Have you dreamed about getting a short story published in a literary journal like McSweeney’s? Now’s your chance! In this 5-week online short story workshop, Lauren Acampora (Best American Short Stories, Paris Review will help you craft a brilliant, heartfelt tale about the human condition! Through fun, in-class writing exercises and engaging craft talks, she’ll help you brainstorm new ideas and write a draft of a literary gem.

Lauren will address the essential elements of fiction that make stories succeed: outlining, mapping, character, plot, change, and even point out the usual mistakes writers make that can cause a story to fall flat. What qualifies as story? How does one create stories in which characters act and are not simply acted upon? How does a writer take what she or he has and make it better? In addition to this, she will show participants the best resources for finding suitable and reputable publishers… anultimately getting their world out into the world.

By end of the class, you’ll have a polished publication-ready short story as well as a solid plan for where to submit it. Experienced and beginning writers welcome. Before you know it, you will be ready to join the ranks of the 236 students who have published short stories after taking this class.