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.

Tiny Tales Series

Writer's Center Workshops

THE ITSY-BITSY
TINY TALES WORKSHOP
A one-time compact version of Lynn's Tiny Tales Series

Delve into the world of flash fiction and micro-memoir—captivating, brief narratives that capture powerful moments and resonate with readers.
DATE: Zoom, Thurs, Oct 23, 30, Nov 6
6:30 pm –8:30 pm (ET)
COST: $195
TO REGISTER: email Lynn your interest
lynnauldschwartz@gmail.com

THE TINY TALES SERIES (Workshops 1, 2, 3, and 4)
Flash Fiction and Micro-Memoir
The full series will return in the new year.

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, check-in meeting 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.

Refund policy

*The Tiny Tales Series will return in the new year. If you are interested in the series, email Lynn
and you'll receive advanced notice of the dates.

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.

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, Saturday, October 11
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, Saturday, Sept 20
10:00 am –12:30 pm (ET)
COST: $50 for member, $60 for non-members
REGISTER

Mapping Strategies for Story Structure

Explore questions, mapping exercises, tools, and techniques to discover your story’s destination and how to get there.

Description:
There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for story structure. Let’s discuss a plan that works for you. We’ll examine your story’s strengths and weaknesses, focusing on both the destination and the journey. Does your narrative feature a compelling character arc, a strong point of entry, well-placed flashbacks, a transformative and resonant ending, and will readers care? We will use maps, sketches, and diagrams, emphasizing the importance of revising your initial plan as your story evolves. Bring your specific idea for a short story, memoir, or novel.

In this workshop you’ll learn:

Flexible outlines that enhance your plot
How to clarify the true purpose of your story
Techniques for effective beginnings and endings
Character arcs, yearning, internal and external conflict, and transformation
Key components of a successful scene

Who is this workshop for:

This workshop will benefit both memoir and fiction writers wishing to strengthen reader engagement.

DATE: Zoom, Saturday, Oct 25
10:00 am – 12:30 pm (ET)
COST: $50 for member, $60 for non-members
REGISTER

Evoking Reader Empathy

Discover techniques to infuse your writing with emotional depth.

Description:

Even when a story is skillfully crafted, it may not be enough to make the reader care. The key lies in creating an emotional impact that connects them to your narrative—encouraging readers to invest in your characters and embark on their own emotional journeys. We’ll discuss how to avoid clichés and heavy-handed moralizing while determining the right balance of internal thought, scene, and underlying tension. Additionally, we’ll explore how to use an object or image (such as your father’s watch, a specific place, or a work of art) to carry the emotional weight of your story. Through reading examples and participating in short exercises, you will have the opportunity to practice and refine your ability to evoke empathy on the page.

In this workshop you’ll learn:

The importance of underlying emotion
How to avoid clichéd emotions
The objective correlative technique
How to craft resonant endings

Who is this workshop for:

This workshop will benefit both memoir and fiction writers wishing to strengthen reader engagement.