Hermits and Flash Fiction/Non-Fiction

This two-part workshop will explore Flash writing and Hermit Crab forms. The Flash workshop will consist of brief discussions of flash fiction/nonfiction (up to 1000 words) and micro-fiction/nonfiction (250 words) formats. We will spend time writing to prompts for short timed periods during the workshop so participants leave with new stories they can continue to expand into short stories and essays or edit for publication in journals accepting flash.

In the second hour we’ll look at Hermit Essays. Hermit essays are essays written in the form of another common writing format (e.g., obituary, letter, sales ad, etc.). Prompts will be used to assist writers in creating these forms and time will be limited for writing. Writers will be encouraged to share (read aloud) their newly penned pieces for the group and will receive supportive feedback from the leader and other writers.

The facilitator will set specific guidelines for giving feedback on newly created work so all writers will have a positive experience. This is not a critique group. Participants will be given suggestions on what to listen for in newly penned writing and how to give supportive and encouraging feedback. As time permits, participants will be encouraged to share some of their writing and receive feedback from the group and the instructor about what is strong and working in their writing, encouraging them to write more! Journals that publish flash will be shared.