The short story course is designed to help participants unleash their creativity and generate new pieces of fiction.

The focus will be on short and very short stories, providing inspiration and guidance through a combination of writing exercises and readings of a variety of short stories, chosen and brought to share by the instructor. The course promises to be an exciting and enlightening journey into the world of short fiction.

 

About the course

Over the course of 6 months, 1 session taking place on the first Tuesday of each month, we’ll explore not what a short story “should” be but everything it could be, giving you permission to find out what “short story” means to you. Together we’ll read and discuss a dazzling, surprising and varied reading list of short and very short stories of all shapes, styles, genres and forms, using these as inspiration for writing exercises that encourage you to be playful and warm up your writing muscle, so you can write the short and very short stories you want to write in the way only you can write them!

At the end of the course everyone will produce a final short story which will be published in a comma press ebook.

PLEASE NOTE Classes are capped at 15 places to ensure a high-quality experience.

 

Price

£200.00 per ticket which covers 6x sessions over 6months including detailed feedback and end of course publication in a short story e-book anthology.

 

Course dates and location

Hope Mill theatre, Manchester

6-8pm on the following dates:

Tues 2nd May, Tues 6 June, Tues 4 July, Tues 1st Aug, Tuesday 5th of September and Tuesday 3rd of October

Considering signing up?

We make our courses as accessible as possible: they span the UK and take place routinely throughout the year; you don’t actually need any previous experience – just enthusiasm for short story writing; and you only need a pen, paper, laptop/computer, and internet access in order to take part and keep in contact.

 

What our graduates say

Past participants on our Short Story Courses have gone on to be published by the likes of Penguin, Canongate Books, The Best of British Fantasy, Granta, and Ambit Magazine, have work reviewed in the The Guardian, The Irish Times, Lit Hub, Sunday Express and Metro and recognised by awards such as the The Brighton Prize 2018 (Highly Commended), Republic of Consciousness Prize (Shortlisted), TS BIFFY Micro Fiction (Winner), National Association of Writing Groups Short Story Competition (Winner), Northern Soul Northern Writer of the Year Award 2018 (Winner), The Brighton Prize 2018 (Highly Commended), Galley Beggar Short Story Award in 2017/18 (Winner), and the London Independent Story Prize in the Best Film Idea Category (Winner).

“As an aspiring writer, I can’t recommend Comma Press’ Short Story Courses enough: ongoing support from top-class published authors writing today, development of close-reading skills and of course that all important trait – rapid improvement of your writing skills. All this and more, as well as the opportunity to meet the next generation of up and coming talent.” – Past Participant