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eClass: The Advanced Copy Editor

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eClass: The Advanced Copy Editor

DURATION/TIME
4 weeks
September 13 - October 4
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:
This is an advanced class for professionals with at least one year of copyediting experience. Please submit a letter of interest, including a brief work history clearly stating your copyediting experience.

(Beginners: If you want learn how to pass a copyediting test, get freelance or fulltime work, and launch your copyediting career, you should check out our online 6-Week Copyeditor class.)

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.com staff.

Instructor Bio

Cheryl Della Pietra's Courses

Advanced Copy Editing – (Class starts September 18)
Copy Editing Essentials – New York (Seminar on November 19)
Copy Editing: One Day Intensive – New York (Seminar on October 15)
Intermediate Copy Editing – (Class starts September 30)

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. Hats off to the wonderfully articulate Cheryl for sharing her knowledge and insights in an engaging manner. I'm currently in the teaching profession, so my next task will be to revise the ole resume. Thanks for helping to lead me in a brand new direction. -- Bonni McCoy, Cranford Public School District

"Cheryl Della Pietra is a phenomenal instructor; she is articulate, fun, and animated. She definitely defies the rumors that copy editors are nothing but anal. 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 pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I don't think I was alone in wishing the course lasted longer! Cheryl managed to cover all the material and still allow for the conversation to evolve naturally into related subject matters. Her experience is a huge asset, providing us all with valuable practical advice. She also gave a lot of personal attention to each of us through our weekly assignments. I would gladly take another course with Cheryl." -- Kelle Walsh

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