Self-Editing 101 Class: Romance Books (03/19/2025)

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(Please stay tuned for the next scheduled classes!)

Focus:

Self-Editing Romance Books — Any genre/sub-genre, any heat level, any romantic pairing. (I won’t reject other genres, but this class' focus is specifically romance and its related tropes and common elements, so non-romance authors will likely not get as much out of it. Keep an eye out for more classes for other genres.)

• Cost: $25
• Limit 10 students (must be 18+ years of age).
• Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
• Time: 8pm - 10pm (or longer) Eastern US time.

When you pay for the class, you will be able to download an information file. That will direct you to the submission form you need to fill out, and also provide the instructions for you to upload your excerpt. Please do this as soon as possible--I need all excerpts and forms no later than 24 hours prior to class.

I will email the Zoom information and password to students within 2 hours before class starts.

* * *

Submit 1,000 words (approximately—don’t cut it off in the middle of a sentence) of your story, from anywhere in the manuscript, for a live edit. I will anonymize the excerpts and screen-share and live-edit them, explaining as I go. I will approach the edits not as an "editor," but as if I wrote the story and I'm self-editing it. (I will explain that difference during the class.) Students can make comments/ask questions throughout the edit process.

Skills:

Learn how to recognize and reduce passive voice, how to use action and dialogue tags effectively to flesh out a scene, how to strengthen description and narrative, and more.

This will not be a full edit. The techniques are to teach you how to recognize and revise these elements to improve your writing. This also isn't meant to replace professional editing; it's to strengthen your writing skills.

Students will receive their edited piece after class ends, and are free to use the edits without attribution.

Class length: Approximately 2 hours, but may go longer. I will allow comments and questions from students as I edit each piece. I will record the session and make it available for students to download later. (Note: if you can’t make the class in person, you can still get the recording.)

No AI material, PERIOD.

Also, no material containing hate speech, bigoted/racist/ -phobic content, CSA, animal mutilation, bestiality (monsters/aliens okay), or other objectionable or illegal content. I reserve the right to reject any material and require an alternate excerpt be submitted.

The excerpt can be from any portion of the manuscript. For the best results, try to submit a section that has a mix of dialogue, narrative, and action, if possible.

Submit the excerpt as a .docx file once you’ve paid for the class. Any excerpts not received within 24 hours of the class start time will not be included. (I need time to look them over and ask for a resubmit, if necessary.)

Students agree NOT to share/distribute the video, or to in any way copy/distribute the excerpts. All excerpts are the intellectual property of the author who submitted them. Authors are free to use or reject edits I make without attribution.

Students will NOT make disparaging comments about other excerpts, and will remain professional. The class is about learning how to edit, and seeing how a variety of works can be approached in myriad ways. Be aware that a genre/heat level/pairing might not be YOUR thing, but respect the creative choices of other authors. Not every book is for every reader. Any student who engages in disrespectful conduct will be immediately booted from the class without a refund.

In other words: BE NICE.

Please download and review the file you'll receive upon signing up. It contains the instructions for submitting your excerpt.

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Lesli Richardson, also known as USA Today Bestselling Author Tymber Dalton, has over 250 titles to her credit and counting.