Developmental Editing II

An editor’s job includes not only improving the mechanics of writing, but also identifying places where content needs revision and development, then engaging in respectful dialogue with their writer regarding subsequent drafts. Expanding on the topics covered in Developmental Editing, students will use their understanding of the editorial letter writing process to analyze an unpublished manuscript and work directly with the author on a mutually agreed upon revision plan for a second draft of their work. The class will emulate a professional editorial working environment with some in-class writer participation and a focus on preparing manuscripts for real-world submissions. The goal is to give students first-hand experience as developmental editors ahead of entering the workforce. At the end of the course, students will have written an editorial letter for an unpublished manuscript and delivered it to their writer, engaged in editorial conversation directly with their writer, arrived at a mutually agreed upon revision plan, line edited the first few chapters of their writer’s manuscript for submission, and worked with their writer to draft a submission letter and select appropriate publishers.