Our assignments and projects feature editing, book proposals, acquisitions, and large-scale projects. Our students learn about the editing process, how to craft a compelling book proposal, and what publishers look for in acquisitions. They gain valuable insights into managing large-scale writing projects.
Assignments
Editing
Learn how to become a professional editor and turn your passion for words into a lucrative career. In this class, you’ll learn the art of editing novels, non-fiction, memoirs, and more.
Acquisitions
Ever wondered how books make it onto the shelves? We'll explore what it means to be on the other side of the table in the publishing world.
Book Proposals
Create professional book proposals, craft a captivating story hook, learn how to pitch your concept to a publishing house and prove your book will be a success!
Cover Design
Attention all book lovers and aspiring designers! Discover how to think visually and reimagine what a great book cover can be.
Large-Scale Projects
PRWR 4004: Year 4 Book Creation
You’re hired! Year 4 Books wants you—and a group of your closest friends—to take a real book through the full publishing pipeline. You’ll get the chance to be an editor, publicist, copy writer, proofreader, and cover designer before the project is done. You’ll see the book through until it is printed and in your hands. The books that you see in the pictures on this page were all designed and edited from scratch by students like you.
This is one of the most exciting projects in the book stream’s practicum course; you’ll get to experience every step of the process, working with real authors, designers, and printers. This will be invaluable who anyone who wants to be involved in the book world at any level, giving you the tools you need to get hired as editors, sales reps, agents, or publicists.
PRWR 3004: Publishing Your Own Book
Do you have a book idea that you want to bring to life? This class gives you the chance to make it happen! Students in the class will help you develop your ideas, edit your writing, correct any typos and errors, and design your cover art. You’ll be treated like a real author would at an actual publishing house, and you’ll have final sign-off on everything we do. If you want to self-publish your work one day, this is the launchpad that will take you from concept to a polished, sharp final product.
PRWR 3004/4004: Invisible Books Collaboration
This is a chance to team up with a major indie publisher for an extremely exciting project! Invisible Books is holding a competition to find a great original manuscript by a first-time author, and I’m providing the prize money for the award. In return for my investment, you’ll be a key player in the whole award process. You'll get to dive into every submission we get, and our classes will decide the shortlist to determine who wins and then gets published by Invisible. You’ll provide first-read editorial notes on the winning book, and you’ll meet the author to discuss your feedback. You’ll also get a free copy of the book when it comes out!
PRWR 2009: Transform Fanfiction into Mass Market Novels
Major publishing houses are incredibly excited about fanfiction and the chance to tap into online passion about big, dramatic, spicy stories. But how does this process work? What are some of the copyright issues? How do you take a story about characters from Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter and turn it into a mass market novel that completely changes the setting while keeping the heart of what fans—and you—love about the source material?
We’ll take real fanfics and work through all creative and business steps of bringing them to a wide audience, and we’ll be helped by guest workshops from editors at Doubleday and Penguin Random House who see this as the future of the book industry.