Quebec Writers' Federation Workshops

Spring Session 2010

Develop your writing with the mentorship of an acclaimed professional writer and feedback from your peers.

Workshops take place at the QWF office, Suite 3, Atwater Library unless otherwise indicated.

HAVE I GOT A STORY FOR YOU: THE CRAFT OF WRITING SHORT FICTION

Eight Wednesdays, 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. (March 3–April 21, 2010)

1200 Atwater Avenue, Suite 3
Workshop leader: Neale McDevitt

This workshop is designed to help writers improve their writing skills and, in particular, their short fiction. While novices are welcome, the workshop will focus primarily on existing work. As such, it’s recommended that participants have already written at least one short story.

The first part of each session will be devoted to discussing the nuts and bolts of writing short fiction. Some topics that will be explored include the necessity of finding the right voice; language choices; linked stories vs. stand-alone tales; revision; conflict and tension; turning real experiences into solid fiction; and, of course, getting published.

The second half of each class will be devoted to analyzing each other’s stories. Beginning in Week Two, the workshop leader and participants will critique three previously submitted stories. More than just an “I liked this sentence” kind of critique, readers will be asked to offer in-depth analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of each story. In donning the hat of engaged readers, participants will gain further insight into their own writing.

In turn, the authors are expected to explain why particular choices were made, from choosing a particular theme to the minutiae of sentence structure and word selection.

In Week Four, the process will begin anew. Writers will have the option of re-submitting their original story or bringing a new one.

Neale McDevitt's debut collection of short stories, One Day, Even Trevi Will Crumble (Exile Editions), won the QWF's 2003 McAuslan First Book Award. Currently, he is the editor of the McGill Reporter, the staff and faculty newspaper of McGill University.

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