James River Writers invites you to a hands-on editing retreat designed to transform your fiction or memoir manuscript, empowering you on the journey toward publication.

You know your story better than anyone. Thus, the revision process is most powerful when it begins with you. Following this course’s step-by-step self-editing strategies, your manuscript can transform into the book you always knew it could be — whether you’re new to your craft or simply ready to empower (and speed up!) your creative process.

• A full or partial manuscript (a full manuscript is ideal; 100+ pages is fabulous; 50+ is workable)
• A laptop or other electronic device with access to Microsoft Word, Pages, Scrivener, Google Docs, or similar word processing software (whichever you use to compose your work)
• A willingness to dive deep!

WHAT YOUR REGISTRATION INCLUDES

• Two full days of targeted instruction by highly regarded editor, Kris Spisak
• Intentional time to self-edit your work
• Breakfast, lunch, coffee, tea, and soft drinks included both days
• Tour of the gardens
• Goodie bag
• All in a beautiful setting at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

SPRINGBOARD! 2024 ITINERARY

While the content will remain the same, the times are approximate. All registrants will be sent a final itinerary prior to the weekend of the retreat.

Saturday, April 13:

8:45 AM – 9:15 AM | CHECK-IN/BREAKFAST
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | WELCOME/PRE-EDITING ESSENTIALS
We’ll begin with introductions and a discussion of essential editing terminology, creative wellness, and mindful editing practices, all of which will carry through the full weekend.
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM | MACRO-EDITING STRATEGIES OF A PRO (PART I)
Macro-editing is where all writers need to begin their self-editing process, and in this session, we’ll explore specific tools and techniques for reexamining your major story elements, starting with your narrative structure.
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM  | GUIDED TOUR OF LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN (Optional)
Join us for a tour of the gardens, highlighting the history and beauty of Lewis Ginter. If you prefer, you may choose to use this time for independent self-editing in either the Azalea Room or anywhere outdoors on the garden grounds.
11:30 AM – 12:15 AM | MACRO-EDITING STRATEGIES OF A PRO (PART II)
Continuing our big-picture examination of your working manuscript, our editing journey continues with an emphasis on character depth and differentiation as well as character arcs, dialogue enhancement, and more.
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM | LUNCH
1:15 PM  – 1:45 PM | CREATIVE WELLNESS & MINDFUL EDITING PRACTICE
The editing stage can be sometimes exhilarating and sometimes overwhelming, so we will begin our afternoon with a creative wellness conversation before diving back into the revision weeds.
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM |  MACRO-EDITING STRATEGIES OF A PRO (PART II)
The last macro-editing session of the day will examine revision tactics for your setting and point-of-view, as well as comprehensive macro-editing strategies to get the job done.
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | FREE TIME/BREAK
3:00 PM –3:15 PM | MACRO-EDITING REVIEW & Q&A
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM | INDEPENDENT EDITING TIME
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | CREATIVE EXCELLENCE, WELLNESS & ENDURANCE
We’ll end the first day of our retreat with a conversation that closes out everything covered so far and that prepares you for the
continuation of your editing transformation.

Sunday, April 14:

8:45 AM – 9:15 AM | CHECK-IN/BREAKFAST
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | WELCOME BACK / CREATIVE WELLNESS SESSION
We will begin day two of our retreat by matching our creative intention with a motivational mindset to make it happen, bird by bird, brick by brick, word by word.
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM | MICRO-EDITING STRATEGIES OF A PRO
When you’re ready for the detail-oriented line-by-line examination of your book to ensure every paragraph, sentence, and word is what it should be, you’re approaching that editorial finish line. In this session, we’ll ensure your process is as meticulous and as thoughtful as possible
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | INDEPENDENT EDITING TIME
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | SMALL GROUP CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING (optional)
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | LUNCH
1:30 – 2:30 PM | GRAMMARTOPIA & CREATIVE EMPOWERMENT
Why “Grammartopia”? Because if we all used the right words and better grammar, wouldn’t the world indeed be a perfect place? This fun group activity will shift our attention toward the proofreading ahead.
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM | RESTROOM/STRETCH BREAK
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM | PROOFREADING STRATEGIES OF A PRO
Yes, you might be handing your book off to an editor, agent, or publisher, but your job as the writer is to not just take it most of the way. You need to take it as far as you possibly can, and that includes proofreading, the last opportunity to make your manuscript shine.
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM | INDEPENDENT EDITING TIME
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM | SMALL GROUP CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING (optional)
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM | CELEBRATING YOUR JOURNEY & EDITORIAL TRANSFORMATIONS 
Writing a book is an intimidating idea, but you know what? You did it. By finishing the job with thoughtful self-editing, you can discover profound possibilities. This send off is a celebration of all you’ve accomplished and everything your book can be.