Develop a Real YA Spy Thriller Series – DiploBrats. Help a real author turn real draft manuscripts into bestsellers!
What you will learn
Learn how to self-edit your own writing
Learn how to review and edit fiction
Provide feedback to a real-life YA author
Help develop a YA novel into a compelling read
Help make civic discourse cool again
Improve your own storytelling and writing
Description
Organized as a workshop format, this practical course teaches students how to edit, how to review, and how to do literary critique on Young Adult (YA) fiction using a real draft manuscript that is under development with a goal of traditional publication. This class offers participants the chance to interact with a real author and help shape a Young Adult manuscript in progress to publication. Students will learn how to improve their own storytelling, writing, self-editing, and reviewing skills. Students will have the opportunity to pass their feedback directly to the author, MV Donovan, so that it can be incorporated to make DiploBrats the very best it can be for readers like them!
Introduction
- M.V. Donovan’s professional biography
- The DiploBrats series & mission
Storytelling Module
- Video and slides
- Opening hooks and story arc
- Knowing your audience
Review Module
- Critique versus editing
- Four “passes”
- Clarity of purpose/plot
- Internal cohesion
- Story elements – characters, setting, etc.
- Editorial mechanics
Guided Exercise
- Read DiploBrats Book 1 first 2500 words
- Consider editor’s critique memo and edits
- Evaluate revised opening
Independent Critiques
- Read unedited middle passages
- Prepare own memo and in-line comments
- Submit to author to assist draft revisions
Optional Final Assignment
- Thanks for the help!
- Welcome to join The Civic Compass community
- Offer to review Advance Reader Copy of novel
Content