Writers in Paradise presents a workshop for novelists seeking to deepen their craft under the guidance of Luis Alberto Urrea. The program is designed for writers who are ready to explore the hidden dimensions of storytelling, moving beyond the surface of the page to uncover the shadows and skies that shape a narrative. This is not a retreat for the faint of heart; it demands rigor, openness, and a willingness to share work in progress. The workshop structure centers on the submission of the opening 25 pages of a novel-in-progress, accompanied by a one-page synopsis. This requirement ensures that participants arrive with a substantial foundation, ready to engage with the material and with one another. The synopsis serves as a critical map, providing context for the excerpt and allowing for a focused critique that considers the work's broader trajectory. Urrea's approach, as described, is both generous and exacting. He promises handouts and gifts—tokens of a collaborative spirit—but also insists that participants bring their best. The curatorial vision is one of excavation: finding what lies beneath the page, the unspoken and the unseen, and bringing it into the light. This is an opportunity for serious novelists to refine their voice and vision in a setting that values depth over polish.