Writing Workshops

Writing Short Fiction: A Workshop for Beginners with Amy Silverberg (January 2025)

$595

10 Sessions

Out of stock

Once a week Tuesdays, 7:00 pm EDT - 9:00 pm EDT January 7 to March 18, 2025

Online via Zoom

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In this course, we’ll examine how an array of authors has approached writing short stories, and then use those approaches to write our own. We will also analyze one published short story and workshop two students’ short stories every class (except for our first and final sessions). Participants will get constructive criticism and feedback on their work from their peers and instructor in a rigorous, nurturing, and safe space. They’ll also leave with at least one submission-ready story and a deeper understanding of what makes a short story successful.

Course Outline:

Week 1: Introduction and Reading Flash Fiction
Week 2: Using an Autobiographical Moment
Week 3: Using Setting
Week 4: Using a Strong Narrative Voice
Week 5: Using Research and Pop Culture
Week 6: Using an Alternative Structure
Week 7: Using a Fairytale or Ghost Story
Week 8: Using Dialogue
Week 9: Using Jokes or Wordplay
Week 10: Conclusion—We will discuss submitting short stories, writing novels, getting an agent, the writer’s life, and more, so you have the tools to keep moving forward.

This course is held online via Zoom.

Led by

Amy Silverberg

Amy Silverberg

Amy Silverberg is a writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. Her short fiction has appeared in Best American Short Stories, the Paris Review, Granta, the Los Angeles Review of Books, TriQuarterly, the Southern Review, and elsewhere. Her debut novel First Time, Long Time is forthcoming from Grand Central Publishing in 2025. She holds a PhD in Literature & Creative Writing from USC, where she currently teaches.

About this series

Writing Workshops

We strive to make our classes the most inviting and rewarding available, offering an intimate environment to study with award-winning, world-class writers. Each class is specially designed by the instructor, so whether you’re a fledgling writer or an MFA graduate polishing your novel, you’ll find a perfect fit here.

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