My Upcoming Zoom Workshops
As a story development editor, I have had the privilege of working with writers and their manuscripts for over 20 years. Through this process, I’ve been able to identify some basic and recurring issues that challenge writers. My workshops have been created to highlight these issues and show you how to avoid the pitfalls. They are all focused sessions and designed to encourage, inspire, and improve both your short and longer works.
Below you will see the listings for my private workshops and those that I teach for The Writer's Center. All are taught online through Zoom.
THE TINY TALES SERIES (Workshops 1, 2, 3, and 4)
Flash Fiction and Micro-Memoir
Note: New summer dates will be posted soon.
Over the last several years, I have designed and revised this Tiny Tales Series to include Micro-memoir, Flash Fiction, and Flash Nonfiction (stories under 1,000 words). They have remained my most popular and ongoing workshops. The series begins with an overview of the form, followed by beginning and intermediate practice, and culminates in an advanced writing group where we generate new writing and polish for publication.
Learning this tiny form results in big impact writing. The power of these stories lies in their brevity, often examining one small moment with an unexpected revelation. When crafted well, these little gems can take a reader's breath away by exposing new insights and truths.
Tiny Tales (a name I call short-format writing) are certainly compelling on their own (many literary magazines are looking for quality work in this genre to publish and numerous students who have taken these workshops have placed their mini stories), but there is another benefit to mastering the form. I have found that practicing the tiny tale will make you a better writer overall. The form also lends itself well when authors are crafting short, powerful chapters (or a scene) for a novel or memoir, leaving the reader eager to turn the page.
DATE: Zoom, TBA
TIME: 6:30 - 8:30 pm (ET)
COST: $60
REGISTER: To reserve your spot,
email Lynn your interest at:
lynnauldschwartz@gmail.com
(10% discount if two or more workshops are taken in this current series)
Workshop 1.
Tiny Tales: An Introductory Overview
Learn what defines the short format (flash fiction and micro-memoir). Begin to understand the techniques and benefits of writing small. This is the prerequisite class for the Tiny Tales workshops that follow.
DATES: Zoom, TBA
TIME: 6:30 - 8:30 pm (ET)
COST: $185
REGISTER: To reserve your spot,
email Lynn your interest at:
lynnauldschwartz@gmail.com
(10% discount if two or more workshops are taken in this current series)
Workshop 2.
Tiny Tales, Beginning: Take Your Writing to The Next Level with Flash Fiction and Micro-Memoir
Prerequisite: This workshop is limited to a small group of students who have taken Lynn's Tiny Tales Introductory Overview (Workshop 1) or have a beginning grasp of the micro-memoir and/or flash fiction format.
This workshop is for beginning, short-format writers who want to try out what they have learned in the Introductory Overview workshop. Short reading assignments will illustrate craft and weekly, writing exercises will put those techniques into practice. Participants will have the opportunity to have their mini exercises discussed in class.
Note: If you have taken this Tiny Tales workshop before, you are welcome to repeat. Many participants find that the repetition helps them come to a deeper understanding of not only the genre, but also, the elements of craft.
DATES: Zoom, TBA
TIME: 6:30 - 8:30 pm (ET)
COST: $185
REGISTER: To reserve your spot,
email Lynn your interest at:
lynnauldschwartz@gmail.com
(10% discount if two or more workshops are taken in this current series)
Workshop 3.
Tiny Tales, Intermediate: A Generative Lab for Creating New Writing and Polishing Works-in-Progress for Publication
Prerequisite: This workshop is limited to a small group of students who have taken Lynn's Tiny Tales Beginning Workshop 2 (or have the equivalent writing experience and have a good grasp of the micro-memoir and/or flash fiction format).
We will be focused on producing new work and sharpening skills for short-format writing with the goal of publication. Participants who are styling their memoir or novel chapters in the short format are also encouraged to attend.
*If you have taken this workshop before, I am happy to have you join us again.
DATE: Zoom, TBA
TIME: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (ET)
COST: $60
REGISTER: Email Lynn with your interest:
lynnauldschwartz@gmail.com
Workshop 4.
Tiny Tales Advanced Writing Group: Practice, Polish, and Publish
Prerequisite: This workshop is limited to a small group of students who have taken Lynn's Tiny Tales Beginning and Intermediate workshops and have a strong grasp of the micro-memoir and/or flash fiction format.
This is a check-in opportunity to present new or revised work to fellow writers, to polish for publication, and to discuss the challenges/concerns and successes of the publishing process. This workshop may be repeated as many times as you wish.
FOR THE WRITER’S CENTER
DATE: Zoom, Thursday, May 14
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm (EDT)
COST: $50 for members, $60 for non-members
REGISTER
Evoking Reader Empathy
Discover techniques to infuse your writing with emotional depth.
Description:
Even a well-crafted story can fail to resonate with readers if it lacks emotional impact. The key is to forge a connection that encourages readers to invest in your characters and embark on their own emotional journeys. In this workshop, we’ll discuss how to avoid clichés and heavy-handed moralizing while finding the right balance of internal thought, scene, and underlying tension. Additionally, we’ll explore how to use specific objects or images (such as your father’s watch, a beloved place, or a work of art) to carry the emotional weight of your narrative. Through reading examples and participating in short exercises, you will practice and refine your ability to evoke empathy on the page.
In this workshop you’ll learn:
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The importance of underlying emotion
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How to avoid clichéd emotions
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The objective correlative technique
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How to craft resonant endings
Who is this workshop for:
This workshop will benefit both memoir and fiction writers wishing to deepen reader engagement.
DATE: Zoom, Thursday, July 16
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm (EDT)
COST: $45 for members, $60 for non-members
REGISTER
Intro to Micro-Memoir and Flash Fiction
Short-form writing is its own art—and the discipline it demands will sharpen everything else you write.
Description:
What if the most powerful story you ever write is also the shortest? In this workshop, we’ll explore the surprisingly expansive world of micro-memoir and flash fiction—stories of 1,000 words or less that pack an emotional punch far exceeding their size. These compressed forms have their own distinct demands: finding the singular moment that encapsulates everything, resisting the urge to over-explain, and choosing only the precise word. But here’s the deeper reward: mastering the discipline of the short form will sharpen your instincts and strengthen your writing across every genre you work in. Whether you’re a seasoned writer seeking a new challenge or a beginner ready to discover your potential, this introductory session will reveal what makes these little stories tick and send you home with fresh ideas and inspiration.
In this workshop you’ll learn:
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What micro-memoir and flash fiction are—and aren't
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How to elevate your story beyond the anecdote
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How a singular moment can carry the full emotional weight of your narrative
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How to generate new work ready to develop and submit to literary magazines
Who is this workshop for:
This workshop is open to all writers who want to learn short-form writing and sharpen their craft across all genres.