Write and Finish a Short Story with Susan Browne

Course Summary

This six-week course, focused on starting and finishing a short story will help beginner and emerging writers break through their procrastination.

Course Outline

Session One: Getting Started and Finding Your Story
Introduction to the course, group and aims. Exploring different types of short story, story arcs and approaches to plotting, including “plotters vs pansters”. Reading and discussing a micro-fiction example. Setting intentions and realistic goals for your story.
Homework: Write 500 words of your short story (or set a clear goal if continuing an existing piece). Read recommended short story.

Session Two: Character and Voice
Check-in and optional sharing. Creating memorable characters and understanding what drives them. Developing confidence in your writer’s voice and exploring tone and perspective. Discussion of the assigned short story and what we can learn from it.
Homework: Write a further 500 words (or continue your draft). Read recommended short story.

Session Three: Specificity and Detail
Check-in and optional sharing. Discussion of the assigned short story and what we can learn from it.
Exploring the power of specificity in bringing scenes to life – sensory detail, place, and the difference between general and precise language. Writing exercises to deepen existing work and avoid vagueness.
Homework: Develop an existing scene with added detail and clarity. Read recommended short story.

Session Four: Structure, Shape and Momentum
Check-in and optional sharing. Discussion of the assigned short story and what we can learn from it.
Looking at shaping a complete short story – beginnings, endings, turning points and what keeps a reader engaged. Exploring pacing and how to sustain momentum without overwriting.
Homework: Continue your story with a focus on structure. Aim to reach or move towards a full draft. Read recommended short story.

Session Five: Redrafting and Refinement
Check-in and optional sharing. Discussion of the assigned short story and what we can learn from it.
Approaching the second draft – what to cut, what to deepen, and how to strengthen voice and clarity. Gentle editing techniques and how to read your own work with fresh eyes.
Homework: Redraft your story. Prepare a section (or full draft) for sharing or feedback. Read recommended short story.

Session Six: Finishing and Letting Go
Final sharing and reflection. Discussion of the assigned short story and what we can learn from it.
How to know when a story is finished, and when to stop. Light-touch editing, polishing, and preparing work for submission or personal completion. Next steps: competitions, journals and building a sustainable writing practice.

• Each session, participants will be expected to take part in writing exercises during the class with optional sharing, to read a recommended short story in between sessions for discussion at the next class, and to write a suggested wordcount (or if a draft already complete, an editing focus) for optional sharing at the next session.

Course Outcomes

This course offers a supportive and encouraging space to write and complete a short story. While short stories often continue to evolve beyond a first draft, the focus is that by the end of the course, participants will have produced a complete piece of work.

Susan Browne is a writer, facilitator and life coach based in County Kerry. She was shortlisted for the Words by Water Kinsale Literary Festival short story competition and is the author of Ask Your Angel Guides (Findhorn Press). She leads creative writing workshops that explore voice, place and the natural world, helping writers build confidence, find momentum and stay with their work, including Creative Ireland-funded projects. Susan is also a reader for the Oxbelly Fiction Writers Programme.

Booked out? To be added to the waiting list for this course, please email bookings@irishwriterscentre.ie.