Module: CWR4104-20 Publishing and Editing for writers

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Holly Tonks

Module Tutor Contact Details: h.tonks@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module will introduce you to the publishing industry, covering the range of companies, roles and processes, with a focus on editorial. You will be introduced to editing as a creative means of improving your writing in terms of language, punctuation and grammar use, and also to structure your writing and enhance characterisation. The module is divided into three teaching blocks: Great Stories and Chapters; Great Scenes and Paragraphs; Great Sentences.

You will gain experience of the writer-editor relationship through workshops and exercises; this will be supported through the discussion of documented professional relationships. This will help give you confidence in your ability to contribute insights to improve the work of others during writer’s workshop sessions, and ultimately help you develop an editorial eye. This work will be informed by the study of selected key texts.

Module Aims: Students should leave with:

• an understanding of the basics and the creative role of editing
• an understanding of the publishing industry and the role of editors and agents
• a better understanding of the ‘writer’s toolkit’ from grammar to structure to characterisation

2. Outline syllabus:

• Introduction to editing and proofreading
• Creative use of grammar and punctuation
• Publishing industry and roles
• The editor-writer relationship
• Structure from sentence to novel
• Point of view
• Characterisation
• Clarity of expression and rhetorical devices

3. Teaching and learning activities:

A three-hour seminar will include lectures, textual analysis and writing exercises.

In addition, we would sometimes: set reading to do in advance of the session; allocate extended writing time; set quizzes, group work and presentations. Occasionally we will go on excursions around campus. We will also engage in digital storytelling outside classroom hours.

Additional Resources will be added to Minerva to support independent learning.

There will be no workshopping or tutorials.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW
• Description: Critical reflection (equivalent of 2,000 words)
• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW
• Description: Essay (equivalent of 2,000 words)
• % Weighting: 50%