Honor the muse, but keep your mechanic on speed-dial. Immerse yourself in both the art and craft of writing with Jacqui Banaszynski. This hands-on master class will drill down to the DNA of writing through “literary forensics,” a diagnostic tool that reveals your individual writing habits, reconnects you with the cause-and-effect of language use, and arms you to become your own best editor — or gives editors language to elevate promising but problematic writers. We will then soar to the ether, exploring some of the secrets that can make writing seem magical. We’ll examine show vs. tell, listen to the rhythms of pacing and parallel construction, and climb the Ladder of Abstraction.

NOTE: Writers should bring printouts of 3 original, unedited stories. The copy needs to be your original work, not yet edited by someone else. Editors should bring 3 unedited drafts from a writer they work with. Also bring 3 or 4 highlighters in different colors.