Introduction to the Short Story
Paula Morell, MFA


Course Length: 4 Lessons, can be taken in 4 weeks or 8 weeks.

Materials: Paula will supply all readings, including essays and articles by renowned short story scholars, writers and critics as well as contemporary and classic short stories.   Students will be writing their own pieces, also, and sending them to Paula for critiquing.

Course Description:
This intense four-lesson course will introduce you to the principles and techniques of writing the short story.  This introduction will compose of four stages for each lesson:  1)  Reading essays and articles on the element to be explored.   2)  Reading one or more short stories illustrating the element.  3)  Analyzing the elements and stories.  4)  Writing workshop.

Paula will provide essays, articles, and literary short stories.  You will e-mail your own stories to Paula for detailed critiques. 

Through understanding the elements of the short story and reading renowned authors' works, you will learn to read short stories like a writer, thus strengthening your skills.   Writing assignments will allow you to utilize what you have learned and open you up to finding your own style and voice.  Revision will help you to enhance your understanding of your own writing. 

Course Outline:

Lesson 1:  Short Story as a Genre
1)The short story graph
2)Wholeness of the short story
3)Use of language:  symbolism, rhythm, voice

Lesson 2:  Structure
1)Plot
2)Tense
3)Viewpoint

Lesson 3:  Characterization
1)Dialogue
2)Thoughts
3)Action

Lesson 4:  Setting and Description
1)Contributing to theme
2)Contributing to characterization



Email Paula to register.
Online Writing Workshops

Online workshops can be taken individually or with a group.  Individual workshops are ongoing, and you can register anytime.  If you would like to work with one or more other writers in your workshop, you can e-mail us and we will pair up groups according to start dates.
Advanced Short Story Workshop
Paula Morell, MFA



Work on good prose has three steps: a musical stage when it is composed, an architectonic one when it is built, and a textile one when it is woven. 
--Walter Benjamin (1892-1940)


Course Length: 4 Lessons. Can be taken in 4 weeks or 8 weeks.

Requirements: This course is designed for students with intermediate or advanced writing skills and an understanding of the short story as a genre.  Completion of Introduction to the Short Story or similar workshop required.

Materials:  Paula will supply all readings, including essays and articles by renowned short story scholars, writers and critics as well as contemporary and classic short stories.   Students will be submitting/writing their own pieces, also, and distributing them to Paula.

Course Description
The purpose of this intense four-lesson course is to improve writing and editing skills and to increase your self -confidence as a writer.  This advanced workshop will compose of four stages for each lesson:  1)  Reading essays and articles on the short story.  2) Critically reading contemporary and classic short stories by established writers with the purpose of enabling the student to understand why that piece of writing is successful.  3) Analysis of the elements and literary short stories. 
4) Workshop.

Paula will provide articles, essays, and classic short stories.   You will e-mail your stories to Paula for detailed critiques.  You may choose to work on a minimum of two, maximum of four different stories for the course.

Through reading articles and essays about the short story, you will further develop your understanding of the short story, thereby enhancing your own skills as a short story writer.  By critically reading renowned authors' works, you will strengthen your own writing and editing skills. Through having your writing workshopped with constructive criticism and suggestions in which it can be improved, you will improve your writing skills, develop self-confidence, and learn in particular how to construct a short story which works. 

Course Outline

Lesson 1:  Getting Your Work Ready: Editing and Rewriting
1)Coherence and Consistency
2)Word Choice

Lesson 2:  Looking at Theme and Imagery:  What Does Your Story "Say"? 
1)Theme
2)Symbolism, Metaphor and Simile
 
Lesson 3:  Structure and Form: How Does Form Comment on Content? 
1)Sentence Structure and Length
2)Making Use of Form

Lesson 4:  Something Different:  Short Story Sub-Genres
1)Magical Realism
2)The Lyrical Short Story
3)Short-Shorts


Email Paula to Register.