By now you know (and are mastering!) the basics of fiction so you can help authors polish their manuscripts, but how do you apply that knowledge and actually provide substantive fiction edits for others?
It would be wonderful if all authors and editors wanted and expected the same things, but that rarely happens. That’s why it’s important to not only understand what services you want to provide, but also how to get jobs, perform them professionally, and communicate well with your clients. Substantive Editing for Fiction (SEF) 301 is a 6-week course that will help you launch and maintain your substantive fiction editing career.
Combining your knowledge from SEF 101 and 201 with the information in 301 will give you the tools you need to confidently launch your substantive fiction editing business!
Six lessons for only $60!
Lesson 1: What Makes an Edit a Substantive Edit?
- What is a Substantive Edit?
- What are the Different Types of Edits?
- Developmental Edit
- Line Edit & Copyedit
- Proofread
- Critique
- How Do You Know Which Services to Offer?
- How Do You Know Which Edit a Client Needs?
Lesson 2: How to Perform a Substantive Edit
- Checklists
- Author Information
- Publishing Goals
- Synopsis
- Character Sketches
- How to Perform an Effective Substantive Edit
- How Long Will It Take?
Lesson 3: Getting the Job
- Leads
- Bids
- Sample Edits and Writing Assessments
- Style Sheets
- Setting Rates
- Agreements/Contracts
Lesson 4: Substantive Editing Pitfalls, Mistakes, and Things to Watch For
- Pitfalls
- Rewriting
- Overediting
- Mistakes
- Genre Confusion
- Undercharging
- Things to Watch For
- Pet Words
- Nondescript Words
Lesson 5: Working Well with Challenging Clients
- The Client Who’s Not Ready
- The Client Who’s Not Prepared
- The Client Who Disregards CMOS
- The Client Who Defends Everything
- The Client Who Ignores Everything
- Red Flags
Lesson 6: The Author-Editor Relationship
- Multiple Reviews
- Submitting Proposals and Query Letters
- Follow-up
- Communication Etiquette
- Honesty and Remaining Christ-like
