EDITORIAL SERIES
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This course is ideal for writers who already have a rough draft.
November 10 - 13, 2026
The Architect's Edit
The structural revamp. One of the most important stages in revision.​ Tell your story in the most effective and fitting way. What scenes are working for you and where would they have the most impact? Which chapters need to be eliminated? ​
Character & Voice
Voice is in the details. We'll look at dialogue, psychic distance, emotional resonance, and more. Fine-tune main and side character arcs, wants, and other characteristics.
The Prose Polish
More than writing pretty sentences, this is where you showcase your voice, your style. Scrape and buff and polish all the extra modifiers, identify your "crutch" words, and kill all the "darlings" that sound great but don't really say anything.​​​​​
Rob Bignell
Editor & Editorial Series Instructor
Rob Bignell is a long-time professional book editor who owns and runs Inventing Reality Editing Service. He's worked with more than 400 novelists and nonfiction authors publish their manuscripts.
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He's the author of more than 80 books, including the “Storytelling 101 Quick Read” and “7 Minutes a Day…” writing guidebooks, the nonfiction “Best Sights to See,” “Hikes with Tykes,” “Hittin’ the Trail,” and “Headin’ to the Cabin” book series, the literary novel “Windmill,” four children’s books, and more. Since 2011, eight of his hiking guidebooks have topped Amazon.com bestsellers lists. Several of his short stories in the literary and science fiction genres also have been published. His latest books are "Protecting Yourself Against Book Marketing Scams" and "Best Sights to See at Chiricahua National Park," and he has a short anthology and novel coming out at the end of November.
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He holds a Master’s degree in English and a Bachelor’s in journalism, has taught college writing classes, and is an award-winning publications editor and writer, having worked in the Los Angeles metro area, San Diego, and Palm Springs, Calif.
What you will receive:
A leather-bound writing journal.
A credit for the Book of the Year submission.
Professional review of select pieces of your manuscript.
Residency Overview
Each Professional residency will follow the same general outline:
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Tuesday (optional add-on)
5pm Check-in
5:30-7pm welcome drinks & hors d'oeuvres
7pm Dinner at the Grand Haven / Spring Lake Holiday Inn
8:30-9pm Opening Session​ - An Introduction
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Wednesday
8-10am Breakfast
10:30am - Noon - First Session - The Architect's Edit
Noon - 3pm Lunch & free write
3:30-5pm - Second Session - Workshop
5:30-7pm - Free write
7pm Dinner at Mud Penny (or your preference)
8:30-9pm Special Reading
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Thursday
8-10am Breakfast
10:30am - Noon - First Session - Character & Voice
Noon - 3pm Lunch & free write
3:30-5pm - Second Session - Workshop
5:30-7pm - Free write
7pm Dinner at Mud Penny (or your preference)
8:30-9pm Open Mic
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Friday
8-10am Breakfast
10-11:30am final lesson - The Prose Polish
11am Check-out