|

Reading to Revise: How to Re-invent the Work of Revision with Chaya Bhuvaneswar (via Zoom)


Do you love generating new short stories, or new chapters of your novel in progress – only to be daunted by the craft of revision? Learn to love this phase of the writing process by approaching it as a set of puzzles to be solved, the clues to which are in works of fiction you can identify as ‘holding’ answers for you, in direct and indirect form. Attendees will be asked to bring a 2 paragraph summary of their work in progress to read aloud to the class; then as a group will work through a group revision of a 250 word passage adapted from a critically acclaimed novel (shared on screen and in the course packet), to begin seeing the journey of a given piece of fiction to its final form and understanding revision in terms of exciting choices about craft. After discussion of each attendee’s choices about revising this passage, along with a group discussion of the passage’s final form, attendees will then select a paragraph of their own work in progress and “share screen”, showing cross outs/ red lined phrases, to illustrate their thinking about revision. In the next exercise, attendees will go through, word by word, 2 illuminating paragraphs of a published “before and after” revision by another renowned author (looking at original version, editorial notes, and final version by the author). Finally – attendees will discuss a template for a “revision plan” that incorporates specific readings suggested by the workshop leader in response to their earlier introduction of what they are working on. Attendees will then draft their own revision plan and share this with the group, gaining feedback and encouragement. Distinctions between structural revisions vs. line-edits will be discussed, as well as a shared reading of an excerpt from an essay about preserving one’s own voice during the process of ‘being edited.’ Before the workshop meets, a “craft of revision” reader of 50 pages will be distributed as a resource for attendees (optional) to consult both before and after the workshop.

The class will be held via Zoom and capped at 15. The Zoom link will be emailed at the time of registration. (Please check spam / promotions filters.) Please read the course policies page before attending any class. Please email ask@writerscenter.org with any questions.
Registration is $124 at:
www.writerscenter.org/calendar/proserevision/

Chaya Bhuvaneswar is a South Asian-American psychiatrist, poet, award winning fiction writer and essayist. Her debut short story collection, White Dancing Elephants, received several honors and awards, including Finalist for the 2019 PEN American/Robert W. Bingham Debut Fiction Prize, winner of the “35 Over 35” Debut authors, and winner of the Dzanc Books Short Story Collection. Her short fiction has also been anthologized in Her Mother’s Ashes 2 (TSAR Press) and Best Small Fictions (Sundress Press) in 2019. Her work as a psychiatrist has been published in over 30 peer-reviewed medical journals and has received clinical research funding to develop effective treatments for trauma and its aftermath, from the National Institutes for Health/ Institutes for Mental Health. She has published several textbook chapters on the health and well-being of women and people of color (BIPOC patients) from diverse communities, including in Substance Disorders in Pregnancy, Guide to Bipolar Disorder in Geriatric Populations, and The Massachusetts General Hospital Adult Psychiatry Residency Handbook of Psychiatry. Chaya has specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and mindfulness training as well.

Event Location and Ticket Information

Date: Saturday, March 5, 2022
Times: 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Ticket pricing:

Get tickets now
- 124

Presenter: Hudson Valley Writers Center
Presenter Phone: 9143325953