Poets & Writers

Many writers reach a stage where they feel stuck, even when their draft is structurally sound. The prose and plot may be polished, yet the work feels emotionally inert, as if something essential is missing. This course focuses on the rewrite not as a technical chore but as a creative and diagnostic act. Through unconventional techniques, we will push past the plateau of a draft to rediscover the story’s purpose and restore its narrative momentum.

Class sessions will combine developmental editing strategies with generative exercises designed to expose narrative blind spots. We will explore perspective disruption, rewrite key scenes from unexpected viewpoints, and use character truth as an editorial compass to reframe relationships. By emphasizing why a story exists rather than just how it is arranged, students will learn to align their craft with their narrative’s core emotional demands.

By the end of the course, participants will leave with a concrete revision strategy, reimagined scenes, and a toolkit of diagnostic exercises for whenever a project feels stuck. Writers will gain practical techniques for micro-edits with macro impact, learning how small shifts in placement and perspective can reshape the meaning of an entire work.

This workshop is designed for writers mid-project or post-first draft who are looking for a rigorous, developmental approach to revision. While new material will be generated, students are encouraged to bring a work-in-progress to use as a primary text for the exercises.