Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing

Local

Course Enquiries:	Telephone: (03) 9564 1602
Course Code:	21675VIC
Start Date(s):	February and July.
Location:	Chadstone
Total Course Length:	Full-time: 2 years Part-time: No limit
Prerequisites:	VCE (ENTER) or equivalent; or Mature age (at least 18 years of age and away from formal study for at least one year) All applicants must attend an interview, at which they are required to: Demonstrate previous work or relevant voluntary experience Provide past academic results Present a folio of work Demonstrate a high level of written English skills.

Overview

Incorporating Certificate IV in Professional Writing & Editing

Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing
Course Code 21674VIC

This course aims to: provide training in creative, business and technical writing, editing and the production of text; develop skills in the use of technology in the writing/editing industry; provide a disciplined environment for potential writers and interaction with like-minded people; and provide students with an awareness of how to market their work, and a knowledge of the markets available to the professional writer and editor.

Qualification & Recognition

On successful completion of their first year core subjects and three first year specialisations (680 hours), students are eligible to receive Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing.

On successful completion of 544 hours, comprising three second year specialisations and a further 136 hours of specialisations or electives, students are eligible for the Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing.

Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer

Students may be able to shorten the length of their chosen course by measuring skills acquired through work, life experiences or qualifications obtained from formal studies or training. AQTF qualifications and statements of attainment issued by another registered training organisation will be recognised by Holmesglen.

RPL Booklet

Course Fees

Fees are calculated according to the level of course being studied, and the number of hours being undertaken, up to Government established maximums. Eligible students are able to access a Government Subsidised Place and certain categories of Full Fee Paying students may be able to access an Eligibility Exemption. Assistance is available in the form of VET FEE HELP or a Holmesglen Payment Plan for students who are unable to afford fee payment up front. For further information please check the link below or contact the Information Office on 03 95641640.

How to Apply

Directly to Holmesglen: Mid year mature age and part-time applicants only
VTAC: All applications for this course must be made through VTAC. The VTAC code for this course is 61651 (VGF) or 61654 (Fee type determined by provider)
Supplementary application form and writing folio

Course Structure

Unit: Hours

Computer Skills for Writers & Editors: Basic computer operations, keyboarding, OH&S, hardware/software, basic and advanced features of word processing packages, email and World Wide-Web.; 68
Industry Overview: A series of lectures by guest speakers on topics relating to the writing and publishing industry.; 68
Writing and Editing Skills: Analysis and use of English grammar and vocabulary. Topics include parts of speech; structure and function of phrases, clauses and sentences; common grammatical errors and corrections. Application of grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, paragraph construction, styles of writing.; 136
Corporate Writing: New and traditional methods of business communication; purpose/audience/style, report writing, effective written and electronic business communication.; 137
Literature For Writers: Awareness and analysis of the historical and critical context of a chronological range of literature. Development of own writing through exploration of contemporary Australian writers. Further development of critical analysis of the social, cultural and philosophical influences on literature in various eras.; 136
Poetry 1: Workshopping, production of poetry within the historical and contemporary context of a range of poetry styles and techniques. Workshopping, development of a sustained voice in poetry produced to a specified standard and presented in a public forum.; 136
Popular Fiction: Producing a best seller, popular fiction genres, novel writing techniques, story outlines, workshopping skills. Expands a story outline and/or initial chapters to first draft stage, markets.; 136
Short Story 1: Construction of short stories to publishable standard, language/style/technique.; 136
Scriptwriting: Analysis of structure and technique in a range of performance areas, development of performance themes, dramatisation, development of performance material. Research major project, formats, development of original performance pieces, workshopping develop a market, proposals, submissions.; 136
Desktop Publishing: Design and development of text, introduces original creation of graphics on screen. Creating and using colour text and graphics, preparing material for a print bureau.; 136
Editing 2 (Incorporates Role of the Editor): Covers: grammar/vocabulary; application of copy editing and proof reading symbols; editing for consistent style; organisation of material; rewriting material; book editing; processes involved in bringing a book to print. Editing functions on a computer. Corporate material such as magazines, advertising copy, newspapers and annual reports from first draft to pre-print stage. Self publishing. Overview of editing, editorial tasks, formal editing techniques, current language usage, impact of technology, style.; 136
Myths and Symbols: Nature and function of myths and how they work for the writer. Nature and function of symbols, use of symbols and symbolism in creative writing.; 136
Non Fiction Project: Principals and techniques involved in the writing of extended non-fiction projects. Publishing opportunities in the non-fiction book marker, development and completion of an extended piece of non-fiction.; 136
Novel 2: Incorporates form, structure and language style; workshopping and redrafting; marketing and industry standards. Workshopping, editing and production of a novel to publishing standard.; 136
Playwriting: Covers: processes of playwriting, development of one-act play, workshopping of play scripts, text editing, constructive criticism and redrafting. Development of a full-length play, performance industry contacts.; 136
Poetry 2: Performance poetry, workshop techniques, manuscript presentation, publication. Song lyrics, performance, redrafting, alternative publishing opportunities.; 136
Screenwriting: Language, structure and theme; film, TV and video analysis and criticism, development of proposal, research, use of the conventions, marketing. Develop narrative for project, write script.; 136
Short Story 2: Covers: publication outlets; contemporary short story writing; work-shopping and redrafting skills, marketing your work; and liaison with editors. Covers: alternative marketing strategies, work-shopping and redrafting skills and public readings and presentations.; 136
Small Press Publishing: Management of a small press publication through various stages: planning and preparation, liaison with authors, editorial issues, negotiations with printers, marketing and distribution.; 136
Writing For Children: Reading interests and levels of the 8-13 age group, market and industry standards, language, structure and format; development of outline for writing project. Study of alternative markets, development of a full length piece of writing, knowledge of publishers? standards and requirements.; 136
Writing For Young Adults: Introduction to works of contemporary writers for young adults, examines techniques of writing, presenting and marketing. Alternative markets for Writing for Young Adults, skills for developing a full length piece of writing, publishers? standards and requirements.; 136
Writing Histories: Research of specific project. Giving and receiving client briefs on history (life, autobiographical, family, corporate, etc) writing projects. Emphasis on development of a major history project (life, autobiographical, family, corporate, etc) with appropriate production/presentation format.; 136
Journalism: Preparation, writing of non-fiction, interviewing techniques, marketing and research techniques, market for writers. Review and reporting of events, research for feature writing and investigative reporting, working to deadlines, law and ethics of non-fiction writing.; 136
Design And Layout: Basic processes of design and layout for print production.; 68
Instructional Writing: Covers: plain English; reader-based writing for technical/scientific documentation; technical writing project.; 68
Writing For The Web: Use of Internet. Knowledge of software; appropriate uses of protocols and data types; information sources, types of web pages, web authorising software, Internet related issues.; 68
Writer And Research: Sourcing of material, information collection, interviewing, questionnaires, organisation, collation and storage of data, legal and ethical issues involved in social research, production of a research project.; 68
Introduction to Desktop Publishing: Introduction to desktop publishing software packages.; 68
Photography for Writers: Photojournalism, relationship of image to text, use of camera, preparing project brief, marketing, use of new technologies.; 68
Practical Placement: Students work in various fields employing writers and editors.; 68
Novel 1: The novel form, novel writing techniques, story outlines, workshopping skills. Development of novel writing techniques, construction of a first draft of a novel, marketing a novel.; 136