While no one answer will satisfy everyone, thoughtful, engaged readers tend to appreciate a sweet spot of effective detail, one that neither overexplains nor leaves them in the dark. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll engage in multiple custom exercises, built from scratch and designed to test for that happy medium. We’ll gather as both writers and the kinds of readers we write for–sharing our reactions and insights with a common goal of coming to a place of confidence in our work’s ability to convey its intentions. Short excerpts from notable writers will add to our understanding of key concepts, such as trusting one’s reader, one’s own voice, when “telling” isn’t such a bad idea, and what finding the right detail really means.

This is an all-levels craft workshop designed to benefit both beginning and experienced prose writers alike.

Optional critique add on: Put your skills to the test and receive written feedback from your instructor on a passage of your writing, with a specific focus on its use of effective detail. 2000 words max. to be submitted via email within one week after the workshop.