More about my creative revisions course...

Creative Revisions Workshop is a course for writers who seek feedback on their work from fellow writers. Writers who participate have already polished their written work, and want to know how readers perceive it so that it can be polished again. Participants vary broadly in their genres and writing styles. We’ve worked with short stories, creative non-fiction, novels, memoirs, personal essays, poetry, young adult fiction, historical fiction, and fairy tales. Topics have included family history, teen romance, long-lost love, war, personal triumph, aging challenges, brotherly squabbles, moonlit gardens, great quests, and much more. It is very important that participants spend time outside of class to read submissions and write feedback. In other words, if you seek feedback on your work, you must be willing to provide feedback to your classmates. This barter system is a powerful experience, and it is exciting to read new work by others. After the first class, which is an introduction to giving feedback, our class time involves lively discussion of each other’s works. We talk about the purpose, strengths, and weaknesses of the writing as well as ideas for what to cut, what to add, new directions, and favorite lines. Participants frequently mention how useful it is to read the work of classmates as a means to discovery in one’s own work. Since feedback is dependent on regular attendance, it is best if participants can commit to attending all class sessions.