Writing Comic Fiction Workshop
$340
What makes a funny story more than just an elbow jabbing good time? In this class, we’ll read several humorous short stories and figure out what makes them impactful, lasting and literature.
In this six-week, workshop-meets-craft class, we’ll dissect five different short stories and figure out: How did the writer do that? We’ll then apply some of those same literary tools to your own stories.
Each writer will have the opportunity to have one short story workshopped in this class, with written and verbal feedback from both instructor and peers.
We’ll read work from renowned writers known for their wit, their weird, and their impact. This includes writers like Lorrie Moore, Miranda July, Ottessa Moshfegh, George Saunders, Kurt Vonnegut and David Sedaris.
This class isn’t going to try and teach humor, that hard-to-teach beast. This class is for those interested in writing stories that go beyond the wit and weird and that truly make an impact. And of course, this class is for people who love a good short story, and want to read some of the best in contemporary literature.
Workshops:
This course has a workshop component, which is meant to be as helpful to you as possible. Each student will have the opportunity to receive one round of written and verbal feedback on their work.
Workshop guidelines:
● You can submit a complete short story or a novel excerpt (with any needed context)
● Up to 15 pages per workshop (double-spaced, 12 point font)
● 1 workshop per student
Course takeaways:
● What stories do (and don’t do) to make them successful
● How to pinpoint what a story is about
● What each of our short stories set up for and how that story delivers on its promises
● How to start a story with an immediate hook
● How to apply “workshop-minded” tools to edit your stories
● Learn how to use writing prompts to practice editing and writing techniques
Class supplies
● Please bring a writing utensil and notebook
Each class starts with a short writing warm up using fiction-focused, generative writing prompts. Writing is such a deeply personal endeavor. My classes provide a safe space to share your questions and insights so we can all feel productive and free of judgment.
Access Program
We want our writing classes and seminars to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers writing class and seminar tuitions at a reduced rate. Most writing classes have at least one access spot available.
Please apply here for access rate tuition. Contact Susan Moore at susan@literary-arts.org if you have questions.
Liaison position
Every in-person class and seminar at Literary Arts has one liaison position. Liaisons perform specific duties for each class meeting. If you are a liaison for a class or seminar, the full amount of your tuition is covered by Literary Arts.
Apply here for the liaison position.
Michelle Kicherer
Michelle Kicherer writes about books and music for the San Francisco Chronicle, Willamette Week and others. She is also a writing coach and former ghostwriter specializing in fiction and memoir. Michelle’s fiction has been published in The Master’s Review, Berkeley Fiction Review, 8142 Review and many others, and her novella Sexy Life, Hello is out in audiobook in Sept ‘24 and in print March ‘25 on Banana Pitch Press. Michelle believes there are no dumb questions in the classroom, only pretentious instructors.
