"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 or a Google doc link 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. An immigrant who feels lonely makes a friend in a community garden (realistic fiction)

2. A fairy named Pine gets their wings (fantasy)

3. A ghost story taking place in an old castle (Ghost)

4. Elsa is cooking Sunday dinner for her granddaughter and her family, reflecting on her life and how she joined the civil rights movement after watching her best friend not being able to eat a the same diner and how the world has changed. (Historical Fiction/Realistic Fiction)


Week 1: Read and discuss the first 500-word story, an immigrant who feels lonely makes a friend in a community garden (realistic fiction), 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 fairy named Pine gets their wings (fantasy), 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 ghost story taking place in an old castle (ghost story), 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, Elsa is cooking Sunday dinner for her granddaughter and her family, reflecting on her life (the civil rights movement, meeting Martin Luther King Jr.) and how the world has changed. (Historical Fiction/Realistic Fiction), 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.