Danielle Lazarin

Reverse outlining is a game-changing process for fiction writers in both the generative and revision stages of a project. In this one-day hands-on craft intensive, you will be carefully led through the method and how it can be used across prose projects. You will learn what a reverse outline is and when to use it, as well as the many ways it can serve your project and shift your big-picture thinking at various drafting stages (which we will clearly define). Additionally, we will talk about what it means to see and work on the level of story.

During class, you will work with 5–20 pages of your prose* to, in real-time, practice reverse outlining, helping you both gain footing on the project at hand and experience with the tools and tactics that can be applied to future work. This course will work best if you are mid-project — beyond conceptualization — of any length.

*The course is designed and will be taught for fiction, but the method applies to creative nonfiction as well.

We will be working through the reverse outline process during class time. Please bring 5-20 pages of a single prose project to the class. Pages must be printed! If you cannot work by hand for accessibility reasons, please be in touch after enrolling and we will figure out the best approach together.

Meets: Monday, July 17th, 5-7PM
Enrollment: 20
Best for: Writers with a prose work in progress.
Cost: $95
Open to trades?: Yes! Please email me at backtalklazarin@gmail.com to discuss before enrolling.

What Students Have to Say About Working with Danielle on Revision

Danielle's instruction on revision reoriented my writing life. I've always struggled with making sweeping changes, but Danielle made it easy. Her exercises and feedback demystified revision and made the process from first draft to final draft so much clearer. I no longer dread drafting, but see each iteration as an opportunity with an obvious goal. -Taylor, student

Danielle’s class didn’t just teach me the most important revision technique ever (take her course and you’ll discover it, too!). She also introduced me to a variety of writers and tools for my story type, all of which have changed my revision process for the better. -Julia, student