This Event is for Members only.
Click here to learn more about benefits of membership
This July, join us for our virtual 2022 Summer Writing Retreat featuring three classes on memoir, fiction, and revision plus lots of special events throughout the month, including two Saturday Craft Seminars, meet-ups, and dedicated writing time.
Each class will meet weekly for four weeks, starting the week of July 11, ending the week of August 1. Our revision class with Charlotte Gullick will meet every Wednesday (July 13, 20, 27, August 3) from 6:30 PM CDT to 9:30 PM CDT via Zoom. A recording of each class session will be shared with all class registrants the day after – so you won’t miss anything even if you need to skip a session. Class details are below.
Registration for this class will close at 5:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 13.
Revision – that much talked about and often nerve-racking aspect of the writing life. Some of us love it, others dread it, and many have only a theoretical idea of what revision actually means. What we do know – when we’re in it, it can be overwhelming. We can feel like giving up. How do we stay connected to our original vision while also improving what is on the page? How do we honor the work we’ve already done while also taking it to the next level?
In this class, we’ll break down the revision process into specific stages, empowering ourselves with strategic approaches to gain the required objectivity. We will connect with our original vision, name our strengths and barriers, and tease out techniques for improving the work overall. We will also build community and highlight methods for celebrating our creativity and dedication throughout the revision process and beyond.
Students will be asked to read a few articles/ excerpts ahead of the first class, as well as do a minimum of four writing / revision exercises in-between the four class sessions. The class sessions will combine lecture, breakout groups, writing exercises, and opportunities for sharing.
About each session:
Week 1 (July 13): Honoring the Work: In this first session, we will examine our influences and aspirations, honing in on why we started the project in the first place. We will identify our best practices and we’ll consider what we have versus what we need in order to refine our work. We will also discuss common challenges within the revision process.
Week 2 (July 20): Action, Tension, Character Change: This second session will focus on strategies to improve action, tension, and character development. We’ll dive into why a compelling plot is essential in both fiction and nonfiction and we’ll do exercises to deepen the impact of our existing drafts.
Week 3 (July 27): Setting & Sound, Analogy & Rhythm: In the third week, we’ll examine the potent role of setting, dialogue, analogy, and rhythm. We will do an inventory of our drafts with regards to existing settings and in scene dialogue and explore how we might more effectively use both to increase the impact of our work. We’ll also play around with imagery and pacing.
Week 4 (August 3): Creating a Game Plan: After three weeks of exploration, we’ll spend time in this final session mapping out next steps in our revision plan. We’ll decide on our priorities, clarify time commitments, and identify an accountability partner or partners who can help us both keep the faith and affirm our resolve.
Take this class if…:
This class is appropriate for writers who have completed a first draft of a project – short or long, fiction or nonfiction.
Preparation for the first day of class:
Students will be asked to read a few articles/ excerpts ahead of the first class, as well as complete one short writing exercise.
Registration details:
Choose your registration level:
Level 1 (Class Only) or
Level 2 (Class + Private Consultation)
The difference: Level 2 (Class + Private Consultation) registrations include one 20-minute meeting with Charlotte Gullick sometime during the month (via Zoom). If you’d like, you can also share 10 pages of your work for feedback ahead of the meeting.
Charlotte Gullick is Chair of the Creative Writing Department at Austin Community College. She holds BA in Literature/Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz and a MA in English/Creative Writing from UC Davis as well as a MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Her awards include a Christopher Isherwood Fellowship for Fiction, a Colorado Council on the Arts Fellowship for Poetry, and residencies at MacDowell and Ragdale. She is the author of the novel By Way of Water.Before purchasing, please read all policies as noted below and on our Classes page.
If your browser has difficulty with our website store, or if you prefer to mail in a check, click here for a class registration form. The document provides instructions on where to mail it. If you prefer this option, please email wlt@writersleague.org with a copy of the form as well to ensure we add you to the class roster as soon as possible.
Expecting to see the member price, but it’s not appearing?
Confirm you are logged into your account first and foremost. The member price will only appear when you are logged into your account and have an active membership on file. If you are having trouble accessing your account, please email member@writersleague.org and explain the situation.
Class & Event Registration Policy
Once a purchase has been made, registrations are not refundable and cannot be transferred to a different class or event. No exceptions will be made. If you purchase a registration and then find you cannot attend the class or event, someone else can attend in your stead. Simply contact us at wlt@writersleague.org and let us know the name and contact information for the person who will be using the registration so that we can update the class or event roster.
Credit Card Transaction Handling Fee Policy
All credit card transactions will incur a 4% handling fee. If you’d prefer to pay by check for membership, a class, or an event, you can use the provided forms on the membership or event pages and mail to: WLT, P.O. Box 14355, Austin, TX, 78704.
HOW WLT CLASSES WORK:
Our classes offer a combination of lecture and practical exercises, determined by the individual instructor, on focused aspects of the craft and business of writing. Your fellow participants will come from a range of writing experience, from beginners to people with MFA degrees and published books. WLT instructors, participants, and administrators all work together to create a welcoming, supportive environment.
If you haven’t taken a class with us in recent years, feel free to email the WLT staff at wlt@writersleague.org if you’d like to discuss whether our programming is the right fit for your needs.
HOW ONLINE CLASSES WORK:
Once you register for the class, you’ll receive an email with detailed instructions no later than 48 hours before the class date. You should expect 2-2.5 hours of direct teaching and 30 minutes of Q&A (for three hours total). If you need to leave the class early or can’t attend the class on that date, all registrants will have access to the recording for one month after the class date. No microphone or camera required, just an Internet connection capable of streaming video. All online classes are hosted on Zoom. To learn more about how Zoom works, click HERE.
Plan to log in to the online platform an hour before the class so that you can update your software or any other settings required to access the platform. (Updates usually only take a few minutes, but you don’t want to wait until the beginning of class.) Questions? Email us at wlt@writersleague.org.
This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.
Writers’ League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts – Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.
This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
This project is supported in part by the Mid-America Arts Alliance. For more information, go to www.maaa.org.
