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New voices and acclaimed masters in an anthology of armed and dangerous American fiction.
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October 20–November 10, 2014
Imitation leads inevitably to originality; we’ll learn why—and how—in this writing class.
Unlike most other fiction courses offered in Richmond, or, for that matter, on earth, this writing class will explore originality through imitation. Participants need waste no time figuring out pesky problems of point of view, tense, voice, scene, and dialogue; they may even be able to skip plot.
As art students sketch in museums, we will emulate masters, following their line to free our work and surprise us. Exercises will be stimulating, classmates helpful, and the instructor expert, especially on language, litbiz, good jokes and bad.
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What’s harder, beginning or continuing? Composing or revising? Structuring or polishing? Each aspect of writing presents its own difficulties. We commonly find ourselves tangled in doubt, or confused, or working at cross-purposes during each step of building a piece of writing. Each part of the process entails confusion; each also requires a different stance toward the work.
• The madman has plenty to say, so write first.
The madman doesn’t care how it looks or whether
grammar and spelling are perfect.
• The architect cares about structure; this comes next.
Your piece needs a beginning, a middle, and an end.
It needs a problem or conflict.
It must move—something has to happen.
• The carpenter cares about joints, fit, and finish.
The carpenter puts things together and makes sure they’re level, square, and tight.
• The judge cares about the details.
The judge inspects spelling, punctuation, grammar, and tone.
The judge double-checks for coherence and flow, catching infelicities or mistakes.
Bring paper and pencils, work, anxieties, misgivings, and questions. We will use them all.
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Helpful, hand-picked colleagues; knowledgeable, sophisticated instruction; congenial surroundings.
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• Developmental editing—
Before it's a book, it's an idea, a set of notes, an outline, a bunch of pages. Developmental editing takes it from these beginnings to a completed manuscript, with special attention to the project's
-structure
-content
-plot
-beginning and ending
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• Copyediting—
The editor helps the writer make sure the work is
-correct
-clear
-grammatical
-not wordy
-factually accurate
-readable
-meaningful
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• Manuscript evaluation—
-Is it good?
-Is it ready?
-What now?
• General Editing—
-grammar
-spelling
-syntax
-usage
• Substantive Editing—
-organization
-coherence
• Submission guidance—
-What to send
-Where to send
• Consultation—
Proven, experienced guidance finding the right
– MFA program
– fellowship
– residency
– grant
• Informed, sophisticated help—
-Crafting better applications
-Improving chances of success
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