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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.