Got chewed out at a writing workshop in Austin last spring

I was at this monthly critique group at a coffee shop on South Congress and shared a prompt that started with "The door creaked open." This older guy just lit into me, said starting with sensory details was a crutch for lazy writers. He was harsh but he had a point. Now I force myself to start prompts with something boring like a character's grocery list to see if I can make it interesting. Anyone else ever get roasted at a workshop and totally change how you write?

3 comments

3 Comments

finley_smith4d ago

Nah, hard disagree. Sensory details are legit the best way to pull someone into a scene. Starting with a grocery list sounds like homework, not a story. That old guy was just bitter. Probably writes his own stuff with zero flavor. You don't need to punish yourself with boring starts to prove a point.

charlie1984d ago

Yeah totally feel you on this one @finley_smith. I tried the whole "grocery list" start once for a short story and it read like I was filing my taxes. Bored myself so bad I nearly fell asleep writing it. Like who actually sits down to read 'Milk, eggs, bread' and thinks wow this is gripping stuff. Sensory details are what make you feel like you're actually there, not just stuck in someone's boring errand run. Guess I'm just a softie who likes a little flavor with my fiction.

cora8134d agoTop Commenter

Okay but "reads like I was filing my taxes" is kind of the point though. Sometimes a simple, boring start can be a great contrast to the wild stuff that happens later, like how a quiet before a storm makes the storm hit harder. I'd rather be surprised by a story that starts dull and gets good than bored by sensory overload on page one.