* Eight weeks in total: Friday 24 July to Monday 21 September 2020. Ive taken a number of editing courses over the years, but this one is easily the best. Since 2004 she has freelanced for a range of publishers, including HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan, Allen & Unwin, Hachette, Random House, Fremantle Press and Momentum. Youre likely to find that your cuts have resulted in a tighter, more readable, and more enjoyable book. Its evaluating a manuscript as a whole and analysing how well its constituent parts contribute to the central message or narrative. Id definitely recommend the course to in-house and freelance editors of both fiction and non-fiction. Catherine Hill, Managing Editor, Penguin Random House Australia, Nicola provided comprehensive and useful resources, was incredibly generous with her time and expertise, and guided the editors through a well-developed program. Of value also was the online delivery method, allowing fellow students to interact. Nicola is a generous, knowledgeable and approachable teacher, always encouraging and enthusiastic. * Participation in five group calls with Nicola to discuss the weekly topics in relation to the manuscript (calls to take place Fridays from 121 pm AEST/AEDT). If you show them that youve put in the effort and, if youre extra nice to them, theyll be glad to watch out for any remaining structural issues. Join a writing group. All rights reserved. Structural editing involves developing the logic and flow of a piece of writing, shaping and presenting the text in harmony with its internal progression. Unexpectedly, the most valuable part of this course was the group discussions each week. Nicola provided practical tools, plenty of examples and offered great ideas about how to delve in with confidence. It is also the most expensive, and thats why many publishers are now reluctant to take on books that need structural work. So how do you take advantage of this? It also taught me to offer advice in a kind and sensitive manner; to remember that if an author can write a book, that in itself is a monumental achievement and deserves immediate respect. This course was the best and best-value short course I have ever done, and I recommend it to any editor who wishes to improve their structural editing skills. Next dates: 24 July21 Sept 2020. For a course outline and/or application form, please contact nicola[at]nicolaoshea.com, Or sign up to my mailing list for advance notice of when the course will run again, Nicolas course was brilliant and I learnt so much. I have since completed a structural edit of a novel by a first-time author, one which required intense concentration and careful handling: a task I know I couldnt have done with any confidence or professionalism prior to undertaking Nicolas course. Some Background and More Explanation of the Reasons For Structural Editing Accreditation exam workshop series (UPDATED AGAIN 31 August 2020), Editors conference: Earlybird registration due by 20 June, Australian Society for Technical Communication, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (UK), Blurring of boundaries between fiction and non-fiction, Blurring of boundaries between levels of edit, Ability to absorb and critically analyse and synthesise text, Overview of the structure (contents, components), Highlighting (case studies, text boxes, quotes), Captions, tables, graphs and illustrations, Media (book, website, newsletter, article, blog). 3 Writing and Editing for the Web EDIT505 EDIT505-ON12111. One editor noted that sometimes discussions about editing can be a bit vague and philosophical, but Nicolas advice, and the tools she introduced us to, like a timeline chart, were very practical and sensible and helped to create a framework for us. The structural editing course is the perfect foundation for editors keen to develop and sharpen their structural fiction editing skills. But if paying for a structural edit means you wont be able to afford a copy-edit, you need to consider other solutions. The course was an invaluable reminder of the importance of clear and gentle feedback. iPhone Photo Editing - How to Edit Photos Like a Pro Using Lightroom Mobile CC. Thanks Nicola for some great PD. Louise Zedda-Sampson, Novel Solutions, I was excited at the idea of being walked through the structural edit of a novel by an expert Im an academic editor so that was a very new area for me. * Editors must be available for group calls (Fridays, 121 pm AEST/AEDT). Put your manuscript in a drawer for a few weeks and forget about it. Irish publisher Blackstaff Press have recently launched SkyPen to spot new talent and provide support. Of course Structural Editing is also an on-going processes, and the writer will often have further questions, with perhaps follow up phone calls or emails. Whatever the writing technique, there is a relationship between good writing and clear thinking. There are very few courses that are as hands-on as this one, and focus on the real world of editing. Group discussion sessions allow the sharing of ideas and solutions, giving you rich material for your final structural report. Highly recommended! Annabel Blay, Executive Senior Editor, Harlequin Australia, ThreePenguin Random House editors have taken part in Nicolas Structural Editing for Editors course. Structural editing (sometimes called developmental editing or substantive editing) is the most complex and time-consuming stage of the editorial process. So, if youre saving your money for a copy-edit, what do you do about structure? There are hundreds of books out there on writing. There arent many training opportunities for mid-career editors, and even fewer opportunities for freelancers working alone to learn from and collaborate with peers and colleagues. I cant recommend the course highly enough for anyone keen to move into the field of structural editing.Trish Cation, This course gave me great insights into the structural editing of fiction. As well, they commented on Nicolas first-rate teaching styleand her useful approaches to structural editing. Nicola is a generous, knowledgeable and approachable teacher, always encouraging and enthusiastic. Sean Dalton. Nicola OShea is an Australian editor with more than 20 years of book publishing experience. Cat Coquillette. The editorial team at UQP values high standards of author care and attention, and Nicolas approach cemented our philosophy. Vanessa Pellatt, University of Queensland Press, I wholeheartedly recommend this course to all editors seeking to improve their structural editing skills. Length of course: Many authors in your category will have faced similar dilemmas as you, and it helps to analyse their results. From Paper to Screen: Digitally Editing Your Artwork in Photoshop. Immersing myself as part of a group in a novel with some meaty issues was illuminating, and Ive come away armed with new skills. Keep an open mind and always thank people for their feedback, even if its unjustified criticism. * Freelance or in-house editors who already have some experience of structural editing and would like to expand their skills to work on fiction. The course was engaging and terrific value, and I would happily recommend it to other editors. Geneve Flynn, Ive been editing novels and short stories for some years and felt I had a good understanding of the workings of fictional stories, but after doing the course I now realise that although I was on the right track, Id only travelled part of the way along it. YouWriteOn.com offers a similar service you can read about Irish author Bob Burkes experience with the site here. There are books on plot, dialogue, point of view, editing, and every other aspect of crafting a good book. Youre looking for the underlying logic to match the shape of the text. Leave it alone. * Limited places (by application). Practical experience of structural editing through reading and analysing a real manuscript. This is an important and creative process. Try to deconstruct the books and analyse how plot, characterisation, pace, etc., are handled, chapter by chapter. SEFE is an excellent and invaluable course for all budding editors, I could not recommend it highly enough. Rebecca Lay, Pan Macmillan Australia, Nicolas course was a great opportunity to spend time thinking critically about the structural editing process. Then cut ruthlessly. After youve done all this, its worth having a chat with your copy-editor to explain how youve edited. The workshop puts structural work in context and makes practical suggestions for approaching the task. Nicola draws upon her wealth of knowledge and experience to deliver invaluable insights on a weekly basis I cant recommend this course enough. Enjoy the convenience of learning in your own home, and work within a small group of fellow editors. Nicola draws upon her wealth of knowledge and experience to deliver invaluable insights on a weekly basis I cant recommend this course enough. Camha Pham, The course Nicola delivered was well-researched, and prepared. For the self-publisher this represents a welcome levelling of the playing field in at least one aspect of the process. HarperCollins set up Authonomy.com as a novel way of finding new talent, but its also a great place to connect with other writers and have your work critiqued. She is currently investigating ways that editors can survive and thrive in the era of the eBook and the app. She began her career in legal and educational publishing, then worked in-house at HarperCollins Publishers for six years on both fiction and non-fiction titles. Read books on writing. Their focus is much broader, and they will return your manuscript marked up with constructive comments and suggested rewrites that will in any case render the corrections pointless. * The opportunity to write a structural report on the manuscript, and get feedback from Nicola on your reports content, structure and tone. The content was relevant and will provide crucial guidance to anyone undertaking a structural review of their own work as well as providing structural editing to others. Structural editing (sometimes called developmental editing or substantive editing) is the most complex and time-consuming stage of the editorial process. Copyright 2010-2020 Writing.ie. I learned so much and enjoyed every moment. Online course: Structural Editing for Editors, An online course to develop your fiction structural editing skills. You will be able to discuss the manuscript at any time with your fellow editors in a group forum, take part in group discussions with Nicola, and get feedback on your own structural report on the manuscript. * Five weeks of notes and discussions. The course notes and example structural reports have already proved useful in my subsequent editorial work, and Im sure theyll continue to be useful reference points throughout my career. This will stretch your imagination and provide an editorial toolkit for your future use. The course materials were clear and in-depth but never overwhelming. Pamela became an accredited editor in 2008, one of the first cohort of Australian accredited editors. This is an important and creative process. It might not be the same as having a fresh pair of eyes tackle your MS, but if you put a bit of distance between you and your work, you should be able to put your new skills to effective use. This course is now full. Website lovingly crafted by Design for Writers, National Emerging Writer Programme Overview, Bob Burkes experience with the site here.