Antoine Wilson
is the author of the novels Mouth to Mouth (Simon & Schuster), Panorama City (Mariner), and The Interloper (Other Press). He is a contributing editor of A Public Space.
Master Class
Antoine Wilson
Online
Thursday, June 30, 2022
This class has already happened.
The Art of Revision
“I love the flowers of afterthought.”
—Bernard Malamud
Great writing, when we read it, strikes us as inevitable, free from contingency.
This is, of course, an illusion.
What we are reading has likely been worked over, crossed out, rewritten, rearranged, sliced and diced and put back together again. Extra words have been omitted, throat-clearing paragraphs cut, vague references transformed into specific details. Perhaps characters have been merged, or been divided into two. Or point-of-view changed from first to third. A subplot or digression, thousands of words, out. Countless alternative what-if early versions, unacknowledged.
Notice how easy it is to proceed from what we recognize as revision—the line edit—to something that sounds more like summoning a first draft into existence. Any attempt to draw a solid line between writing and revision yields only semi-permeable membranes.
Or, as Hemingway put it: “The only writing is rewriting.”
This course will look at what this means to us, practically speaking, as writers. I’ll discuss various approaches to revision, from the philosophical to the technical, share some wisdom from established writers, and offer support and encouragement to the revision-phobic—all with an eye to helping you find a revision process that works for you.
Course Schedule
Thursday, June 30
6:30–8:30 p.m. ET
1 session
Online on Zoom
Where are the Master Classes and workshops located?
Currently, all Master Classes and workshops are held online on Zoom.
I registered but did not receive a link. What do I do?
You will receive an email from A Public Space one week prior to the start date, with materials and a Zoom link to join the class. Please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you do not receive this email.
Can I receive a recording of a past or upcoming workshop or class?
No. The only way to attend a Master Class or workshop is live.
Is closed captioning available?
Yes. Otter.ai live notes are available for all Master Classes, and on a case-by-case basis for workshops. (If you are signed up for a workshop, please discuss closed captioning with your instructor.) To view the notes, look for the red LIVE dropdown menu in the top left of your Zoom screen and select View Stream on Otter.ai.
Are scholarships available?
Scholarships are available for all Master Classes. Scholarships are not currently offered for workshops. To apply, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with the subject “Master Class Scholarship Application” and include 1) a short statement outlining your interest in this class, and how a scholarship would benefit you as a writer or a reader; and 2) a short bio. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis.
The Master Class or workshop I want to join is sold out. Is there a waitlist?
Yes. Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to be added to the waitlist for an upcoming Master Class or workshop.
I signed up for a class but can't make it. Can I be refunded?
Full refunds are offered if requested at least two weeks prior to the start date of the class. After that, before the start date, we are able to offer a 50% refund. We cannot refund day-of cancellations, and we cannot refund or partially refund tuition once the class has started. Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you need to cancel your registration.
But I signed up for a class after the cut-off point for a full refund had passed. Can I still be eligible for a full refund?
No. Please be aware of our cancellation policy upon registration.
I'd like to transfer my registration to someone else. Is this possible?
Yes. That is very generous of you! Please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel your enrollment in an Academy class, please let us know as soon as possible. We can only offer full refunds if you cancel two weeks prior to the start of class. After that, before the start date of class, we can offer a 50% refund. We cannot refund day-of cancellations, and we cannot refund or partially refund tuition once the class has begun.