Fiction Editing Fundamentals Part 1 Group Course
$240.00
To edit fiction, you need to understand techniques integral to good fiction writing. In this course, you will learn the different components a work of fiction must contain. Whether a short story or a full-length novel, this is an essential course for anyone planning to provide novel editing services.
We’ll talk about opening hooks, chapter-ending hooks, and what needs to be shown in the first chapter, developing believable primary and secondary characters, emotions, and how to maintain characters’ points of view.
This course will equip you with a list of overused words and how over-explanation bogs down the story. We’ll discuss plot development and related topics, such as saggy middle syndrome, GMC (goals, motivation, and conflict), and subplots. I will present the importance of active and passive state-of-being verbs and how to spot five different problems of “telling” and make them “show” the scene more vividly. These techniques will help you edit fiction more effectively.
You’ll learn proper dialogue and thought techniques and how to spot author intrusion and eight other miscellaneous dialogue “rules.” As an editor, you need to know how to tell if the author’s voice is developed or needs more work.
Join us for a lot of fun as we learn what makes fiction unique from all other forms of writing.
Out of stock
Instructor: Jeanne Marie Leach
Format: This is the Group Course format, which includes an email discussion group and instructor feedback. This course will be conducted via Groups.io.
Prerequisite: There is no prerequisite for this course.
Level: Beginner
Base price: $240 (members of The Christian PEN receive discounts)
Course length: This course is six lessons; it begins on January 26 and runs until March 2, 2026.
Registration deadline: January 30, 2026
Course Outline: Click to download
Certificate of Completion: Upon successful completion of this course, students will earn a course certificate.
(Note: Refunds will not be given for this Group Course after January 23, 2026.)
Gwen Hubbell –
Jeanne teaches an excellent class. She is knowledgeable and encouraging as well as gifted at directing the student to learn as much as possible in a six-week class.
Anonymous –
I knew Jeanne had a lot of fiction experience, so she would have great insights for us. She did a great job responding to our questions. Examples were generally pretty useful. Some concepts could have used a few more examples, I think.
Anonymous –
I learned a lot in this course. The discussions with the instructor were helpful. She was willing to spend time answering questions and making sure we felt comfortable with the topics. I think we helped point out some places where the explanation and examples were not quite enough to convey the information fully.
Jeanne said she would probably be revising some of the lessons based on our questions, and if she does, I think the course will be very strong. I think it would have been harder to do as digital curriculum, where interaction is limited.
This class will give you some of the basics to look for as a fiction content editor (or even as a copy editor). I would recommend it for editors who are early in their careers and interested in fiction. Jeanne has so much wisdom and experience.