The Second Draft

If these times do not work for you, we will provide recordings for you to watch on your own time.

Use this time zone tool to convert to your local time: https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter

Day 1

Saturday, November 2, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time

1. Watch Lists, the keeping of...
2. Beginning a rewrite with simple passes.
3. Basic steps of defining your voice and your style(s).
4. A performance of Esaias's infamous "Don't Be a Bobble-Head" essay (Stuff to Take Out.)
5. Getting Conflict on every page.
6. Sub-plots.
7. Adding strive/fail cycles to lengthen a short piece.

Day 2

Saturday, November, 9, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time

1. On not doing everything you've ever heard of every time you revise.
2. To-do lists.
3. Remembering the story arc.
4. A performance of "Further Stuff That Annoys Timons" (More Stuff to Take Out.)
5. Giving Objects an Inner Life.
6. Getting Point-of-View on every page or in every paragraph.
7. When enough is enough.

Interactive Exercises and Feedback

The workshop also includes interactive exercises where participants will have the opportunity to apply the concepts learned.

Flexibility for All-Time Zones

Can't make the live sessions? No problem! All participants get lifetime access to workshop recordings, allowing you to participate at your own pace.

✅ Story Critique(s)

Each student may submit a total of 3500 words to Timons for an in-depth review. It can be one story, or multiple stories. Timons will provide detailed suggestions on how to improve your story.

✅ Private One-on-One Consultation on Zoom

In addition to a detailed critique of your story, you will have the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one session with Timons to answer any questions you have.

✅ Exercise Review

If you want to send Timons the exercises from the handouts, he will review them and comment.

✅ Ongoing Support Via Email

You may have questions. Timons is happy to answer them via email. His responses are both timely and illuminating.

1. A handout on Recon Patrols.
2. A handout listing Things to Put In.
3. A handout on giving objects an inner life (Raymond Chandler examples, and others.)
4. A handout listing Character Focus Keys.
5. A silly PowerPoint on Some Elements of Editing, covering common mistakes.
6. A list of strongly recommended references for any professional writer.
7. An example of a rewrite To Do list from an award-winning story by the instructor.

There's that project—you know the one—and maybe a couple more behind it that you've drafted but then put on the shelf. It needs something, it's wrong somehow, your sister-in-law has expressed some doubts, and you don't know where to begin, what to do, or when to quit and send it out.

This workshop will give you practical steps and simple tools to make progress.

First drafts are great. They're important. But the real writing work is in the rewrite, in the revision. That's where you decide what the dang piece is and put it in that shape. In revision, you sharpen the points, refuel the torches, and bury the bodies you don't want the public ever to know existed.

Revision is where you make it look like you knew what you were doing all along.

“The depth of his knowledge on every aspect of writing is really impressive, and it inspires confidence. Plus, he teaches with a wonderful sense of humor. If you are interested in improving your writing, time with Timons will be time well spent.”

— Barry Yedvobnick

“Whether you want to improve your writing, or learn the ins and outs of getting published, it's well worth it. He brings knowledge, experience, and wisdom to the table, all with a wry sense of humor. Another thing that's important to me is that I think of him as an ally as much as a professor. The way he listens and responds conveys a belief that we all can and will succeed.”

— W. Peter Collins

“I'm an established fine art photographer. I've taught many photography students in recent years. Part of what makes a student artist better is having a sense of confidence in their skills. When you feel confident about what you are doing, you produce better work. With Timons’s workshops, I can already tell in the past few months I have become a better writer, for sure! It gives me a sense of confidence to take more risks and push myself to new places. You are giving me tools and a better understanding of what I am doing.

I will keep signing up for Timons’s workshops, because this is invaluable stuff, and you don’t have to go through 2.5 years of an MFA.”

— Scott Bolendz

“If it's taught by Timons, I sign up. He's got so much knowledge and experience to share. But what I like most about him is his generosity with time and attention. It's clear that empowering other writers is what drives him. I feel motivated and more confident thanks to his encouragement and coaching.”

— Geneviève Goggin

“What I like about Timons' perspectives is that they are out of the ordinary. He has a different way of looking at writing, and that is so informative. He focuses on what's important.”

— Aline Soules

Access to Our Writing Community and Critique Group

Enroll now and gain exclusive access to our writing community—an oasis for writers seeking critiques, motivation, and camaraderie. Don't navigate the writing world alone; join a community that shares, supports, and succeeds together.

Getting feedback on a story before submitting it to publishers is a critical piece of the process that many writers ignore.

We know this because we get countless submissions that have not been read by anyone other than the author.

Why Our Community Rocks

• Get immediate feedback on your writing from your peers.
• Receive motivation boosts when frustration hits.
• Find a space to learn, share, and grow with like-minded writers.

Lifetime Access Bonus: Enroll Now!

Enroll in this course, and you don't just get a workshop—you gain LIFETIME access to our writing community for FREE.

Monthly “Ask Us Anything” Zoom Workshops

Our "Ask Me Anything" Zoom workshops are intimate gatherings where you can pick the brains of accomplished professionals**.

Virtual Write-Ins

The concept of the write-in is very simple and informal. We gather on Zoom, and those who are around at the beginning can share (verbally or in the chat) their writing goals for that day. Then we mute everybody, and get to work. No one will be seeing what you write, and you can turn your camera off, if you'd like. At the end of the session, we can unmute and talk about how it went.

Curated List of Magazines

All students get access to a curated list of magazines open for submissions, thoughtfully compiled by Timons Esaias. Updated regularly, this resource includes details like the journal's name, accepted genres, word count criteria, and direct submission links.