Courses

A powerful short story has the ability to evoke deep emotions and provoke thought, making every word and moment count. In this immersive six-week workshop, you’ll gain the skills, strategies, and support to craft a compelling short story—or, if you prefer, a collection of short shorts—through weekly 500-word submissions. Each week, your writing will be workshopped in small groups, offering you constructive feedback from peers and the instructor. For inspiration, we’ll study contemporary masters of the short form, including Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, Lauren Groff, Kirstin Valdez Quade, and Zach Williams. By examining how they use perspective shifts, pacing, tension, and other literary techniques, you’ll gain insights to deepen your own storytelling. Through both in-class exercises and weekly writing assignments, you’ll apply these techniques to your work, developing a unique voice and approach to form. This course offers a supportive and dynamic environment where you can experiment, grow, and explore your creative boundaries, culminating in a polished new story (or stories!) that reflects your curiosity and growth as a writer.