Crafting Fiction: A 5-Week Short Story Writing Workshop
This 5-week workshop is designed for anyone interested in the craft of fiction writing, focusing on the art of short stories. Whether you’re new to writing or seeking to refine your storytelling, this course will help you develop compelling fictional narratives.
Email us at ambika@thereaderberlin.com to sign up!
The workshop is divided into three main components:
Weekly Readings and Discussions: Each week, participants will engage with selected short stories from a provided reading list. These stories will serve as the basis for discussions on key elements of fiction, such as narrative structure, character development, dialogue, genre conventions, voice, and thematic exploration. Our reading list includes a diverse range of voices and styles, offering inspiration for your own writing.
In-Class Writing Exercises: Following each discussion, participants will take part in guided writing exercises designed to apply the techniques and ideas explored. These exercises encourage creativity, experimentation, and the development of your unique voice in fiction.
Workshopping Participant Pieces: Each week, participants will have the opportunity to share their own short stories for feedback. The workshop setting fosters a supportive and constructive environment where writers can receive guidance and suggestions to strengthen their work.
This workshop emphasizes the importance of fiction as a creative outlet and an opportunity to explore new worlds, characters, and ideas. We encourage participants to push the boundaries of their imagination and experiment with different genres and styles, while focusing on the fundamentals of storytelling.
This workshop is open to all levels of writers who are passionate about fiction. Whether you’re just beginning to explore short story writing or looking to hone your skills, this course will help you develop confidence and creativity in crafting engaging fiction.
By the end of this 5-week workshop, participants will have a stronger grasp of short story writing, practical experience in applying various elements of craft, and completed polished short stories ready for further development or submission.
Email us at ambika@thereaderberlin.com to sign up!
AMBIKA THOMPSON (they/them) is a writer, editor, and musician whose work has been featured internationally in publications such as Electric Literature, Riddle Fence, Crab Fat Magazine, Fanzine, Joyland, The Fiddlehead, and PANK, among many others. They earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Guelph University in 2019 and was a fiction editor at Berlin’s SAND journal from 2022 – 2025. In 2021, they were a recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts Grant in Literature. Their dedication to nurturing emerging writers is evident, as many of their former workshop participants have successfully published their own works, including books, and have secured their own grants, awards, and residencies.