Thinking that you can produce a piece of writing that is perfect first time, is folly. Not even the most experienced author can do this.
If you have finished writing your story and want to polish it and make it the best it can be, or you're half way through and want to know if you are on track, this is the next step. In most cases, what needs to happen now is an edit and total rewrite, or several rewrites. In this workshop, we will cover the things that will make the agent or publisher's editor stop reading and learn how to fix them.
If you want a polished, professional, end-product that is all it can possibly be, editing and rewriting is of crucial importance. I like to split production of a finished manuscript into five stages, editing, revision, deletion, addition, and change.
Thinking that you can just skim over your draft, tweak it a little, and all will be well is delusional. Commit yourself to careful, critical rewrite. It’s where you make shabby first thoughts into a work of art. It’s where you transform ordinary characters into complex, engaging human beings. It’s where you tighten your story – shedding flat and flowery sections, and creating a taut exciting narrative that the reader will want to keep reading. It’s where you make your prose sing.
Editing and rewriting is different from writing your first draft. For a start, you have something to work with; you’re not creating from scratch. It’s a different mindset. You need to be creative, of course, but you need to be critical. You also need to know when to leave well enough alone.
If you have a body of work to edit, bring it with you and we will edit the first few pages, if not, come and learn what to look for in future stories or manuscripts.
October 7th and 8th, Editing your masterpiece. 10am to 3 pm
Book now on the workshop page or phone 54 399 038 to book. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html