If you’re one of the exceptionally lovely people who’s been to a writing class of mine, then welcome back – it’s so nice to see you. Likewise, welcome if you haven’t been before, but are thinking you might like to come to a class sometime. This page is for you.
2020
Chris and I ran another flash fiction intensive day workshop in Norwich in January, but Coronavirus has obviously put a stop to any more face-to-face workshops this year.
I’ve been running an affordable online flash fiction teaching and workshopping group during lockdown and am thinking of setting up a second one online in September. If you have some experience of writing and are interested in learning more about flash fiction and improving your skills, this might be for you – please get in touch via the contact page of the website!
10th October 2019
New Introduction to Creative Writing class for The Public House started today – we had a lot of fun looking at and writing titles and story beginnings and reading/discussing flash fiction. We ate some really unhealthy biscuits as a sort of balance to the Slimming World class going on in the other part of the building. Can’t wait to see what stories grow out of people’s imaginations during the week – wild, twisted sea wracks from the murky ocean floor, or bright, hopeful daisies. We shall see.
7th September 2019
I haven’t been great at updating this page! Since I last posted on it, Christopher Allen and I have also run flash fiction workshops in London, and are soon going to be running some in Manchester and Birmingham. We are very excited about this. At the time of writing we have a handful of places left for the half-day session in Manchester on Friday 20th September, and the half/full days in Birmingham on Saturday 21st. If you are on a low income we are offering half price places (self-defined and no need to discuss with us, just let us know you are claiming one when you send the half-price payment). We have a couple of free bursary places generously funded by writers, also, for anyone who can’t afford to pay. We don’t want affordability to be a barrier. Here are some of the things people have said about our other workshops this year:
To book, send Paypal payment to editors@smokelong.com – please include your name and the session(s) you are booking in the Paypal message box. Any questions can also be directed to us at that email address. Both venues are wheelchair accessible. Please let us know in advance if you have any special requirements or anything you would like us to be aware of. More details can be found here:
March 2019
SmokeLong Quarterly, the US flash fiction journal I edit for, is running a half-day flash fiction workshop in Norwich on Saturday May 4th, with Christopher Allen, the co-Editor-in-Chief, author of acclaimed flash fiction collection Other Household Toxins and over 100 published stories. He is the current judge of the prestigious Bath Flash Fiction Award and a friendly and fun workshop presenter. Places are limited and it’s filling up fast, so do book your place now if you’d like to come. We would love to work with you! We have one free place available to a low-income writer, which has been generously sponsored by TSS Publishing – applications for this place are open until Friday 19th April: please email editors@smokelong.com if you would like to put your name forward. Thank you! More details here:
The next Creative Writing course I’ll be running for The Public House, Norwich will be 11am-1pm Weds 9th February to Weds 27th June. Developing Creative Writing will be a follow-on course for people who have already taken an introductory course, and will focus on workshopping our writing, with writing exercises and prompts to help kickstart new ideas. Details and booking here.
There are also plans to run a six-week flash fiction course in Norwich with another organisation – watch this space for details.
CAN’T WAIT. Hope you can join us.
**I've moved! Please check out my new site at www.helenrye.co.uk ** 