Class Title: The Power of Writing Short: A Class in "Flash" Fiction/Memoir Instructor: Helen (Len) Leatherwood Class Term: We are not accepting any more enrollments for Len's class; the class has started. Synopsis Have you read powerful pieces of short-short fiction/memoir (1000 words or less) and admired how so much could be conveyed in so few words? Have you been intrigued by the possibility of writing in a short-short form, also called flash, sudden, postcard, skinny or furious fiction/memoir? You may have already discovered the task isn't quite as simple as sitting down and dashing out a vignette or a memory. If you'd like to learn more about a type of writing that is not only popular and marketable, but will also bolster your fiction and nonfiction writing skills, then this four-week intensive may be right for you. Class Description Over a period of four weeks, this course will help you understand the beauty of writing "short."� You will learn about basic story elements and structure, the power of language, and the importance of resonance in your writing. You will have weekly lessons, reading assignments, and exercises. You'll experiment with analyzing what works in powerful examples of flash fiction/memoir in order to discern what techniques the writer employed. You will also discover the importance of thoughtful critique to aid your fellow writers and your own work. In addition, you'll come away with information regarding potential markets and how to tailor your work to specific guidelines. At the end of the class, students will be able to: 1) Understand the basic principles of writing short-short fiction/memoir; 2) Know the basic story elements required for effective storytelling; 3) Create several first-draft fiction/memoir pieces (and perhaps some completed ones), along with a list of future flash fiction/memoir ideas; and 4) Become aware of potential publishing opportunities for short-short fiction/memoir. Weekly lessons and prompts will be provided via a YahooGroup site. Students will be asked to read information from various sources (provided by instructor) and do specific assignments related to story analysis and prompts for flash fiction/memoir. Students will be encouraged to discuss their problems and discoveries using group emails. Completed assignments will be posted as Word or PDF documents for the instructor and classmates to offer feedback. Outline Unit One: Introduction to Flash Fiction/Memoir. This unit introduces the flash fiction/memoir genre, what qualifies as "flash," different types of flash fiction/memoir, a brief history of the genre, and some of the eminent writers who publish work in this form. Participants will read selected material, will work on a story analysis, and will begin writing story/memoir pieces prompted from an exercise. Unit Two: Basic Story Structure. This unit will discuss basic story elements (setting, character, plot, etc.) and how to use them effectively for flash fiction/memoir. Students will have selected story/memoir pieces to analyze and selected exercises to practice. Unit Three: Keeping it Concise, but Conveying Resonance. This unit will discuss the concept of succinctness in creating flash fiction/memoir. We will explore various "simple" (but outstanding) fiction/memoir pieces to uncover how such short-short pieces can convey profound impact. There will be selected fiction/memoir pieces to analyze and selected exercises to practice. Unit Four: Markets for Flash Fiction/Memoir. This final unit will discuss marketing strategies for flash fiction/memoir pieces, along with a list of specific markets and contests. We will also wrap up final critiques, final story analysis, and allow time for any further questions. Student Skills, Equipment, and Time Required All writing levels are welcome. Basic Internet and computer skills, such as word processing, web browsing and e-mail are needed. Participation in YahooGroup is required. Students will spend 3-6 hours per week, though it's likely students will discover they want to spend more time writing, just for the fun of it. Tuition/Fees for this course SCN members: $128. Non-SCN members: $160. Instructor Bio Helen (Len) Leatherwood has been teaching writing privately to students in Beverly Hills for the past ten years. She has received a national teaching award for the past two years from the Scholastic Artists and Writers Awards, the oldest and most prestigious writing contest for youth in the U.S. She is a published writer of "flash" fiction/memoir with pieces appearing in flashquake, a quarterly journal dedicated to short-shorts, as well as longstoryshort, a weekly e-zine. Her work has also appeared in the 2008 & 2010 editions of Story Circle Network's True Words Anthology, as well as in A Cup of Comfort Cookbook, currently available on Amazon.