Flash Fiction for Everyone
Creating Stunning Flash Fiction to Engage Readers and Impress Judges
Are you ready to embark on a journey to master the captivating art of flash fiction?
Writing flash fiction is more than meeting word-count requirements—it's about spinning tales that captivate readers, impress judges, and avoid the dreaded rejection pile.
Fear not, because that's precisely what our workshop aims to fix!
In this workshop, writers of every level will learn the basic structure of flash fiction, how to create deep and authentic characters, and how to revise a flash fiction piece to create stunning stories every time.
Flash fiction stories take a certain finesse.
With only a few short words to create an impression, authors of flash fiction pieces must master the art of brevity and story structure.
Participants will learn about point of view, experimentation in flash, and where to start when the words won’t flow.
With Finnian Burnett’s guidance, you’ll follow a plotting road map to create a perfect flash fiction piece every time by analyzing first paragraphs, writing to a structure chart, and discussing exemplary endings.
Participants can expect to leave the workshop with several first drafts of their own flash fiction stories, and one fully revised piece.
Your Instructor
Finnian Burnett teaches college creative writing, English, and literature. They have also taught with the SNHU MFA program and have been running an online yearlong writing academy since 2015 for the non-profit organization, Golden Crown Literary Society.
Finnian has recently been shortlisted for the CBC nonfiction prize, been nominated for a Pushcart Award, and has had several stories nominated for best microfiction, Best of the Net, and best short stories of the year awards. Finnian’s work has appeared in Blank Spaces Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, Reflex Press, Flash Fiction Magazine, the Bath Flash Fiction Awards Anthology, and more. Their novella-in-flash, The Clothes Make the Man, was shortlisted for a Bath novella-in-flash award, and their second flash fiction collection, The Price of Cookies, is forthcoming through Off Topic Publishing.
Finnian holds a doctoral degree in English Pedagogy, specializing in using story-based pedagogy to create equity in multicultural classrooms. They had given workshops and classes for The Alexandra Writers’ Centre, the Crow Collective, Off Topic Publishing, When Words Collide, and more.
Finnian’s passion is helping emerging writers to hone their skills, and they truly believe that every writer should keep learning, no matter what level of success they have achieved in their career.
Finnian can be found in British Columbia, Canada where they take a lot of cold weather hikes, collect weird rocks, and watch a lot of Star Trek.
Workshop Agenda and Schedule
If these times do not work for you, we will provide recordings for you to watch on your own time.
Use this time zone tool to convert to your local time: https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter
Flash Fiction For Everyone - Day 1
Sunday, April 21, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time
- Uncover the basic structure of flash fiction
- Learn the art of brevity and lyrical language
- Analyze first paragraphs and discuss exemplary endings
- Learn about creating complex characters in flash
Flash Fiction For Everyone - Day 2
Sunday, April 28, 09:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time
- Follow a plotting roadmap for creating perfect flash fiction
- Explore point of view and experimental techniques
- Go over revision techniques and apply them to your flash fiction pieces
Flexibility for All-Time Zones
Can't make the live sessions? No problem! All participants get lifetime access to workshop recordings, allowing you to participate at your own pace.
Course Materials and Resources
- The Flash Fiction story map—how to create a flash fiction piece based on a mini-version of the three-act structure.
- A flash fiction revision checklist—this checklist shows writers how to take their stories from rough draft to polished gem.
- Article on idea generation for flash fiction—what to do when the words aren't coming.
- Access to slides from the workshops.
You should enroll in this workshop because…
- You're a budding writer eager to master flash fiction.
- You want to impress judges with tales that pack a punch and leave them begging for more.
- You seek a supportive writing community and critique group.
- You are an experienced flash fiction writer who wants to learn to go deeper with your characters and point of view.
Student Testimonials
"Finnian's flash fiction workshop has been an excellent experience! In addition to learning different aspects of writing flash fiction, I truly enjoyed getting to know Finnian as a person. Their warmth, their friendliness, and their ever-smiling demeanor were a bonus I didn't know I was signing up for. "Flash Fiction for Everyone" is an apt title emphasizing Finnian's ability to make every single participant feel respected, heard, and included. With close to fifty students, it was amazing how they could talk to points from the presentation slides and simultaneously read and respond to every single attendee's chat message! A course for beginners, experienced writers, and everyone in every sense of the word, indeed!"
— Shanti Chandrasekhar
“It was a privilege to work with Finnian. They are an amazing teacher—generous with their material, skillful in their presentation, enviably astute in their listening, and spot on with their feedback.”
— Miera
"Finnian is awesome! They are a great teacher--dedicated to their craft—lots of good material. I feel more prepared to write better flash fiction after this class."
— Elizabeth Hoch
"Loved it. Finnian's passion for flash is infectious. Their step-by-step manner of building upon each lesson is very straightforward and actionable."
— Martin Greening
"Finnian is the bomb. Excellent, clear teaching. Concrete examples and exercises."
— Althea Hughes
"Great session with an awesome balance of teaching, examples, and writing! Finnian is a great teacher; thank you!"
— Val B.
"I love how inclusive, empathetic, and generous Finnian is. They are definitely one of my favourite teachers. I learned a lot about how to think about my writing. Thank you!"
— Lisa Hislop
Access to Our Writing Community and Critique Group
Enroll now and gain exclusive access to our writing community—an oasis for writers seeking critiques, motivation, and camaraderie. Don't navigate the writing world alone; join a community that shares, supports, and succeeds together. This VIP lounge for wordsmiths is yours FREE with enrollment!
Getting feedback on a story before submitting it to publishers is a critical piece of the process that many writers ignore.
We know this because we get countless submissions that have not been read by anyone other than the author.
Why Our Community Rocks
- Get immediate feedback on your writing from your peers.
- Receive motivation boosts when frustration hits.
- Find a space to learn, share, and grow with like-minded writers.
Lifetime Access Bonus: Enroll Now!
Enroll in this course, and you don't just get a workshop—you gain LIFETIME access to our vibrant writing community for FREE.
Community Member Testimonials
“What a wonderfully supportive and helpful group! When I post a story, I know that I will receive honest and useful suggestions that only push me to grow further as a writer.”
—Phebe Jewell
“The greatest advantage to this group is that critiques and comments are kind and based on what works in the story. I'll add I've never seen a group so into good prose and kind with constructive comments.”
—Edward Kratz
“It's not the everyday writing which builds up the good writing, but receiving feedback. And this group is amazing at providing feedback.”
—Ali Hemati
“Critical but constructive comments are what helps me most, and I can easily find them here. On top of that, there are plenty of positive comments and feedback too.”
—David Batteiger
“I've had nothing but the best of learning how to write through this group. I've found nothing but support here and give back as much as I can.”
—Eva Wong Nava
“It's the best decision I've made...a safe, supportive place for writers, new or not so new.“
—Susan Wright
Exclusive Bonus Perks Await You
Monthly “Ask Us Anything” Zoom Calls: Your Access to Expert Insights
Our "Ask Us Anything" Zoom Calls are not just sessions; they're intimate gatherings where you have the unique opportunity to delve into the minds of accomplished professionals, gaining invaluable insights to fuel your writing journey.
Finnian will be our guest expert in March and April.
Why You'll Love It
1. Expert Guidance, Up Close and Personal
Join us every month for a casual and immersive two-hour session on Zoom. This is your chance to pick the brains of seasoned writers and instructors, gaining direct access to their wealth of knowledge and experience. It's not just a Q&A; it's a dynamic dialogue that enriches your understanding of the craft.
2. Forge Connections with Other Writers
Imagine having a front-row seat to conversations with writers who've walked the path you aspire to tread. It is not just an opportunity to ask questions; it's a chance to connect with like-minded individuals, fostering relationships that extend beyond the virtual realm.
3. Tailored Wisdom for Your Stories
Whether you're grappling with the nuances of character development or seeking advice on navigating the publishing landscape, these sessions are crafted to address your specific needs.
4. Recording Access
Can't make it to the live session? No worries. As a member, you'll have exclusive access to the Ask Us Anything recording archive, ensuring you never miss a moment of inspiration.
Virtual Write-Ins
The concept of the write-in is very simple and informal. We gather on Zoom, and those who are around at the beginning can share (verbally or in the chat) their writing goals for that day. Then we mute everybody, and get to work. No one will be seeing what you write, and you can turn your camera off, if you'd like. At the end of the session, we can unmute and talk about how it went.
Schedule
Timons Esaias Write-in
Mondays through Thursdays.
10 a.m. - Noon Eastern.
Shannon Huffman Write-in
Saturday and Sunday
7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Pacific
Curated List of Literary Opportunities
Delve into a treasure trove of literary opportunities with a curated list of magazines open for submissions, thoughtfully compiled by Timons Esaias. Updated regularly, this invaluable resource includes details like the journal's name, accepted genres, word count criteria, and direct submission links. It's your personalized roadmap to finding the perfect home for your work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Don't Miss Out!
Seize this opportunity to leave the workshop with several flash fiction drafts and a fully revised piece. Can't attend live? No worries! All participants receive exclusive access to workshop recordings.
Unlock Your Flash Fiction Potential—Enroll Now and Transform Your Writing!