Living Revision: A Writer’s Craft as Spiritual Practice
Over the last few years, I have occasionally led a workshop based on a writer’s craft book I was particularly interested in. In Autumn of 2022, I with a group of like-minded writers, dove into Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew’s LIVING REVISION: A Writer’s Craft as Spiritual Practice.
The book transformed my writer’s practice. I am someone who has far too often struggled with … if “writers’ block” is too strong a term, certainly “writerly anxiety”. And like anyone with any kind of profound anxiety, what it led to far too often was complete avoidance of the butt-in-chair needed to get my work done.
Working through the material in Living Revision changed that profoundly. I am offering the course again this Spring, and I’m looking forward to going through this powerful material again. If you’re intrigued, I’d be delighted if you’d join me.
Here is the description of the material we’ll be exploring:
“Revision is the spiritual practice of transformation–of seeing text, and therefore the world, with new eyes. Done well, revision returns us to our original love.” Andrew
In Living Revision, award-winning author and teacher Elizabeth J. Andrew guides writers through the writing and revision process. With insight and grace, Andrew asks writers to flex their spiritual muscles, helping them to transform their writing as they in turn transform themselves into more curious and reflective human beings. This is the first writing text to champion personal transformation throughout the development of a writing project and not just at its inception. It helps writers thrive on the long road to completion and manifest the full potential of their projects.
Using reflections, exercises, quotations, examples from masters and amateurs, and easily adapted practices, Living Revision guides writers of all levels to fundamentally shift the way they see their stories and the world. Living Revision teaches a lively relationship to craft and an inquisitive, invested relationship to content—qualities critical to the creation of effective writing. Revision is essentially a spiritual practice; Living Revision is its handbook.
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Brenda Miller (author of Tell It Slant: Creating, Refining, and Publishing Creative Nonfiction and The Pen and the Bell: Mindful Writing in a Busy World) has this to say about the book in her Foreword to it:
“As I read Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew’s Living Revision, I found myself breathing a sigh of relief. Here, finally, someone has articulated both the struggles and the joy of revision, in a way that makes me eager to dive back into the projects that have stymied me. In addition to using examples and wise advice from other writers, Andrew gives us practical exercises that enable us to truly invigorate our work and revive its elusive heartbeat.”
Come and join us for a deep dive into those practical exercises!
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Autumn & Early Winter 2024-2025
Time: Bi-weekly Monday mornings: 10 – noon EST
Dates:
September 23
October 7 & 21
November 4 & 18
December 2, 16 & 30
January 13 & 27
Place: Online – Zoom
Cost: $250.00 CDN plus HST (13%)
If you’re a previous Living Revision Alumni and you’re interested in doing the course again with me, I’m offering a lower price to you.