Revising advocacy writing is much more than just grammar and spelling. Crafting an impactful piece from your first draft is less about the mechanics of writing than it is about making difficult ideas relatable, skillfully putting words to your most challenging emotions, and captivating a compassion-fatigued audience. Even with the first draft on paper, it can feel like an overwhelming task. In this ongoing, four-part series Editing Skills for Self-Advocates—From First Draft to Publication, you will learn valuable skills for every step of the revision process.

Part 1: Developing your ideas (January)

Part 2: Organizing your content (April)

Part 3: Developing your writing style (July)

Part 4: Navigating writing rules (October)

Part 1: Developing Your Ideas

New and experienced writers are welcome to join Lisa Hislop, professional editor and autistic self-advocate, for Part 1: Developing your ideas. In this two-hour workshop, you will work together, using one participant’s first draft, to identify and select the important ideas, develop them fully, and create a cohesive direction for the piece. You will learn:

• four ways to generate ideas
• how to use audience, purpose, and intent to explore your ideas
• how knowing your form helps you meet reader expectations

The evening will include an interactive presentation, quick reference resources, and time for questions throughout.

Who: This program is designed and hosted by and for autistic writers. New and experienced writers are welcome to join Lisa Hislop, professional editor and autistic self-advocate.

When: Monday, Jan 30th, 6:00–8:00 pm PT

How to join: 
Registration is required.  Sign up HERE 

Would you like to submit your first draft as the workshop sample?

Assemble your ideas into a readable (not good, just readable) draft of about 500 words (two pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font, with 2.5 cm margins). Submit the piece by Thursday, Jan 26th, 4 pm (PST) to lisa@atypicalediting.com. The writer of the selected piece will be contacted on the same day with a few follow-up questions.

About the Facilitator

For a time, Lisa Hislop was merely an autistic who turned her special interest in short stories into a career as a short fiction editor. Then one day, she realized that the elements of a compelling short story are suspiciously similar to those required for an impactful self-advocacy piece. Now, she is a double agent, editing fiction by day and helping autistic and disabled self-advocates hone their storytelling craft by night.

Lisa is a late-diagnosed autistic with a spinal cord injury. She is an ambassador for Editors Canada, holds a BA in French literature from UBC, and a Certificate in Editing from SFU. You can find her at atypicalediting.com.

We Acknowledge the financial support from BMO with their donation to be used for safe and inclusive Autistic Programming: