course description | objective | grading

Intro:

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The history and art of book editing / publishing from the past through present, with an eye to the future--from Maxwell Perkins to Jason Epstein and Andre Schiffrin. (or even: from Maxwell Perkins to Judith Regan, via Jason Epstein). We will discuss different types of editors that one might find at a publishing house; the role of each editor, the skills required to be a successful editor at any publishing house (small, medium, or large), and the ways in which editors and agents are involved in other parts of the publishing process.

OBJECTIVE

The course objective is for each student to fully understand the process of publishing and shepherding a book from manuscript to finished work (the editor’s role in this process as it goes through each step) —that is, not only the process of book editing per se, but also the psychology of the editor-author relationship. Students will also be taught in the ways of diplomacy and the ethics of book publishing as it applies to book editing. More, students will learn how to make sound editorial decisions based on instinct, taste, sales potential. Through practical assignments, students will also learn how to manuscripts; write analyses, rejection and acceptance letters, catalogue copy; and how to line edit manuscripts. In-class activities will examine the many types of books published, including mainstream and “upscale” fiction and nonfiction, works in translation, scholarly and art books, and mass-market publications.

Students will come away from this course with a real-world understanding of how to work as a book editor or agent in various disciplines with a clear understanding of the history of line editing from Maxwell Perkins through the present technology of editing. The goal of this course is for each student to come away with this course with a fine understanding of how to edit a manuscript and see it from transom to finished book and the editor’s role in this process.

GRADING

Basics:

Grading will be based on class participation and discussion. Since interaction is essential to the editing process (as editors interact with authors and agents in the real world), the student’s interaction with the class will count for a good portion of the final grade. You are expected to attend class regularly; attendance will be taken.

Students will also be expected to evaluate manuscripts, write rejection letters, understand and negotiate contracts, understand the ethical issues of being an editor, and importantly, students are expected to participate in class lectures as this counts toward your final grade. Weekly emails concerning the reading will be part of your exercises and should be turned in every Friday afternoon before 5.00 p.m. without exception.

Note that contract negation will be a part of this course.

Final:
Will be to edit 10 pages of a manuscript (using traditional editor’s marks by hand) on paper, maintaining author’s voice, integrity of section of the book that they have, author’s voice, and to bring out the absolute best of the book, based on what you have learned from Maxwell Perkins and the reading in this class and classs lectures and discussions. This is a graded exercise & counts as your final .

* For further information, see the end of this syllabus – thanks.

http://emersonbookeditingclassnotes.blogspot.com/

Above is our class blog. Information about classes and notes will be posted on the blog and you will have the opportunity to comment. The blog is a useful tool, so make a note of it and bookmark it.