Great Short Stories: An Advanced Workshop [Peter Mountford]

Faulkner said, “Maybe every novelist wants to write poetry first, finds he can’t, and then tries the short story which is the most demanding form after poetry. And, failing at that, only then does he take up novel writing.” Countless other writers would argue the same — that short stories, requiring tremendous economy of language and gesture, are harder to write than novels. Through a combination of workshop/critique and close readings of the best contemporary short stories, we’ll explore the elements of craft required to compose a fantastic short story. Workshop experience required.