Class Description
Finished a draft of your novel and wondering what to do with it next? This class will give you a toolkit of revision strategies to help you take your first draft (or fifth, or tenth!) to the next level. In each class, students will do a few in-class exercises to help them see their manuscript with fresh eyes, identify areas to work on and refine their voices on the page. The exercises are designed to work with novels of any genre and focus on standard elements of fiction such as plot, character, setting and dialogue. In the last class, students will share a short revised excerpt (5 to 10 pages, depending on the number of students enrolled) for on-the-spot feedback from their classmates and the instructor.
Please bring a one-page (single-spaced) synopsis of your novel manuscript and the first five pages to the first class. If you have not recently reread your manuscript, please do so before the first class as well, so that you have the whole work in your head when we meet. You will need to refer to the full manuscript in subsequent classes.
If you have not finished a full draft of your novel, you are welcome to sign up, but some of the exercises we do might be of limited applicability.
Writing Roadmap: We've created a simple, goal-based writing roadmap to help you find the perfect GrubStreet course for your writing needs.
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 detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place in-person at our Center for Creative Writing in Boston's Seaport neighborhood.
Covid-19 Update:
GrubStreet's space will be mask-optional when Boston's Covid-19 Community Level is low or medium. When the Covid-19 Community Level is high, our space will require masks. Please check GrubStreet's Covid-19 page for the latest info on masking and Community Levels before visiting in person.
Space Accessibility:
Our space is ADA accessible with automatic door openers, ADA-compliant restrooms, desk and table spacing, braille signage, and elevator. Our classrooms can be equipped with ALS for hard of hearing individuals. We cannot guarantee a scent-free environment. For more accessibility requests, please contact our Operations team at [email protected] or (617) 695-0075.