Fiction Lesson:
revisions
Writing is re-writing. This fact can be both intimidating and liberating. Very, very few pieces properly manifest on their first drafts. Meaning, while each work's birth promises to be, at least slightly, troubled, no work and no author is immune from the obligation of revisions. This Lesson is less autonomous, compared to the other three, as it requires participants to utilize the techniques discussed in the various Parts to refine their own works. As a result, individual Parts of this Lesson may be attached to one of the other Lessons to augment the long-term writing process. Part 4 of this lesson, in particular, serves to augment writer productivity and confidence, a valuable skill that can be easily paired with any other Lesson.
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Note: Each lesson can be taught as part of a larger cohesive lecture, emphasizing greater inter-part connections, or individually with greater detail and more time for questions and activities.
PART 1:
Revision Methods
Revision methods, like writing methods, are often unique and tailored to an author's tastes and styles. However, some tried-and-tested methods will be shared to expand the authors' toolboxes so they may experiment on their own. Discussion includes the strengths and weaknesses of each method and how authors might put the methods into practice.
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Activities include: Practice with revision stuff
PART 2:
Hot-and-Cold
Building off the previous Part, Part 2 dives more deeply into a particular revision method called Hot-and-Cold Spots. This method is best used after workshopping a piece, whether in a formal writing workshop or a discussion/analysis with a reader or fellow writer. Hot-and-Cold allows authors to more visually see where their works are succeeding and where they need more time and edits to meet all of their established goals.
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Activities include: Doing a Hot-and-Cold. Requires workshopped piece
PART 3:
The Company of Men
Part 3 explores Jan Ellison's short story The Company of Men (2007) and its three very different drafts. This Part is very discussion-heavy, and participants will use previously-discussed revision methods to examine how Ellison took her story from inception to publication. This Part also includes discussion about whether anything valuable was lost between the various drafts, as well as discussions about how to recognize when enough is enough when it comes to revisions.
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Activities include: Homework, read the story
PART 4:
Lifestyle, Living Like a Writer
Part 4 is the longest Part of this Lesson, as it covers a wide variety of strategies, mindsets, and inspirations to help writers feel equipped to maintain a writing lifestyle. Various books are cited and discussion is intentionally lively, as each writer has their own unique methods for finding inspiration, locating time each day to create, and for maintaining their morale, especially when working on long pieces or for enduring rejection. Methods for planning and controlling longer projects will also be discussed. These methods are of particular interest for novelists and those writing series of short stories.
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Activities include: Storyteller activity, Right to Write
