HOW TO WRITE LESS
The Art of Omission
It’s easy to write more; all you need to do is add words. But how many words can you cut from a piece of writing without damaging its meaning?
In this course, we will practice removing such words. Our work together will include an introduction to line editing, a study of various types of omission and silence, and a confrontation with the limits of AI writing tools. We will also maintain a daily writing practice outside of class. Our goal is to make our writing as clear as it can be in order to frame the greatest mysteries at its core.
This course is open to prose writers of all levels, including absolute beginners. To apply, please submit 500–600 words of original prose *no later than a week before the class starts* that you won’t mind other people reading and collaboratively revising.
Please note that this is not a workshop class; participants will see no more than 3 sentences from the text that you submit. Email writing samples to:
Save your file: LastName_FirstName_Title of Piece
In this course, you should expect to:
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Participate in exercises and discussions
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Maintain a daily writing practice
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Gain access to bespoke class resources
The course will take place from 6:00 - 7:00 pm EST on Thursday, May 6th, 13th, 20th, & 27th, 2027.
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Thursday, May 6th – Session 1 [first session]
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Thursday, May 13th – Session 2
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Thursday, May 20th – Session 3
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Thursday, May 27th – Session 4 [final session]
Cost: $250 per registrant, non-refundable.

How to Write Less Instructor
Sarah Manguso
Sarah Manguso is the author of ten books, including the novels Liars and Very Cold People and the nonfiction books Ongoingness and The Two Kinds of Decay. Her honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Rome Prize, and her work has been translated into sixteen languages. She lives in Los Angeles.
Photo credit: Beowulf Sheehan