Class

Revision Techniques for Genre Novelists

Have you completed a draft of a genre fiction manuscript? Are you ready to take it to the next level? Now’s the time to revise! In this highly practical, no-pressure class, learn how to evaluate your manuscript for essential story elements as a reader or acquiring editor might. Discover your manuscript’s strengths, identify story and craft elements which might be missing or need further refinement, then develop an action plan to guide your revision efforts. Most class sessions will be comprised of 50% lecture/presentation, 25% in-class writing/revision exercises, and 25% in-class discussion; the focus will be less on instruction of fiction craft, more on revision.

Most in-class writing exercises are for the student's eyes only; students will revise their own manuscripts in context with the week’s learning topic, with little peer feedback. By the end of the eight-week class, students will gain fresh insights into their story’s strengths and weaknesses, and using that information, will be able to develop a high-level plan to guide their revision work.

This is an appropriate follow-up class for students who’ve taken Tamara’s “The Beginner’s Guide to Starting Your Novel” in a previous term AND who meet this class’s prerequisite: Students must have a working draft of at least 100 pages of a genre fiction manuscript to evaluate and revise during class​; please bring that draft to the first class meeting.​

There will be NO class July 5th.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at edu@loft.org or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.