Self-editing skills for novelists

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Self-editing skills for novelists

By The Guardian Masterclasses

Date and time

Saturday, May 2, 2015 · 10am - 4pm GMT+1

Location

The Guardian

Kings Place 90 York Way London N1 9GU United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.

Description

How to transform your draft with professional self-editing skills

Stage fright is a more common barrier to new authors than writer's block. It's easy for the novice novelist to think the first draft is the only draft. In truth, the most important work on a novel is done during the editing process, where plots are sharpened, characters fleshed out and language refined. The difference between a good writer and a great one is having the technical ability to benefit from the rewriting process.

This event isn't so much a crash course as a one-day apprenticeship, providing lessons in how to assess your own work critically, find solutions to existing problems and learn to improve your writing by thinking like an editor. You'll learn the most important skills of the editor's job, allowing you to self-edit in a way that suits both you and your novel. You'll finish the course with an arsenal of techniques to help you identify and improve on difficult areas, whether they involve characters, themes and structure. You'll stop thinking of editing as simply proofreading, and see it as an essential, holistic and rewarding part of your creative process, for this and all your future projects.

This course is for you if…

  • You're a writer who wants to improve your novel before submission to a publisher, editor, agent, critique group or readers
  • You've abandoned a draft or manuscript in progress and would like to resurrect and complete it
  • You're a committed writer who wants to learn self-editing skills

Course description

This rigorous one-day course provides a practical introduction to editing skills for authors, allowing you to make progress on your own writing and draw up a plan for how to turn your first draft into a polished novel for publication. Topics covered on the day include:

  • The creative approach to editing – how to make it more than just reworking your sentences.
  • Mapping your weak spots – identifying particular issues and problems with your manuscript
  • How to create a structural survey of your novel, and a master plan for change
  • Balancing your characters – too many? Too few? Do they do enough?
  • Varying structure – beginnings, middles, ends, subplots and the placing of crescendos to keep readers gripped
  • Using themes to maintain coherence and create a slick, satisfying experience for the reader
  • How to decide if an abandoned book has potential – and how to get it started again
  • Polishing your style – tips and suggestions to keep a consistent voice

Tutor profile

Roz Morris' fiction has sold more than four million copies worldwide, as a novelist and ghostwriter for high-profile authors. She is a writer, fiction editor, journalist and the author of the Nail Your Novel series for writers. She has worked as a writers' mentor for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and a manuscript she doctored in early form won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Find out more at rozmorris.wordpress.com.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website

Organized by

Welcome to Guardian Masterclasses – a unique programme of learning embedded within one of the world's most forward-thinking media organisations.

We offer a broad range of short and long courses across a variety of disciplines from creative writing, journalism, photography and design, film and digital media, music and cultural appreciation.

Harnessing the expertise and specialisms within the organisation, our courses are led by first class and award winning guardian professionals whilst also drawing on the skills and expertise of other leading figures at the forefront of the creative and digital industries.

The programme is aimed at anyone interested in personal or professional development whether that be refining your skills, focusing your ambition or simply broadening your mind and gaining inspiration.

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