The Art of Rewriting

Course Details

Have you recently finished the first draft of your novel but don't feel like it's quite up to par? Or perhaps you finished it years ago, and it's been sitting on your shelf waiting for some more attention? Maybe you've even submitted it to a few agents, only to have them come back with "Loved your writing! But, sadly, this book isn't for me?"? If you answered "yes" to any one of these questions, the 12-Week Art of Rewriting course is for you.

Paul Simon once said, "Good songs aren't written, they're rewritten." The same is true of good novels. If you want to write a book that's saleable, getting that first draft down on the page is just the beginning. In this class we'll pick apart your novel and find out what's working and what's not. We'll look at your characters, your story arcs, your plots, and your dialogue to see where the problems spots are. We'll figure out what has to be improved, and why.

• Why the first five pages of your novel are so important
• Proper page layout and why this is necessary
• How to avoid clichés
• How to hook readers into your story
• How to rewrite characters that aren't living up to their potential
• How to fix plot problems
• How to restructure your novel
• How to fix dialogue that doesn't flow

Admission requirements:
To apply, you must submit a letter of interest (including work history), and a fiction writing sample that should not exceed 2,000 words.

Instructor Bio

David Israel's Courses

David K. Israel is the author of the recent novel Behind Everyman. He is a frequent contributor to mental_floss magazine and his writings have been published in The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. David is also an accomplished songwriter and composer. His works have been commissioned by Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, and The American Symphony Orchestra.

Testimonials

David is the only catalyst you'll need to finish your novel. He's supportive and unflinching, and is an impeccable listener. I'd always been able to start novels, but under his guidance I finally finished one. Stop rationalizing your life away and take his class. -- Becky Hayes, casting director

"Not only is David a great writer, he's an inspirational teacher as well. With his encouragement I finished the first draft of my novel." -- Mike Welch, producer

"By the end of this class, I had three hundred pages of a novel that I hadn't had before, and a whole new appreciation for how much time I'd been wasting not writing. No regrets!" -- Vanessa McGee

"David is incredible. His comments are at once encouraging and constructive without being unduly flattering. He's a writer's writer who really helped me tell the story I wanted to tell. Great guy." -- Chris Rogers

"David was excellent -- a true professional. He was able to point out flaws in writing styles plus constructively critique without ruffling feathers. He also created a true writer's circle. I will definitely continue on with him." -- Stephanie Cox