The Short Story: Reading and Writing

In this six-week course, we will read a short story each week and look at different ways the short story form can be used – sometimes bent, stretched and subverted. The sessions will be playful, allowing a freedom to try new ways of writing.

Part of the session each week will be along the lines of a reading group – we will discuss the themes that come up in the story as well as looking at the techniques the writer has employed. In the second half of the session we will examine the techniques more closely and have a go at using them in some writing exercises. There will be an optional homework exercise each week, and you will have the opportunity to share your work with other members of the group.