EVENTS Mastering revision
Sara Grant’s revision masterclasses have something of a reputation. In June and July, she ran two day-long ones for SCBWI. Janet Baird and Cate Holness report.
Janet Baird
I was lucky enough to win a scholarship place on the SCWBI Revision Masterclasses, which ran between 10am and 4pm on the Saturdays of June 19th and July 24th. Both classes had breaks between 11.30am and 1pm and then 2.30pm until 3pm, which gave our brains a break. I found that fitted my thinking stamina really well.
Sara Grant led both classes, with Ashley Taylor and Andrew James as support. The pace was lively and exciting — and both masterclasses were packed with valuable draft revision ideas and strategies.
We were all asked to print out Chapter 1 of our works-in-progress before the first class. Plus, we were advised to bring coloured pens and highlighters. Both workshops were very hands on as Sara took us through a series of written exercises for macro and micro editing. My first chapter looked like a multicoloured dreamcoat by the end of the first workshop. But it was so good to work on a hard copy for a change. I saw so much more.
For the second class we were invited to send Sara our first 100 words and also the title of our story. In the morning we worked on the verbs in our openings and also on filter words. It was useful and revealing.
I was thrilled to hear my title selected as one of the five Sara discussed with us in the post-lunch session on titles and openings. The rest of the class were asked to suggest which age genre my title was targeted at. Thankfully, most were very near the mark for mine.
After the final session of the afternoon, which focused on cover letters to agents, Sara told us about the opportunity available to all participants on the masterclasses. We could submit our first 1,000 words and a cover letter and synopsis to her, and some of us would be selected for an agent 121.
Sara Grant led both classes, with Ashley Taylor and Andrew James as support. The pace was lively and exciting — and both masterclasses were packed with valuable draft revision ideas and strategies.
We were all asked to print out Chapter 1 of our works-in-progress before the first class. Plus, we were advised to bring coloured pens and highlighters. Both workshops were very hands on as Sara took us through a series of written exercises for macro and micro editing. My first chapter looked like a multicoloured dreamcoat by the end of the first workshop. But it was so good to work on a hard copy for a change. I saw so much more.
For the second class we were invited to send Sara our first 100 words and also the title of our story. In the morning we worked on the verbs in our openings and also on filter words. It was useful and revealing.
Both workshops were very hands on as Sara took us through a series of written exercises for macro and micro editing. My first chapter looked like a multicoloured dreamcoat by the end of the first workshop.
I was thrilled to hear my title selected as one of the five Sara discussed with us in the post-lunch session on titles and openings. The rest of the class were asked to suggest which age genre my title was targeted at. Thankfully, most were very near the mark for mine.
After the final session of the afternoon, which focused on cover letters to agents, Sara told us about the opportunity available to all participants on the masterclasses. We could submit our first 1,000 words and a cover letter and synopsis to her, and some of us would be selected for an agent 121.
Both masterclasses were so engaging and valuable. I learned so much about tightening and enriching my draft, and presenting my submission package to an Agent. There was such a lovely atmosphere on both sessions. It felt almost like a real face to face workshop.
Huge thanks to Sara Grant and her team, and to SCWBI for including me in such an amazing event.
Huge thanks to Sara Grant and her team, and to SCWBI for including me in such an amazing event.
Cate Holness
A writer friend had raved to me about Sara’s two-day revision workshop, so when I saw this come up, I didn’t hesitate and booked right away. I was not disappointed. This was hands-down the best guidance on editing I have ever experienced.
I’d done Sara’s mini-workshop at the 2019 SCBWI Conference, so I knew I’d need highlighters and the first three chapters of my latest work-in-progress at the ready.
The first workshop was about plot, pace, character arc and hook. Well, I started out feeling pretty confident this was going to be a cinch. Surely, after months and months of writing, editorial advice, re-writing, sending to my crit group, I already had those things sorted? This was just going to add the final spit and polish before sending out to agents and entering Undiscovered Voices, right? (In hindsight, I really should have spotted the coming plot twist!)
With Sara’s guidance I cut a whole chunk of exposition from my first chapter and wove it in to the second as dialogue, which allowed me to bring the inciting incident forward to the first chapter, and it’s far stronger as a result. Without this workshop, I’d probably never have dealt with it.
The first workshop was about plot, pace, character arc and hook. Well, I started out feeling pretty confident this was going to be a cinch. Surely, after months and months of writing, editorial advice, re-writing, sending to my crit group, I already had those things sorted? This was just going to add the final spit and polish before sending out to agents and entering Undiscovered Voices, right? (In hindsight, I really should have spotted the coming plot twist!)
The second workshop was titled ‘Polishing Every Page, Paragraph, Line and Word.’ My goodness, if that’s not the ‘Ronseal’ of titles!
With Sara’s guidance I cut a whole chunk of exposition from my first chapter and wove it in to the second as dialogue, which allowed me to bring the inciting incident forward to the first chapter, and it’s far stronger as a result. Without this workshop, I’d probably never have dealt with it.
The second workshop was titled ‘Polishing Every Page, Paragraph, Line and Word.’ My goodness, if that’s not the ‘Ronseal’ of titles! It was a truly deep dive into our opening chapters. On top of all that, Sara had invited us to send her our titles and opening 100 words for her to choose a handful to give feedback on. Mine was one of those she picked (cue internal screaming). I needn’t have worried, Sara was kind and thoughtful in her feedback to everyone she picked, not to mention absolutely right.
It takes intense, sustained concentration to edit this way and time will tell whether I can edit an entire manuscript like this. I expect that, provided I take it slowly, a chapter at a time, I’ll get there sooner than I think and end up with a vastly improved piece of work.
So, next time you see this workshop advertised, book it, you will not regret it. Just don’t forget your highlighters and courage.
Janet Baird lives in Yorkshire, where her writing is fuelled by mugs of Yorkshire tea. She writes middle grade fiction, short stories and poetry, loves travel, and is passionate about maths, science and history. She is a member of the GEA and SCWBI and is a Fairy Book Mother for Write MAGIC.
It takes intense, sustained concentration to edit this way and time will tell whether I can edit an entire manuscript like this. I expect that, provided I take it slowly, a chapter at a time, I’ll get there sooner than I think and end up with a vastly improved piece of work.
So, next time you see this workshop advertised, book it, you will not regret it. Just don’t forget your highlighters and courage.
*header image: screenshot of Sara Grant's masterclass
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Twitter: @jmb199999
Cate Holness is a Speech Therapist for children with special needs by day, a mum of two all the time and a writer of fiction for 8-12 year-olds in the spaces in-between. She loves writing magical fantasy for its ability to transport the reader anywhere and everywhere.
Don’t tell anyone, but she still harbours ambitions of being a fairy. Twitter: @ThisCateWrites
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Fran Price is Events Editor for Words & Pictures the online magazine for SCBWI-BI. Contact her at events@britishscbwi.org.
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