Short courses

Summary

When it comes to creative writing, very often less is more. This is especially true for flash fiction completed in less than 1,000 words. These condensed prose works can create unforgettable characters, worlds, stories, sensations and meanings that linger long after reading. No wonder flash fiction is becoming a highly popular form of writing with a growing readership, dedicated competitions, publications and performances. 

Flash fiction is also fun to write. With fewer words, it is easier to experiment, play with new ideas and see where they go. It’s an ideal starting point for beginners but also a valuable way for experienced writers to hone their editing skills further as every word, space and punctuation mark counts.  

Join this brief 5-week practice-based course to get a short guide to what flash fiction is and how to write it.  With encouragement, support and guidance this course will discuss and decode inspiring examples, offer writing exercises to practise new techniques and the opportunity to share what you make. Overall, this course offers a welcoming first step or a reinvigorating new approach to writing tiny texts with big impact.  

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 how to write flash fiction well  
• make use of writing exercises to come up with new ideas   
• build your confidence by optionally discussing and sharing your writing with classmates and the tutor  
• (for those who submit for assessment) improve with written feedback, how to reflect on your writing process