Masterclass: Editing for Writers

Got something you’re working on? Unsure when to stop drafting and start crafting? Learn how to make the best of being your own (first) editor. These experts will talk about the early stages of editing yourself – how to think about pacing and structure, and how to look at your work with fresh eyes. Hear from editors about what they’re looking for when they sit down with a writer’s work and learn how you can look for those things yourself. Then learn how, down the track, when you’re ready to hand editing duties over to someone else who has feedback and criticism, you can best incorporate it to bring out the potential of your work to the fullest.

Please note: this Masterclass will be recorded and made available for ticketholders to watch on-demand after the event.

10am – Keynote

Join writer and editor Bella Li for a keynote address on the editing process, informed by her varied practice.

With Bella Li

11am – Break

11:15am – Panel: Find/Change

Learn to read with an editor’s eyes! Three experienced editors working across books and publications discuss what they look for when they edit, and how to read your work from an editor’s point of view.
With Melanie Saward and Ian See
Hosted by Adalya Nash Hussein

12:15 – 12:45pm – Lunch break

12:45pm – Workshop: Self-Editing

Learn about the process of editing from the writer’s point of view with Stella Prize-longlisted short fiction writer Paige Clark. After a draft is completed, what are the best ways to go about tightening and retooling a piece to make it stronger? Then, once an external editor approaches the work, what are the best ways to incorporate their feedback?
With Paige Clark

2:45pm – Break

3pm – Workshop: Life Cycle of a Story

Follow a short story from early draft to completed publication, as acclaimed fiction writer Alice Bishop walks you through the life of one of her stories. Discover what changed and what didn’t with an in-depth look at the editing process, and see first-hand how editing can transform a piece of writing.
With Alice Bishop

4pm – Finish