This is an in-person workshop that takes place at Inprint House.

The Contemporary Short Story: A Generative Workshop

What makes a short story sing? Often, we look to ‘The Greats’ for guidance on crafting stories that pack a punch. But who comes after Chekhov, Hemingway, and Carver? Today’s literary short fiction landscape is rich with innovative voices, fresh perspectives, and thoughtful portrayals of modern life that can inspire our own writing—and entertain us along the way.

In this course, we will analyze stories published in the 21st century from established writers like Lauren Groff, Bryan Washington, and Dantiel W. Moniz, as well as new voices coming out of today’s nationally acclaimed literary magazines. We will examine the building blocks of the short story and hone our craft. Each week will be dedicated to a specific story element, such as character, plot, dialogue, point-of-view, and setting, which we will unpack to determine what we find exciting as readers and what we wish to emulate as writers. Coursework will include generative prompts, in-class writing exercises, and workshopping of student pieces, as well as discussions on the readings. Participants will leave the course with an understanding of the key elements of the short story, instructor and peer feedback on their writing, a rejuvenated reading list, and a completed new or revised short story or two.