Revision for Playwrites (with Kira Rockwell) - ONLINE
This class is geared towards intermediate playwrights with an early draft in progress who want to complete, then extensively workshop and revise their work. The course will begin with craft-based writing exercises geared towards learning a multitude of revision styles. Close readings of essays by the likes of Sarah Rhul and Matthew Salles, contemporary plays by Lynn Nottage, John Logan, Dipak Guha, and Quiara Algre Hudes. Then, we'll transition into workshopping student pages, which will consist of in-class readings of drafts, followed up by Liz Lerman-based feedback, as well as small group breakout sessions, and one-on-one meetings with the instructor over extensive line-by-line notes. The course will culminate with an in-class submission binge where you will have the opportunity to craft your Statement of Purpose, articulate your goals, and send a final draft out into the world! Level: Intermediate/Advanced. Limited to 10 writers.
WHEN: 6 Weeks: Mondays, October 17 - November 21 (6 - 8pm EST)
WHERE: Online, via Zoom video conference
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
KIRA ROCKWELL (she/her) is a playwright from the heart of Texas. She is a 2021 Artist Fellow in Dramatic Writing with Mass Cultural Council, a recipient of the Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award, as well as a Runner-up for the Princess Grace Award, among others. Her plays have been supported by The Kennedy Center, National New Play Network, Last Frontier Theatre Conference, Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Actor's Express, and Third Culture Theatre in partnership with HBO and Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network, among others. Her neurodivergent love story is available through Original Works Publishing. Rockwell has a BFA in Theatre Performance and an MFA in Playwriting from Boston University. As an educator, Rockwell has taught playwriting/theatre at Wheaton College, Boston University, Hyde Square Task Force, and Grub Street. Through a trauma informed lens, she aims to nurture communal healing spaces that disrupt passivity and empower agency. Currently, she lives in Boston with her husband and their rescue pup, Koda.
WORKSHOP GOALS
- Practice different revision skills to find your unique best practice.
- Brush up on your understanding of developing plot and character arcs.
- Strengthen your ear for hearing what works and what needs revision.
- Learn how to give and receive constructive feedback.
WEEK-BY-WEEK COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK ONE: Revision Techniques
WEEK TWO: Revision Techniques continued
WEEK THREE: One-on-one meetings with the instructor for feedback and goal setting.
WEEK FOUR, FIVE, SIX: In-class readings of your work and Liz Lerman based feedback. The course will culminate with an in-class submission binge where you will have the opportunity to craft your Statement of Purpose, articulate your goals, and send a final draft out into the world!
RECEIVING THE ZOOM LINK: For one-day workshops, we send out the link to attend the Zoom session 1 - 2 days before the event, via email. For multi-week workshops, you should receive info and the link about a week before the first meeting. Please mark your calendars and look for our emails. If you don't see the email in your inbox on the day before the event (or a few days before, in the case of multi-week workshops), please check your spam and junk mail folders (and search all folders) for an email from joy@pioneervalleywriters.org. We have found that very often our emails end up in those folders. This is based on your own email settings, and you can prevent this by adding our email as a contact.
ONLINE SESSIONS happen remotely, via Zoom video conference. All you need is a laptop, computer, or phone with functioning audio and a webcam. Those who RSVP receive directions and a link to "join" the session via email (please see above note about receiving the Zoom link). All online instructors will log on to the video conference 10 minutes before the start of the session, to help anyone with technical issues, so please plan to log on early if you'd like assistance! We'll do everything in our power to help you get comfortable with this new format, though when the session begins, we will not be able to assist with technical difficulties.
REFUND & CREDIT POLICIES AT PVWW
If you withdraw from a workshop ten days or more before the start of the class: You'll receive full credit toward another workshop OR a full refund. If you withdraw from a workshop nine days before the start of the class up until 48 hours before: You'll receive a refund minus 20%. If you withdraw from a workshop less than 48 hours before the start of a class or after the class has begun: We are not able to offer you credit toward another class or any refund, unless in the case of a medical emergency, or if we are able to fill your spot. If you are absent on the day of your workshop or miss it for any reason, we are unable to offer any kind of refund. If we have to cancel a class for any reason, you will receive a full refund, or if you choose, credit in the amount of your payment, to be used for any future PVWW class. Anyone who does not specify whether they would like a refund or a credit for a cancelled class will automatically be refunded. Please contact Joy (joy@pioneervalleywriters.org) for all matters concerning credit and refunds.