SHORT FICTION MINI MASTERCLASS
A QUICK INTRO TO BIG LITTLE STORIES
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take this course
Exclusively available to members of Writers' HQ

Learn how to structure and plot to suit your story

Finish with a chapter-by-chapter outline

Get to the end with our supportive community

GET A QUICK AND DIRTY SHORT STORY FIX WITH THIS SUPER SPEEDY MASTERCLASS

  • This whistlestop tour of short fiction will give you a solid foundation for your story writing, from the difference between a flash and a drabble to techniques for harnessing story ideas and turning them into something tangible.

Plus answers to questions like:

  • – How long is a short story?
  •  
  • – How do you drill down to the ‘fundamental human truth’ of a story?
  •  
  • – How do you redraft and restructure and rework an idea until you find the *right* one?
  •  
  • – How do you make characterisation the juicy, emotive centre of a story?
  •  
  • – And what’s the secret ingredient to all worthwhile fiction.

Plus stellar short fiction examples and expert advice from authors like Paul McVeigh and Kit De Waal.

LESSONS IN THIS COURSE

HOW LONG IS A SHORT STORY?

FROM ANECDOTE
TO STORY

THE FUNDAMENTAL NUGGET OF HUMAN TRUTH

CONNECTING
THE DOTS

THE IMPORTANCE OF PERCOLATION

WHAT TO LOOK FOR 

SALVAGE & EXPANSION

ENTER THE STORY

LAYER IT UP

REFLECT, REFINE, REWRITE

Get full access to Short Fiction Mini Masterclass when you
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instant access to all our creative writing courses

Get stuck in straight away with our specialist library of online courses covering everything from productivity, idea generation, short stories, and novels, to editing and publishing – suitable for writers at any point in their writing journey.

ROADMAPS TO GUIDE YOU FROM STARTING, MIDDLING AND FINISHING

Our step-by-step roadmaps will guide you from a standing start to a  solid writing routine, help you smash through writers block, and hold your hand through the winding alleys of novel writing. 

With Writers’ HQ, there’s no writer left behind.

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THE MOST AWESOME, SUPPORTIVE, HILARIOUS, PRODUCTIVE writing COMMUNITY

Whether it’s to help you workshop a story, offer in-depth critique, celebrate a finished story, squee over an acceptance, argue over the finer points of an arcane novel, or pick you up when you’ve had a rejection, the Writers’ HQ community is everything. 

Members get access to special buddy groups and accountability logs, and you’ll often find Team WHQ loitering on the forums instead of doing their own writing.

DOZENS OF LIVE WRITING EVENTS INCLUDING MASTERCLASSES AND WRITE-ALONGS

Hone your craft by getting answers to your writerly questions and exploring your challenges with regular online events, including live Q&As, masterclasses, flash fiction write-alongs, goal setting sessions, and advanced journaling workshops.

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WHQ SUCCESS STORIES
It's a bold statement but I'm pretty sure that without taking this course I would never have got past four chapters of my novel. The tools which I gained allowed me to not only structure my novel in a way that makes sense but to give myself the boundaries within which to really move forward with the book. I've written more in the last four months than I've written in two years and I'm coming to the end of my first draft now which is something I never thought I'd actually say. I've been able to set realistic goals, be disciplined and really see my novel take shape. I would recommend this course to everyone and I couldn't be more grateful for it!
Kezia BarrPlotstormers
Seriously could not have done it without Writers' HQ courses: Plotstormers, Making People and now The First Draft! My dreams are becoming real. Thanks WHQ! 5 STARS!
Gill O'SullivanThe First Draft
It made me thing and it made me laugh - what's not to like? A properly fun and enjoyable course that actually made me want to work harder. Lots of stuff to reflect on, had to go and walk around the garden a few times just to let some of it percolate. And it genuinely, unexpectedly, made me want to write more, better and be published. My gosh it is recommended and some.
Bernie MayallWriting Short Fiction
This course was exactly what I needed to help me bring to life the characters in my novel--they had been feeling a little flat but I didn't know how to fix it. I was excited to do the exercises, thrilled with the new insights I gained. I had several "aha" moments. Highly recommend!
Corinne ClarkMaking People: The Characterisation Masterclass
That's what this course left me with - in a very good way. It goes straight for the writing jugular, which is what a ditherer like me needs. It left me feeling like this: I can run away as far as I can get from anything to do with writing, or I can woman up and get on with it. Running away not being an option, Seven Ideas In Seven Days was like a sergeant-major shouting in my ear "What are you?" and me answering in a humble whisper "I'm a writer, Ma'am." Not for the faint-hearted. Definitely not. If you want to write - or, more accurately, not want to not write, join WHQ.
Jan McCarthySeven Ideas in Seven Days
I loved this course - it beats the pants off other editing courses! I got more out of this course than all of the other ones I've done put together, and I've done lots and have been to some prestigious places that live off their puffery and fame, but what they offer in terms of proper skills and help simply doesn't touch this. Plotstormers II has been enormously enlightening and empowering and deeply generous. Thanks so much, Jo and & Sarah, you ROCK.
Stephanie GerraPlotstormers II: The Editing Strikes Back
Excellent, thorough course! This course is an excellent, thorough run-down of everything you might want to think about when writing and sending your query letter. Written with Writers' HQ's trademark snarky charm, and filled with links to even more information about what agents are looking for and what to do/not do, it's a really enjoyable, detailed look at this topic. Thank you!
Elizabeth OttossonPublishing 101: The Query
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