FIVE SHORT STORIES IN FIVE WEEKS - with writer Helen Cross

'I've really enjoyed the class and have come away with a lot of inspiration and some fantastic tips that I will definitely try to incorporate into my writing' Participant on the February 2024 course.

'It’s been a great little course, I’ve got a lot out of it' Participant on the February 2024 course

‘Thanks for an excellent course. One of the things I found most valuable was the actual tips on the craft of writing and from someone who is actively making a living writing. A lot of courses talk about setting, character and the mechanics but few look are your work and make practical suggestions for improvement. So thank you very much I really appreciated your time. ‘ Participant on the February 2024 course

‘I really enjoyed your input and exercises, and I greatly appreciated your enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge.’ Participant on the February 2024 course

'I found the course very inspirational. Due to the formate it also got me writing from the get -go, so by the time the course was finished I had completed my 1st draft.' Participant on a September 2023 course.

A really helpful, informative, efficient, fun and exciting course!' Participant on a February 2023 course.

Join my online classroom and write five complete short stories over five weekly sessions. These live, interactive online classes will introduce you to the craft and industry of story writing, and allow you to learn the skills necessary to write and publish your own short fiction

The course is taught by me, Helen Cross, an award-winning novelist, short story writer, audio dramatist and fiction writer (www.helencross.net) and creator/writer of the current podcast chart hit, English Rose (season two broadcast December 2023, both seasons now available on BBC Sounds). My short stories are widely published in magazines and anthologies, including in The Manchester Review, Popshot magazine , Digbeth Stories and 100 of the Sexist stories in Literature (Head of Zeus press).

Course Content:

Do you like reading short stories? Would you like to begin writing your own? If so, this writing course will help you find and craft meaningful and publishable short stories in with a style and theme that is distinctly your own. Through a series of writing exercises and discussion you will explore how to find your authentic literary voice, create credible and compelling characters, write effective dialogue and shape story structure. Each week you will be given prompts to generate ideas, then development work to complete at home, after the class. We will discuss in detail the state of the market for short stories, and how and where to submit your stories for publication or broadcast

Participants will be sent a reading list of classic and contemporary short stories before the course begins. We will closely examine the author's intentions and use these insights to shape your own work.

Each week members of the group will share their writing-in-progress, and by the end of the five weeks you will have five new stories and plans for what to do with them next.

'No previous experience of writing fiction or short stories is necessary.

Helen Cross Biography:

I have taught creative writing around the world, including on the MA and BA programmes at the University of East Anglia and at Cambridge University. I have been Writer in Residence at the University of Birmingham, The University of Mumbai and won many scholarships, including to the Banff Centre in Canada.

I am the author of four novels, including My Summer of Love which became a BAFTA award-winning film. My short stories are widely published in magazines and anthologies, including recently in The Manchester Review, Popshot magazine and, in summer 2023, Digbeth Stories. I have even had a story selected by Mariella Frostrup for her 100 of the Sexist stories in Literature (Head of Zeus press). I also write audio and podcast drama regularly for BBC Radio 4. My most recent work is the podcast hit series, English Rose (seasons one and two now available on @bbcsounds). My next audio drama will be broadcast as an Afternoon Play on BBC Radio 4 in May 2024.

Course Dates: Tuesdays 7-9pm, starting 30 April, then 7 May , 14 May, 21 May , 28 May 2024

Location: Live online teaching via Zoom

Cost: £175 for all five sessions. www.helencross.net

linktr.ee/helenxwriter

Feedback from recent course participants:

'I loved every minute of our course’ Participant on the February 2024 course

‘Thank you for running the sessions, I feel like it's reignited the writer in me.’ Participant on the February 2024 course

‘Straight, insightful, practical guidance.’ Participant on the February 2024 course

'A brilliant course!' Participant on the September 2022 course.

'It was terrific the way it was all broken down with homework and worksheets added.’ Participant on the February 2023 course

‘Excellent throughout.’ Participant on the February 2023 course

’I enjoyed hearing about Helen’s practical advice, and the week on structure was excellent.' Participant on the February 2022 course .

Press praise for BBC Podcast Drama English Rose 2022:

‘Taut thriller from the impressive new drama strand Limelight...great fun.” The Daily Telegraph August 2022.

“Stranger fangs: this smart modern spin on vampire lore follows a secretive Yorkshire girl from her home in Whitby to NYC.” The Guardian July 2022

'An original modern take on vampire lore this throws up some smart surprises and the cast deliver great performances’ - The Yorkshire Post August 2022

‘Novelist Helen Cross proves a sure hand at creating both intrigue and suspense.’ The Radio Times July 2022.