About this course
The recordings included in this course are from our 2023 Flash Fiction Workshop. The instructor is not available for questions or feedback, nor is there an organized group story/feedback exchange included with this course.
Flash fiction is a unique form of storytelling that challenges writers to craft complete narratives in a limited word count, typically 800 to 1,500 words. Every sentence must serve a purpose when writing flash fiction, advancing the plot, or developing the characters. This constraint encourages writers to be concise and creative in their storytelling: to make every word count. Speculative genres add an additional layer of complexity to the challenge.
This class is a series of lectures by Tara C. Campbell, recorded for our 2023 Flash Fiction Groups. They cover the basics of flash fiction writing, including openings, characterization, plot, and closings. Lectures are accompanied by prompts, writing exercises, and recommended reading.
Topics Covered:
- Strategies for approaching flash
- Giving and receiving critique
- Worldbuilding
- Horror
- Revisions
Student Takeaways:
- An overview of the sub-genre
- Idea-generating exercises and writing prompts
- Recommended reading
- Strategies to develop and support your writing practice
Duration of Class
80 minutes
We suggest giving yourself ample time to work through the prompts and exercises - this was originally delivered as a weekly series.
What to Expect in this Course
About Flash Fiction
Mastermind
Tara Campbell
Tara Campbell is a writer, teacher, Kimbilio Fellow, fiction co-editor at Barrelhouse, and graduate of American University's MFA in Creative Writing. Publication credits include Masters Review, Wigleaf, Electric Literature, CRAFT Literary, Uncharted Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Escape Pod/Artemis Rising. She's the author of the eco sci-fi novel TreeVolution, two hybrid collections of poetry and prose, and two short story collections from feminist sci-fi publisher Aqueduct Press. Her sixth book, City of Dancing Gargoyles, is forthcoming from the Santa Fe Writers Project (SFWP) in the fall of 2024. She teaches creative writing at venues such as Johns Hopkins University, Clarion West, The Writer's Center, and Hugo House. Find her at www.taracampbell.com
