Many beginning (and some not-so-beginning!) writers struggle to move past the first drafts of their writing, sometimes mistaking that first outpouring of thought or feeling for the most authentic version of their stories, and at other times simply unsure about how to gain the necessary distance and perspective to rework their pieces. The truth, though, is that most writing is rewriting. Most of the work of creativity isn't in a burst of inspiration or genius, but in the dogged return to the page, refining and deepening our original visions, stepping outside our own heads and into communication with our readers. This course inhabits this elusive space of revision -- literally to re-see, to bring fresh eyes to existing words and worlds.
In the first five weeks of this course, you will practise "Radical Revision," learning to let go of a preconceived idea for what your writing already is, in order to experiment with what it might want to become. The goal here is to play, to take ourselves and our first drafts less seriously, to bring joy, drama, and insight into our revision process-- to experiment, above all, and let our writing guide us.
In the second 5-week chunk, we narrow our focus to elements of writing craft. You will learn to identify gaps in a story arc, think about where lines and paragraphs end, listen for music and rhythms, and zoom in and out of scenes and moments. The goal is for you to arrive at carefully crafted third or fourth drafts, each stronger than the one before it. In our final session, we will also talk about editing at the level of individual lines and paragraphs, leaving out unnecessary words, making your writing crisper, and avoiding the dreaded adjectivitis!
Ultimately, my goal is for you to finish this course feeling braver and freer in tackling those early drafts-- more able to craft stories and poems that move your readers.
Breaking the Revision Block
Play with Pace
Play with Perspective
Play with Tone
Ask New Questions
Revising for Narrative Arc
Zoom in, Zoom Out
Experiment with length
White Space is Your Friend
NOW you can edit
Goodbye and Good luck
The course is primarily designed as a revision course, so if you have a few first drafts of poems or stories-- or even journal entries -- you will gain more from it. It is possible to do it as a first foray into writing, but I highly recommend doing another basic course first and then use this one to revise older work generated there.
Most of the exercises in this course cut across writing genres, pushing more towards reimagining and playing with what is on the page. A few exercises do focus more on fiction or storytelling, and a few others are more exciting in poetry, but every exercise can be adapted and be useful across these genres. It may, however, not be as useful for journalism, academic writing, etc.
Not if you do it right. I get asked this a lot, especially by beginning poets, but think about it: Is everything you say in the course of a regular day a reflection of your most authentic truth, simply because that was how you said it first? Probably not. For most of us, we can refine, deepen, clarify, and become more honest with ourselves when we step back from those first utterings and reflections, digging a little deeper, pushing a little further, becoming a little more precise. That's revision in a nutshell -- using our first drafts as gateways into deeper and more honest tellings. After all, if we are going to ask readers to give us their time and attention, we owe them more than a personal diary entry.
You will retain access to all course materials for 180 days from the date of signing up.
This course will help you become a better writer and editor of your work, which is, of course, a big part of getting published. I am also happy to point you to publishing opportunities that I know of, or to connect you with people I know. I do not, however, have contacts within the publishing industry, nor will we specifically edit manuscripts for publication.
Send me an email (through the "Contact" link above), telling me a little more about yourself, why you want to do this course, and your current circumstances. I offer up to 20% of my seats at a subsidised rate, based on financial need, and I will do my best to accommodate you.
