The Short Story

“More than anything, this workshop was about discovery for me. I discovered I am very language-driven in my writing, that I am more intuitive than planful, and that it really does help to combine the two. I was not sure I was a story teller, I felt I had some writing ability but wasn’t sure I could write a story from beginning to end. Now I know I can.

How did it feel to write a story overnight? Stressful. Having said that, had we not been given a deadline and a word count, I might not have pushed myself to finish the story.

Thank you. As far as first workshop experiences go, it was just what I needed.”

Debbie, April 19, 2015

“I learned how to engage with a particular idea and take it further than a fleeting thought. It also helped to have parameters and an intelligent set of questions to work with. During moments when I got stuck, I referred to my notes, and I found the questions that would get me ‘unstuck,’ so to speak.

It was really inspiring to work with a piece from an author who is so completely in control of her story. I was very conscious of the author not wasting a single word, deliberating the importance and weight that each word should have. (more…)

VM, April 19, 2015

“I learned that if you want to generate good material you have to generate a lot of material. This is actually good for me, because it fits with the way I work in general, and the way I design, in particular.

I loved being given a set of ‘steps’ for writing a short story. I liked having a methodological framework that makes me feel secure. It made me see that here, as well, it’s a matter of time—and sweat. There are no exceptions, even for the ‘good’ writers. (more…)

Ismael, April 19, 2015

“It was a wonderful workshop; I’m still thinking about it two weeks later. Writing the story overnight was very tough—but a fabulous experience. The best thing about it was the fact that the story had to be finished. I have so many half- written pieces lying around that the sense of accomplishment was fantastic.”

Alex, April 19, 2015

“I was interested in the workshop primarily to see if it could help me to unlock my imagination. I think it has. I am now starting to see my way to writing fiction, to using my imagination.”

Paul, March 17, 2015

“At The Short Story workshop I learned that when you put your ideas on paper, those ideas don’t need to be perfect. It takes time and persistence to finally create characters and stories that are just as you imagined them.”

Kassiani, March 17, 2015

“I learned the mechanics/elements critical to writing a successful short story.

I learned that it takes discipline and commitment. And that writing is similar to a muscle: you have to use it or lose it.

And I really enjoyed the structure of the workshop, appreciated the discipline and organization. I felt we had a lot of freedom to write whatever we wanted to—with no worries about a harsh critique. At the same time, the writing and topics we covered were managed very well. Really well done!”

Melissa, March 17, 2015

“I found I could create a story that I never knew was in my treasure chest! Was very inspired by the clever use of literary terms. And I learned that it can be extremely powerful to consciously employ methods and techniques.”

Francine, March 17, 2015