Michael Luongo

Instructor Biography: Michael Luongo, author or editor of 16 books, including Frommer's Buenos Aires and Argentina guidebooks. Mr. Luongo was twice named Journalist of the Year for the North American Travel Journalists Association. His journalism and photography work have appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, and Bloomberg News, among many others.

Instructor Statement: I believe a teacher is a partner with students, determining where they exhibit weaknesses and strengths. I like to inspire my students to achieve more on the craft of writing in a process I believe is nurturing, to encourage learning and experimenting. Writing on one’s true self requires courage and the ability to take bold risks, and a supportive classroom environment is conducive to this. A teacher must help a student determine, “What is the story? What are you trying to convey in this essay, composition or short story?” Often, I find writers overload, the core message and mood muddled, lost within extraneous detail. By leading them to understand their story’s essence, I can help my students convey the message they want their writing to communicate. Writing and editing a great essay, journalistic work, composition or short story is like working with a rough diamond: the more you cut and polish it, the more brilliantly it shines.