We’ll help you write a short story in a weekend
Join our virtual weekend course from which participants will emerge with the first draft of a short story.
We will encourage and mentor you through the process of developing story, from the initial impulse – the virus of an idea – through the building of characters, and the world of the story, to the step-by-step raising of the stakes towards the satisfying crunch of a resolution.
All in the space of 72 hours, participants will busy themselves in furious creation, with one-on-one feedback from two experienced writing facilitators and virtual interaction with a group of like-minded creative compatriots.
Dates: 26 – 28 June
Places limited
Cost and booking links:
£150 Register here to pay in GBP
ZAR 2750.00 Register here to pay in South African Rand
What you’ll come away with:
- A broader understanding of story.
- A draft of a short story
Proposed schedule (all times still to be confirmed):
BEFORE THE WEEKEND
We’ll send you an introduction pack which will include some story seeds.
Participants will send in their story ideas/outlines. Ideally by 5pm on Thursday 25 June.
FRIDAY
Welcome session (optional – we understand you might be working): 9am to 9.30am UK / 10am/10.30 am SA. You can watch the recoding when you have a gap in the day)
Friday day: Story development. Participants to develop their stories and to discuss their stories one on one with Jo-Anne and/or Richard.
Friday evening group session: This will be our first formal meeting (Time TBC 6pm UK/7pmSA) How to begin. We’ll invite participants to share their ideas.
SATURDAY:
Morning welcome session: 9am to 9.30am UK / 10am/10.30am SA
Scheduled one on one sessions spread over the day.
Between sessions participants can ask Jo-Anne and Richard questions, and hammer out solutions to problems.
11:00am UK/12:00noon SA time – Group session on immersive writing and to discuss issues that have arisen, and at which people can discuss their work in public.
At a second group session in the late afternoon, we’ll again discuss editing and common and specific problems, and invite writers to share a paragraph or two of their work.
Early evening drinks session.
SUNDAY:
Participants will write all morning. We’ll hold shorter one-on-ones to answer queries.
Final group session at 14:00 UK/15:00 SA time. We’ll invite participants to read sections of their stories and receive feedback.
WHAT NEXT?
Edit your draft, and hone your story according to the feedback and guidance received.
Why not submit your story to a writing competition or for publication?
If you need an assessment of your final draft, we’ll give you one at half the price of our standard literary assessment. Cost: R1375 for a story of up to 5000 words. Regular price – R2750
