Short courses

Summary

Life can change in a heartbeat, and short stories are one of the best forms of writing to share that feeling. They can transport you to new worlds, characters and situations, just like a novel but in fewer words. Short stories are also a great place to learn how to write. They offer a fantastic training ground for anyone keen to rapidly experiment with new ideas, techniques and styles. So how do writers convey what Ali Smith calls the ‘momentousness of the moment’ in the ‘elastic form’ of short stories? What tips and tricks help create vivid characters, places and dilemmas in just a few words? 

Join this playful and practical beginner’s course to learn the foundational skills involved in writing short stories with encouragement, support and guidance.   

Over a series of welcoming talks, close-readings and approachable writing exercises, our expert tutor will explain: 

• The key features of short stories  
• how to apply these ideas and techniques to your own writing 
• how to share what you’ve written with others and improve with feedback  

You will also have the chance to discuss and reflect on what you learn with other students and the tutor in seminars. 

Choose this course if you want to learn: 

• the basics of what makes short stories work 
• key techniques to help you write short stories 
• how to share your work and improve with mutual feedback 
• (for those who submit for assessment) how to improve with written feedback, how to reflect on your writing process