Short Story 1-2-3: Writing Fiction That Packs a Punch

“Ever since I began writing, I’ve been fascinated by the short story form,” Jennifer Lewis says. “You can read a short story from beginning to end in one sitting. I love the immediacy and resolve, the feeling of completion with an economy of words.” 

In this 5-week class, we will generate short story ideas and create one complete first draft of a story. Step 1 will be drafting new material from in-class prompts. Step 2 will be sharing and receiving both partner and instructor feedback, and Step 3 we will learn about the revision process by adding missing craft elements or compressing ideas so the reader can focus on their developing style.

Each week we will read a visceral short story from authors like C Pam Zhang, Zadie Smith, and Denis Johnson, discussing how the style used in each packs the most punch. We will do in-class writing prompts so we can practice channeling other voices, leaning into the absurd, and blurring the lines between reality and altered states.

“By the end of five weeks,” Jennifer says, “you’ll walk away with the ability to capture the aliveness that a short story often requires, and a better understanding of the revision process. Students will learn to purge their ideas via freewrites, then how to create some distance from their 'big ideas', and finally, to create brevity on the page.”

About The Writing Salon's Online Zoom Classes

You will be able to participate in live class meetings via Zoom videoconference. To attend classes, you'll need a phone, tablet or computer and access to the internet. You can participate in the class from wherever you'd like, whether on your living room couch or in your office. Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about Zoom and your remote class. If you have any questions about remote learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.