DIY Revision for Your Novel or Nonfiction

TYPE:

Online (Facilitated)

COVID Reschedule/Refund Policy
What’s the difference between Highlights Foundation workshop types?

LENGTH:

4 Days (Thursday, May 20 – Sunday, May 23, 12 hours total)

PARTICIPANT CAP:

24

WHY THIS WORKSHOP?

This weekend intensive will offer some tools, insights, instructions, strategies, and practical advice that writers can use to assemble, repair, and revise their manuscripts. It will even offer something for those who throw instructions away. If you’re ready–or getting ready–to revise, this workshop is for you. This course will help you look at your work with fresh eyes. After all, who knows your story and your characters better than you do?

IT’S A GREAT FIT IF:

• You’re a published or pre-published novelist or chapter book writer, ready to learn new revision tools to help build a stronger story.
• You’re a published or pre-published long-form, narrative-style nonfiction writer, ready to learn new revision tools to help build a stronger narrative arc in your long-form nonfiction.
• You feel stuck and need some new tools in your revision toolkit.
• You’re in need of some motivation to tackle this stage in your project. There are many ways to write a book; likewise, there are many ways to approach revising a book. Sometimes — oftentimes — we need a help knowing where to begin or a new way to begin the revision.

COMMITMENT REQUIRED FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE:

This weekend intensive is best if you attend and engage in all the live sessions. Participants are encouraged to leave open/schedule blocks of time for themselves to work on exercises and assignments throughout the intensive.

(Note: If your schedule does not allow you to attend some of the live sessions, that’s ok! You’ll have access to the recordings. They’re usually posted the day after the session, and they’ll be available through June 30.)

Trying to figure out how this course fits into your schedule? Read some ideas about planning for the right level of commitment.

MORE DETAILS:

Dedicate one weekend to launching your next round of revision. From Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon, you’ll write, reflect, and create your revision blueprint.

Submit in Advance: First 100 words of your work in progress. (Novel or long-form, narrative-style nonfiction.)

Pre-workshop needs:

• In the opening session you’ll be asked to read the first 100 words of your first draft to the class by way of introduction.
• You will be asked to journal along the way. Here are some helpful tools: writing paper, yellow legal pad paper, pens, pencils, index cards, a project board (or large corkboard or wall on which to pin index card or sticky notes), pushpins, highlighters in 4 colors, blue painter’s tape, and sticky notes.

AGENDA:

Thursday, May 20
Live Zoom, 7pm Eastern
Welcome, Introductions
Lecture #1: The Preliminaries: Three Stages of Revision, Revision Process, Story Endings, Voice & more!
Writing Assignment #1 (to complete before Friday session)

Friday, May 21
Live Zoom sessions:
12pm (noon) Eastern: Small Group Discoveries from Class One & Assignment
12:30- 3pm Eastern: Lecture #2: The Shape of Story, followed by Q & A before independent work (break will be provided)

3-4pm Eastern: Optional studio hour
Meet informally with other writers or work quietly on your own discoveries

Saturday, May 22
Live Zoom sessions:
12pm (noon) Eastern: Small Group Discoveries from Class Two: List BIG Questions
12:30- 3pm Eastern: Lecture #3: Key Scenes, Pacing, & Summaries, followed by Q & A before independent work (break will be provided)

3-4pm Eastern: Optional studio hour
Meet informally with other writers or work quietly on your own discoveries

Sunday, May 23
Live Zoom sessions:
12pm (noon) Eastern: Small Group Discoveries from Class Two: List BIG Questions
12:30-2pm Eastern: Lecture #4: Final advice, Show & Tell, & questions

Throughout the Workshop

• Participation in the chat and limited whole group sharing
• Small group discussions and connections
• Open Q & As

A note about workshop agendas and how they change and evolve.