Overview

This unit introduces students to the skills and knowledge of the practices, techniques and technologies required of the professional editor to prepare a range of manuscripts for publication and to work independently and collaboratively as an editor in response to project demands.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PWR20002 Writing and Publishing Studio
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
 

  1. Examine the editorial publication process in diverse industry contexts, including creative practices, relationships, and technical production.
  2. Critically analyse the role of editor, publishing team and the author-editor relationship in diverse publishing contexts
  3. Demonstrate critical understanding of the role and practices of industry standard editorial pitching and feedback
  4. Investigate and apply industry principles of structural editing, copy editing, proof-reading, clarity, and layout for contemporary creative artefacts
  5. Analyse, evaluate, and apply advice and editorial input through collaborative practices of creative critique

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Workshop		3.00 12 weeks 36
Specified Activities
Various		3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Various		6.50 12 weeks 78
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Applied Project Individual  35%  3,4 
Applied Project Individual  40%  1,2,3,4,5 
Applied Project Individual  25%  1,2,3,4,5 

Content

  • Introduction to editing pre-production techniques for publication
  • Appraising manuscripts
  • Determining style requirements for a specified publication
  • Application of on screen editing techniques
  • Liaising to clarify content
  • Application of industry standards and conventions for grammar, language, syntax, spelling, punctuation, tone, consistency, style, form, genre
  • Processes for checking references, copyright, and other factors required for publication
  • Preparing proofs for publication

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.