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eClass: The Advanced Copy Editor

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eClass: The Advanced Copy Editor

DURATION/TIME
4 weeks
June 21 - July 12
Online chats: Wednesdays, 8-9 pm EST

LEVEL
Advanced

ONLINE CLASS INFO
See our eClasses info page. 

PRICE
$350 ($325 for )
more info

Course Details

Does your blood boil when you see possessives used improperly? (Hamburger's, anyone?) Does your head explode when someone says "between you and I"? Then you likely already have the eye of a good copy editor -- and will love every minutia-filled minute of Advanced Copy Editing. This online class is for junior copy editors, writers, editors, or anyone with some background in copy editing who wishes to learn more about the profession.

In this class you can expect to learn:

  • Finer points of grammar, including rules on danglers, collective nouns, and misplaced modifiers.
  • Advanced punctuation rules, including proper comma and hyphen usage.
  • How to create your own in-house style guide.
  • Issues in the marketplace: copy editing online, navigating office politics, job titles and responsibilities of the advanced copy editor, and when you've overstepped your bounds with a piece of copy.
  • Resources for the advanced copy editor.
Admission Requirements:
At least one year copyediting experience, or the equivalent. Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history with details about your copyediting experience).

The online classroom has several interactive components:
  • Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
  • Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
  • Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend. 
  • Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

Instructor Bio

Cheryl Della Pietra's Courses

Copy Editing Essentials – New York (Seminar on November 19)
Intermediate Copy Editing – (Class starts November 11)

Cheryl Della Pietra
Cheryl Della Pietra is a freelance copy editor for Elle, Us Weekly, LIFE, and Fast Company, where she not-so-quietly obsesses over comma splices and misplaced modifiers. She has previously copyedited at SmartMoney.com and also supervised the copy department at P.O.V. magazine, where she was the research editor. Yearning to have her work copyedited for a change, she has written for Redbook and Marie Claire. Many moons ago, she was Hunter S. Thompson's editorial assistant, a job that honed her margarita-making skills.

Testimonials


Cheryl's class was chock full of valuable advice and information. Thanks for helping to lead me in a brand new direction. -- Bonni McCoy, Cranford Public School District

"Cheryl is a phenomenal instructor. She shows that it is possible to be a wordsmith with a sense of humor!" -- Shannon Martin, editor & writer, New York Road Runners

"This was my first online class, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Cheryl's experience is a huge asset, providing us all with valuable practical advice. I would gladly take another course with Cheryl." -- Kelle Walsh

"Cheryl was great! Very knowledgeable and helpful. She always explained things in a way that was easy to understand. She also responded in a timely manner to assignments and queries." -- Kate Chandler

"Cheryl is patient, caring and has a way of explaining what you did wrong on the exercises without making you feel inadequate. Her great sense of humor lent to a lot of bantering back and forth. I will definitely take courses with her in the future." -- Michael Maynard

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