Class

Mini But Mighty: Writing Micro

How much punch can you pack into a ≤ 250-word piece? You’ll see in this two-session workshop on the short-short genre. Micro prose is among the flashiest of forms; you’ll find it's both fulfilling and fun to write.

Publishers might cap it at 500, 250 or 100 words (sometimes exactly 100). Others want it to be Hemingway’s way: only 6 worthy words. We’ll read examples of works of all these lengths, then examine their structure, literary techniques, and outsize effect on the reader. Using published micros as inspiration, you’ll generate numerous drafts and make each word count. We’ll have a rich discussion on the challenges and opportunities of concision, because the craft of writing micro is much more than just cutting unnecessary words.

Between classes, you’ll receive an additional prompt and invitation to return with both a new micro and a revised one. By the end of the second class, you’ll have *many* micro drafts, next steps, and submission opportunities. After class, the teaching artist will provide written feedback on a 250-word draft.