Redact

redact, v. To put (matter) into proper literary form; to work up, arrange, or edit. 1851. - SOED.

Redact is one of the Society of Editors (Victoria)'s initiatives in editorial training. Redact is a residential weekend course that offers intensive study of processes and principles in a collegial setting.

Why attend Redact?

Experience intensive training led by expert presenters.
Share ideas and creative work with other editors.
Be inspired by stimulating discussions.
Learn new editing techniques and fresh approaches to the author-editor relationship.
Develop a book from concept to publication.
Discover a whole new field of editing.
Spend professional ‘quality time’ with peers.
Have fun and relax in the country.

Feedback from past participants at Redact

'Everything to do with fiction editing was fascinating and valuable. I would have loved to have picked Sarah's and other colleagues' brains for hours.'
'I enjoyed working with fantastically stimulating writing samples, ms and editorial documents.'
'The best aspect was hearing from Paul and other participants about other ways of doing things that I may not have thought of or had previous exposure to.'
'I very much enjoyed Paul's sessions. He was very approachable and flexible and led the discussion without ever being overbearing. He encouraged each of us to contribute.'
'Enjoyed the collaborative project-style method of working on a theoretical book. Lots of enthusiasm and more understanding of the pitfalls and benefits of the project.'
'Excellent teaching - inclusive but decisive and directive as needed. Very thoughtful preparation.'
'Good mix of in-house/freelance and very experienced/less experienced participants made it stimulating and valuable - certainly for me, probably for everyone.'

Redact 2010

Redact 2010 was held in Geelong on 16-17 October 2010. Participants chose from one of three strands, each delivered by a highly experienced editor and educator:

Fiction editing: Mandy Brett
ePublishing: Tim Coronel and Tamsin Wagner
Government/corporate publishing: Janet Salisbury

Course streams

Fiction editing

In fiction editing there are few rules and fewer resources: the most important thing the editor brings to the process is their informed experience as a reader. This course aims, through discussion and practical exercises, to help participants gain the skills and confidence to deploy their experience effectively. We will touch on such subjects as: stages of the process; the care and feeding of authors; diagnosis to treatment: moving beyond critique; components and shapes of a story; narrative immersion; readers' needs and expectations; and competing constituencies.

ePublishing

The world of publishing as we know it is undergoing rapid change: new digital technologies are influencing readers' habits and transforming the processes involved in all stages of a book's life. In this strand, we will present an overview of the state of play in electronic publishing (with a particular emphasis on the Australian market, and a focus on trade publishing), and together we will examine how e-publishing challenges the traditional publishing model. Through a series of case studies and practical exercises, we will explore the process involved in developing e-books and other digital products, and investigate some of the opportunities and challenges that these emerging trends and technologies present for editors.

Government/corporate publishing

The government and business sectors produce a huge variety of publications: corporate communications, such as annual reports; policy documents, guidelines, manuals and technical reports; and a wide range of public information documents, such as discussion papers, factsheets and brochures. Unlike book publishing, production management of this large and varied output follows many different paths. Every job is different, which is both exciting and challenging for editors. Based on the Australian Standards for Editing Practice, this course will use a range of interactive information sharing and practical exercises to build the skills needed to survive and thrive in this environment.

Redact 2007

Redact 2007 was held at Mansfield on 12-14 October 2007. Participants chose from one of three strands, each delivered by a highly experienced editor and educator:

Fiction (Sarah Brenan)
Biography (Bryony Cosgrove)
Trade (Paul Watt)

The venue was the Alzburg Inn Resort in Mansfield, gateway to the Victorian high country and just over 200 km from Melbourne. Mansfield is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Melbourne by car or by V-Line bus leaving from Southern Cross Station.

Course content

Biography strand

Writing biography has been described as ‘walking on ashes’; editing biography and autobiography could be described as walking on eggshells. Life writing is very personal, dealing as it does with someone’s life, their memories, their pain and happiness, their grudges, ambitions and desires. It is these elements that make the genre so popular. In the biography/autobiography strand we will discuss the importance of the author-editor working relationship and the range of issues involved with editing in this genre. We will workshop the manuscript of an autobiography and will look at specific editorial concerns that arose with a range of other manuscripts.

Fiction strand

What makes a memorable novel opening? How can one assess the underlying structure of fiction? Is it possible to talk at all coherently about that elusive concept, style? What are the essential components of a strong author-editor relationship? These and other questions will be workshopped in the fiction strand. Weaving in and out of these topic sessions will be continuing discussions on a draft novel MS which will be sent to participants some time before the course takes place. If Redact 2006 is any guide, the discussions will be ardent, wide-ranging and a lot of fun.

Trade strand

With easy access to recipes online, in weekend newspapers and supermarkets - and celebrity cookbooks clogging most bookstores - is it at all possible to publish a cookbook that will stand out from the crowd and be a success without a big production budget, cross-media advertising and celebrity ‘author’? As a team of development editors, our task for the Redact weekend is to come up with two new ideas for innovative cookbooks. The cynics will say that this brief is impossible, but through thinking creatively, strategically and historically, we will set out to prove them wrong. Before the weekend gets underway, participants will need to do some basic market research by visiting two bookstores, and to make a list of their favourite foods and cookbooks.

Redact 2006

The inaugural Redact was held on 27-29 October 2006 and was voted a great success by the participants.

The program had broad appeal, designed to benefit both experienced and beginning editors, freelance and in-house. Participants worked in teams on a publishing project, taking it from raw MS through to polished end-product. The focus was on collaborative learning, and we expected that the participants would develop lasting friendships and networks.

The three strands in the 2006 program were fiction (Sarah Brenan), education (Glenys Osbourne) and trade (Paul Watt).

Sarah, Glenys and Paul put much energy into planning and carrying out an action-packed program. Both in-house and freelance editors gained a great deal from this initiative, whether they were highly experienced or newer to the profession.

Fiction strand - report by Lorelei Waite
Education strand - report by Niki Horin
Trade strand - report by Clare Emery

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