Become Your Own Best Editor with Will Allison 2024
September 24-28
$90
$75
This brand-new installment of Contributing Editor Will Allison’s popular course offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at One Story’s editorial process. Daily online lessons will guide you through a case study of “The Dissection Question,” by Emma Cairns Watson. You’ll follow the story from submission to publication—studying actual marked-up drafts and extensive author-editor correspondence.
The five-day course includes daily online lessons, assignments, and a discussion board where you can share ideas with other writers who are committed to becoming better editors of their own work. Learn to bring the same sharp editorial eye to your own writing that One Story editors bring to each issue.
The last day of class will feature a live discussion on Zoom with Will Allison and Emma Cairns Watson on Saturday, September 28 from 5-6 p.m. ET. A recording will be made available for those who are unable to attend.
About Will Allison:
Before joining One Story as a contributing editor in 2011, Will served as executive editor of Story and editor-at-large of Zoetrope: All-Story. He has taught creative writing at Columbia University, The Ohio State University, and elsewhere. He is the author of two novels, What You Have Left, named a notable book by the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times bestseller Long Drive Home, which is currently being adapted for the stage. His stories have appeared in Glimmer Train, American Short Fiction, One Story, Zoetrope: All-Story, Shenandoah, Kenyon Review, Cincinnati Review, and elsewhere. As a freelance editor specializing in fiction and creative nonfiction, he works one-on-one with both new and established authors. For more information please visit willallison.com.
About Emma Cairns Watson:
Emma Cairns Watson is a fiction writer from California and graduate of the MFA program at UC Irvine, where she received the 2024 Henfield Prize. A finalist for the Iowa Review Award in Fiction, she has published work in many journals, most recently One Story, and has received support from Community of Writers and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She is at work on a short story collection and a first novel.
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration will open soon and will remain open through September 23, 2024.
How does the class work?
Lessons will be posted nightly at 11:59 p.m. ET. Each lesson will comprise author-editor correspondence, editing tips with examples from the stories, and assignments. The class also includes a discussion board where participants can interact with one another and with Will.
I write creative nonfiction. Is this class right for me?
While some of the techniques can be applied to creative nonfiction pieces, this class, as with all One Story classes, is designed with fiction writers in mind.
Is participation on the discussion boards required?
No, it’s optional; participants are welcome to jump into the conversation or sit back and observe.
Is there homework?
The class includes reading assignments (i.e., drafts of the stories) and optional discussion questions. There is no work to be handed in.
How much time will the class take?
Plan to spend about an hour per day reviewing the lessons and reading assignments, plus however much time you choose to spend on the discussion board.
How many students are in the class?
One Story online asynchronous classes are large, and tend to range from 100-250 students.
What if I want to take the class, but the dates don’t work for me?
The class is designed for participants to proceed at their own pace, on their own schedule, so if you miss a day or three, no problem. All class materials will be accessible online until 11:59 p.m. UTC on October 21, 2024. Please note, however, that Will will be available on the discussion board only from September 24-28.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a phone, but we recommend a computer or tablet to get the most out of the experience.
Can I save the material for later use?
You will be able to download drafts of the stories and daily recaps of the lessons and assignments, but otherwise class content lives on the learning platform. To prevent unauthorized distribution of the material, students are not permitted to copy/paste the lessons but are of course welcome to take notes.
What if I can’t wait to get started?
The welcome day discussion board will open on Thursday, September 19, so that participants can meet, mingle, and familiarize themselves with the learning platform.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
Yes. We offer a limited number of need-based scholarships that cover 50% of tuition. The window to request a scholarship will close at 11:59pm ET on Sunday, September 22. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please fill out this form.
Discounts & Policies
Our online classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.
Patron Discount: In order to qualify for our patron discount, you must be a member of our patron circle at the time of registration. Patrons commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in our non-profit organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers or supporters are patrons. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a patron, you can do so here.
Refund Policy: One Story class payment is non-refundable after the class’s start date. For questions about the refund policy, or if you are unable to take the class after you have registered, please contact maribeth@one-story.com.
If you have any questions, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.
