The American Short Fiction Workshop Series will offer introductory and advanced classes this summer. Online classes commence July 15 and run for eight weeks, through September 2. All students will receive individualized attention from instructors, be given targeted exercises to generate new work, and gain access to a supportive community of writers. 

Our fall session opens October 1 and runs through November 19.

Introductory Course

The introductory course will focus on the art and craft of the short story. In the first half, we'll explore classic and contemporary stories to uncover how characterization, point of view, structure, voice--the elements of fiction--work. We'll learn to read as writers and we'll tackle exercises specifically designed to ignite the imagination and jump-start new scenes and stories. In the second half of the course, we'll workshop student stories and continue our discussions of craft. 

Students will submit a single short story, 10 to 25 pages, to be workshopped by the class.

Course Cost

How to Apply

No need to apply, just sign up! You can register here. 

Questions?

Questions about the course? Email American Short Fiction Editor Jill Meyers at jill [dot] meyers [at] americanshortfiction [dot] org.

Advanced Course

Short Story Essentials: Writing Fiction for Publication is an advanced class, meant for students familiar with the workshop format and who have been writing for several years. Hone your craft in this workshop led by ASF's editor and get the inside track on submitting to literary journals. Application deadline is July 8, 2009.

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to hone your fiction-writing craft and to prepare you for submitting to literary publications. Students are invited to work at their own level and will receive feedback in a supportive online environment. One short story, 10 to 25 pages in length, is due on the first day of class.

This eight-week course relies on a workshop format. In order to deepen our understanding of craft, we will be reading Charles Baxter's The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot alongside classic and contemporary short stories.

Throughout the course, you will be writing responses to prompts and sharing them with your classmates to read and discuss via online forums. These exercises will help you focus on voice, characterization, and story structure. We will workshop at least one story by each student. Throughout the course, we will also be exploring different markets for fiction, and we will demystify the process of getting pieces ready for publication.

Workshops provide valuable insight for writers, and not just because they offer the writer specific feedback on her own story. By digging deep into each other’s stories, examining these stories on macro and micro levels, and attempting to articulate each story’s “project,” we develop a more nuanced sense of story. In the process, we become better able to see our own particular weaknesses and challenges—and begin to gain the ability to address them.

What You Will Gain from This Course

* Advice for story revisions from actual editors, geared towards making the story more publishable.
* Individual attention from instructors, as well as feedback from your writer-classmates.
* Discussions and tips for submitting to literary journals on everything from cover letters to formatting to finding markets.
* Craft discussions on topics such as character, dialogue, language, plot, and point of view.
* Workshopping in a respectful and thoughtful community, focusing both on strengths and addressing issues with constructive criticism.
* Exercises geared towards improvement in specific craft areas.

Course Cost

The cost of this course is $329. This fee includes a one-year subscription to American Short Fiction.

How to Apply

Send your best short story or a 5-page excerpt to Editor Jill Meyers at jill [dot] meyers [at] americanshortfiction [dot] org (please include "workshop application" in the subject line of your email). Include a brief bio of yourself, a little bit about the story are you planning to submit, and your hopes and goals for the course.