Are there good proofreading classes or seminars (one- or two-day) held
preferably in New York, but alternatively in a city between Washington
and Boston? Purpose: to brush up my proofreading skills as an editor
for a general interest magazine.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 26 Nov 2003 13:50 PST

Hi, McCook!

This isn't as easy as I'd expected. Mostly I'm finding proofreading
seminars that are targeting business managers and others outside the
editing profession.

Here's one that seems to be geared toward professionals in the field:

"Seminar/Conference Description:
Learn proofreading techniques and learn how to properly communicate
through proofreading symbols. Learn to use a type gauge and find out
how to review and mark for style. 0.65 CEUs. Fee per person: $295,
$225 for members.

Who Should Attend?
Proofreaders, production person and designer

Topic:  COMMUNICATIONS: Reading Skills

Sponsor:  Association of the Graphic Comm...

12/03/2003 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
01/06/2004 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
02/25/2004 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
03/30/2004 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK"

Seminar Information Service, Inc.
http://www.seminarinformation.com/wconnect/wc.dll?sis~details1~21952

Am I on the right track here? If the seminar described above is the
type of thing you're looking for, I can try to find others of a
similar sort. If this isn't suitable, a few more details about your
needs would be most welcome.

Thanks!

~Pink

---

Clarification of Question by mccook-ga on 26 Nov 2003 14:48 PST

Hello, Pinkfreud: Yeah, that's on the right track. The office I work
in is small, though, so I'm less interested in "how to properly
communicate through proofreading symbols" -- i.e., we can just talk to
each other across a desk -- than I am in the proofreading technique
itself: how to catch everything in terms of spelling, grammar,
capitalization, subject-verb agreement and so on. In short, I am more
the proofreader than I am the production person or designer --
proofreading, more than type guages, is my main area of interest.

Thanks,
McCook

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 26 Nov 2003 15:36 PST

How about this one?

http://www.seminarinformation.com/wconnect/wc.dll?sis~details1~2577~PTR

---

Clarification of Question by mccook-ga on 26 Nov 2003 20:23 PST

Pinkfreud: Yeah, that seems like it has more to do with writing, and
it's too ripe in terms of price. I want to learn how to proof what
others have written, reliably, methodically and, I hope, fairly
swiftly. It may be that your first suggestions will be the best we can
do -- I've spent a fair amount of time looking myself. If you don't
see anything else on proofreading texts per se, please post that as
your answer and I'll pay you with thanks,

McCook-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 27 Nov 2003 18:57 PST

I haven't yet given up on finding something for you. I've turned up
some great-sounding seminars for honing your proofreading and
copyediting skills in Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, and Nottingham,
England, so I know this kind of thing exists.

Most of what I've found in your area is of this sort, though:

http://www.findaseminar.com/event1.asp?eventID=851

There seem to be many more "business English" type workshops than ones
geared specifically toward proofreading.

I've emailed a friend who teaches at Columbia University to see
whether he may have any suggestions.

I hope this exchange of clarifications hasn't scared other Researchers
away. In no way do I feel that I own this question; if anyone can
offer a good answer, I'll be glad to see it happen!

---

Clarification of Question by mccook-ga on 28 Nov 2003 07:06 PST

Pinkfreud: Really appreciates your efforts, especially over the
Thanksgiving holiday. You've gotten the fact that what I'm looking for
is a class or seminar that teaches proofreading of general interest
text, rather than business letters or technical language. The basic
question is: is there a place where people who are going to work as
proofreaders of regular prose learn to proofread?

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 28 Nov 2003 12:20 PST

The Editorial Freelancers Association hosts a number of workshops in
NYC. This one sounds quite good, but it is a ten-week program rather
than a brief seminar:

"Fundamentals of Copyediting and Proofreading
 Mondays, February 3 - April 14
 6:15 - 9:00 p.m. 
 FEE: EFA Member $390 / Nonmember $435 

A complete, 10-session course for those who are entering publishing or
who wish to know more, taught by one of the most respected
professionals in the business. Included are both basic and more
advanced symbols, techniques, and decision-making."

http://www.the-efa.org/services/education.html

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 28 Nov 2003 14:07 PST

This sounds promising, but I couldn't find a date for the seminar:

"Inkwell Editorial  
 Address: 352 Seventh Avenue, 4th Flr. 
 New York, NY  10001 
  
 Phone: 212-402-7706 
 Fax: 212-402-7726 
 Email: feedback@inkwelleditorial.com 
 WWW: www.inkwelleditorial.com 
  
Copyediting: Building the Skill

The goals of this one-day seminar are to define the difference between
copyediting and proofreading and to define the copy editor's role in
the publication process.  Skills participants will develop include
improved word use, spelling, punctuation and syntax (each participant
receives a copy of The Elements of Style by William Strunk), editing
against bias, an introduction to the Chicago style of editing,
headline and caption writing, how to better use style manuals and
improved factchecking.  Participants also will receive an overview of
the editorial industry, what employers look for in successful
candidates and resume tips."

http://www.copyeditor.com/copy/copy_workshops_onyoursite.asp

---

Clarification of Question by mccook-ga on 28 Nov 2003 18:47 PST

Pinkfreud: Thanks so much for all your help. If you want to post this
answer officially and collect, I would be delighted to pay up. I think
your last suggestion may be the best alternative yet.

McCook

Greetings, McCook!

Thank you very much for accepting my suggestions as an answer. I have
reposted my findings below, excluding the items that were unsuitable
because of price or content.

=====================================================================

"Seminar/Conference Description:
Learn proofreading techniques and learn how to properly communicate
through proofreading symbols. Learn to use a type gauge and find out
how to review and mark for style. 0.65 CEUs. Fee per person: $295,
$225 for members.

Who Should Attend?
Proofreaders, production person and designer

Topic:  COMMUNICATIONS: Reading Skills

Sponsor:  Association of the Graphic Comm...

12/03/2003 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
01/06/2004 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
02/25/2004 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
03/30/2004 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK"

Seminar Information Service, Inc.
http://www.seminarinformation.com/wconnect/wc.dll?sis~details1~21952

=====================================================================

The Editorial Freelancers Association hosts a number of workshops in
NYC. This one sounds quite good, but it is a ten-week program rather
than a brief seminar:

"Fundamentals of Copyediting and Proofreading
 Mondays, February 3 - April 14
 6:15 - 9:00 p.m. 
 FEE: EFA Member $390 / Nonmember $435 

A complete, 10-session course for those who are entering publishing or
who wish to know more, taught by one of the most respected
professionals in the business. Included are both basic and more
advanced symbols, techniques, and decision-making."

Editorial Freelancers Association
http://www.the-efa.org/services/education.html
 
=====================================================================

This sounds promising, but I couldn't find a date for the seminar:

"Inkwell Editorial  
 Address: 352 Seventh Avenue, 4th Flr. 
 New York, NY  10001 
  
 Phone: 212-402-7706 
 Fax: 212-402-7726 
 Email: feedback@inkwelleditorial.com 
 WWW: www.inkwelleditorial.com 
  
Copyediting: Building the Skill

The goals of this one-day seminar are to define the difference between
copyediting and proofreading and to define the copy editor's role in
the publication process.  Skills participants will develop include
improved word use, spelling, punctuation and syntax (each participant
receives a copy of The Elements of Style by William Strunk), editing
against bias, an introduction to the Chicago style of editing,
headline and caption writing, how to better use style manuals and
improved factchecking.  Participants also will receive an overview of
the editorial industry, what employers look for in successful
candidates and resume tips."

Copy Editor
http://www.copyeditor.com/copy/copy_workshops_onyoursite.asp

======================================================================

Search terms used:

"proofreading" + "seminar" + "2004"
"proofreading" + "workshop" + "2004"
"proofreading" + "conference" + "2004"
"editing" + "seminar" + "2004"
"editing" + "workshop" + "2004"
"editing" + "conference" + "2004"
"copyediting" + "seminar" + "2004"
"copyediting" + "workshop" + "2004"
"copyediting" + "conference" + "2004"

======================================================================

Many thanks to my colleague nellie_bly-ga, who suggested that I should
check out the Editorial Freelancers Association as a possible source
of information.

I hope some of this will be of use. Since I was once an editor myself,
the hunt was quite interesting, and I'm not sure I'm finished yet. If
I succeed in turning up anything else that sounds promising, or if I
hear back from my friend who is at Columbia, I will post the info as a
clarification of my answer.

Best wishes,
pinkfreud

Dogged, creative work on a tough one. Up to and beyond Pinkfreud's own
high standards. Especially impressive as it was over Thanksgiving
weekend.

Thank you for the five-star rating and the generous tip!

~Pink