AlphaBeta: A Short Story Writing Workshop

This is a free writing workshop for short story fiction (including flash fiction) writers of any skill level who wish to be published but would like an opportunity to share and receive constructive feedback from other short story writers prior to submission. The workshop will be held on the second and fourth Thursday of every month, from 10 am to 12 noon.

Workshop format: Prior to each meetup, the facilitator will announce the two featured writers (alpha writers) for that month. On their assigned date, the featured writer will bring and share printouts of up to 10 pages (DOUBLE-SPACED) of their short story with the other members and then read their story aloud to the group. Afterward, we will take turns as beta readers, offering critiques to that writer so that we all may learn in the process. Members will add any comments, critiques and/or suggested corrections (grammar, punctuation, etc) on their hardcopies, which can then be returned to the featured writer at the end of that workshop. If you are informed that you will be the featured writer (alpha) for any given week and will be unable to attend, please let Carrie Ryman (the facilitator) know as soon as possible so that the next featured writer on our list can be alerted in time for them to prepare a story.

Public readings are a common — and often required — aspect of any writer’s career, and reading our work aloud to the group gives us a safe place to practice. And hearing a story read aloud by its creator gives us, as beta readers, an invaluable opportunity to hear more than words can convey, such as the delicate nuances of character voices, settings and scenes. It may also change the critiques we offer. 

All are welcome!  No need to pre-register. 

If you have questions, please email Carrie Ryman at: carriearyman@gmail.com