Every avid fiction reader and writer has had the mind-blowing (and possibly frustrating) experience of reading a great short story and wondering, “How did the author do that?” In this class designed for writers of all experience levels, we’ll pursue answers to that question using classic and contemporary stories from the Best American Short Stories series. We’ll explore stories that brilliantly execute the fundamentals of plot and characterization, as well as some that challenge the conventions of structure, voice, and language. Through generative writing, we’ll hone our ability to evaluate and edit our own work and develop strategies for taking our writing in exciting new directions.

October: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th - 11 am - 1 pm EST

Online - Zoom link sent after registration

Cost: $400

Whitney Bryant is a creative writing teacher and developmental editor in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds an MFA in Writing (Vermont College of Fine Arts) and an MA in Teaching (Morehead State University). Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The Georgia Review, One Story, Chapter 16, Revisionist and Shenandoah. She was a finalist for the Master's Review Summer Short Story Award and runner-up in the Ploughshares Emerging Writers Contest, both in 2025. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and four cats. Visit her at https://www.whitneybryantwriter.com/.