Developmental Editing

An editor’s job includes not only improving the mechanics of writing, but identifying places where content isn’t working or needs revision and development. This skill is also invaluable for writers, who can use it to shape their own work or to make extra money as they work on their own projects. Using exercises and readings, students learn how to use the elements of craft to draft editorial letters and representative line edits. Class discussions also explore the various roles of professional editors. The goal is to gain confidence as an editor by line-editing a large piece of fiction and writing a detailed editorial letter as the final class assignment.