Establishing Authority [Rob Spillman]
From the first sentence, we know if we are in confident, capable hands. The best writers establish authority immediately. There is a clear sense of control, which is earned with particular language, tone, detail, cadence, and by creating urgency—a simple question of “Why should I keep reading?” We will look at successful and unsuccessful openings, analyzing how the author has or hasn’t firmly captivated the reader. With the close readings, we will subject the texts to the same cold-reading standard I have at Tin House, where we receive upwards of 20,000 submissions a year.
FAQ
Complete FAQHugo House will only process refund requests that are submitted 5 business days or more before the class start date. To request a refund, log in to your account, go to “My Account,” select the “Orders” tab on the left-hand side, click the appropriate order, and request a refund for your specific class. Administrative fees apply. Please see our full refund policy here.
Class sessions may be recorded if a session falls on a holiday, or if a student has access needs. Class recordings are not guaranteed.
We do not tolerate racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, transphobic or any other oppressive behaviors, regardless of who commits them. Please check out our full community guidelines by clicking here. If an instance of community guidelines are violated and not resolved within the classroom, students may let us know by filling out the student incident report.
Classes may be cancelled if less than 5 students are enrolled within 10 days before the class start date. If for any reason Hugo House needs to cancel a class, students can choose between a full credit or full refund.
Make a Donation
Gifts made throughout the year support scholarships and free programming for the community.
