57046 Professional Editing
UTS: Communication: Journalism Information and Media LearningCredit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks
Handbook description
This course focuses on the editing of literary and popular fiction and non-fiction manuscripts. The emphasis is on editing book-length manuscripts but the skills can be applied to editing any written texts.
Postgraduate students gain a practical understanding of the process of editing written texts so that students may edit their own works or so that students have an understanding of the process when their own work is edited.
In the course of this subject, students will:
- become familiar with the editing process, including structural and copyediting
- understand the need for careful editing for all written material
- acquire the skills needed to carry out this editing
- become familiar with the principles of proofreading
- gain an overview of the editorial/production process from manuscript to book.
Subject objectives/outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:
- recognise the importance of the editing process for all written texts
- recognise the author's 'voice' in a text and maintain it as appropriate throughout the editing process
- assess the appropriateness of the writer's style for their readers
- write constructive editorial reports
- understand the process of structural editing and have the fundamental skills needed to undertake it
- undertake accurate copyediting of written texts
- gain a general understanding of the editorial/production process
- gain a general knowledge of the skills of proofreading and an understanding of their importance.
Contribution to graduate profile
This subject enables students to:
- develop an understanding of the complex interplay of literary and editorial skills in professional editing
- develop a critical knowledge of cultural and aesthetic debates in relation to editorial practice
- engage in a critical study of texts and case studies
- develop an analytical and conceptual approach to a particular cultural industry.
Teaching and learning strategies
Throughout the course students will work individually and in groups on a range of texts from small pieces to complete book-length manuscripts. You will be expected to participate in class discussions, as being able to talk critically and intelligently about an editing project is an essential editing skill. The class in week 1 will be an introduction to the editing process: what it is and why it is necessary. In weeks 2 to 9 you will become familiar with the skills of copyediting, through in-class exercises and discussions.
The first assignment, to be completed during this time, asks you to write a critical evaluation of a book on the Australian bestseller lists. This process will give you an understanding of the skills required by an editor to write a reader's report on a manuscript submitted to a publisher or to carry out manuscript assessment for an author prior to submission of their work to a publisher. The second assignment involves copyediting part of a manuscript. You will be able to practise copyediting skills and become aware of the role of the author in the copyediting process. During this time there will also be an introduction to proofreading. In weeks 10 to 14 classes will focus on structural editing, which is the 'big picture' editing. Students will work in groups and individually on full-length manuscripts. This will culminate in each student writing an editorial report as their final assignment.
There will also be an introduction to book production, discussion of the author/editor relationship and an overview of manuscript assessment.
All learning activities will be based on practical exercises and authentic texts will be used. It is important you gain practical experiences similar to those you would encounter in the editorial department of a publishing house.
After the completion of the subject, students are expected to be able to:
- understand the editorial and production processes for producing written texts
- copyedit and proofread written texts
- identify the market and readership of a text
- carry out a constructive and appropriate structural edit of written texts.
Content
The subject will be divided into four modules:
- Introduction: students will be given an overview of the editing process, and be introduced to what editing is and its importance. How publishing companies acquire manuscripts and the role of a literary agent will also be touched upon.
- Copyediting: students will be taught the principles of copyediting. They will work on short exercises to develop their skills and will copyedit a section of a manuscript.
- Proofreading and the production process: students will learn the essential skills of proofreading. Also, in summary, they will go through the production process of a text from manuscript to printed copies. This will help them to put the editorial process into the context of the complete production process.
- Structural editing: students will discuss the 'appropriateness' of a writer's style for the readership and they will identify the writer's 'voice' in the writing. You will then write a structural report of a fiction or non-fiction manuscript that will articulate the problem areas in the writing accurately and sympathetically so that the report is a constructive aid for the writer. In reality, an editor would carry out a structural edit on a manuscript then proceed to the copyedit. However, usually professional editors learn copyediting and proofreading first, then move onto structural editing when they are more experienced and have the fundamental editing skills. This order will be most helpful for students.
Assessment
Assessment item 1: Writing a critical evaluation of a bestselling book
| Objective(s): | The aims of this assignment are to make students aware of the importance of analytical and writing skills to the editorial process and to give them the experience of carrying out a critical evaluation on a book from the Australian bestseller lists. Through the critical evaluation process they will gain an understanding of the skills required by an editor to write a reader's report on manuscripts submitted to a publisher or to carry out manuscript assessment for an author prior to submission to a publisher. By evaluating a book from the Australian bestseller lists, students will become aware of the kinds of books that Australians are buying and reading, which is key information in gaining a broader understanding of the Australian publishing industry. |
| Weighting: | 20% |
| Task: | Select one book from the current bestseller lists in the weekend Sydney Morning Herald (Spectrum section). It can be a fiction or non-fiction title. Write a critical evaluation of the book as if you were writing a reader's report for a publisher on a manuscript submitted for consideration for publication. In this evaluation you should provide a summary of the book's content and themes, structure, style, strengths and weaknesses. |
| Assessment criteria: | Demonstrated ability to:
|
Assessment item 2: Copyediting
| Objective(s): | To practise copyediting skills and to become aware of the role of the author in the copyediting process. |
| Weighting: | 40% |
| Task: | To copyedit an extract from a manuscript. |
| Assessment criteria: | Demonstrated ability to:
|
Assessment item 3: Structural report
| Objective(s): | To carry out a structural edit of a book-length manuscript.It is important to take full advantage of this assignment because very little training is offered in-house in publishing companies or in industry courses in structural editing. It is, however, an essential skill for an editor and one that is in high demand. |
| Weighting: | 40% |
| Task: | To write a structural report on a complete book-length manuscript. |
| Assessment criteria: | You will be graded on:
|
Minimum requirements
Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.
Indicative references
All readings for this subject are electronic readings (e-readings) and are held at http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/search/ereadings
You can also access the readings by going directly to the UTS Library webpage then to 'Students', then to 'My Subject Resources' and then key in the subject number. A link to all the e-readings for this subject will appear.
To access these readings you may need to enter your student number.
If you have any problems please contact the library on 95143666.
Students are encouraged to print out the e-readings and bring a hard copy to class. Teachers and coordinators realise that printing costs can be an issue for students. To help with printing go to: http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/students/facilities/print-copy-and-scan
Further Reading and References
Flann, Elizabeth & Hill, Beryl, The Australian Editing Handbook, 2nd edition, John Wiley and Sons, 2004
Mackenzie, Janet, The Editor's Companion, Cambridge University Press, 2004
Macquarie Dictionary, 4th edition, Macquarie Library, Sydney, 2005
Style Manual: for Authors, Editors and Printers, 6th edition, revised by Snooks & Co., John Wiley & Sons, 2002
'Word classes', Style Manual, sixth edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd, 2003, pp. 68–70.
'User-friendly grammar', Writing from Start to Finish, Kate Grenville, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2001, pp. 196–205.
'Punctuation', Style Manual, fifth edition, AGPS Press, Canberra, pp. 70–105.
'Twenty-one grammar gaffes and how to avoid them', The Little Green Grammar Book, Mark Tredinnick, UNSW Press, Sydney, 2008, pp. 199–234.
Athill, Diana, Stet: A Memoir, Granta Books, London, 2000
Einsohn, Amy, The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, University of California Press, 2000
Kent, Jacqueline, A Certain Style: Beatrice Davis – a Literary Life, Viking, Melbourne, 2001
McPhee, Hilary, Other People's Words, Picador, Sydney, 2001
Strunk Jr, William & White, EB, The Elements of Style, 3rd edition, Allyn and Bacon, Needhan Heights MA, 1979
Truss, Lynne, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, Profile Books, London, 2003.
