January 2016: Self-Editing (a course in 13 lessons plus homework)
“There is no great writing, only great rewriting.” ~ Justice Louis D. Brandeis
Instructor: Jim Jackson
Maximum Class Size: 25
Price: $50 ($40 for current members of the Low Country Chapter of Sisters in Crime). You can sign-up at the bottom of this page.
Maximum Class Size: 25
Price: $50 ($40 for current members of the Low Country Chapter of Sisters in Crime). You can sign-up at the bottom of this page.
Class Description: Why not begin
2016 with a workshop that will help you learn to efficiently and productively rewrite
your WIP? In this workshop you’ll learn to start large and work small. Through
exercises, you’ll assess whether your WIP’s plot functions as it should. You’ll
consider whether you have the right scenes to carry the plot. You’ll learn to evaluate
your characters, combine or eliminate bit parts, and present their
multi-faceted personalities.
Next you’ll consider individual scenes
to make sure they have depth and are compelling. We’ll address the special
rewriting needs of the opening scene and book’s ending. Finally we’ll explore
techniques for polishing your manuscript. While some discussion revolves around
mystery-related considerations such as red herrings, this workshop will benefit
anyone, regardless of genre, who has completed, but not finalized, their
manuscript.
Class Venue: Lessons are presented within a private Yahoo group. Lessons are available in PDF or .rtf formats. Students post homework in the Yahoo group. The instructor will post responses to all homework assignments. After the class is completed, the Yahoo group will be disbanded and all messages permanently erased.
What others have said about the class:
Thanks for offering such wonderful lessons, and for giving everyone a lot of attention and sage advice. I learned so much--I look forward to the chance to take classes with you in the future.
The class re-ignited my interest in my WIP, plus trying to view it objectively. I would certainly take another class like yours again.
This was a wonderful class. Well-organized, full of great specifics, and thought-provoking.
Thank you, Jim. I took this course hoping to be a bit better as a critique partner, but quickly found this was really a HOW to Write RIGHT or at least to your BEST, course. WOW!
Class Venue: Lessons are presented within a private Yahoo group. Lessons are available in PDF or .rtf formats. Students post homework in the Yahoo group. The instructor will post responses to all homework assignments. After the class is completed, the Yahoo group will be disbanded and all messages permanently erased.
What others have said about the class:
Thanks for offering such wonderful lessons, and for giving everyone a lot of attention and sage advice. I learned so much--I look forward to the chance to take classes with you in the future.
The class re-ignited my interest in my WIP, plus trying to view it objectively. I would certainly take another class like yours again.
This was a wonderful class. Well-organized, full of great specifics, and thought-provoking.
Thank you, Jim. I took this course hoping to be a bit better as a critique partner, but quickly found this was really a HOW to Write RIGHT or at least to your BEST, course. WOW!
Instructor Bio: Jim Jackson spent
his career explaining complicated financial strategies in understandable
English. He finds rewriting considerably more enjoyable than producing a first
draft, and he considers teaching more fun than writing. Despite those
preferences he is the successful author of three Seamus McCree Novels (plus one
with a 2016 release date) and One Trick
at a Time: How to start winning at bridge, an acclaimed bridge book for
intermediate players. Visit his website at http://jamesmjackson.com
Lesson
Topics
Date
|
Topic
|
January
1
|
Introductions
all around
|
January
2
|
First
Steps – Read Through
|
January
4
|
Point
of View Considerations
|
January
6
|
Opening
Your Novel
|
January
8
|
Self-Editing
Structure
|
January
11
|
Scene
by Scene
|
January
13
|
Ebb
and Flow
|
January
14
|
Deepening
Characters
|
January
18
|
Dialogue
|
January
20
|
Making
the Details Count
|
January
22
|
Scene
Pacing
|
January
25
|
Closing
Your Novel
|
January
27
|
Checking
the Nits
|
January
29
|
Last
Thoughts and Stuff I Didn’t Find a Place For
|
I'm a fan of Jim Jackson's Seamus McCree series as well as his stellar advice on writing. So with that in mind, I recruited him to teach Self-editing last January 2015 for the Kiss of Death Chapter. Not only was Mr. Jackson's self-editing one of the most well attended craft workshops of the year, it is one that students say they would love to take again when going through the next manuscript. Jim is a hands-on, generous instructor. Attendees would be well served in their writing careers to benefit from his expertise.
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