Learn about how to edit fiction at sentence-level with confidence

Want to become a fiction editor?

Ready to switch to fiction editing for indie authors? This course teaches you what else you need to know at line level to make the move with confidence.

The 4-step framework covers the following:
  • overall readability
  • narrative viewpoint
  • dialogue format and effectiveness
  • ​technical correction and consistency​ ​

Order now and start learning today

WHAT YOU PAY ...
61.99
+ tax
No time limits on access

Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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I GIVE FIVE STARS TO SWITCHING TO FICTION
As a career editor and a fiction writer, I give five stars to Switching to Fiction. Excellent presentation and the report sample is gold. I teach editing for UC Berkeley's certificate in editing program, but there's no fiction component. I'm hoping to be better able to respond to students' questions now and will point them your direction, Louise. Thank you! ​

Ann Cathleen Neumann, Editor and Instructor, University of California, Berkeley

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What you get in the course kit

Watch the webinar: Switching to Fiction
  • Watch the recorded video with all my tips on how to make the switch to fiction line editing.
  • Duration: 1 hour, 9 minutes.
  • Closed captions are included for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Read the book: Editing Fiction at Sentence Level
  • This is my most popular book.
  • Access the content onscreen in Teachable's course player or download to your device.
  • It contains over 74,ooo words of my best sentence-level editing advice.
Review a sample editorial report
  • ​Get some ideas about how to structure your reports with this detailed sample.
  • Access the content onscreen in Teachable's course player or download to your device.
Download the style sheet template
  • Use this template to save you hours of setup time.
  • Rebrand it with your own fonts, colours and logo.​​
Check out the resource lists
There are two lists ready and waiting for you:
  • Fiction editing macros.
  • Fiction writing and editing craft books.​
​Access the content onscreen in Teachable's course player or download to your device.​
Read the booklet: Conscious Language Resources
  • This booklet contains my recommended resources on how to consider language in context and whether its helpful or harmful.
  • Access the content onscreen in Teachable's course player or download to your device.​

Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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I GOT SO MUCH OUT OF IT
​Louise's courses are super helpful. I just finished Switching to Fiction and got so much out of it! Highly recommended for nonfiction editors who want to get into fiction line editing.

Erika Steeves, Editor and Proofreader

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20% discount on all online courses for CIEP members

Log in to Promoted courses · Louise Harnby’s online courses. Then enter the coupon code at my checkout.

Why should you learn about fiction editing with me?

I've line edited or proofread hundreds of novels published by mainstream presses and independent authors. But practice isn't enough ... I continue to study the craft of commercial-fiction writing and editing.
​​
I write fiction too – short stories and flash – ​and have been shortlisted for the CWA's Margery Allingham Short Story Competition, the Bookseller's Future Fiction competition, and the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival's flash-fiction competition.

My approach to teaching

My teaching approach is problem/solution based. Yes, fiction editing is subjective and nuanced, but there’s still room for practical analysis that unpicks a novel’s vulnerabilities and considers the range of literary tools available to improve what’s on the page. 

Course access and CIEP upgrade points

How do I pay?
Just click on one of the green buttons. That'll take you to the order form on my training site hosted by Teachable. From there you can make your payment and enrol immediately.
​
​​​CIEP members can get a 20% discount. Log in to Promoted courses · Louise Harnby’s online courses. Then enter the coupon code at my checkout.
What support do you give me?
I'm always happy to help. You can email me for support whenever you need to.
How long does my course access last for?
For as long as you want! All my courses come with lifetime access so you can learn when it suits you, not me.
How do I access the course?
As soon as you've purchased the course, you'll get immediate and continuing access to the course materials 24/7 via Teachable.
Does the course come with CIEP membership upgrade points?
If you're ready to upgrade your CIEP membership, the following courses count towards total training/CPD upgrade points.
  • Style Sheets for Fiction Editing: 3 non-core skills points
  • Switching to Fiction: 2 non-core skills points
  • How to Line Edit for Suspense: 2 non-core skills points
  • How to Write the Perfect Fiction Editorial Report: 2 non-core skills points
  • Narrative Distance: 1 non-core skills point
  • Branding for Business Growth: 1 non-core skills point
  • ​Blogging for Business Growth: 1 non-core skills point
  • Social Media for Business Growth: 1 non-core skills point

Course reviews

Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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LOUISE EXPLAINS EVERYTHING SO CLEARLY – I COULD LISTEN TO HER ALL DAY!
I highly recommend this course for anyone thinking of editing fiction. I learned so much from it and it gave me the confidence to offer fiction copyediting in addition to my board game editorial work. The webinar is excellent and Louise explains everything so clearly – I could listen to her all day! A copy of the book Editing Fiction at Sentence Level is included, which is packed full of information and examples that you can refer to time and again.

Course: Switching to Fiction

Rachael Mortimer​
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Copyeditor and Proofreader​

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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A TREASURE TROVE FOR EDITORS WHO WANT TO ADD FICTION LINE EDITING TO THEIR REPERTOIRE
Louise's Switching to Fiction course is a treasure trove for editors who want to add fiction line editing to their repertoire but don't know where to begin. Her webinar and ebook outline the specific issues in fiction that an editor will need to consider, peppered with lots of examples, and all in Louise's friendly and approachable style.

And the course webpage also includes many other resources such as style sheet and report templates, videos, booklets and a further reading list. Highly recommended for anyone looking to become a confident fiction editor!

Course: Switching to Fiction

Maya Berger
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Editor

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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A ROAD MAP TO THE MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF LINE EDITING
If you’re interested in editing fiction, or just improving your craft as a writer, I highly recommend the Switching to Fiction course. Louise knows how to break down fiction editing into understandable and workable sections. The webinar provides you with a basic road map to the many different areas of line editing. The course book goes into deeper detail.

Course: Switching to Fiction

Sarah Calfee
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Romance Editor

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Switching to Fiction is a thoroughly accessible resource for editors and indie authors. The webinar is a practical overview of key aspects of a manuscript, and the comprehensive ebook covers narrative viewpoint, line-level issues and some of the more technical aspects of fiction editing. If you are looking for a guide to help you edit fiction with confidence, then this course comes highly recommended.

Course: Switching to Fiction

Jennifer Warren
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Editor

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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FANTASTIC PRESENTER AND THE WEBINAR IS CLEAR AND INSIGHTFUL
Switching to Fiction is a great resource. Louise isn’t prescriptive; instead she radiates a cheerful, pragmatic sense of what works in fiction at sentence-level [and] gives you a range of tools to help you understand how to elevate your writing and editing. Louise is a fantastic presenter and the webinar is clear and insightful. I love the accompanying book, too, which provides even more detail and backs up the messages from the webinar.

Course: Switching to Fiction

Jenny Williamson
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Proofreader, Editor & Writer

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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​THE BOOK AND THE RESOURCES ARE WONDERFUL
​Just wanted to say a huge thank you for putting your fiction-editing course online. The book and the resources are wonderful, and such great value for money too!

Course: Switching to Fiction

Chris Thomas
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Editor

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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ABSOLUTE JOY TO LISTEN TO AND YOUR INSIGHTS AND ADVICE ARE INSANELY VALUABLE
Have just finished your Switching to Fiction course, and wanted to let you know how much I loved it. You're an absolute joy to listen to and your insights and advice are insanely valuable. I wish I'd done it ages ago! So many nuggets of wisdom, not only about editing but business development too. Honestly – I loved it. Thank you for sharing your expertise in such an engaging and approachable way. 

Course: Switching to Fiction

Angela Snowden
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Editor

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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HARD TO COME AWAY FROM THIS COURSE NOT ITCHING TO DIG INTO FICTION EDITING
​Louise teaches with such clarity and humour that it’s hard to come away from this course not itching to dig into fiction editing. As an established non-fiction editor, I now also feel confident in working with fiction authors – and I’m sure I’ll keep on coming back to all of Louise’s marvellous resources.

Course: Switching to Fiction

Hugh Jackson
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Proofreader and Copyeditor

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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ABSOLUTE GOLD DUST!
The content was exactly what I needed. It's given me the vocabulary to articulate issues efficiently, and your examples and suggested solutions are invaluable.
Joanne Taylor, editor

Course: Switching to Fiction

Joanne Taylor
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Editor 

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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AN AMAZING RESOURCE
​Louise’s Switching to Fiction course is an amazing resource that gave me a ton of tools to get started in editing fiction and highlighting the skills I needed to brush up on. It’s given me the confidence to move into fiction editing, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Course: Switching to Fiction

Rebecca Brown
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Editor; Director and Designer, Design for Writers

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Andy Maslen, bestselling crime author

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Part of my work is translating novels for older children into English. Switching to Fiction has helped me weave explanations of cultural terms or ideas more naturally into both narrative and dialogue. Because the novels are for children, these explanations must be included. And the other day, I consciously added my first action beat into a piece of dialogue that was becoming a bit long-winded! Thank you.

Course: Switching to Fiction

Sue Proof
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Editor

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