Short-form writing is its own art—and the discipline it demands will sharpen everything else you write.
What if the most powerful story you ever write is also the shortest? In this workshop, we’ll explore the surprisingly expansive world of micro-memoir and flash fiction—stories of 1,000 words or less that pack an emotional punch far exceeding their size. These compressed forms have their own distinct demands: finding the singular moment that encapsulates everything, resisting the urge to over-explain, and choosing only the precise word. But here’s the deeper reward: mastering the discipline of the short form will sharpen your instincts and strengthen your writing across every genre you work in. Whether you’re a seasoned writer seeking a new challenge or a beginner ready to discover your potential, this introductory session will reveal what makes these little stories tick and send you home with fresh ideas and inspiration.
Live video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it).
In this workshop you’ll learn:
- What micro-memoir and flash fiction are—and aren’t
- How to elevate your story beyond the anecdote
- How a singular moment can carry the full emotional weight of your narrative
- How to generate new work ready to develop and submit to literary magazines
Time requirements
- N/A
Materials
- All reading materials will be provided.
Who should take this workshop?
- This workshop is open to all writers who want to learn short-form writing and sharpen their craft across all genres.
If you need an accommodation for this workshop, please contact us at access@writer.org. We will attempt to fulfill all requests, but advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility services.
