Michael Skube, assistant professor of communications, spent two days as a writing consultant last week at The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C. Skube held individual sessions with two dozen news reporters and feature writers, critiquing their work and offering suggestions for stories in progress. He also gave a 45-minute talk to the newspaper’s staff, drawing on the work of novelists Larry Woiwode and Colin Thubron, New York Times reporter Francis X. Clines and essayist E.B. White to illustrate the effective use of physical detail, narrative pace and resonant endings. Skube has also lectured three times at national writing workshops sponsored by the Poynter Institute of St. Petersburg.