WORKSHOP: Finding the Detail: Research and Writing

Eleanor Limprecht

The right details are what turn ordinary writing into extraordinary writing. They are what give our stories that element of recognition; they allow the reader to suspend belief. Whether it is fiction, non-fiction or memoir, the things we choose to put in are important, and we need to choose them wisely and consider what to leave out. If we are not writing about a subject which we know intimately, we are inevitably going to have to do some research to find the details which will make our writing come to life. In this workshop with Eleanor Limprecht we consider places to look, ways to organise our research, ethical considerations and whether to separate this work from writing. We practise the art of looking closely and incorporating concrete detail in writing exercises.