Introduction to Prose Revision (with Carolyn Zaikowski) - ONLINE
This course is designed for prose writers, including those writing fiction and creative nonfiction of any style or length, who have early drafts of work in progress and are ready to learn revision basics. This will include big-picture concerns like structure, scene vs. summary/exposition, and revising characters and settings. We’ll also explore techniques for upping the ante on clarity, voice, and style at the sentence level. Class will revolve around fun in-class exercises and goal-setting, small group and big group reflections, and discussions of techniques, plus at-home exercises and short readings. In the spirit of community and curiosity, we’ll put our heads and hearts together to build skills for our revision toolkits that we can take into the world beyond the course. Limited to 10 writers.
At-home readings and work will take approximately 1-2 hours per week. Note: This is not a workshopping course; we will not be directly reading or giving feedback on each other’s writing.
WHEN: 4 Weeks: Mondays, November 27 - December 18 (6 - 8pm EST)
WHERE: Online, via Zoom video conference
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
CAROLYN ZAIKOWSKI is is the author of two hybrid novels. Her fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared widely, in publications such as The Washington Post, The Rumpus, PANK, West Branch, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics and is currently an English professor and volunteer death doula.
WORKSHOP GOALS
- To study, and experiment with, basic prose revision strategies in the spirit of community, curiosity, and fun
- To brainstorm, reflect upon, and set intentions for what, why, and how we’d like to revise
- To build a basic prose revision toolkit to take with us beyond the course, including skills for the big-picture moving parts of a piece, as well as how to craft sharp, interesting sentences
WEEKLY OVERVIEW
Each week will involve a mix of at-home readings to see important principles in action, in-class discussions and fun exercises, and reflecting in small and/or large groups about our process and intentions.
WEEK ONE: We’ll do some goal-setting, plus lay the mental groundwork for learning about revision at both the big-picture developmental level and the zoomed-in sentence level.
WEEK TWO: We’ll explore some common ways to consider structuring one’s work, including how to work with scene, summary, and other birds-eye-view considerations.
WEEK THREE: We’ll build on week two’s zoomed-out moving parts by looking at how character, setting, and related elements can be tightened, clarified, and revised.
WEEK FOUR: We’ll explore how to craft effective—or perhaps even beautiful—sentences via considerations around length and word choice, and we’ll brainstorm how we’d like to move forward with goals and techniques in the world beyond the course.
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 3 - 5 days before. Please mark your calendars when you first register and look for our emails. If you don't see the email in your inbox on the day before the class, please check your spam and junk mail folders (and search all folders) for an email from joy@pioneervalleywriters.org before contacting us. 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 a few minutes before the start of the session, 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 the Zoom format, though we are not able to offer technical assistance beyond basic Zoom orientation.
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 (minus automatically-deducted 4% service charge we must pay Square). 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 a refund. In the case of medical emergency, please contact us directly and this will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 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 or credit. However, if we have to cancel a class you have paid for, you will receive a full refund, without the service charge deducted, 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 receive credit, which will automatically receive credit. Please contact Joy (joy@pioneervalleywriters.org) for all matters concerning credit and refunds.