Seattle-area Editing Courses and Programs

Workshops and Individual Courses
Certificate Programs
Classes that are No Longer Taught

Workshops and Individual Courses

Author-Editor Clinic

The Art of Editing: Longer Manuscripts in Development is an eight-week course in developmental editing for those who want more experience dealing with longer manuscripts, taught by Barbara Sjoholm, a writer, editor, and co-founder of Seal Press. The sessions pair editors with authors who submit their work via the Author-Editor Clinic. The focus is on analyzing full-length manuscripts, both fiction and nonfiction, and learning to communicate effectively with clients. 

Introduction to Developmental Editing is an introductory eight-week class geared toward editors with some background in copyediting and/or substantive editing. Students begin by cutting, shaping, and organizing shorter manuscripts and move on to longer works. Students work together under supervision on manuscripts of fiction and nonfiction, and learn to effectively communicate suggestions and changes to authors. A shorter session is offered as well.

The Business Side of Freelance Developmental Editing: It takes more than just editing skills to run a successful practice. This workshop teaches you how to avoid pitfalls with an author: miscommunication, misunderstanding, missed pay . . . and misery. 

The Author-Editor Clinic also offers an editor mentoring program and instruction for writers interested in learning the basic principles of editing.

Bellevue Community College Publishing Institute

The Publishing Institute, offered by BCC Continuing Education, includes classes, workshops, seminars, and special presentations for writers, editors, small press owners, graphic artists, and others who are part of or wish to be part of the Northwest’s dynamic publishing industry.

Classes and one-day workshops may include Publishing 101, Professional Editing I & II, Editing Your Own Writing, Self-Publishing, Writing Personal Histories and Memoirs, How to Become a Travel Writer, and Groanless Grammar: A Writing Skills Tune-Up.

Mediabistro

Mediabistro, a national organization with local chapters, occasionally offers one-night/weekend seminars such as Copyediting 101, Proofreading Basics, and Grammar A-Z; A Day in the Life of a Successful Freelancer; and Introduction to Travel Writing and How to Sell a Book Every Year. (If the aforementioned link doesn't work, try http://www.mediabistro.com/events/ and scroll down to the bottom for Seminars in Seattle.)

Other

GrammarWorks of Seattle, 206-523-4065, offers short classes/workshops for small groups, usually at workplaces. The instructor, Cherie Tucker, also teaches Practical Grammar for Editors through the UW Editing Certificate Program. A Guild member calls her “terrific . . . passionate about grammar (she's been known to ask business owners to change their signs so they're grammatically correct) and funny too, so her classes are lots of fun and very informative.” 

Copyediting newsletter offers a one-day workshop each spring in the Seattle area; the cost is about $300. 

Certificate programs

UW Certificate Program in Editing

The University of Washington Extension offers a nine-month certificate program in editing whose courses include Editorial Roles and Careers, Practical Grammar for Editors, Fundamentals of Copy Editing, The Web-Savvy Editor, and Advanced Editing. Some of the courses can be taken individually, without being enrolled in the entire program.

UW Certificate Program in Technical Writing and Editing

The UW Extension's certificate in technical writing and editing gives participants hands-on experience and necessary knowledge for entering or advancing in the high-growth technical communication field. The program comprises six courses, including Style in Scientific and Technical Writing, Technical Editing, The Computer in Technical Communication, and Production Editing. Some courses may be taken individually, without enrollment in the program. 

BCC Technical and Professional Editing Certificate 

Courses Formerly Taught Through Discover U

The following courses were taught 2001-2007 and are no longer offered. Discover U, where these classes were held, went out of business.

Guild instructors taught several affordable classes through Seattle's Discover U, which was located near Northgate Mall. Each class cost about $55 plus a small materials fee. 

Proofreading Workshop (Hands-On)

Turn your eye for typos into a marketable skill! Proofreading may be for you. This hands-on workshop covers:

Leave with the techniques and confidence to handle a typical proofreading test. In-class exercises focus on specific skills. Learn who proofreaders are, what their responsibilities are, where they work, and how to get started.

Careers in Editing and Proofreading 

Are you new to editing or proofreading? In today's information-oriented society, many opportunities exist for editors and proofreaders. Find out how to turn a nose for typos, an ear for tangled text, and an eagle eye for grammatical gaffes into a rewarding career. Learn what editors and proofreaders do, how to get started, where to find helpful resources, who potential employers are, and why working with words might be for you. Note: Class focus is not on how to start a small business or how to edit.