The Long and Short of It with Tanya Farrelly

Course Summary:

In this workshop attendees will look at the key aspects of fiction writing, exploring the overlaps and distinct differences between flash fiction, the short story and the novel. You will look at the importance of language and imagery in the “short, short story” as well as the importance of character, plot, point of view, dialogue, conflict and setting in all three forms. With the aid of writing prompts, participants will have the chance to put into practice what they have learned, receiving feedback on their work in a fun and supportive environment.

Course Outline:

We will begin our course by looking at flash fiction or the “short, short story.” What is it? And how does it differ from the traditional short story? We will read and discuss two flash pieces: The Paring Knife by Michael Oppenheimer and The Colonel by Carolyn Forche. Participants will then try their hand at producing two flash pieces aided by prompts provided in class.

From there we will move on to the short story, beginning our journey with paintings by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano to brainstorm the “Who? What? When? Where? And How?” of good fiction. We will discuss how to create unforgettable characters and dynamic situations as well as exploring the importance of point of view, dialogue, conflict and setting. Students will be sent stories to read in advance of class for both facilitator and peer feedback.

Finally, we will look at how to approach the novel – something that new writers may find daunting- but bear in mind that many established writers claim to find the longer form easier than the short story! Through an exploration of structure and technique we will figure out why that may be – and ultimately which form suits you best as a writer.

Course Outcomes:

By the end of the course participants will have completed set writing exercises to hone their skills in each aspect of fiction writing. Through a mix of teaching, practise and production, they will have gained an understanding of how fiction works and which mistakes to avoid. Each participant will also have completed at least one piece of flash fiction, a short story and the opening of a novel.

Tanya Farrelly is the author of four books: two short fiction collections: When Black Dogs Sing (Kate O’ Brien Award 2017) and Nobody Needs To Know (Arlen House, 2021), and two psychological thrillers: The Girl Behind the Lens and When Your Eyes Close (Harper Collins) She holds a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from Bangor University, Wales and was appointed Writer-in-Residence at NUI Galway in 2021. She has just edited the anthology Take Six: Six Irish Women Writers (Dedalus Books) which is forthcoming in March 2025.