A Feast for the Senses

Class Description

One of the hardest parts of writing is perfecting the art of description. Adding vivid descriptions (aka sensory details) is what brings a scene, character, or feeling to life within a piece of writing. Sensory details are the “show” part of that age old narrative technique "show, don’t tell." Sounds easy enough but writers know this is not an easy skill to master.

In this generative nonfiction class, we'll use prompts and exercises to spend time with each of our senses. Participants will learn to explore the exceptional detail in commonplace moments, develop insight into crafting memorable characters and situations, and enrich the crafted world on the page. To aid us in our journey, we’ll read model pieces & excerpts by some of the best sensory writers of our time including Ross Gay, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Toni Morrison and Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.