E-course Frequently Asked Questions

 I’ve been getting a lot of questions about my e-course on editing your own prose. So here I am! Answering them for you!

I don’t know about you, but I would take any course that involves pictures of the Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 Terminator, and guess what! Mine does! He (I refuse to call him “It”) actually has something to do with the course, believe me.

Here we go!

Q. Do you have a self-editing course if I’ve written a prose manuscript and I’m not ready to hire an editor yet?

Why, yes! Yes, I do. You can click the Shop link at the top of any page on my site to find it. Or click right here.

Q. What does it cost?

The course retails for $198.50 Canadian (includes 5% GST).

Q. When does it start?

It starts whenever you choose to start it. It’s not a classroom: meaning that you are on your own with it. It’s completely self-directed and dead easy to follow. There are no assignments, due dates, exams, or group participation.

Q. What’s the schedule? Do I need to do a module a week or something?

The only schedule is your own. You decide what pace you’d like to work at and you can go as quickly or as slowly as you like.

Q. When does it expire?

Never! You own it for life, or until the aforementioned Terminator is unable to stop Skynet becoming self-aware and blowing up the world and The Intarwebs along with it.

Q. What will I learn?

ALL THE THINGZ! Here’s the course outline so you can see the depth and breadth of what you’ll be learning:

Module 1: Lessons: Welcome! Basic formatting in Word. Correcting obvious errors Word points out. Reading with your eyeballs.

Module 2: Lessons: Fact checking. Easy trims. Plot and character consistency.

Module 3: Lessons: Clichés. Adverbs. Hyperbole.

Module 4: Lessons: Point of view and head jumping. Passive and active voices. Superhuman eyeballs.

Module 5: Lessons: Unnecessary phrases/words including dialogue starters. Specific words vs. generalizations. Showing vs. telling. Foreshadowing vs. telegraphing.

Module 6: Lessons: Quoting and permissions. Tense. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! Punctuation. Final read-through.

Q. What kind of weird-ass lesson is called “What the hell was that?!”?

Guess you’ll have to buy the course to find out!

Q. How is the course presented?

I’ll say hello to you in a welcome video, and then away you go. I’ve written an eight-page story for the purposes of the course, but my techniques will also work for non-fiction. By the time we’re through, I edit it down to five pages, moving editing element by editing element, one at a time.

The course consists of about ten hours of video over twenty-two lessons in six modules. What you will primarily see is my screen as I edit in real time and you’ll hear me explain exactly what I’m doing. Once in a while, you’ll hear the doggo next door howling, and the odd street being ripped up right outside my house.

I’ll also tell you lesson-relevant stories about my own writing/editing journey as you work through the course, and you’ll see me again at the end as I congratulate you in a good-bye video.

Q. If I’m working with a story you wrote, how does that help me with my work?

I’ve written a story that purposely includes the challenges that all writers face. I promise you that you’ll be able to apply it to your own prose immediately and effectively, whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction.

Q. How do I start the course?

When you purchase it, you’ll automatically receive an email containing the course URL and the password you’ll need to access it. Click on the URL in the email, or copy and paste it into your browser and you’ll be taken to a page which will prompt you for that password.

If for some reason, you don’t get the email immediately after you purchase the course, please check your spam and junk folders. If it’s not there, send me a note, and I’ll give you the URL and password.

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That’s the skinny, kids! Pop me a note if you want to know more.

Hope to see you in there!