"The secret to editing your work is simple: you need to become its reader instead of its writer." Zadie Smith

Every writer needs to edit and rewrite, which can feel daunting and confusing. 
What should I keep?
What should I remove?
How can I change the wording to make it more powerful? 

This class will practice editing and rewriting by working with four different stories.  

The students will be presented with a 500-word story every two weeks- all in all, it will be four stories (eight weeks total class time). The students will get a Word document with the story. 

First, we will discuss the story in class to see what needs improvement—for example, more dialogue, descriptions, and show-not-tell. We will look at word choices and the feeling of the story. 
We have one hour of class time to discuss the story and how to edit it.  

Then, the students have one week to edit and rewrite the original story. Each story will be similar, but every student will put their personal touch on it. 

During the second class, the students will present their new version of the story, and we will discuss and compare everyone's stories to see how they have improved and differ depending on the student. Look for the detailed schedule below.


This class is excellent for students who like to deepen their editing skills, but it is also a great opportunity for students who struggle to develop ideas for stories but really like writing. 

The four stories are 

1.  Badger and Fox plan a birthday party for Owl (Animal Fiction)

2. A monster is terrorizing a small town (horror)

3. Charlie is in love with Jamie-Will they dare to ask them out for a date (Romance)

4. Three siblings try to survive in a dystopian world (Dystopian)


Week 1: Read and discuss the first 500-word story, an animal fiction story about Fox and Badger planning a birthday party, to see what needs improvement.

Week 2: Read and discuss everyone's versions to see how each student has tackled the task of editing and rewriting the story.

Week 3: Read and discuss the second 500-word story, a horror story about a monster terrorizing a small town, to see what needs improvement. 

Week 4: Read and discuss everyone's versions to see how each student has tackled the task of editing and rewriting the story.

Week 5: Read and discuss the third 500-word story, a romance story about if Charlie will dare to ask out Jamie, to see what needs improvement. 

Week 6: Read and discuss everyone's versions to see how each student has tackled the task of editing and rewriting the story.

Week 7: Read and discuss the fourth 500-word story, a historical fiction story about Reina and her family in a Japanese Internment Camp during World War Two,  to see what needs improvement.

Week 8: Read and discuss everyone's versions to see how each student has tackled the task of editing and rewriting the story.