takes place online, the need to communicate effectively becomes more essential. In the past, an editor may have sat in an office with the publisher, author and other staff to discuss how a book was evolving, what they were aiming for, proposed completion dates, and other particulars. Today, that may not happen. The editor may be instructed via telephone or email what is expected of them. They must be good listeners and speakers, as well as accomplished written communicators. A managing editor needs to also communicate with subeditors, proof readers, layout artists, and others.

• Editors must be good listeners - so that you hear what is being asked of you by the client and the author.
• Editors must then be able to interpret their needs and translate those needs into the edited work – communicating with the readers.

WHY STUDY WITH ACS?

There are lots of reasons why you should sign up to do this course with us, including:

• The course is detailed to ensure that you have the level of knowledge required to apply the practices in your own work, whether that's as a business employee or as a self employed editor 
•  Within each lesson you have the opportunity to apply your learning to activities which enables you to practice different concepts and expand your own research in areas of interest
• Knowledge of these key areas will enable you to stand out from other applicants when it comes to applying for jobs, it will also give you greater confidence
• Having the knowledge of different editing techniques will enable you to work in many different sectors and business types, giving you flexibility now and in the future
• Our subject specialist tutors will be there to support you throughout your course, they are only too happy to share their industry knowledge and experience with you
• When studying with us you set your own deadlines, meaning you study at your own pace enabling it to fit around other commitments

TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND ENROL NOW!

You can enrol on the course now, but if you have any questions about the content of the course or studying with ACS, then please get in touch with us today - use our FREE COURSE COUNSELLING SERVICE to get in touch with our expert tutors. They will be pleased to help you!