Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Professional Writing and the Publishing Industry (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 3960-01

Course: ENGL 3960-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: English
CRN: 33363

Course Description

This course focuses on the business side of writing and publishing (both creative and academic), including: researching publication venues, writing query letters and synopses, contract basics, publishing red flags, the editorial process, building an author brand and website, tax information, as well as potential jobs in publishing. (Fall - Even Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Jane Friedman, The Business of Being a Writer, 2nd edition. ISBN: 978-0-226-6838656
Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic ISBN: 978-159463472
Peter Ginna, What Editors Do ISBN: 978-0226299976 

Learning Outcomes

This course focuses on the following learning outcomes:
  • Written communication
    • Met through all major writing assignments and drafts
  • Creative thinking 
    • Met through the submission packet, website, and genre analysis
  • Integrative Learning (ability to connect experience to professionalism through reflection and self-assessment)
    • Met through the genre analysis, submission packet, journal, and reflection

Course Requirements

Participation: Weekly journal and in-class work (25)

Journals: weekly reflection on the course readings/discussions for that week. Your reflection may respond to any aspect of the weekly reading, as long as you clearly demonstrate having done the reading.

In-class writing can take a variety of forms, but most days will involve some kind of writing or group work that constitutes your attendance/participation grade.

Genre Analysis (5)—this assignment is designed to help you understand genre conventions and how they influence publishing decisions. By visiting a physical bookstore and doing some exploration on Amazon, you’ll reflect on the role of genre in publishing.

Submission packet  (35)

Short piece venues (5): we will create a shared document with information about venues that accept short submissions

Agent/press submission report (5): similarly, we will create and share information about agents and literary presses

Query + synopsis (10): a one-page query letter and short summary of your work

Submission + Reflection (15): a reflection on the submission process

Author Brand (25)

Author brand report (3): a short report on an author's public brand

Author brand self-assessment (3): a short report on your own ideal author brand

Literary citizenship (4): participation in the Southern Utah book festival and with visiting guest author(s)

Author website (15): professional website with basic author information and links

Peer Reviews (10)—author/query, website

Course Outline

Week One: Introduction, making a living as a writer
Week Two: Publishing short stories
Week Three: Freelance writing and pitching your work
Week Four: Traditional book publishing
Week Five: Taxes and finances, book deals and advances
Week Six: Publishing with a small press, pitching your book at a conference
Week Seven: Working with a literary agent
Week Eight: Query Letters and synopses
Week Nine: Nonfiction book proposals and indie publishing
Week Ten: Writing-for-hire, author platforms
Week Eleven: Editing
Week Twelve: Author websites
Week Thirteen: contract basics, finish website
Week Fourteen: legal issues and copyright, course wrap-up

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Deadlines are meant to help with workload, not to punish you. Additionally, professionalism as an industry professional means meeting deadlines--or working with your editor or publisher to extend a deadline in cases where you cannot. 

In-class work cannot be made up outside of class (aside from excused absences). For longer projects, you can request a 48-hour extension ahead of time (no questions asked) with no penalty. Outside of those extensions, late work will be docked 10% for the first week after the deadline, and 25% past that. 

The one exception to this extension is rough drafts that are peer-reviewed: if a rough draft is not submitted on time, you will not be able to participate in the peer review.

If you get more than three weeks behind in your course work, you will need to come and meet with me to set up a plan to succeed in this course.

Attendance Policy

Your success and the success of this class depend up on your active participation in class as well as your submitted assignments. While I do not have an attendance policy for this class (that is, you are not penalized for absences), frequent absences will affect the quality of your work and your experience in the class.

If you know that you are going to be absent on a day that we have a guest lecture, please communicate with me beforehand so we can make arrangements. If you’re sick, let me know as soon as possible. I do not do synchronous Zoom meetings for this class, but I am willing to record the class as long as you let me know at least one hour before class starts.

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the assignments, class notes, and course changes from a classmate. Because all major papers are submitted electronically, I expect papers to be submitted on time regardless of excused or unexcused absences.

As with late work, if you miss more than three weeks of class, you will need to meet with me to discuss how you plan to get back on track. 

Course Fees

NA

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.