This 6-week course aims to take the work of short story writers to the next level, through the reading and discussion of a variety of published short fiction examples, and intensive workshopping of students’ works in progress. Participants will be expected to offer suggestions and thoughts on the work of fellow students, as well as receive critique on their own work. Class readings will include work by Joy Williams, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Ben Shattuck, and Yiyung Li, among others. Weekly topics of discussion will include story structure, point of entry, story scope, endings, character, setting, and action/movement. By the end of the six weeks, the writer should come away with a better understanding of the possibilities of the short story form as well as the confidence and skills to complete their work in progress.
Erin Cecilia Thomas is from upstate New York. She graduated from Berklee College of Music and received her MFA in fiction from Lesley University. Her work has appeared in Alaska Quarterly Review, Arts & Letters, and Redivider Journal, among others. Her debut short story collection, I Watched You From The Ocean Floor, was published by Modern Artist Press in July 2025.
"Excellent class from start to finish. Great use of time without overwhelming students. Outstanding class interaction. Erin understands her topic and weaves together all aspects of successful teaching to provide perspective and detailed understanding."
