Short Story Intensive: Advanced Workshop
$875
Do you have a short story that feels close to where you want it to be, but you can’t quite figure out what’s missing – or maybe you recognize some of what’s missing but not sure how to fix it?
Or maybe you’ve got just the start of a story, or a vague idea and want to figure out how to write the rest.
In this 12-week workshop-meets-craft class, we’ll read and dissect several short stories together and look at how those stories were made, then apply some of those tools to our own stories.
Each writer will have three opportunities to workshop their stories, as well as one “verbal workshop” to talk through a stuck story.
Course takeaways:
● Learn new short story writing and editing techniques
● We’ll learn how to ask ourselves: Is there a more interesting or impactful way to say that?
● Receive two to three rounds of feedback (see workshop section below)
● Complete at least one short story and get it spiffy for publication (if desired)
Each week you’ll receive optional homework for how to keep writing and editing in the days between our meetings. This class is meant to be fun, encouraging and productive. This class is designed for intermediate to advanced level writers but all levels are welcome.
Each class will include a brief warm up writing session to practice using the techniques we’ve learned. Sharing work is always optional and always encouraged.
Materials
Please bring a notebook and writing utensil to each class for brief in-class writing activities.
Workshops
Workshops are not mandatory, but are a way to receive feedback on your work. Each writer will have three opportunities to submit their work for review. Once as an excerpt, and two full stories.
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.

