“Being short does not mean being slight. A short story should be long in depth and should give us an experience of meaning.” -Flannery O’Connor

This daylong seminar teaches participants how to create the depth and experience of meaning in short stories by breaking the form down into its basic elements.We’ll discuss the fundamentals of fiction writing that go into any story—setting, narration, character, and plot—while also discussing the particularities of short fiction that set it apart from novel writing. Come with pen and paper, and by the end of the day you’ll have a good start on that story you’ve been meaning to write.

9:30 to 10:45 a.m. The Reality of the Fictional World

Setting, time, and tone.

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Who Is Telling This Tale?

Issues of narration.

12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Lunch

Participants provide their own lunch.

1:30 to 2:45 p.m. The Heart of the Story

Character and plot.

3 to 4 p.m. Matters Peculiar to Short

Liz Poliner is an author and visiting assistant professor of English at Hollins University.

CODE: 1H0-549