Short stories are a funny thing. While technically shorter in length than novels or novellas, they have the power to hold just as much detail, world and story as their larger counterparts. This can make them tricky to construct, as they need to communicate character, tension, conflict and resolution.

If you enjoy reading short stories, or have turned your hand at writing them but would value some expert guidance, this course with Shelley Weiner is your tonic. Over four intense and stimulating virtual sessions, she will draw on her wealth of experience as an author, mentor and creative writing tutor, to guide and inspire you through the process. Through close examination of a selection of both classic and contemporary short stories, paired with practical exercises, you will identify - and demystify - the techniques used by great exponents of the genre, and learn how to craft your own stories.

You’ll see your ideas through from generation to conception, building your structure, finding and amplifying your voice, and shaping your plot. During each live lesson, selected texts will be used as springboards to guide you through the aspect of craft under discussion.

In week one, you’ll be given a jumping off point for a new story and will grow and develop it over the course.

Week 1: Origins

What is a story? From Aesop’s Fables to Cat Person, there are distinctive features that bind and also distinguish them. Discover the concept of story ideas and where to find them, with an introduction to character as the driving force in fiction.

Week 2: Invention

A deeper dive into character and dialogue, and how - and why - these components are core to story development.

Week 3: Construction

Looking into plot and momentum, including causality, structure, the pressure of time and more.

Week 4: Performance

Who tells the story? Viewpoints and voice will be looked at, as well as how to get your words onto the page, and how to find your readers.

Over the course of four weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to explore - from a writer’s perspective - classic works from the likes of Chekov, Hemingway, Alice Munro, Toni Morrison, Miranda July, Zadie Smith, Courttia Newland and Eley Williams. These selected texts will be used as springboards to guide you through the aspect of craft under discussion.You will have plenty of opportunity to develop your own short story and receive feedback from your fellow writers via our dedicated online workspace. Here you will be able to engage in constructive discussions and exchange ideas with your peers. Stretching your capacity for giving and receiving productive feedback will not only equip you with a deeper understanding of the art of short fiction, but also means you will leave the course with a unique and supportive writing community to guide you in your next steps.

This course will help you to build your structure, find and amplify your voice and shape the plot of your short story, with expert guidance and advice from both Shelley and your new-found community of writers.

This course is for …

Aspiring, beginner and intermediate writers looking to hone their craft
Established writers with a desire to revisit the short story and sharpen their skills

Tutor profile

Shelley Weiner is the author of five novels, and a renowned creative writing tutor/mentor with a passion for nurturing and guiding writers at all levels. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies in print and online, and have been produced for BBC Radio 4. Shelley has taught and run masterclasses for, among others, the Guardian, Faber Academy, The Literary Consultancy, Gold Dust Mentoring Scheme, The Art of Writing (Florence), and Skyros Writers’ Lab. She has lectured on the Creative Writing MA at Anglia Ruskin University, as well as for Birkbeck College, the Open University, the Taliesin Trust, the British Council in Israel, and Durham University.

Course Details

Date: Saturday 22 April 2023 – Saturday 13 May 2023 over four consecutive Saturdays
Time: 2pm-4.30pm BST

Catch up recordings will be shared after the class and will be available for two weeks.

This masterclass is available globally. See this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

2pm BST | 3pm CEST | 6am PDT | 9am EDT

You will be sent a link to the webinar 24 hours and 30 minutes before the start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you do not receive the access link.

We aim to make Guardian Masterclasses accessible to all. If you require any adjustments to enable your participation in this course, please get in touch with us at masterclasses@theguardian.com.

This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform Zoom, please refer to their privacy policy and terms and conditions before purchasing a ticket to the class.

Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.

Writing short stories: An intensive four-week course with Shelley Weiner