Revising to the Finish Line with Lisa Ko
March 23rd - 27th
$75
$65
This was an excellent course because it broke down the revision process into logical parts that were challenging, but not overwhelming.
Revision is not only part of the writing process, but the bulk of it, a way to discover what your story is really about, your intentions for your work, and how to achieve them. It’s rarely seamless, linear, or even simplistic, but it doesn’t have to be difficult! In this class, you will identify how you use common elements of storytelling craft, including structure, character, point of view, perspective, dialogue, voice and style, and in doing so, develop new possibilities and conscious decisions for improving and revising your short story.
Through daily worksheets and exercises, you’ll create, apply, and plan revision strategies for your work in progress, editing and re-envisioning your writing. You’ll leave with a firm revision plan and a toolbox of steps and strategies to polish, elevate, and complete your work—and which you can then use for future writing projects.
We recommend that you have a complete draft of a short story ready to work with before starting this class. While the activities may work with novel excerpts, they are designed with short stories in mind. You also will need a set of index cards or Post-It notes for some of the activities.
About Lisa Ko:
Lisa Ko is the author of the nationally best-selling novel The Leavers, which was a 2017 National Book Award for Fiction finalist, won the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, and was a finalist for the 2018 PEN/Hemingway Award. Her short fiction has appeared in Best American Short Stories and her essays and nonfiction in The New York Times, The Believer, and elsewhere. Her second novel, Memory Piece, will be published in spring 2024 by Riverhead Books.
Class Schedule
- Thursday, March 23: What’s It All About? The Outside Story
- Friday, March 24: Character and the Inside Story
- Saturday, March 25: POV and Perspective: The Narrator
- Sunday, March 26: Showing and Telling: Get the Balance Right
- Monday, March 27: Your Voice and Reader
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration is open now through March 22nd, 2023.
How does the class work?
Lessons will be posted nightly at 11:59pm UTC. Classes consist of videos, text-based lessons, worksheets, and writing activities. The class also includes discussion boards where participants can interact with one another and with Lisa.
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.
I would like to revise my novel. Is this class right for me?
Some of these exercises may work for novel excerpts, but the class is not designed for revising a full novel. We recommend having a completed draft of a short story on hand for taking this class.
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?
Yes. There will be a number of exercises designed to help you assess and revise your work-in-progress. These will not be evaluated by the instructor, but participants are welcome to share their work with other students on the discussion board.
How much time will the class take?
Plan to spend about one hour per day reviewing the lessons and completing the exercises, plus however much time you choose to spend on the discussion boards.
How many students are in the class?
One Story online 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 April 26th, 2023. Please note, however, that Lisa will be present on the discussion boards only from March 23rd-27th
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?
There will be downloadable handouts and writing exercises, but otherwise class content lives on the learning platform. To prevent distribution of the material without our knowledge, 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 classroom will open on Tuesday, March 21, two days before the class begins, 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 is open now through March 15th. 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.
