What makes a short story "good"? Is it even possible for an essay be "engaging and specific," rather than "stuffy and academic"? In this seminar, we'll read some incredible short pieces of creative writing, break down what works in each, and then talk about the qualities common to them all. We'll read fiction, personal essay, and journalism; we'll read amazing contemporary writers (David Foster Wallace, Malcolm Gladwell, Raymond Carver, and more); we'll open our eyes to the astonishing diversity of good writing that exists. Food will probably be provided. After all, what activity isn't better with food?