workshopFrom 1st Draft to Polished Prose: The Art of Word Choice
The difference between good writing and great writing often comes down to precision—the exact right word in the exact right place.
Many writers focus solely on plot and character, overlooking how the musicality and origins of words can elevate their prose from functional to exceptional. In this workshop, instructor Francesca Violich-Kennedy will help you discover how masters like Joan Didion achieve their distinctive voices through deliberate word choice and careful attention to how sentences sound.
By the end of this workshop, you'll Know…
How to choose between Germanic and Latinic word origins to create specific tones and atmospheres in your writing
How to craft sentences that are not just functional but musical, leaving lasting impressions on your readers
How to identify what makes great writing work and apply those techniques to your own prose
How to rewrite and compare different versions of the same scene to discover your strongest voice
And you’ll leave the workshop with a free workbook covering the workshop's main exercises and takeaways!
Meet your teacher
Hi, I’m Francesca. I’m a writer, educator, and team member at Lauren Kay Writes.
I graduated from Harvard Magna Cum Laude in History & Literature. I am a passionate novelist and editor with seven years of experience working with both domestic and international clients.
My work has been published in the Harvard Advocate, Oxford’s Isis magazine, and in the 2017 H.G. Wells Short Story Competition Anthology, Light. I was a recipient of a 2022 Hawthornden Fellowship in Fiction.
I live down the street from Lauren in Brooklyn, and when I’m not working, you can find me making unnecessary amounts of black iced coffee, annotating new books in the park, and/or sailing in the New York Harbor.
What Writers are Saying about Francesca’s Classes
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Marina Lucas
June 2024 | @authormarinalucas
Francesca's class was such a catalyst for my writing career! I learned so much, and made a great group of writing friends along the way. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is hoping to gain more perspective and insight into this complex craft!
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Rapan, YA Horror Writer
June 2024 | @callmebyisa
Francesca's classes were super dynamic, fun, with a lot of open communication throughout. She manages to keep you focused at all times, with small writing exercises that help you keep your mind sharp and other extra activities to do during the week that will help you polish your writing skills.
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Rachael Simms
June 2024 | @rachaelsimmsauthor
This class had done wonders for my writing skills! I have no prior background in writing and Francesca helped me understand the art of writing in a way that was digestible and relatable. I learned very valuable information that will continue to help me along my writing journey.
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E.S. Beards
June 2024 | e.s.beards
The course was absolutely brilliant, having a science background I'd never studied a creative subject so everything I learned was so helpful and interesting. The tutor is so clever and experienced, you feel very confident in what she is teaching you. I can't recommend this course enough, it's truly the best thing I've done all year.
Let’s Get your story out into the world