The Art of Revision

The only thing lonelier than a blank page is a rough draft that needs to be edited, trimmed, restructured or polished. Or, worse yet: A manuscript that needs something, but you’re not quite sure what.

At its most productive and transformative, revision — itself as much an art as the act of writing — calls for the author to play the role of both sage and pupil, able to identify weaknesses in a piece of writing, brainstorm methods for improvement and solve challenging issues on the page. At once, an author must evaluate style, character, setting, plot — all while fighting the itch to rewrite every sentence in the never-ending search for the best possible turn of phrase!

Justin Brouckaert has served as a literary agent, editor and coach to hundreds of authors over the past decade, helping writers shepherd their work from the blank page to bookstore shelves — and, along the way, giving them the tools to become sharper, more thoughtful and more incisive editors.

Attendees of this fun, collaborative and intensive two-hour workshop will walk away with some of those tools. In this session, you’ll learn to implement helpful tips and refine common mistakes, participate in small group workshops and complete exercises meant to refine your vision as a writer and editor.

Whether you’re working on a specific project or are just looking to become a more capable editor for yourself or others, you’ll walk away with a new set of strategies, mantras and hands-on experiences that will make the art of revision a little less daunting.

The workshop includes coffee and bagels. Please plan to bring a copy of a short work or a short excerpt from a longer project that you'd like to revise!

Tickets

Early bird - $85 until Sept. 18, 2025

General admission - $99

Space is limited. Registration closes on Oct. 17, 2025 at 10 p.m. EST. Tickets are nonrefundable. You may, however, transfer your ticket to another individual you know. Please email aGVsbG8gfCBkZXRyb2l0d3JpdGluZ3Jvb20gISBjb20= if you wish to transfer your ticket or pay via a check or ACH to avoid fees.

Baker College

420 S Lafayette Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067

Paid street parking is available. The closest parking garage is on South Lafayette, between 5th and 6th street.

For nearly a decade, Justin Brouckaert has worked as a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management, representing journalists, historians, academics and a variety of literary writers. As an independent editor and writing coach, he helps novelists and nonfiction writers of all stripes navigate the murky world of publishing—and position their work to stand out in a crowded marketplace. He holds an MFA from the University of South Carolina, where he was a James Dickey Fellow in Fiction, and lives in Ferndale with his wife and daughter.

Justin a Detroit Writing Room coach who helps with query letters, fiction, nonfiction, memoir and book proposals. Sign up for a virtual hourlong coaching session at . Workshop attendees will receive a promo code for 20% off!

The Detroit Writing Room offers an inspirational community for writers, creatives and professionals. Whether you’re working on the next Great American novel or a resume, the DWR has 30 professional writing coaches to help with all your writing needs. We also host book talks, writing workshops, and literary events. Visit detroitwritingroom.com to sign up for coaching, memberships, events and more. Check out newyorkwritingroom.com to see our New York-based coaching team.

Also check out other Arts events in Royal Oak, Literary Art events in Royal Oak, Workshops in Royal Oak.