Class Description
In this class, we will draft a short story in the first week. Then, we will revise it–again and again. Through a series of playful exercises, we will create several distinct versions of the same story, in hopes of arriving somewhere surprising and true. Along the way, we will explore elements of craft (e.g., dialogue, imagery, escalation) and experiment with our own writing processes – figuring out what helps and what ultimately gets in the way.
Each session will include in-class writing exercises, craft discussions, and supportive, on-the-spot feedback on student work. We will also read and discuss short pieces of published fiction. Authors may include Anelise Chen, Manuel Muñoz, Souvankham Thammavongsa, Justin Torres, and Paul Yoon. Between classes, optional writing exercises will be offered. By the end of these four weeks, you will leave with multiple coexisting revisions of an original story, new tools for generating future work, and a stronger sense of what, in stories, matters most to you.
Anyone interested in writing and revising a short story is welcome.
Driving to the center? For evening or weekend classes, we recommend SP+ Parking at 45 Binford Street for the most affordable parking around. It's about a 10-minute walk to GrubStreet and offers a flat rate of:
- $13 after 4pm Monday-Friday
- $9 all day Saturday-Sunday
Writing Roadmap: We've created a simple, goal-based writing roadmap to help you find the perfect GrubStreet course for your writing needs.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place in-person at our Center for Creative Writing in Boston's Seaport neighborhood.
Covid-19 Update:
GrubStreet's space will be mask-optional when Boston's Covid-19 Community Level is low or medium. When the Covid-19 Community Level is high, our space will require masks. Please check GrubStreet's Covid-19 page for the latest info on masking and Community Levels before visiting in person.
Space Accessibility:
Our space is ADA accessible with automatic door openers, ADA-compliant restrooms, desk and table spacing, braille signage, and elevator. Our classrooms can be equipped with ALS for hard of hearing individuals. We cannot guarantee a scent-free environment. For more accessibility requests, please contact our Operations team at [email protected] or (617) 695-0075.