Short Story Festival Program
You are invited to the Short Story Festival. It is a week-long celebration of all things short story. Over five days you will be inspired by excellent teachers to create, write and ultimately evaluate a short story.
Day 1 – Monday, 22 July 2024
7pm | The Spark by Megan Choritz
One of the lessons of improv is to trust your first impulse. It is usually the best one. Once you have your spark, how do you keep it, and prevent the procrastination monster from letting it die?
Q&A with Megan
Megan Choritz is a creative; actor, playwright, improviser, theatre director, reviewer and late bloomer novel writer. She wrote her debut novel Lost Property on Deadlines For Writers in 2022, published it in 2023 and has been basking in the lovely praise of it ever since
Day 2 – Tuesday, 23 July 2024
7pm | How to Write a Short Story by Mia Botha
Everyone has an opinion about what a short should be and how to judge if it is any good, but before we even get to the good part we need to get the basics down. When we get the basics right the good becomes great.
Join Mia as she breaks down the short story process and gives you plenty of advice, tips and tricks to start, improve and elevate your short stories. Oh, and we’ll have fun while we’re doing it.
Q&A with Mia
Mia is the creator of the 12 Short Stories Challenge hosted on Deadlines for Writers. In 2021 she created Short Story School to offer additional learning opportunities to writers who want to improve their craft. She has been teaching, coaxing and encouraging writers for more than 13 Years.
Day 3 – Wednesday, 24 July 2024
7pm | The Four Scene Markers – The Secret To Immersive Storytelling by Anthony Ehlers
No story exists in a vacuum. Attend Anthony Ehlers’s informative talk and gain insights and techniques to elevate your storytelling skills.
A successful short story goes beyond a mere sequence of events. We explore how to create an immersive experience, allowing readers to feel connected to the setting and characters. By using four key scene or story markers, you will not only enhance the structure of your narrative but also gain a deeper understanding of character viewpoint, plot development and setting.
We also cover the effective use of the five sense to evoke powerful emotions and draw readers into your story.
Q&A with Anthony
Anthony Ehlers is a copywriter, creative writing facilitator, and blogger. He has created The Viewpoint Workbook and Write Your Novel In A Year.
Day 4 – Thursday, 25 July 2024
7pm | Turn Self-Doubt into Gold by Traci Skuce
What if self-doubt wasn’t a problem? What if you could take it and turn it into gold?
Too many writers struggle with self-doubt and let it block their creative process. You don’t have to overcome self-doubt to let it work for you. This is no fairy tale of spinning straw. Come join Traci to discover how all your so-called negative feelings can invite you into writing a deeper, more textured, and resonant story.
Q&A with Traci
Traci Skuce is a writer and story mentor. She is the author of the short story collection, Hunger Moon. She also founded The Writing Journey. Traci is committed to the craft of writing, and creates a safe space for writers to explore the depths of their beings, so they can give full expression to their stories and get them out into the world.
Day 5 – Friday, 26 July 2024
7 pm | The Ultimate Short Story Checklist by Mia Botha
I can still remember the first short story I wrote and submitted. I was terrified. The whole idea of sharing my story, my writing, with other people was debilitating. I even put off finishing my stories so that I wouldn’t have to show them to anyone. And when I finally did finish a story I hid it away and didn’t tell anyone, but eventually, I came to realize that if I wanted to be a writer I had to start sharing my work.
I spent hours reading and researching short stories. I wanted my story to be perfect (they were anything but), but I started figuring out what I had to do to write short stories. Years later, I still love short stories. They are my passion. I have spent hours writing them and this checklist is a tool I use to make sure I’ve not lost the plot. Literally.
Join Mia to learn how to use this self-editing tool for short stories.
Q&A with Mia
Mia is the creator of the 12 Short Stories Challenge hosted on Deadlines for Writers. In 2021 she created Short Story School to offer additional learning opportunities to writers who want to improve their craft. She has been teaching, coaxing and encouraging writers for over 13 Years.