As an award-winning short story writer, and a highly experienced reader and editor for short story journals and prizes, Ruby Cowling is ideally placed to show you what readers and judges look for in short fiction, and to help you develop your skills in honing an original, eye-catching story that remains true to your vision as a writer.
This course has two elements. One is a mini-mentorship, with Ruby offering two rounds of one-to-one critical feedback on a story of up to 5,000 words, to help you learn how to redraft, edit, and finesse your work with expert advice. Bring along your problem story: the one that never seems to be finished, or gets rejected, or refuses to do what it is told, and practise working through drafts, problem-solving and polishing up with Ruby’s guidance and encouragement.
The other element is a series of assignments that explore how to write stories that make readers’ eyes light up, how to make good creative decisions and make the form work for you, and how to overcome writing demons and get those stories written and finished. These assignments will equip you with techniques you can apply to future difficult drafts. Throughout the course, you will also be able to share work-in-progress or new material with your peers for feedback if you wish.
Ruby will offer a surgery for short story writers, addressing your questions on writing, editing, submitting work, inside information about the publication process, and anything else you want to know about the world of short fiction.
None of us is guaranteed literary success, but there is a lot we can do to improve our odds!
This course is aimed at those who are serious about their short stories, whether you are yet to be published or already have some publication record. You can read some feedback from writers on Ruby’s previous courses here.
Course Outline
- Two rounds of critical feedback from your tutor on a draft story of up to 5,000 words
- Three assignments, including reading material, discussion prompts and writing exercises
- Discussion of assignments, exercises and work-in-progress (optional) with your peers
- One set of peer feedback on work-in-progress or writing exercise
- Story surgery and submissions advice – creative and practical help from your tutor
- An online writing community, lasting beyond the end of the course
This course is nine weeks long and asynchronous (so you can log in and add to the discussion whenever you want). You will submit a story of up to 5,000 words before the course starts, to receive detailed critical feedback from the course tutor. You’ll have time partway through the course to work on your story, and submit it to Ruby for a second read and feedback. There will be the opportunity to polish your story and share with the group at the end of the course.
Throughout the course, Ruby will upload three assignments for you to work through. These will include texts to read and discuss, teaching from Ruby, and writing exercises. You will also be able to discuss these, and share your work with fellow writers if you would like to.
Course Timetable and Content
Once you’ve secured your ticket, email your initial submission to ennis@londonlitlab.co.uk for feedback from Ruby, which you’ll receive by Week 3 of the course.
Week 1 | Nov 27th – Dec 3rd | Choose Life – increase energy and dynamism, add freshness and originality, make characters lifelike in your short stories
Week 2 | Dec 4th – 10th | Time to write, share work, discuss the assignment and reading
Week 3 | Dec 11th – 17th | Assignment 2: Get Moving – streamline your narrative options, improve cause and effect, and make your reader work for you
Receive feedback on your initial submission from Ruby
Week 4 | Dec 18th – 24th | Time to write, share work, discuss the assignment and reading
Week 5 | Dec 25th – Jan 7th | Two Week Half-term: redrafting and editing time
Week 6 | Jan 8th – 14th | Resubmit your story to Ruby
Week 7 | Jan 15th – 21st | Assignment 3: Stop Suffering – get out of your head, deal with existential doubt, make progress, in spite of the “bats in your hair”
Week 8 | Jan 22nd – 28th | Time to write, share work, discuss the assignment and reading; give and receive peer feedback on work-in-progress or your writing exercise
Receive second feedback notes from Ruby
Week 9 | Jan 29th – Feb 4th | Writers’ surgery & submissions advice with Ruby; option to share your polished short story
Learning Online
The course will take place online, in a closed group on a platform called Slack. You’ll need to have internet access, but not at any set times – you can pick and choose when you log in. Slack is easy to use, and we’ll provide you with full instructions and guidance before the course starts. On Slack, we won’t have scheduled live chats. but there will be plenty of opportunity to interact with Ruby and the other course participants in discussion threads, throughout the eight weeks. You should allow up to 5 hours per week for this course, for reading, writing and giving feedback to others.
