Introduction to Developmental Editing course
Are you interested in working with writers to deepen and strengthen their stories? Are you a copyeditor or line editor who wants to learn more about the big picture of developmental editing? Or are you simply curious about what developmental editing really is?
The Book Edit’s Introduction to Developmental Editing, delivered live over two mornings on Zoom, will introduce you to some key concepts around developmental editing, help you start to understand the core skills a developmental editor needs, and begin to look at how you can build and apply those skills.
“I so enjoyed the course. I’ve always struggled with developmental/structural editing – it always seemed like such a big, unmanageable beast to tame. The course really helped to clarify the process for me, in easy to follow steps and stages and with good examples. ”
The course will be taught by the Book Edit’s Founder, Emily Pedder. Emily is a developmental editor and creative writing teacher with over fifteen years’ experience helping writers move their work towards publication. Authors she has worked with include Monique Roffey, Tim Guest, Deepa Anappara and Hannah Begbie.
“I found the sessions incredibly useful in terms of framework, structure and the process of developmental editing. There were a lot of handy cues that would help me on how to coach a writer to unlock the “good in their book”.”
By the end of the course, you should have a better understanding of:
What a developmental editor does and how that differs from copy-editing, proofreading and line editing
The relationship between developmental editors and writers
What developmental editing is, and what it’s not
Some of the nuts and bolts of developmental editing for fiction
The skills a developmental editor needs and how you can grow these skills for yourself
How to approach a developmental edit on a writer's work-in-progress, including key ground rules
How to approach writing a cover letter/email to a client
Practical tips and resources to help guide you should you wish to dive further into the world of developmental editing.
“I really enjoyed the course and meeting and exchanging thoughts and ideas with my peers. It has opened my eyes to the process of developmental editing. ”
What do you need?
Pen and paper, an open mind and a positive attitude! This will be an experiential course where learning comes not just from the tutor but from the group too. There will be opportunities to contribute and share in breakout rooms and through the chat/raised hand function in Zoom.
“The course was really informative and engaging. Plenty of resources were provided and further reading materials suggested, and the content was well-pitched for beginners while also acknowledging people’s prior knowledge. ”