...First Impressions....

Copy editing is something that is crucial to the pulication world and especially to journalists. It is something that is esential in our everyday lives whether we may realize it or not. Editing is a form of revising that helps us learn from our mistakes. I would like to learn about the simple tips and tricks that I can use to improve my writing skills. Copyediting will definetly affect my future professional career. This is true primarily because I would like to work for a magazine in the future. With copyediting skills perfected I can be ahead of the game at my future job. I will have learned all of the AP rules and guidelines that I can use to help complement my work, articles, interviews and other assignments. I am interested to see how my writing will improve and change with the different techniques learned from the class.

A Little Bit About Me...

My name is Joy, and I'm a Communications major, focusing on writing. I've been writing for about fifteen years. I started with short stories, and now I am writing articles for a local food magazine. I've always focused on the writing aspect of any project I've done, but never the editing (being that I've always sent my work in to be edited).
With that being said; I think that this course will be really helpful for me to see a side of journalism that I am completely unfamiliar with. I've always been interested in learning how to edit, so I'm excited to be taking this class, and hopeful that it will teach me new tools that will assist me in my career.

Copy Editing: Changing your Life One Day at a Time

So, what is copy editing to me? Copy editing is taking a piece of work that someone has written and changing everything to make it readable for the reader that is going to pay good money to read the article, or view the article for free online.

How does it affect my life? It makes me analyze my work more, and try and figure out what I need to do to make it a better piece. To make the reader who is going to take their time out and read this a perfect story, a perfect thing to read.

It takes time to go in there and fix what you wrote, and you want to take pride and dedication in what you have done, which honestly shows up in your personal life because it shows just how important things are for you. It shows how dedicated you are, and how much you value your work.

What do I want to learn in this class? To copy edit and make my work better.

My First Impressions

To me, copy editing is proofreading, despite it not being so. Hopefully, this class will correct my skewed definition of copy editing. I guess if I actually had to put my finger on it, I'd like to learn how to properly edit text before it hits the newsstands...I actually was a copy editor for the Ramapo News my freshman year--you would not believe the amount of spelling and grammar mistakes people made in their articles. I know I'll have to take it up again for the experiential component for this class; but I suppose it's like riding a bike.

As a journalism major, I know copy editing is a very important subject to take. However, my dream is to go into publishing when I graduate. I want to work for Random House as an editor, so I guess having a basic grasp of copy editing will help me in my line of work. But as far as my personal life goes, I doubt copy editing will have a profound affect on me.

Copyediting

Copyediting to me is the detailed editing of pieces including dates, times, and places ect.It allows you to become a better writer, and that is what I am hoping to learn while taking this course. I aspire to be a travel/entertainment journalist and hope to work for a magazine like Rollingstone or an online magazine like Pitchfork. Taking copy-editing will help me reduce those mistakes and make me an overall better writer!

Back to work, Back to school

On this first day back to school for most, students and faculty alike may be experiencing an onslaught of feelings, both good and bad. Anxiety of the unknown factor can be one of those emotions kicking in [or maybe you just wanted to extend your vacation?]

Questions to make your head spin can include: Do you have all the supplies needed? Where is my class? How come no one is there? Can't find the right building- did the room number change?  What books are required? Oh, the books aren't in yet, where else can I purchase my textbooks? Can't find parking. What now? Where did I put the syllabus? What is Moodle?

I'm sure you can add to this list of questions. So what is the upside? Well of course, there's the enthusiasm and optimism associated with a fresh start. New goals, new teachers, new (and some familiar) faces and a brand new opportunity to learn, exchange, challenge and contribute. With every semester, you are one step closer to your goals.

The task of copyediting gives writers an chance to correct, proofread, update, clarify and tidy written communication. On a computer or with an 'old school' writing instrument, remember that copyediting is not an activity done in isolation. Resources are important - a dictionary, a thesaurus, the AP stylebook, and many factchecking tools.

Expand your resources, networks...and enjoy this new countdown.

Prof. Salas

Spring 2010 Copy Editing Handbook

The following handbook was prepared by Ramapo College's Copyediting class.

Helpful tips for communication students.