You know how to correct sentences, but you want to make them sing. This is a self-study course for aspiring professionals who want to master line editing – and help fiction authors improve their prose without flattening their voice.
\n"},{"module":"WordPressAcf_additional_content","title":"You've got the technical skills. Now it's time to go deeper.","body":"You’re comfortable with the technical side of editing – the grammar calls, the punctuation corrections, the style decisions. But when it comes to the nuances of the sentences, you’re not so sure. Where does copy-editing end and line editing begin? And once you’re working at that level, how do you know when you’re editing and when you’re … rewriting?
\nIt’s a question that raises doubts and insecurities in an editor’s mind. You can feel when a sentence isn’t working, but articulating why – and knowing how to help an author fix it without putting your own fingerprints all over their prose – is a different skill entirely.
\nAnd underneath that worry sits another one: what if, in trying to improve the writing, you smooth away the idiosyncrasies that make it theirs? The rhythm, the voice, the creative intentions?
\nThis course gives you the framework to work at the sentence level with confidence and consideration, so you can sharpen an author’s prose without flattening what makes it sing.
\nThis course isn’t for you if you don’t want to specialise in fiction editing. It’s also not really for authors who want to line edit their own work – though you may still get some value from the course.
\nIf you want to learn the more technical aspects of copy-editing (which I believe give you the best foundations on which to build your line editing craft), take this course first:
\nTea and Commas: The Foundations of Line and Copy-Editing Fiction
\n","no_background":null},{"module":"WordPressAcf_testimonial","testimonial":[{"wordpress_id":1904,"acf":{"attribution":"Sue Browning","body":"I really enjoyed this course and learnt a great deal from it. I feel more confident delving into the detail of line craft, and I can now better explain why I made a particular edit or suggestion. The exercises were well designed and thought-provoking. Comparing my edits with yours really made me think about how I approach fiction editing in general and has given me a toolkit for fixing stuff that isn’t working.
\n"}}]},{"module":"WordPressAcf_additional_content","title":null,"body":"This is a self-study eight-module online course.
\nThe written materials will be available immediately through a dedicated online portal where you can work through the modules at your own pace, starting whenever you like.
\nYou’ll also be able to download PDF versions of the modules to save, print and keep.
\nThere are several extensive editing exercises for you to complete (model answers provided), and a few additional resources.
\nYou’ll receive a certificate upon completion.
\n","no_background":null},{"module":"WordPressAcf_text_image_aside","image":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"sizes":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1,"src":"/static/8cccfe2fbb2ab2bbba977eb6be6ab7f6/f422e/sophie-playle.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8cccfe2fbb2ab2bbba977eb6be6ab7f6/e75b5/sophie-playle.jpg 160w,\n/static/8cccfe2fbb2ab2bbba977eb6be6ab7f6/c01e2/sophie-playle.jpg 320w,\n/static/8cccfe2fbb2ab2bbba977eb6be6ab7f6/f422e/sophie-playle.jpg 640w,\n/static/8cccfe2fbb2ab2bbba977eb6be6ab7f6/a6352/sophie-playle.jpg 960w,\n/static/8cccfe2fbb2ab2bbba977eb6be6ab7f6/ec6c5/sophie-playle.jpg 1280w,\n/static/8cccfe2fbb2ab2bbba977eb6be6ab7f6/2c1bb/sophie-playle.jpg 1281w","sizes":"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"}}}},"title":"Who am I to teach line and copy-editing?","body":"I ran my own freelance editing practice for over a decade, specialising in line and copy-editing fiction. I’ve worked with more than a hundred authors on countless manuscripts.
\nMy qualifications include a degree in English Literature with Creative Writing (UEA) and an MA in Creative Writing (Royal Holloway). I’m also a writer of fiction, having had many short pieces published in literary magazines. I’ve worked in-house at a large publishing company, and have completed tons of in-depth editing training.
\n","call_to_action_text":null,"call_to_action_link":null},{"module":"WordPressAcf_additional_content","title":"Course outline","body":"NOTE: You will need Microsoft Word to complete the exercises in this course.
\nYou’ll receive a PDF certificate confirming you’ve completed the course. You can include this in your training credentials!
\nIn the editing industry, training is recognised based on the provider’s credibility. My courses, for example, are recognised by the Chartered Institute for Editing and Proofreading and count towards membership upgrades.
\nCertification, however, is different. It requires an assessment to meet a certifying body’s standards, and there are ongoing requirements to maintain it. It’s quite complex, and rare in the editing industry. Liminal Pages does not offer certification.
\nSorry, but Microsoft Word is the industry standard – so you will need to invest in this if you want to become an editor. It has all the bells and whistles you need to do the job.
\nAnd sadly, you can’t use the free online version as it doesn’t support Track Changes or macros, and you can’t add or customise your own styles. (You need these things to be a professional editor!)
\n"},{"question":"How much time will this course require?","answer":"Around 1-2 hours per module is about standard (the latter end if you dedicate yourself to the exercises), so roughly 8-16 hours for the whole course. Think about it like a dedicated weekend of training.
\n"},{"question":"Do I need to take 'Tea and Commas: The Foundations of Line and Copy-Editing' first?","answer":"I believe line and copy-editing go hand in hand, and you’ll be in the strongest position to build a professional editing career by taking both courses. Understanding the technical side of copy-editing (marking up for the typesetter, using Track Changes, creating a style sheet, knowing your legal responsibilities) gives you an important foundation on which to build your line editing skills.
\nThat said, if you’re already an experienced copy-editor, or you’re only interested in the more creative side of sentence-level editing, you may be just fine starting here. And you can always go back and take Tea and Commas later!
\n"},{"question":"Do I have to be from the UK to benefit from this course?","answer":"No. Though there are some stylistic and language variations between English-speaking countries, we’ll touch on this. Mostly, the principles are universal to good writing.
\nAlso: a note on international pricing.
\nLiminal Pages courses are priced in pounds sterling, which can make them feel significantly more expensive depending on where you’re based and the current exchange rate. If you’re outside the UK and the price feels genuinely out of reach, drop me an email at sophie@liminalpages.com and I’ll sort out a discount code for you.
\n"},{"question":"Is this course suitable for me?","answer":"You’ll be the best judge of this, so take a close look at all the information provided on this web page and have a think! If there’s something you’d like to know to help you make your decision and I haven’t mentioned it on this page, feel free to drop me an email and I’ll do my best to help.
\n"},{"question":"What do I need to know before taking this course?","answer":"Not much – but there are two things that will help you hit the ground running: a working knowledge of Track Changes and comments in Word, and an understanding of what a style sheet is and how to use one. If you’re not there yet, Tea and Commas is a great place to start.
\n"}]},{"module":"WordPressAcf_additional_content","title":null,"body":"A note on international pricing:
\nLiminal Pages courses are priced in pounds sterling, which can make them feel significantly more expensive depending on where you’re based and the current exchange rate. If you’re outside the UK and the price feels genuinely out of reach, drop me an email at sophie@liminalpages.com and I’ll sort out a discount code for you.
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