Line editing involves editing sentence by sentence (or line by line) to upgrade the prose, always keeping craft in mind. A line edit ensures that your book’s content is consistent while its language is creative and concise. Publishers used to provide line editors for accepted manuscripts. No longer. You are now your own line editor. But what is line editing and how is it different from copy editing? And what difference will it make in either the acceptance or sales of your manuscript? Especially if you plan to self-publish? One or two excess words in a passage can undermine prose that otherwise might blow readers’ minds. As a playwright and former editor, I have seen adequate or interesting essays and stories that became powerful by the elimination of a few words and phrases. We all have our favorite fillers. Learn to recognize the words and phrases that you use unconsciously to add unnecessary padding to your text. Learn the sentence structures that invite unnecessary words and how to use sentences for powerful impact. Prior to class, submit a page of text from a project on which you are working so that we can apply these techniques during the class and create a model you can follow.

Please note: This class or event will be held online (using Zoom or a similar live platform). To participate, students or attendees should have a stable internet connection. Class participants: you should have a computer or device with a webcam and microphone; and your Zoom link will be automatically sent to you after you register. Check your spam box if you don't see it.