Line-Editing Workshop (Fiction or Non-Fiction) 

This half-day course is designed for editors working on fiction or non-fiction who have to undertake a stylistic line edit of a manuscript or text. It is an interactive workshop, with examples and group discussion to reinforce your skills. You will learn what a line edit is, and how to undertake one, including best practice and advice on interacting and working with an author to produce the best results possible.

Please note that the course has two separate outings, one for non-fiction and one for fiction. It is also available for in-company training for either fiction or non-fiction, or a combination of both.

Who is it for?

  • assistant editors
  • copy-editors
  • desk editors
  • editorial assistants
  • editors
  • freelance editors

What will you achieve?

On completing the course you will:

  • understand what a line edit is (and what it isn’t)
  • learn what the main elements of a line edit are and how to apply them
  • gain tips and advice on how to interact and communicate with an author about a line edit.

Programme

  • Overview: what is line editing? Why undertake a line edit? What is the aim of a line edit?
  • Key foci of a line edit
  • Fresh approach: put yourself in the author’s shoes
  • Communicating with the author
  • Dos and don’ts
  • Questions and comments

    How the course is delivered

    The course is broken down into 2 x 1½ hour sessions. It will run during the morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm. To join the course, you will need access to a computer, tablet or laptop with a camera and microphone. The course will be delivered via Zoom Pro with attendant security levels. You will need to activate a free Zoom account to join the course. This takes 2 minutes and does not require any payment. It is purely for administrative purposes.

    Any information to be completed beforehand will be sent via email.

    Accessibility

    Please contact us at with any accessibility or special requirements, for example having in-session captions or the learning materials sent to you in advance.

    If you have any concerns about technical requirements or access please contact us on or telephone +44 (0)20 8874 2718.

    In-company training

    This course is also available for in-company training, either virtually or in person at your office. Course content is tailored to suit your requirements. Group sizes range from 5 to 12 attendees. To find out more, email or telephone +44 (0)20 8874 2718.

    What is included?

    Certificate

    Upon successfully completing the course you will receive a completion certificate from the PTC.

    Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) points

    Completing this course is worth 2 points towards upgrading your CIEP membership.

    Delegate feedback

    “An excellent course. I’ve gained an understanding of the dos and don'ts, confidence in multiple aspects of line editing and a broader understanding of the process.” Sweet Cherry Publishing delegate

    “I enjoyed the course very much and have gained an understanding of the difference between line editing and copyediting.” Editor, Rachael Prest Editing/Our Media

    “Very informative and useful session.” The Literary Consultancy delegate

    “I really enjoyed [Heather’s] method of teaching and the general flow of the class.”  The Literary Consultancy delegate

    About the tutor(s)

    heather cushingHeather Rawlin began her career in publishing by training with the PTC to become a proofreader and copy-editor. She worked for six years as an editorial project manager for a firm of typesetters, taking academic publications from manuscript through to print-ready and digital formats, and liaising closely with freelance copy editors, proofreaders and indexers, as well as with the in-house production team of typesetters and quality-assurance readers. Heather started her editorial freelance business in 2015 and began tutoring the PTC distance-learning courses Essential Copy Editing and Essential Proofreading in 2018. She has degrees in the History of Art and experience of editorial work in medical and scientific publishing, as well as the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

    For more information about any of these courses, please email  or sign up to receive our newsletter for updates on these and our other offerings. 

    Please read our Terms & Conditions

    Next session

    9 December 2025 (Fiction)

    Price

    £175 + VAT

    A number of discounts are available

    Course format

    • Virtual classroom
    • 9.30am to 12.30pm
    • 2 x 1½-hour sessions inc. break 

    Date information for future sessions

    December 2025 – Fiction

    • Date: 9 December 2025
    • Times: 9.30am to 12.30pm

    June 2026 – Non-Fiction

    • Date: 9 June 2026
    • Times: 9.30am to 12.30pm

    December 2026 – Fiction

    • Date: 9 December 2026
    • Times: 9.30am to 12.30pm

    What you will need

    To join the course, you will need access to a computer, tablet or laptop with a camera and microphone. You will need to activate a free Zoom account to join the course. This takes 2 minutes and does not require any payment. It is purely for administrative purposes.

    Enrol on this course

    Enrol on this course