Learn everything there is to know about polishing your writing (or someone else's). Take a deep dive into proper grammar, writing on sensitive subjects, and the importance of stellar communication between writers and editors. Walk away with confidence in copy editing with the help of a pro. $75 or $50 for Paragraph Members.
Students will learn what makes a modern copy editor who can expertly refine anything from tweets to long-form work. You’ll practice making swift, thoughtful changes to copy that let the writer's unique voice shine. We'll also review what goes into crafting style guide entries of our own and highlight must-have copy editing resources. Students will walk away with an understanding of how to copy edit with confidence.
COURSE TAKEAWAYS:
- Receive personalized feedback from the instructor on a tracked-changes assessment, as well as peer edits on a 500-word writing sample
- Learn best practices for copy editing short- and longform, along with resources to fine-tune skills
- Develop skills to craft and edit stylebook entries
COURSE SKELETON:
Hour 1:
- make intros and learn what everyone wants to get out of the course
- go over common grammar, punctuation, and style mistakes
Hour 2:
- discuss readings and how to justify copy edits you want to make to a piece of writing
- peer-edit each other's roughly 500-word samples (I will have some text on hand for those who forget to bring a sample)
Hour 3:
- discuss what makes a clear, concise style guide entry, with examples
- share resources for copy editors including style guides and networks
Julie Kliegman is a journalist based in Queens, New York. She is currently the copy chief for Sports Illustrated, where she was hired in 2020 to modernize the print and digital copy desk. Previously, she copy edited and wrote for The Ringer. Her writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, Vulture, Vox, The Verge, and more.
"Julie is one of the best editors I have ever had the opportunity to work with. She is incredibly diligent and thoughtful...She approaches stories and writers with compassion, and her editing undoubtedly brings out the best in my work."—Frankie de la Cretaz freelance writer and author
"There’s no person I trust more than Julie Kliegman when it comes to fixing copy. Her sharp eye and understanding of voice allows her to ensure sentences not only follow the laws of the land, but sound better than they did before she read them. Julie has saved me from myself more times than I can count, and there isn’t a story she’s edited that isn’t better off for it. Even more impressive, she has a remarkable ability to explain the logic behind her changes, giving her students and writers a chance to learn alongside her." —Shaker Samman, freelance writer and editor