Middle school students honed their writing and editing skills with the assistance of author Brian Heinz during the week of Jan. 12.

Mr. Heinz, a resident of Wading River, conducted workshops with students throughout the week, explaining that writing doesn’t have to be drudgery. Instead, he said, it is creative work that can be very rewarding.

Using colorful examples, he showed students how they can improve their work through word choice, sensory details, active verbs, and by establishing a problem or conflict on the first page of their fiction or nonfiction piece.

Mr. Heinz is a retired teacher and the author of 15 children’s books, including “The Red Fox at McCloskey’s Farm,” “Butter Nut Hollow Pond” and “The Monsters’ Test.”