The way this class is set up is excellent. You spend the first third or so reading published work by some fantastic authors, usually two stories each meeting. Class at this point is dedicated to finding out why the story "works": What makes it enjoyable? What makes it relatable? The rest of the semester is dedicated to workshopping your peers' work. Once again, you are assigned two stories each class and are responsible for annotating and then writing a letter to the author. This can get time-consuming, but it is very important! Each student gets to write two stories and choose one for revision as the final assignment.

Going into this class, I felt really nervous that my writing wouldn't be "good enough." Through workshops and Amanda's careful instruction, I feel like I am a much better writer. I have learned to give and take criticism, which is essential for any sort of writing, not just short stories.