Great River Writes Events

Kill Your Darlings, Resurrect Your Manuscript: The Art and Craft of Editing

Saturday | November 17 | 1:00-3:00pm
La Crosse Public Library

Once you’ve spent a month (or eleven years) reaching the end of your manuscript, it’s time to get to work. Many scientists conclude that 88.3 percent of a professional writer’s time is devoted to the art of revision. One crucial aspect of revision—editing—can give your manuscript the makeover it needs to transform it into publishable form. In this interactive workshop, we will discuss the seven key editing strategies that will help you inject your language with life, ruthlessly kill the dead spots, and create beginnings that will arrest your readers’ attention. We’ll share examples, offer a live real-time editing demonstration, discuss ways to create strong beginnings, and see where other conversations take us. Participants are invited to bring the first page of a work in progress.

From Page to Stage: How to Prepare, Perfect, and Present Your Work Out Loud

Sunday | November 18 | 2:00-4:00pm
Island City Brewery | Winona

Lots of writers can pen a good story, but sharing it in front of others? If that sounds scary, or you’re looking to boost your skills, learn how to read out lout from our expert panelists. Get tips from storytelling, improv, acting, as well as traditional and slam poetry. Hear examples, ask questions, find new tools to try, and—if you’re feeling brave—take a shot at sharing your own work with feedback from our panelists.

Panelists are Jess Witkins (writer and storyteller), Greg Parmeter (actor, director, educator), Mai’a Williams (spoken word poet and human rights activist), and Ken McCullough (Winona’s Poet Laureate).

Persons of all ages are encouraged to attend. Free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the River Arts Alliance in collaboration with the Great River Writes Series 2018.