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Book Editing and Publishing

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Book Editing Diploma from Macleay College

Learn all the skills you’ll need to work as a book editor through our Diploma of Book Editing and Publishing. But don’t take our word for it, contact us and we’ll gladly put you in touch with recent graduates who have already started working. Over the space of 17 weeks (day or evening course available) we will give you hands-on experience in all aspects of book editing and production, in both paper-based and computerised systems.

Apart from learning practical job skills, the Book Editing and Publishing Diploma gives practical information on management issues in a publishing business, commissioning and contracting authors and book costings. You’ll learn about traditional publicity and marketing as well as the new forms using social media.

Course content

Editing Manuscripts
Editing manuscripts involves working with real manuscripts to develop competence in editing to a professional level. It includes:

Evaluation of content and understanding of audience
Structural editing Copy editing (understanding/creating style sheets)
Roles and responsibilities of the editor
Liaising with authors, designers and production teams
Editing for consistency and readability
Grammar and good EnglishSelecting and commissioning illustrations
Editorial administration and management
Proofreading

Career paths
The editing strand will also focuses on the intricacies and specific requirements of specialist fields. Areas covered may, depending on the needs and interests of the class, include the following:

General non-fiction
Technical editing
Literary editing
Children’s books
Cookbooks/Lifestyle books
Scientific/medical editing

Book Design
Book design introduces contemporary practice and style in book design and provides hands-on experience in the design process. Areas covered include:

Principles of text layout and design
Internal pages, illustrations and cover artwork; using and sizing illustrations
Introduction to typography
Introduction to latest typesetting technology

On-Screen Editing of Manuscripts
Working with soft copy (Ms Word) manuscripts to gain a working knowledge of computer-based editing. Covers the use of:

Microsoft Word as an editing mark-up tool
Editing on-screen and providing author queries
Formatting and global style changes
Macros, shortcuts and tagging
Outlining for structural editing
Generating table of contents
Final preparation of edited manuscript for author
Preparation of edited manuscript for designer/typesetter

The Production Process
A look at the practicalities of the whole book production process. Areas covered provide students with the information to select appropriate processes and production values. They include:

Printing and binding processes
Selection of paper, binding and colour/b&w
Technology for traditional (offset) and digital printing
Colour separation and proofs
Correcting proofs
Editor's work plans and schedules
Typesetting processes

Publishing Management
A subject covering major aspects of the management roles in a publishing business. Topics include:

History and current state of Australian publishing industry
Commissioning and contracting authors
Costings and publishing project proposals
Marketing of books – traditional and digital (including social networks)

Digital Publishing
This practical subject covering all major aspects of publishing in the digital world. Topics include:

New technologies for content creation
New technologies – production, marketing and publicity
New formats for books
Editor’s growing roles in preparing content for the digital environment
Digital readers and their role

Book Indexing
Book indexing qualifies students to both compile their own indexes and to commission an index from a professional in this field. It includes: