Craft focus: how to edit your non-fiction

What is the course about?

This course is about helping your non-fiction manuscript find the best version of itself. You may be interested in working with a professional editor, or connecting directly with a readership, or you may simply want to understand how to apply a critical eye to your own creation. This course will help you understand the different types of edit available to writers, and enable you to apply and practice a key skill from each essential editorial stage to your own work.

This course will focus on the editing process exclusively. It will not cover self-publishing, or submitting work to agents and professional editors.

Please note: this course includes a 1-hour lunch break.

What will we cover?

- What is editing? Purpose, stages, and key approaches.
- Stage one: structural edit.
- Stage two: line editing.
- Stage three: copy editing and proofreading.
- How to find a professional freelance editor.
- Working with a professional editor: what to expect.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Understand the essential elements of the professional editing process.
- Use key techniques in each of the editorial phases to edit your own work.
- Develop strategies to apply the techniques you learn to the rest of your writing.
- Identify and explore the shape of your non-fiction project as a whole, and in doing so achieve a bird's eye view of structure.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is an intermediate to advanced level course. Students should have completed or are close to completing a draft of a non-fiction manuscript. You will need to be open to sharing and critiquing your own work, and fluent in English.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

A mix of editing exercises, group work, pair work, class discussion around edited samples and formal instruction from the tutor.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day, regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

There are no additional costs. You will need to bring the following to class:

- The first chapter of your non-fiction project to use for editing practice.
- 1-page outline of your non-fiction project.
- Writing materials.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

If you are ready to submit your work for rigorous constructive feedback, you may also consider enrolling in one of our Advanced Creative Nonfiction Workshops.

All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.