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Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. Through a series of inspiring exercises, you'll be introduced to some key fiction-writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This hands-on course uses a series of guided exercises to get you writing in new ways, exploring unfamiliar territory and discovering new connections and turning points. You'll be led through the process of drafting a story from beginning to end, and will come away with an improved critical understanding of what makes a good short story. It will help you to come prepared with an idea you would like to shape into a story.
Students say:"Great teacher, great environment and group"; "A fantastic, succinct course which really helped me to kick-start my writing"; "Very well-taught and inspiring - I gained valuable knowledge to help me write better short stories"; "Super-stimulating - I have confidence and many more ideas to work with now."
What will we cover?
- How to begin a story
- Finding and developing characters
- Plot and story structure
- Establishing mood, themes, and subtext
- Being imaginative with language
- Finding the right ending.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Respond to and assess pieces of writing with sensitivity
- Complete a first draft of a short story.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for beginners comfortable learning at a fast pace. Enthusiastic readers welcome! Fluent written and spoken English is essential.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will learn through interactive tutor presentations, analysis and discussion of published short fiction, and a series of guided writing exercises. You'll be encouraged to share your written work for constructive feedback from your peers and the tutor. You may find it beneficial to spend some time after class developing your story.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No additional costs. Please bring writing materials.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit runs term-long Short story writing and Writing fiction courses in the evening and daytime, that will teach you essential skills and techniques. You may also be interested in learning more about short stories in Reading for writers: the short story.
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Vicky has been teaching creative writing at City Lit since 2018. She has also taught for the Open University, London South Bank University and the University of Greenwich, and she reads for the manuscript assessment agency The Literary Consultancy. Her short fiction has appeared in new writing anthologies published by Picador, Granta, Duckworths, Serpents’ Tail and Bloomsbury. Her nonfiction essay 'Into the Valley' was mentioned in Best American Essays, 2013. Her short story collection 'Live Show, Drink Included' was published by Holland Park Press in 2018 and is long-listed for the £10,000 Edge Hill Prize. One of the stories is in Best British Short Stories, 2019.
Sarah LeipcigerSee moreSee less
Sarah Leipciger’s most recent novel, Moon Road, was published with Doubleday UK and Penguin Canada in 2024 and has been optioned for film. Her debut novel, The Mountain Can Wait, was published in 2015, and her second novel, Coming Up for Air, followed in 2020; it was longlisted for the Historical Writers Association Crown Award and has been adapted for stage with the Leipzig Opera House, to be premiered in spring 2026. She has had short stories shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, the Fish Prize and the Asham Award, and is a past winner of THIS Magazine’s Great Canadian Literary Hunt. She has also written non-fiction for The Guardian and The Toronto Star. Sarah has facilitated writing workshops across the country, including at literature festivals and men's prisons in London. She is an Associate Lecturer with the Creative Writing Department at Birbeck University, and Guest Tutor at Goldsmiths University.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/write-a-short-story-in-a-weekend135960Write a short story in a weekendhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/write_a_short_story_in_a_weekend-square.jpg129129GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Writing/Novels and short stories/Courses/Top rated courses/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Writing Short Stories/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Fiction Writing/Courses/vm/Writing Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Writing/Learn to write short fiction at City Lit/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories22851588166220272048201813379135811359912285117712051653201813581Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. Through a series of inspiring exercises, you'll be introduced to some key fiction-writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">This hands-on course uses a series of guided exercises to get you writing in new ways, exploring unfamiliar territory and discovering new connections and turning points. You'll be led through the process of drafting a story from beginning to end, and will come away with an improved critical understanding of what makes a good short story. It will help you to come prepared with an idea you would like to shape into a story.<br />
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<b>Students say:</b> <i>"Great teacher, great environment and group"; "A fantastic, succinct course which really helped me to kick-start my writing"; "Very well-taught and inspiring - I gained valuable knowledge to help me write better short stories"; "Super-stimulating - I have confidence and many more ideas to work with now."</i>.</div>234.91188232Write a short story in a weekend129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/write_a_short_story_in_a_weekend-square_16.jpgInStockDaytimeSat-SunKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2026-01-24T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceJan 2026WritingHW491129129Write a short story in a weekend12965129Sarah Leipcigerwrite-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw491-2526Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. You'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace.0000-Available|2026-01-24 00:00:00virtual1187875Write a short story in a weekend129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/write_a_short_story_in_a_weekend-square_14.jpgInStockDaytimeSat-SunKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2025-10-04T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceOct 2025WritingHW063129129Write a short story in a weekend12965129Vicky Grutwrite-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw063-2526Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. Through a series of inspiring exercises, you'll be introduced to some key fiction-writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end.0000-Available|2025-10-04 00:00:00virtual1188103Write a short story in a weekend129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/write_a_short_story_in_a_weekend-square_15.jpgInStockDaytimeSat-SunKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2025-11-08T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceNov 2025WritingHW336129129Write a short story in a weekend12965129Vicky Grutwrite-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw336-2526Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. You'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace. Please note: this course includes a 1-hour break each day.0000-Available|2025-11-08 00:00:00virtual2540854Write a short story in a weekend129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/write_a_short_story_in_a_weekend-square_58.jpgInStockDaytimeSat-SunOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2026-03-28T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceMar 2026WritingHW082129129Write a short story in a weekend12965129Vicky Grutwrite-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw082-2526Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. You'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace. Includes a 1-hour break each day.0000-Available|2026-03-28 00:00:00virtual2667240Write a short story in a weekend129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/r/write_a_short_story_in_a_weekend-square_59.jpgInStockDaytimeSat-SunKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2026-05-23T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceMay 2026WritingHW085129129Write a short story in a weekend12965129Vicky Grutwrite-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw085-2526Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. You'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace.0000-Available|2026-05-23 00:00:00virtual12912965HW491,HW063,HW336,HW082,HW085NONESat-Sun04/10/25 - 05/10/2510:30 - 16:3010:3016:302 sessions21 to 4 weeksWeekendKSKeeley Street,OnlineSarah Leipciger,Vicky GrutBeginners, Some experienceAvailable courses2026-01-24T00:00:00+00:00,2025-10-04T00:00:00+00:00,2025-11-08T00:00:00+00:00,2026-03-28T00:00:00+00:00,2026-05-23T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeJan 2026,Oct 2025,Nov 2025,Mar 2026,May 2026Writing129129Write a short story in a weekendwrite-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw491-2526,write-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw063-2526,write-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw336-2526,write-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw082-2526,write-a-short-story-in-a-weekend/hw085-2526Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. You'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace.,Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. Through a series of inspiring exercises, you'll be introduced to some key fiction-writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end.,Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. You'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace. Please note: this course includes a 1-hour break each day.,Turn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. You'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace. Includes a 1-hour break each day.0000-Available|2025-10-04 00:00:00configurable
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