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Featured Online Writing Class

Gila Green

FLASH FICTION: One-On-One Instruction by Gila Green

START DATE: This class is currently closed.

DURATION:  8 weeks

LOCATION:  Email Only

FEEDBACK:  Instructor feedback and critique

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Everyone has time to read Flash fiction. That’s one of the reasons why it’s become such a popular genre. Distilling whole stories into narratives under 1,000 words. Why bother? We read fiction to build empathy, to explore new realities, to escape, to be entertained and since you can’t do any of that in such a short time, Flash has little value, right? Wrong. Flash is ideal for our modern short attention spans (though there’s nothing really new about it). The 21st century reader has made Flash fiction In-Demand Fiction. It’s ideal for our screens: tablets, smartphones, netbooks, laptops. Reading a whole story on a single screen is an aesthetic experience and best of all, it’s an increasingly sought after genre offered by small presses. There’s even a National Flash Fiction Day on, you guessed it, the shortest day of the year (May 16 in the southern hemisphere). So don’t miss out. Join the micro, sudden, short-shorts train that doubles as an ideal way to break into publishing.

In this course, we will use short readings and instructor critiques to teach participants how to craft story ideas into flash fiction. We focus on carving your work down to its essence, while still conveying meaning through the successful interplay between character, conflict, and theme.

Course objectives:

  1. To complete at least one publishable flash piece.
  2. To sharpen your editing & critiquing skills.
  3. To increase your confidence as a writer through understanding the basic components of a flash fiction piece.
  4. To add depth to your flash fiction through literary devices.
  5. To broaden your knowledge of publication opportunities for flash fiction.

I just wanted to share my fantastic news. The Dime Show Review wants to publish a flash piece I sent to them. There are no words to express my thanks to you because without you this would not be happening. I bow to you my writing Goddess! You are an amazing teacher and mentor who gave me the courage to actually send my work out there. It was actually a flash piece I did not spend a whole lot of time writing and did not think would go anywhere. I am so grateful I found you. ~ Ellen Marcantano

I placed 3rd in the WOW Spring 2013 Flash Fiction contest! I was so amazed and thrilled. 'Mercy' is the story I submitted in our Flash class. Your class was a great experience for me. Did I tell you that [classmate] and I are still sharing stories? We met in your class and now we are writing buddies on line." ~ Clare Ostrander

This course has been superior so far. I can't thank you enough for your keen attention to detail and piercing critiques. A great learning experience! Also, thanks for your summary, “How Not to Write flash.” I see it covers most of the mistakes I’ve been making—so an invaluable guide. A great course, and I appreciate that you made it available to me over email. You’re the best, Gila—may you thrive in your writing, editing, and teaching. ~ Tom Allan

My first flash piece, Bar Rag, was published by The Legendary (an online literary journal). Less than a year after taking your course, not bad. ;) Just wanted to say thanks again; your class helped me get started with flash, and now I’m on my way. ~ Joyce Barton

I have enjoyed this class and plan to rework my flash fiction and then look for an outlet to get at least one published. ~ Marion Cason

WEEKS AT A GLANCE:

WEEK 1:

What is flash fiction? Is it very short story writing or a branch of poetry? Assignment: Generate ideas for flash fiction pieces.

WEEK 2:

Refine your premise: the route to great flash is to cling to your focus. Assignment: Write a premise and then write a micro-flash (100-200 words) based on this premise.

WEEK 3:

Imagery: can’t flash without it. Assignment: write a thread of imagery that weaves through a micro-flash.

WEEK 4:

Double entendre deepens your flash without extending your wordcount. Assignment: Use double entendre in a micro-flash piece.

WEEK 5:

Editing for impact with a focus on diction and dialogue. Assignment: Edit your favorite past micro-flash piece and extend it, paying close attention to word choice and dialogue. From now until the end of the course, you should be working with a full flash piece.

WEEK 6:

Editing for impact with a focus on pace. Assignment: Edit your full flash paying close attention to pace.

WEEK 7:

Endings. Why are successful (read: publishable) flash endings different from other genres? Final edits.

WEEK 8:

Publication. Publishing ideas for flash fiction.

Materials needed:  All written materials in the form of lectures, ebooks, story links, etc. are provided by the instructor.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:  Canadian Gila Green is the author of a novel-in-stories, White Zion, and two adult novels, Passport Control and King of the Class. Her first young adult novel No Entry will be released in September 2019. She has published dozens of short stories in literary magazines and anthologies including Fiction Magazine, Many Mountains Moving, Jewish Fiction, Akashic Books, The Fiddlehead, and others. Please visit: www.gilagreenwrites.com

COST:  $175, which includes one-on-one e-mail support and feedback from your instructor, weekly assignments and critiques. Skype & Skype chat if you choose that option.

BUY NOW:  Flash Fiction: One-on-One Instruction, by Gila Green (8 weeks, starting 1/6/2020) Limit: 8-10 students. Early registration is recommended.

This class is now closed. Please check here for our current schedule.

For Class Session Starting 1/6/2020

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Notes:  Upon successful completion of payment, your name, email address, and contact info will be submitted to your instructor. Just before class begins, she will e-mail you with instructions on how to get started.

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Additional Testimonials for Gila Green:

I’ve taken a lot of writing courses through different groups, and by far yours have all been the most beneficial. I loved this Flash course. The most important lesson I learned is just how incredibly difficult it is to write good flash fiction. I learned about many new tools that I can use in future writings. ~ Kathryn Schleich

Here’s what I loved about this class:

  • I felt safe (of paramount importance as a writer and as me)
  • I felt my questions and contributions were valued
  • I received no-nonsense feedback and advice from you
  • The assignments were well presented and well prepared
  • The information within each assignment was incredibly useful and not overwhelming

Here’s what I loved about you as the instructor:

  • You always took the time to answer my questions, even the ones that were more personally oriented
  • You are direct and have realistic expectations of students
  • You are encouraging and supportive
  • You know your stuff

My personal thanks to you for bearing with me as I begin my writing journey. As an instructor, mentor, and writing ally you have far exceeded my expectations. WOW! is very lucky to have you on their instructor roster. ~ Elana Baxter

Gila’s fiction writing class gave me more confidence as a writer. I’ve taken several online fiction classes with well-known online entities and with those that are lesser known. Compared to more well-known or expensive online writing classes that require you to use more non-user friendly sites to post your work this is the one with which I was and still am most impressed. Gila’s teaching method is very concise and could only derive from years of experience. Her lectures and the accompanying exercises challenged me to write my story and the characters in a way that helped to add more layers and to make them more believable. Gila’s feedback was very in-depth. She was always available for questions and comments. She strongly encouraged that we take advantage of peer critiques. I’d done peer critiques in other classes, but I felt that with Gila I was given more tools to workshop others’ writings. I learned how to look for strategies that work better than others. To me, Gila’s fiction writing class was more multifaceted than others and was more like a brick and mortar university course. With the tools that I learned from Gila I felt that I had better direction and I learned how to look at my writing more critically. In Gila’s class I was able to take my short story to the next level. ~ Conswalia Marie Green

I have taken many courses in writers’ centers before and never got ANYTHING out of them. The main thing I got was formulaic responses that hindered my writing rather than deepening my approach. I loved Gila’s course so much I am reregistering. ~ Janet Lowenbach

I advocate writing mentors; how else can a writer grow? When I was looking for excellent guidance on a new genre, I turned to Gila Green; it was a good decision, one that I recommend to a writer who is serious about her craft ~ Leah Kotkes

I’ve learned more in your writing class than I have with any other instructor, and I’ve taken quite a few. ~ Kathryn Beer

I am really enjoying your tips and advice. I really loved your idea about how to get into a story, with “What is a noun?” So simple, but so good. ~ Rachel Gurevich

I really enjoyed the feedback and communication in this class. ~ Dana Shoemaker

It was a really worthwhile class. I especially liked learning from the short stories. ~ Susan Remson

I feel much more confident now about my writing. ~ Amanda Searcy

In Gila's workshops you learn three important things about writing:
- how to look deeply into your heart
- how to read many other works critically
- how to apply newfound skills to your own work
For all those reasons, Gila's writing workshops are a writer's path to creative exploration that you shouldn't miss. ~ Ilene Bloch-Levy

I am so SO Happy that I was able to come to your class, thank you for your teachings and your willingness to share your knowledge. I want to thank you for providing your wisdom.  ~ Savannah Sav

When I began this class I was not sure what writing devices were, but with Gila’s guidance I am now clear about their definitions and how to use them in my writing. She had a very straightforward way of explaining this by giving examples in our own work, and pinpointing a subject for clarity. She was very encouraging and her critiques were always thoughtful and constructive.

Her guidance on my personal work has also been helpful. Again, she had a way of instructing by example that made the whole revising process so much more effective. Her suggestions were always spot-on and it was obvious that she took the time to read each piece submitted. She pushed me to dig deeper and work harder and I believe it shows in my writing.

If I am ever fortunate enough to make it in this business, I will definitely name Gila as one of the reasons for my success. ~ Barbara Florenza

Thank you for this class and for your very valuable feedback on the two drafts I sent you. Your class rekindled the fire that I felt was beginning to fizzle out in my writing. ~ Clare Hart

Thanks for a great class! I’m so glad I signed up—turns out that I still have a brain and you made me use it. :) I appreciate your advice as well as the thought-provoking lessons you provided . . . In that short amount of time I feel more confident going forward with my writing . . . I wish you the very best, and thank you again for sharing your knowledge! ~ Andrea H.

"I placed 3rd in the WOW Spring 2013 Flash Fiction contest! I was so amazed and thrilled. 'Mercy' is the story I submitted in our Flash class. Your class was a great experience for me. Did I tell you that [classmate] and I are still sharing stories? We met in your class and now we are writing buddies on line." ~ Clare Ostrander

Questions? Email Marcia & Angela at:
classroom[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com

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