Begins Saturday, July 18th, 2026

Live Seminar via Zoom from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

🌍 Class Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles (PDT): 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM / Chicago (CDT): 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM / New York (EDT): 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM / London (BST): 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM / Berlin (CEST): 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

A recording will be provided for those who cannot attend live.

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.

Instructor Bio

Instructor Michael Costaris is a writer and screenwriter based in Toronto, Canada. He is the fiction editor at The Adroit Journal, where he also conducts in-depth author interviews on craft and process. His fiction has appeared in The Baffler, Maudlin House, X-R-A-Y, Toronto Journal, BULL, Does It Have Pockets, and many more. He is a regular contributor to Becky Tuch's LitMag News, where he publishes craft articles about short fiction, covering topics from opening lines to cover letters to submission strategy. A certified public and private school teacher with fifteen years of classroom experience, Michael has taught numerous creative writing courses and runs private editing workshops. He is currently at work on a short story collection.

Who is this class for?

This online writing class is for beginning and intermediate fiction writers who have made the leap into short fiction but feel overwhelmed by the craft and business of the form. Whether you're struggling to shape an idea into a workable story or unsure where and how to submit your work, this seminar will give you the tools and confidence to move forward. Open to introductory and intermediate levels.

What to expect:

In this three-hour online fiction seminar, you'll receive a concentrated, comprehensive bootcamp on the short story — moving from initial concept to a structured outline ready for submission. This intensive writing workshop covers both the artistic and professional dimensions of contemporary short fiction in a single session.

The seminar begins at the level of concept, examining what distinguishes a viable short story premise from a novel-length idea. You'll learn how scope, compression, and thematic focus determine form, and how to shape an idea so it functions powerfully within the constraints of short fiction. Drawing on his experience as a fiction editor at The Adroit Journal, Michael will analyze the elements that allow a story to rise above the slush pile: precision in description, disciplined pacing, character construction, authentic dialogue, and thematic cohesion. The session will address openings and endings in detail, focusing on how to hook a reader from the first line and finish on a show-stopping note.

The final portion of the intensive focuses on the business of short fiction. Where should you submit your work? What defines a reputable or strategically valuable magazine? How should you think about tiers, goals, and long-term positioning? What makes an effective cover letter? You'll review practical tools and submission resources that allow you to research markets intelligently and place your work strategically. Interactive exercises will include the screenwriting technique of loglining to build a story outline and hands-on editing of opening lines.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will produce a sharpened opening line for their story, a logline-style outline using screenwriting technique, a polished cover letter template, and a personalized list of magazines suited to their work and goals. Feedback will be delivered through interactive exercises during the live session, with group discussion and instructor-led editing of openings.

Readings

Readings may include excerpts from "The Dinner Party" by Joshua Ferris and "Son of Friedman" by Emma Cline. Pre-reading is optional but encouraged.

COURSE OUTLINE

Segment 1: Craft Foundations — From Premise to Form What makes a viable short story idea? Distinguishing short fiction from novel-length concepts. Scope, compression, and thematic focus. Shaping an idea to function within the constraints of the form.

Segment 2: Slush Pile Strategies — Writing to Get Published The anatomy of strong openings and the common mistakes that lead to early rejection. Precision in description, disciplined pacing, character construction, authentic dialogue, and thematic cohesion. Endings: how to finish on a show-stopper. Interactive exercise: editing your opening line.

Segment 3: The Business of Short Fiction — Submission and Strategy Where to submit your work: identifying reputable and strategically valuable magazines. Thinking about tiers, goals, and long-term positioning. The effective cover letter. Practical tools and submission resources for researching markets. Interactive exercise: building a logline outline for your story using screenwriting technique.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• A sharpened, publication-ready opening line for your short story
• A logline-based story outline using screenwriting technique, giving your work clear structure and direction
• A polished cover letter template ready for submission
• A personalized list of literary magazines suited to your genre, style, and career goals
• Craft techniques to avoid common rejection triggers, including strategies for powerful openings, disciplined pacing, and thematic cohesion
• Practical knowledge of submission tools and resources for researching markets and placing your work strategically

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Tuition is $99 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

• Instructor: Michael Costaris
• Begins Saturday, July 18, 2026
• Class will meet once via Zoom on Saturday, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
• A recording will be provided for those who cannot attend live.
• Tuition is $99 USD.