The most important first step towards effectively editing your own writing is to have the ability to see your work objectively. Without that, you won't be able to polish your work to prepare it for publication.
I'm so happy to invite you to join me in the Revise with Confidence Companion Course. If you’re serious about your writing, are willing to invest in yourself as a writer and are open to learning something new about yourself and your work so you can take your writing to the next level, it’s time to enroll in Revise with Confidence.
In this course, you'll master your ability to see your writing through the objective eyes of an editor so you can confidently begin to revise your draft.
I promise you’ll see your own work differently, and you’ll have a chance to experience your inner-editor in action, without fear of ruining what you’ve written.
Is Revise with Confidence
Right for You?
Take this course if ...
- You’re afraid you might revise all the life out of your work; this course will give you hands on revision experience so you get over that fear.
- You feel like you’ve read your own writing so many times you can no longer see straight; this course will give you concrete tools that you can use to see your writing through fresh eyes, which will renew your enthusiasm for your own work and inspire you to improve your writing.
- You simply need a boost to get you out of a rut and get you back into writing again. Revise with Confidence will get you there.
- You're a serious writer who's invested in making your writing the best it can possibly be.
The scope of this course is laser-focused on allowing you to master your ability to see your writing through the objective eyes of an editor so you can confidently begin to revise your draft.
I'm Joan Dempsey, Your Guide throughout the Course
Revise with Confidence is the best online course I have taken, and that's over twenty years. Joan Dempsey has the focus, spirit, research skills and writing savvy to teach over 100 writers and make us each feel heard.
Helen Gallagher
I was looking for motivation to edit and revise several manuscripts. The tips I walked away with have given me inspiration and enthusiasm to move forward. Thank you, Joan, for stoking the fire and moving me to action!
Joanne Hirase-Stacey
I thoroughly enjoyed Revise with Confidence and recommend it to other writers who want to tighten up their prose. It gave me concrete tools to help me revise my manuscripts. I'm able to focus on certain errors I habitually make and weed them out. Thank you, Joan, for a practical, enjoyable course.
Val Tobin
The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.
William Faulkner
Writers Like You Who Are Getting Results
I sought you out because I could no longer identify which details in my manuscript might benefit from an additional look – I was too close to it. Now I can see sentence level opportunities for improvement as well as thematic gaps I can fill in. My work is stronger on every level!
Shannon Huffman Polson Author of "North of Hope: A Daughter's Arctic Journey" and "The Way the Wild Gets Inside: Field Notes from Alaska"
Thanks for your excellent help, Joan! I appreciate how you saw some of the intention behind my piece while at the same time giving me a few specific points on which I can improve. I will absolutely use those suggestions as I revise the rest of the manuscript.
Tim Queeney Author of the novels "George in London" and the Perry Helion Trilogy, and the novella "The Borealis Incident"
Terrific, Joan! Now I can finally see where I’m overwriting and underwriting. I know just where to streamline and where to amplify, which is such a relief; you helped me find the confidence I needed to keep writing. What more could an aspiring crime thriller novelist ask for? Thanks again.
Maureen C. Berry Author of "Salmon: From Market to Plate" and the forthcoming memoir "Hurricanes, Handcuffs, Pepper Spray & Scrambled Eggs"
Now I can see “Katie Reeves and the Dragon’s Heart” through fresh eyes, more like a reader than a writer – just what I needed. I’ve also figured out one point of view issue that was troubling me, so now I can fix that in the rest of the manuscript. Thanks, Joan!
S.K. Lamont Author of the forthcoming novel "Katie Reeves and the Dragon's Heart"
Here's What You'll Do Inside the Course
ONE
First, I’ll welcome you and get you oriented, and you can introduce yourself to the other writers in the course.
TWO
Next, to get you set up and in the right frame of mind for learning, you’ll decide which piece of your own work you’d like to focus on throughout the course, and you’ll check in with yourself on your attitude towards the revision process.
THREE
You’ll watch a sometimes mind-blowing video, which will give you insight into what kind of observer you are and what that means about the way you might want to approach revision.
FOUR
You’ll consider one story from myriad perspectives, taking a page out of the photographer’s handbook, so you can see just how many fresh perspectives there can be.
FIVE
You’ll work to expand your reading horizons so you can check in on your own biases, which might be affecting your writing.
SIX
You’ll translate a piece of poetry so you can experience firsthand the critical importance of paying close attention to words and, thanks to popular demand from earlier participants who loved the translation exercise (even though, or maybe because, it’s the most challenging lesson in the course), I’ve added a BONUS translation exercise as a follow up, so you can translate your own work, which is even better for getting you to think hard about the importance of choosing the right words.
SEVEN
You’ll get to play around with seven unique methods that will enable you to read your work as if it were someone else’s, or to read it like a reader or editor, instead of like a writer, which is crucial for ensuring your writing is as good as it can be.
EIGHT
You’ll get to do some nitty-gritty hands-on editing of your own piece, using these essential revision tools:
- Don't Kill Your Darlings
- Learn Your Word Tics
- Start at the End
- Just Don't Simultaneously Show & Tell
NINE
And, because this is probably the most common but also least understood problem of writing from a particular point of view, I decided to add another BONUS self-editing tool called Avoid Filtering; if you can master this one - and I’ll make sure you do - you’ll spiff up your prose like nobody’s business.
Course Logistics
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1
WHEN DOES THE COURSE TAKE PLACE?
Once you enroll in the course you can begin immediately (or whenever you wish) and you have 24/7 access so you can participate whenever it’s most convenient for you. There isn’t anything in the course that happens on a specific schedule, so you’re welcome to work whenever you want, at the pace that’s most beneficial for you. The course is 3 weeks long, but you have lifetime access to the course, so if you start it and then unexpectedly have to step away for a time, you can simply pick up where you left off, whenever you want to come back.
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2
WHERE DOES THE COURSE TAKE PLACE?
The course takes place entirely online in a lovely and simple platform called Ruzuku, which users report is super easy to navigate. I chose it because it's not complicated to use, so you can focus on the content, your learning, and getting to know others in the course, including me. When you enroll, you'll choose your own user name and password, and each email I send to alert you to new content will include a direct link into the course.
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3
HOW IS THE COURSE CONTENT DELIVERED?
Each week you’ll be notified by email when new lessons are available, and the lessons contain video, audio, text, downloadable documents and group discussions that participants are typically really active in, and I am engaged in as well. I’ve also tried to make my courses as accessible as possible (within the limitations of the platform) so there are always both visual and audible options for each lesson.
493 published and emerging writers from all over the world have participated in this course and are using what they learned to revise their work.
People have asked me, can’t I learn all this on my own? And the answer is sure, you could ... That's what the internet and craft books are for. The difference is I've already done all the heavy lifting for you, and I’m also an experienced, trained writing teacher.
- I've curated all the best resources out there so you don't have to waste valuable time sorting through vast quantities of information;
- I've designed the curriculum to ensure you enjoy every simple yet rigorous lesson;
- I've beta-tested the course with the close to 500 writers from all over the world who have come before you so you can be certain the course is beneficial;
- I've studied countless craft books and reviewed hundreds of manuscripts over many years, and have selected only the most critical lessons you need specifically to see your writing more objectively; and
- I've made sure that within the course you get to apply the lessons to your own work, so that what you learn will benefit you not only during the course, but will also stick with you for the rest of your writing life.
Joan's course is one of the best online courses I have taken. The design was such that there was never any pressure to complete the next step under a time limit, and I enjoyed being able to join each section and discussion at my own pace.
Lockie Young
Thank you for a wonderful course! I have learned so much. I appreciated the way you responded to every comment, and the time you took to explain answers to any question I raised. I will use the tools in this course for a long time to come.
Caroline Gathoni
This course was a pleasure trip - opening up new avenues of thought, direction and connection - a way forward on my writing journey. Thanks, Joan!
Christine Elliott
Each lesson is simple and easy to follow. You can complete them anywhere and anytime you like. There are great self-editing tips and writing advice. I had fun and learned many things!
Karen Bembry
Revise with Confidence contains both useful tools for writers and opportunities to apply these tools to one's own work. All in all, this course is of value to any writer looking to hone his or her self-editing skills.
Jennifer Zeynab Maccani
Ready to Enroll? Here's How!
How much will you need to invest?
You could spend a ton of time trying to figure this out on your own (I spent a good three months doing the necessary research and curriculum design to create this course).
Or, you could hire a consultant to coach you on the same material, which would cost close to $2,000 (I know, since that's what I would have to charge for my time).
But the full Revise with Confidence course will cost you a fraction of that expense, and take you far less time.
For the entire Revise with Confidence course you will pay only $67 a month for three months.
(Or, you can save $52 and pay in full for $149.)
Keep in Mind
Because I want to make absolutely certain you enjoy the course, and get a lot out of it (which in part means having access to me), I’m going to close enrollment as soon as I feel like I won’t be able to give you the kind of personal attention that will make the course worth your while.
So I encourage you to sign up quickly – the last time I opened enrollment 49 writers signed up within 24 hours, and within 36 hours the course was bulging at the seams with more participants than I could comfortably manage in order to give each writer my full attention.
I’ll keep enrollment open for you for the next 10 days OR until I hit capacity, whichever comes first, so it’s best if you enroll right now to secure your space.
*As an added incentive, because I’d love for you to join me, if you’re one of the first 100 writers to enroll, I’ll put your name in a hat, and one writer drawn at random will get to take the course for free. In fact, I’ll give away one free course to one in every hundred writers, so if there are 200 writers enrolled, I’ll give away 2, if there are 300 I’ll give away 3, and so on.
Choose Your Enrollment Option
I’ll keep enrollment open for you for only the next 10 days OR until I hit capacity, whichever comes first, so it’s best if you enroll right now to secure your space.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When does the course begin?Once you enroll you can start immediately, or whenever it’s convenient for you. New content – text, audio, video, downloadable documents and discussions – will be available each week. I’ll notify you by e-mail when new lessons are ready, and you can follow the links directly into our online space.
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Do I have to participate at specifically scheduled times?
No, you don’t! The course is completely asynchronous, which means you can participate at any time you wish, when it’s convenient for you! No worries about scheduling, or living in different time zones.
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How long do I have to complete the course?
As long as you’d like. Work whenever you wish, whether two in the morning or one in the afternoon. It’s entirely up to you. You’ll have lifetime access to the course, so you can revisit the content at any time.
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Do I have to complete the assignments?
It’s entirely up to you. The proven way to truly master learn, however, is for you to apply what you’re learning by completing the assignments. If you don’t, you’re short-changing yourself. The assignments have been specifically designed with your learning in mind – complete them and you’ll master new skills, leave them out and you won’t. It’s that simple.
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Who facilitates the course?
I, Joan Dempsey, am your guide. I’m a published writer and teacher of writing with advanced degrees in both from Antioch University Los Angeles. I love working with writers and I’ll be with you every step of the way during your course.
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When can I interact with Joan?
I will always be monitoring your progress, commenting on your work in the comments section, and be available via e-mail to respond your questions, comments, or suggestions. I’m on US Eastern time and will be checking in numerous times a day, Monday through Thursday, to see what you’re up to. (Friday I focus entirely on my own writing.)
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I'm not that computer savvy - is the course hard to navigate?
No. Ruzuku has designed an online learning environment that’s streamlined and simple to navigate. Ruzuku has helpful and friendly online support, and I can also help if you run into trouble. Complicated tech stuff can be frustrating, so the course design is deliberately simple. So far all participants have easily managed.
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Is the course accessible to people of all abilities?
Mostly, yes. I do my best to make sure there are both audible and visual options available for every lesson. Videos have closed captions, text has audio download options. If you are visually challenged, you’ll need to use your own methods for accessing my emails and the comments within the Ruzuku system, since I have no way to provide audio versions for those things, much as I’d like to. I’m always open to suggestions about how to improve accessibility, too.
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I'm on a limited income - do you have scholarships or discounts?
I don’t. The price of this course has been set to be as reasonable for you as possible while still allowing me fair compensation (I’m a sole proprietor and a working writer). Compared to similar online courses, my prices are more than fair. I offer a payment plan option, which allows you to pay reasonable installments over time (great for cash flow issues).
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Will I interact with other participants?
You bet! Learning from each other is as important a part of your learning experience as working with me. There are a variety of settings for getting notified about activity in the course so you won’t miss a thing.
That said, some of the courses end up with hundreds of participants, and in that case I deliberately design the curriculum so that you can participate without getting overwhelmed by overcrowded discussions. I will read every comment, but you can choose how or if you want to participate in discussions. Nothing worse that feeling deluged, so I make sure you don’t have to experience that.
You have control over how you get notified about new activity in the course, too, so you can control how much e-mail you receive. No sense crashing your in-box!
Once Again, Several Testimonials
I sought you out because I could no longer identify which details in my manuscript might benefit from an additional look – I was too close to it. Now I can see sentence level opportunities for improvement as well as thematic gaps I can fill in. My work is stronger on every level!
Thanks for your excellent help, Joan! I appreciate how you saw some of the intention behind my piece while at the same time giving me a few specific points on which I can improve. I will absolutely use those suggestions as I revise the rest of the manuscript.
Terrific, Joan! Now I can finally see where I’m overwriting and underwriting. I know just where to streamline and where to amplify, which is such a relief; you helped me find the confidence I needed to keep writing. What more could an aspiring crime thriller novelist ask for? Thanks again.
Now I can see “Katie Reeves and the Dragon’s Heart” through fresh eyes, more like a reader than a writer – just what I needed. I’ve also figured out one point of view issue that was troubling me, so now I can fix that in the rest of the manuscript. Thanks, Joan!
THE NEXT STEP IS TO CHOOSE YOUR OPTION BELOW
I’ll keep enrollment open for you for the next 10 days OR until I hit capacity, whichever comes first, so it’s best if you enroll right now to secure your space.
I'll see you on the inside!
I look forward to getting to know you and your work!
Joan
Privacy Policy: I will occasionally track your web activity only on Revise with Confidence web pages, and I will occasionally send you emails related to the course material. In all circumstances, your private data is kept confidential and you can unsubscribe from my emails at any time (except for transactional emails necessary to fulfill your enrollment in the course).
Terms & Conditions: If you enroll in the course and for any reason decide it's not for you, you can request a full refund and I will send it to you, guaranteed. Of course I would hope that you wouldn't actively participate in the course, gain value from it, and then ask for your money back. Thanks in advance for your honesty.
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