Editing fiction with a focus on style

A training workshop Presented by Pamela Hewitt

Saturday 18 March 2023

Cost: $180 for CSE members; $250 for non-members

About the course

To present this training course, we are pleased again to welcome Pamela Hewitt to Canberra. Places are limited to 24 people.

What makes for a great writing style? And how can editors help bring out the best in a writer’s work?

This workshop covers style issues often encountered editing fiction and narrative non-fiction, especially matters of voice and tone. We’ll explore techniques to tighten expression, ensuring narrative cohesion and variation, paying particular attention to the sentence level.

In the workshop you’ll identify and come up with solutions to:

  • repetition, redundancy and style mannerisms
  • common flaws in manuscripts such as overwriting, sentimentality, dated and overly formal expression, jargon, euphemism, moralising and cliché in all its manifestations
  • language choices, matters of stereotyping and sensitivity
  • technical and presentational problems – tense and tense shifts, contractions and writing dialogue.

Identifying and discussing problems of expression can be challenging for editors who work with creative writers, whether they’re new to the editing process or more experienced writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction genres such as memoir. We’ll also discuss ways to work collaboratively, respecting the writer’s voice, while flagging style questions with tact and honesty.

This workshop is practical and interactive, with plenty of sample texts that illustrate the issues discussed. The workshop will include opportunities and scope to raise issues in editing and writing fiction and narrative non-fiction.

This is a fabulous opportunity to broaden and sharpen your editing skills.

About Pamela

Pamela is an accredited editor who has worked in publishing for over 30 years. After an in-house career in educational and academic editing, she established Emend Editing, a freelance editorial practice specialising in fiction, memoir and narrative non-fiction. Many titles Pamela has edited have won literary awards.

Date: Saturday, 18 March 2023.

Time: 10 am to 4 pm.

Where: In-person only at
The Durie Room, St Mark’s National Theological Centre
15 Blackall St, Barton

Registration: To book and pay visit the Trybooking registration page. (The form contains graphics so Trybooking may take a little time to load.) Registrations close midnight Wednesday 15 March.

Workshop information

Workshop Trybooking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CGEMJ

Venue

See MAP to find The Durie Room
St Mark’s National Theological Centre
15 Blackall St (not Blackall Place)
Barton

There is free on-site parking.

The Durie Room is a large comfortable room with lots of natural light and fresh air.

Catering

Morning and afternoon tea is provided.

Participants will need to bring their own lunch or buy something from nearby shops. The venue’s kitchen has a fridge and microwave.

Have questions or need to cancel?

Email training@editorscanberra.org if you have any questions about the workshop.

Also email training@editorscanberra.org if you need to cancel (life happens). Please let us know as soon as you can so that we can fill the space. Thanks.

Please do not attend the workshop if you are feeling unwell or showing any symptoms of cold or flu.