Revising Personal and Lyric Essays

may 22 - june 26, 6-8 PM
Arts + Literature Laboratory

“For your writing to change, you must change.” —Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew

It feels wonderful when an idea sweeps us off our feet and words tumble onto the page. But then what? We can tell the piece isn’t done—we might not even know what it is. What do we do next?

In this class, we’ll explore revision in both practical and philosophical terms: How can we see our writing (and our lives) with fresh eyes? 

Using the book Living Revision: A Writer’s Craft as Spiritual Practice by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, you’ll learn numerous tools for nurturing an early essay draft into completion. You’ll engage in discussion, do in-class revision exercises, and receive feedback from your peers on an essay in progress.

By the end of this class, you’ll: 

• Understand the basics of revising personal and lyric essays

• Grow your ability to tell if your essay is ready or needs more work

• Explore what to do when you get stuck

• Share an essay draft and get feedback from the class

• Connect with a community of other writers