Editing Distance Learning Course
Study Editing by Distance Learning
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. Learning to edit requires not only language and writing skills, but also technique.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Introduction to Editing – the role and scope of editing, tools for editing, editing skills, the production process, an overview, who does what in publishing?The Mechanics of Clear Writing – spelling, punctuation, grammar, language, style, tense.Assessing Manuscripts – readability, word length, structure, consistencies and inaccuracies, the reader’s report, substantive editing, the author’s responsibilities, the author/editor relationship.Copy Editing I – what the copy editor does, the procedure, house style, style sheets.Copy Editing II – marking up, parts of a publication, editing non-text material, illustrations.Preparing Copy for Printing – type design and page layout, proof stages.Proof Reading The Final Stages – indexes, blurbs, checking final proofs.
AIMS
To gain an understanding of the role and scope of editing.
Understand 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.
Duration: 100 hours
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hours long and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
How you Learn
Throughout this course you will learn to edit not only through what you read in your course notes, but also by undertaking carefully planned practical tasks, and by being monitored by and interacting with experienced professional editors. Check out our staff:
Principal: John Mason Adv.Cert.Publishing, Dip Hort.Sc . Magazine editor, author of over 40 books, regular contributor to periodicals with many articles published in both the UK and Australia.
Senior Tutor: Tracey Jones M.Soc.Sc (social work), Dip Proofreading UK based author (short stories, text books, periodical articles); a book reviewer for the British Journal of Social Work.
See our full staff list at http://www.acsedu.co.uk/Info/About-Us/Staff.aspx
The Editing Profession
Editing has always required specific skills. “Highly developed written and verbal communication skills”, “an eye for detail”, “a logical and enquiring mind”, “an ability to meet deadlines”, “a comprehensive knowledge of publication processes” are just some of the skills required in the editing profession.
Today’s editors still need those important foundation skills but, with the advent of computer technology and in the face of increasingly competitive markets, editors must be prepared to diversify, and to acquire a new range of skills. Although today’s editors are still expected to review manuscripts, mark up copy, check proofs, and liaise with writers, printers and publishers, they may also be expected to be highly proficient in a whole range of areas that didn’t exist a decade or two ago.
The minimum ‘new’ skill required by all editors is computer proficiency, mainly in the use of Microsoft Word, email programs and Internet searches, but possibly also in desktop publishing software such as QuarkXpress, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Editors involved in marketing and sales may also use accounting and spreadsheet software.
Text and graphics, previously supplied as ‘hard copy’, are now submitted as ‘electronic manuscripts’, making the job of editing both easier and more complex. Easier because text does not need to be marked up on a hard copy and rekeyed by a typesetter; harder because the editor and designer have taken over the task of typesetting.
In most cases editors are not directly involved in pre-press design, and would not be expected to be proficient in the use of complex DTP software – in quality publishing this is still the domain of trained graphic artists – but, for effective liaison and supervision of the production process, all editors must be familiar with the capabilities and general operation of the commonly used programs.
Other facets of publishing, such as distribution, stock control, and accounting and finance, also use new, more efficient technologies and, as part of the production team, editors should be aware of how the new systems operate.
The most recent, and certainly the most complex, development is the introduction of multi-media publishing. Still in its infancy, this technology brings together text, video, audio and graphics, stored on CD-ROM or accessed through the Internet. Almost all commercial publishers have a website, but few have successfully ventured into ‘online publishing’, although this will almost certainly change in the near future.
Other areas, old and new, that involve the skills of editors include:
Commissioning
Reviewing
Setting budgets and schedules
Costing
Copy editing
Proofing
Overseeing the production process
Legals – including contracts, copyright clearance and permissions for use of quotations and reproduction of pictures
Traditional Editing
Editing Today
Almost always done on paper (hard copy)
May be done electronically, or on hard copy, or both
Edited manuscript is given to a person in the “publishing industry” who understands their notations (eg. a layout artist who prepares the manuscript for printing)
Edited document may be given to an IT professional who doesn’t necessarily understand standard notations used by editors
Editor marks the manuscript using established and well-recognised notations
Editor may need to use instructions that are able to be understood by “anyone”, not just publishing professionals
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”
Balance: pragmatic versus pedantic
Some editors are excessively pedantic. Others are overly pragmatic. In reality, the extent to which a document is edited should be specified by the publisher, clearly, and the good editor will be able to adjust the way they edit according to those specifications.
In today’s world, where economics is a major force, the luxury of perfection is often neither required nor expected by a publisher. A certain amount of error may often be more tolerable than not meeting a deadline or over blowing the budget.
The effective editor needs to take a pragmatic approach and be comfortable with the fact that perfection is not always possible.
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
Editing Home Study Course
Study Editing Online via Distance Learning
This course develops your understanding of the purposes and aims of editing, and also of what editors and proof readers do.
You will learn the importance of clear, effective writing throughout all stages of the publishing process and how editors assess manuscripts and prepare them for publication.
The course covers: the nature and scope of editing, the role and responsibility of the editor in publishing, working with authors and publishers, the editing process and skills required, copyright and other legal concerns, indexing and referencing, varying the approach according to the kind of book, etc.
