When I first became a published author with my picture book Snuggle Mountain, I discovered I loved going into class rooms and sharing my enthusiasm for writing with people of all ages. I love telling kids that there are no wrong answers when you are writing. (Grammar, spelling, thesis statements and punctuation are different from writing.) I love igniting their brains and setting their fingers on fire.

I also love the collaboration of writing. My debut YA novel Evidence of Things Not Seen would not have been published without the support and expertise of my critique group. Sharing our work with other writers in a supportive environment help us create better more publishable manuscripts. All writers need that outside eye and support.

So guess what?

I am teaching a six-week class this fall: Writing Winning Short Stories, on Tuesday evenings, 7-9 pm, October 27 – December 1 at the Writing Barn in South Austin.

My idea for the class started because The Austin Chronicle Short Story Contest deadline is mid December. I thought it would be very cool to have a class where writers could share manuscripts and get them ready to submit together.

Shelli Cornelison

Of course, the idea blossomed. Shelli Cornelison agreed to co-teach the class with me. Shelli is a fabulous writer who has had several short stories published and is an excellent critique partner. Together, we would like to teach a comprehensive and in-depth class on writing short stories.

Our main focus for the class is the manuscript. We want to spend the majority of time reading and critiquing manuscripts so that each participant can share their subsequent revisions or new work. Each class will include a mini lecture on craft, but a lot of craft discussion will come as a result of the manuscripts themselves. Our intention is that each participant will leave the class with better, more publishable manuscripts, a bibliography of craft books, handouts on specific craft elements, a list of outlets for short story submissions and a new community of writers who will cheer your successes.

To register for this class, please go to this link.  If you have questions, please contact me: lindsey@lindseylane.net