In this course you'll learn to assess the four major aspects of any scholarly text—argument, evidence, structure, and style—that hold the keys to making a strong impression with publishers and readers.
Using a time-tested checklist of the most common areas where scholarly manuscripts need help, you'll evaluate what's working and what isn't in your own draft. Then you'll craft a concrete revision plan that you'll be able to implement on your own schedule after the course ends.
Before diving into assessing your text, you'll learn to see scholarly manuscripts from the publisher and reader's point of view, ensuring that your revision plans are headed in the right direction from the start.
You'll also gain clarity on your publishing goals, identify the readers you care most about reaching, and account for constraints on your time and attention during your revision process.
This workshop welcomes any scholarly writer who wants to learn a systematic method for improving their manuscripts in progress. Some advice in the course is aimed specifically at book writers, but the broader framework can be used by scholarly writers of all kinds in all fields.
Scholarly book authors with a full or partial draft in hand
Scholarly book authors preparing a sample chapter for submission with a book proposal
Scholarly writers working on a journal article or book chapter in the humanities or qualitative social sciences
Recent PhDs who want to develop a thesis or thesis chapter for publication
Advanced career scholars looking to revive a languishing manuscript
Not a scholar? Not working on an argument-driven, research-based manuscript? Unfortunately, this workshop isn't for you.
Understand Who Your Readers Are
Read Your Draft Like an Editor
Write a High-Level Editorial Summary
Tips on Carrying Out Your Edits
Worksheets
This course has 5 live meetings where you will be introduced to the material and given time to make progress on the course modules. Meeting attendance is optional and all are recorded to view at your convenience. Chapter and article writers should expect to spend ~5 hours per week completing the course exercises. Book writers may need more time.
Meeting 1: March 10, 2025. 12–2pm Pacific (3–5pm Eastern, 7–9pm UTC)
Meeting 2: March 17, 2025. 12–2pm Pacific (3–5pm Eastern, 7–9pm UTC)
Meeting 3: March 24, 2025. 12–2pm Pacific (3–5pm Eastern, 7–9pm UTC)
Meeting 4: March 31, 2025. 12–2pm Pacific (3–5pm Eastern, 7–9pm UTC)
Meeting 5: April 7, 2025. 12–2pm Pacific (3–5pm Eastern, 7–9pm UTC)
(and doesn't offer)
Most academic writing guides and courses focus on 1) getting writing done or 2) polishing drafts at the level of words and sentences. This course is different. It focuses on the mysterious middle of the revision process—after you've got your ideas solidified but before you're certain the big-picture aspects of your text are working as they should.
By teaching you to refine your manuscript's argument, evidence, structure, and overall style, this course will help you meaningfully advance your text toward publication, instead of getting prematurely distracted or demoralized by lower-level issues.
While this course offers detailed advice on solving the most common developmental problems in scholarly manuscripts, you won't receive instructor feedback on your draft. Instead, you'll gain the tools to approach your own text like a developmental editor so you can improve your manuscript yourself.
By joining a cohort of other writers going through the course at the same time, you'll get structure and motivation to make a revision plan for a current manuscript in progress.
You'll receive lifetime access to the course curriculum, meaning that you can apply it to any future manuscripts you may need to develop.
You'll also get access to supplemental materials such as author questionnaires, assessment checklists, and worksheets to assist you in completing a workable revision plan.
During the course dates, you'll be able to ask questions as you work through the course materials and receive expert advice on the scholarly publishing process.
After the course ends, you'll get complimentary membership in the Manuscript Works Author Support community.
This course does not cover line editing (polishing words and sentences), copyediting (correcting grammar and mechanics), or proofreading. We will focus on big-picture matters that make the biggest difference in your manuscript's success.
You will not leave this course with a fully edited draft. You will have a plan that you can implement on your own schedule after the course ends. If you have a submission deadline coming up, make sure to allow ample time to implement your revision plan after completing the course.
You must have a fully drafted (or at least fully outlined) manuscript in hand. But you may be at various points in the publishing process, all of which are appropriate times to take this course:
Preparing for initial submission to publishers
Revising after receiving feedback from publishers or peer reviewers
After acceptance by a publisher but before submitting your final manuscript for production
Still conceptualizing your project or figuring out what you want to write about? This won't be a helpful course for you right now
The regular price of this course is $750, but those joining the founding cohort in March 2025 will pay only $500
On the fence about whether this course is right for you at your current stage?
Please feel free to reach out to Manuscript Works' client support specialist Rebecca at [email protected] with any questions you may have, including those related to payment and registration.