Children¿s Book Editing

In this course we will examine what it takes to edit a successful children's book in today¿s market. Students will do several hands-on exercises to learn the nuances of editing everything from a spare picture book text, to a middle-grade (or tween) fantasy novel, to teen novels in different genres. We will discuss how to collaborate with an author and the delicate line editors walk between pushing the right amount and knowing when to stop. Students will also learn how to edit children¿s book illustration. As the industry evolves, there are various paths an editor can take and one of them is creating intellectual property, so we will learn what that entails. And since a successful editor's role goes well beyond just working on text, we will also discuss how an editor's passion can help spark excitement in-house that can put a book on its path to success.