Editing, Review & Literary Critique of Young Adult Fiction

Organized as a workshop format, this practical course teaches students how to edit, how to review, and how to do literary critique on Young Adult (YA) fiction using a real draft manuscript that is under development with a goal of traditional publication.  This class offers participants the chance to interact with a real author and help shape a Young Adult manuscript in progress to publication.  Students will learn how to improve their own storytelling, writing, self-editing, and reviewing skills.  Students will have the opportunity to pass their feedback directly to the author, MV Donovan, so that it can be incorporated to make DiploBrats the very best it can be for readers like them!

Introduction

• M.V. Donovan’s professional biography
• The DiploBrats series & mission

Storytelling Module

• Video and slides
• Opening hooks and story arc
• Knowing your audience

Review Module

• Critique versus editing
• Four “passes”
  • Clarity of purpose/plot
  • Internal cohesion
  • Story elements – characters, setting, etc.
  • Editorial mechanics

Guided Exercise

• Read DiploBrats Book 1 first 2500 words
• Consider editor’s critique memo and edits
• Evaluate revised opening

Independent Critiques

• Read unedited middle passages
• Prepare own memo and in-line comments
• Submit to author to assist draft revisions

Optional Final Assignment

• Thanks for the help!
• Welcome to join The Civic Compass community
• Offer to review Advance Reader Copy of novel