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Writer vs. Revisions
by Joanne
Rock
Date: January 8-31, 2007
Archive access price: $5
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About the Class
If revising a 300-400 page manuscript sounds about as exhausting
as entering the ring for a heavyweight fight, this workshop can show you how to
wage an effective battle for your book. Join a veteran author for an insider's
look at revising effectively in this four week workshop that includes lecture
material, tip sheets and an open forum Q & A to ease this challenging process
that is a necessary part of every writer's career. From revisiting past rejections
to analyzing contest and critique feedback, the workshop teaches concrete tips
for weeding through story advice to find the best strategy for your edits. Learn
how to manage the process and tackle revisions in an efficient, meaningful way.
Topics Covered
1. Re-Visioning the Work
Any revision project involves truly re-seeing the work as a whole. Devise a plan
for eliciting additional feedback where necessary, comparing feedback and then
re-reading your manuscript in new ways to gain fresh perspective. This class focuses
on discovering the core strengths of your existing story before moving forward.
2. Outlining the Task
Shaping the revision project is the single most important part of the process
and involves a keen understanding of what a writer hopes to accomplish. Explore
the story's weaknesses and employ a strategy for implementing new material into
the overall work. Set manageable goals and time frames for project completion.
3. Emergency Amputation
Discover how to cut a long manuscript into a shorter piece using a broad scale
approach and a few shorthand methods too. This class also discusses the difference
between revisions and edits and when to use each.
4. Know When to Rewrite
Sometimes all the revisions in the world won't fix a bad scene, a bad chapter
or a bad 100 pages. Learn how to let go of pages that aren't working for your
manuscript so you can do the most efficient, effective thing-- rewrite. Contains
tips for re-plotting, re-characterizing and re-routing your story along with ideas
for interweaving new sections.
5. Revising a Synopsis
Synopsis writing might be the only worse task facing a writer than revisions,
and re-doing a synopsis could be the element that keeps you from tackling a worthwhile
revision project. Learn how to tweak and/or rewrite this all-important marketing
tool to put a whole new spin on your book.
6. Marketing a Revised Book
Maybe you have a contract already and are revising as per an editor's request.
But what about the unsold project you love that needs revamping or an early work
you think is still saleable? This lecture covers professional etiquette for resubmitting
your work and creating new avenues for a story that's made the rounds.
7. Thou Shalt Not
Revisions may be an inevitable part of the writerly life, but chances are you
can avoid having to make the same kinds of revisions on a future work by taking
a time-out to learn from each revision experience. What problems cropped up that
could have been avoided and how would you work differently next time? Once you've
endured the pain of the process, you are entitled to walk away with a gold star
and new professional savvy to make you a better writer.
8. Ask Me Anything
Need interpreting of a rejection letter? Advice on how to tackle a project? The
final days of class are reserved for an extended Q & A period to address general
revision concerns and more individual needs on specific projects as well-- to
the best of the speaker's ability.
About the Speaker
Joanne Rock is the author of over twenty-five books for Harlequin
Blaze, Temptation and Historicals, several of which were projects that had received
rejections before undergoing comprehensive revisions. A two-time RITA nominee
and Golden Heart winner, Joanne received a Master's degree in English and enjoys
reviving her former teaching career with workshops on writing. Learn more about
Joanne by visiting http://joannerock.com.
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