Advanced Manuscript Editing

Developing competency in book manuscript editing requires a thorough knowledge of The Chicago Manual of Style, the ability to read carefully, and editorial judgment. The Advanced Manuscript Editing course builds on the two prerequisites (Basic and Intermediate Manuscript) with continued practice on longer and more complex materials. Working electronically, students will become familiar with the structure of a book and gain skills in assessing manuscripts, writing editorial notes, setting editorial priorities, handling illustrations, editing documentation, and preparing the edited manuscript for the next stage of publishing. There will be plenty of hands-on practice in sentence- and paragraph-level editing. Quizzes and discussions will touch on challenging aspects of grammar and of editing books in various genres. Using Carol Fisher Saller’s The Subversive Copy Editor as a resource, the class will discuss the editor’s mediating role and how to build trust with authors and other members of the book team. Finally, student will take a good look at what it’s like to be an editor and live a word-focused life.