Begins Saturday, January 9th, 2027
Class will meet weekly via Zoom on Saturdays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET

🌍 Class Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles (PST): 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM / Chicago (CST): 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM / New York (EST): 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM / London (GMT): 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM / Berlin (CET): 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

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

Instructor Bio

Instructor Finnian Burnett is a writer whose work explores the intersections of the human body, mental health, and gender identity. They are a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts grant, a finalist in the 2023 CBC Nonfiction Prize, and a 2024 Pushcart nominee. Their work appears in Blank Spaces Magazine, Reflex Press, The Daily Sci-Fi, Pulp Literature, CBC Books, and more. Their two novellas-in-flash, The Clothes Make the Man and The Price of Cookies, are available through Ad Hoc Fiction and Off Topic Publishing.

Who is this class for?

This flash fiction workshop is for writers of all levels who want to explore the art of very short stories—complete narratives told in under 1,000 words. Whether you're brand new to flash or looking to sharpen an existing practice, you'll leave with initial drafts of several new pieces and the tools to keep writing more.

What to expect:

Flash fiction is about so much more than writing short stories. It's about emotional resonance, endings that land with a jolt, and understanding—then subverting—structure. In this four-week online flash fiction workshop, you'll dive into the form and learn to create pieces that stick with readers long after the final sentence.

Through guided exercises, craft discussions, and close readings of powerful stories, we'll explore structure, point of view, emotional resonance and interiority, experimentation, and deep character work in small spaces. You'll learn how to build tension, layer emotion, and write endings that feel surprising and earned.

Each week blends close reading, group discussion, guided exercises, and writing prompts, with opportunities to share your work live in class. Whether you're new to flash or deepening an existing skill, you'll leave this creative writing workshop with several new drafts and a toolkit for creating many more.

What are the writing goals?

In this course, students will produce four to five new flash fiction stories, each a complete piece under 1,000 words. Through close reading and guided prompts, you'll generate fresh drafts and develop repeatable techniques for structure, point of view, tension, and endings. This is a generative workshop: there are opportunities to share your writing live during class sessions, though the course does not include written feedback or outside homework.

Readings

Readings may include:

• "Let's Say" by Julia Strayer (SmokeLong Quarterly)
• "Obit" by Rebecca Harrison
• "There You Are" by Alys Hobbs (Bath Flash Fiction Award)

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1: Conflict, character, openings and endings
Week 2: Structure, subtext, and emotional layering
Week 3: Point of view, experimentation, and non-traditional forms
Week 4: Tension, imagery, and the surreal

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Draft four to five new flash fiction stories, each under 1,000 words
• Techniques for building conflict, character, and tension in very short forms
• Strategies for structure, subtext, and emotional layering
• Tools for experimenting with point of view and non-traditional forms
• A repeatable approach to writing surprising, resonant endings
• A toolkit for continuing to generate flash fiction long after the course ends

TESTIMONIALS:

"Dr. Finnian's workshops are informative, fun, and thought-provoking with a warm atmosphere that feels inclusive to all. I highly recommend their workshops to anyone who wants to up their flash fiction game." — Lori Green

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Tuition is $330 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: Finnian Burnett
• Begins Saturday, January 9, 2027
• Class will meet weekly via Zoom on Saturdays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
• Tuition is $330 USD.