Date: May 15, 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 9:00–12:00 noon
Fee: 6,000 yen (includes materials to take home)
Place: Wesley Center, 6-10-7 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo (15-minute walk from Omotesando or Shibuya stations; detailed map to be provided to participants)  Map (PDF)

Workshop will be limited to 15 participants (first come, first served). Registration required: Send name, address, telephone number to SWET Events by May 10.

Contrary to popular belief, proofreading is not spell-checking. Sure, proofreaders do correct spelling, but they also do much, much more, from checking layout and word breaks to ensuring text consistency—the little details that may seem quibbling, but together tell readers that a piece of published material has been prepared with sincerity and professionalism. The craft requires technical knowledge as well as sensitivity to the needs of each text and the ability to work closely with writers, editors, and designers. The skills involved are useful to anyone concerned with producing text that is attractive and error-free.

In this workshop, Katherine (Roo) Heins, freelance proofreader for Kodansha International and the magazine Kateigaho International Edition, among other publications, will share her expertise with those interested in expanding or refreshing their skills. Discussion and hands-on exercises will acquaint participants with basic procedures and will invite them to think about issues such as the differences between proofreading and copyediting, the balance between consistency and readability, and considerations particular to proofreading English-language materials in Japan. All are welcome: aspiring proofreaders who want to learn the ins and outs of the job, writers and translators needing tips on what to do when their manuscripts reach the proof stage, and people whose work often puts them in the way of proofreading tasks and who want to learn how to accomplish them efficiently and effectively.