Nonfiction Workshop: Revision Focus

Revision is hard work, but can also be fun. In this class, we'll dive into the neglected, misunderstood, and underrated process of revision. Just finished a personal essay you're wildly proud of, but not sure you got the opening or ending right? Need to submit a sample memoir chapter to an agent? In love with your musings and own voice, but don't know exactly what your story is about? Terrified to cut a pretty sentence, or rearrange a scene, lest the whole essay fall to pieces? This is the class for you. In this course, each writer will submit material to workshop at least twice. Your first submission will be an initial draft—a beautiful, messy pile of uncut inspiration—and your second will be a revision of that piece, once you've gotten some feedback from the workshop and reflected on how you can improve it. The rest of our time will be dedicated to the discussion and analysis of the craft of revision; reading and discussing a wide range of personal essays; and conversations about the publishing landscape. 

It is expected that you have workshop experience prior to this course.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.