True North Writing Essentials: Thinking Like An Editor

Training Organisation: True North

Contact: Marina Benjamin

Delivery: In person

Programme Description:

How do you step outside your own work to view it with a cool editorial eye that lets you lift your writing to a new level? How can you tighten your argument, avoid repetition, and learn what to cut?
This workshop addresses the all-too-common problem of front-loading the writing process, whereby some students spend the bulk of their time researching, leaving their write-up until the end, with too little time for thinking. We instil early on a habit of multiple drafting and polishing. We teach you how to trouble-shoot your own work, to use direct, active language, and zoom in on significant details. We cover the link between the particular and universal, and the practice of knowing where the reader is at any given point. The day will be full of red-pen exercises, using examples of both good and weak academic writing.
This workshop aims to give students a working knowledge of the editorial process as practiced by professional editors – because it is led by professional editors sharing their best practice.

Learning Outcomes:
• Understand the role of each distinct stage in the revision process.
• Learn how professional editors approach a text and in what ways they intervene.
• Acquire tools for better copy-editing and proofing
• Edit your own academic writing to improve clarity, flow and style.