Hosted by Gary V. Powell
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Even if you’re in the midst of writing a five-hundred page novel or memoir, writing, submitting, and publishing flash fiction as a “side hustle” is a great way to build your platform and expand your network. And whether long or short work is your bag, writing flash will hone your craft; restraint, implication, and “trusting your reader,” essential elements of flash fiction, are also qualities that make great novels and memoirs.
In this 3-hour workshop, participants will (1) learn the key elements of flash fiction, (2) critique 2-3 examples of "great flash" from recognized authors, (3) write up to 1 page of their own flash, (4) receive participant and instructor feedback on their work, (5) obtain resources for reading, writing, and submitting great flash.
Bottom Line: Participants come out of the workshop knowing what makes great flash and with the beginning of their own flash in hand.
Attendees are asked to read three flash pieces--15 minutes of reading max--before attending. These will be discussed during the workshop. The first is a recent publication at Smokelong, the second is a classic Meg Pokrass story, and the third is a classic Isaac Babel story.
https://www.smokelong.com/stories/strong-female-character-goes-by-her-last-name-only/
https://electricliterature.com/secrets-of-a-happy-marriage/
https://georgesaunders.substack.com/p/my-first-goose-1
Please come with a 1-pg double-spaced (about 250 words) of a flash fiction of your own. The piece doesn't have to be finished. Be prepared to read aloud in class and receive feedback from me and other attendees.
The piece should be based on one of the following prompts.
(1) A day at the beach takes an unexpected turn.
(2) The protagonist has a chance encounter with his/her ex.
Gary V. Powell, a magna cum laude graduate of Indiana University School of Law, currently writes and lives with his beautiful wife near the shores of lovely Lake Norman, North Carolina.
Nominated for both Pushcart and O. Henry prizes, he was selected as a 2023 deGroot Foundation Writer of Note. His flash and short fiction have won or placed in numerous literary competitions including the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize (Honorable Mention, 2008 and 2014), Glimmer Train Short-Short Story Contest (Honorable Mention, 2013), the Eric Hoffer Award (First Prize for flash fiction, 2015), the Ruth Moose Flash Fiction Prize (First Prize, 2016 and 2018), the Iowa Fiction Prize (Finalist, 2017), the Press 53/Prime Number Fiction Prize (First Prize, 2022 and Runner-Up, 2024), the Doris Betts Fiction Prize (Finalist 2022).
His work appears in many literary reviews and magazines including Bull Men’s Magazine, Carvezine, The Thomas Wolfe Review, The North Carolina Literary Review, Ocotillo Review, Jellyfish Review, Pithead Chapel, Prime Number, Atticus Review, Smokelong Quarterly, Best New Writing 2015, and Sleep is a Beautiful Color: the 2017 National Flash Fiction Day Anthology.
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Workshop Refund Policy:
If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.