ADVANCED EDITING FOR SHORT STORIES WITH MAKENA ONJERIKA
Meeting day: TBD
Time: TBD
Start date: TBD
Online via Zoom
16 sessions over 16 weeks.
Cost: US$ 240 or KES 26000 payable in up to 2 installments via PAYPAL, MPESA, WorldRemit and other
Makena Onjerika won the 2018 Caine Prize for African Writing, was shortlisted for the 2020 Bristol Prize and was a 2020 Best of the Net nominee. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Granta, Adroit Journal, Johannesburg Review of Books, Fireside Quarterly, Wasafiri, New Daughters of Africa and others.
This class is only suitable for writers who have published at least one story in a reputable literary magazine or anthology OR have undertaken an intensive class focus on the elements of fiction craft e.g. plotting, point of view, showing and telling. Writers without such foundational training should join my other fiction class, "Introduction to Short Story Craft", first. This class will focus primarily on helping writers perfect stories they have already written and worked on for some time. All participants should have a stockpile of at least 5 2nd/3rd draft stories at the beginning of the class.
Each week, you will be required to read essays on editing and provide extensive commentary and line edits on 1-2 participant stories. In class will discuss each story's merits and weaknesses and provide writers with suggestions and exercises to help them take their editing forward. You will be required to submit a story for discussion at least 3 times during this class, following a clearly established calendar. Makena will provide detailed editorial feedback, in writing, to each individual writer. We will also discuss craft essays and published short stories each class.
To apply for this class, you need to submit the three completed short stories you wish to perfect during this class.
Please note: scholarships for this class are only available intermittently. To apply, send a 100 word biography and a 200 word essay explaining why you need a scholarship to makenaonjerika@gmail.com and use subject line "Advanced Editing Class Scholarship". These materials are in addition to your 3 stories.
Things to Note
You may pay your class fee in two installments as long as you make the first payment before the beginning of class and complete payment within 30 days.
Make sure that you have a stable internet connection, preferably wifi. I advise trying to have a zoom call with a friend between 5-8 pm to test your connection.
NO Refunds are possible once you attend your first class. Think carefully about how much time you have and whether you can actually commit to the class.