Friends! It’s that time of year again! These will be the only “live” (asynchronous) workshops I will be offering until January 2022–I’m looking forward to working with everyone this summer!
Flash Flood: Write a Flash Novel
May 31-June 11, 2021 (FULL)
July 19-July 30 (FULL)
Do you have a large, book-length idea that you’ve been wanting to bring to fruition? Do you want to end 2020 with your flash novel in progress? Do you love the intensity of FlashNano or NaNoWrimo? Then get ready: In 10 days we will create a literal “flash flood” and you will leave the workshop with the bones (at least) of a flash novel.
What’s a flash novel? With the scope and complexity of a novel, and the size and ingenuity of flash fiction, the flash novel is a new type of book, a breakout genre that can deliver a sophisticated reading experience in a compact space. In this online workshop will envision, draft, collage and create the momentum for that large-scale idea you have been wanting to tackle.
Participants should come with a basic understanding of flash fiction and have ideas for a book-length project.
NOTE: This class (taken this summer or previously) is the pre-requisite for the Flash Novel Mastermind
Going Short: Writing Beautiful Flash Fiction
June 14-18, 2021 (FULL)
August 2-6, 2021 (FULL)
This 5-day generative class will take a deeper dive into the concepts from Going Short to examine the fundamentals of flash, try a variety of approaches to the compressed narrative, discuss what makes successful flash, and generate your own original flash pieces.
This course is open to writers with all levels of experience in the form, whether you are brand new to flash fiction, a writer coming from other genres, or a veteran flasher looking for a dose of inspiration and some writing camaraderie.
Questions? Feel free to contact me at nancystohlman@gmail.com
The 12-Week Flash Novel Mastermind
Returning in September, 2021!
Get First Access to all courses
From Past Participants:
“Nancy’s class was a delight to take. Her incorporation of multimedia into each day’s approach motivated me on new levels, and her prompts opened doors to reimagining my stories in ways I had never before considered. The focus is on creation, not critique, which offered a comfort in that foggy, not-knowing phase of writing, something I’ve long struggled to find. This class was the gentle push I needed to dive head first into my ideas and let them carry me for while, before taking the reins. Thank you!”~Meagan Johanson
“Nancy Stohlman’s Flash Novel workshop was so helpful and so much fun I took it twice. Nancy’s wonderful course materials—readings, commentaries, exercises, critiques—arrive each morning like a magical gift to unwrap with the day’s first coffee. Now I’m hoping she’ll offer a Flash Novel Next Steps workshop!” ~ Sally Reno
“Nancy will help you to become a better writer—while having an awesome time. The best thing about working with her is that it doesn’t feel like work; the atmosphere is positive, generative, encouraging. I took her “Write a Flash Novel” class. These days I’ve become a slower, finicky writer, but her class pushed me out of my finickiness and into producing work. I wrote the hell out of those two weeks. Every day there was an inspiring prompt and lesson. It coaxed me out of dull perfectionism and allowed me to make a mess (a requisite for any artist).” ~Leonora Desar
“Nancy is a gifted teacher and coach, striking just the right balance between inspiration and discipline. In her Flash Novel workshop, I learned how to let go of preconceived ideas about my material and explore its larger possibilities for characters, structure, and plot. By the end of the class, I had lots of great ideas and a road map for getting them on the page.” ~Pedro Ponce
“The day I signed up for Nancy Stohlman’s “Flash Flood: Write a Flash Novel” workshop, I entered with five underdeveloped ideas. By the workshops conclusion, one of these ideas blossomed into a cast of characters with personalized desires, humor encompassed in varying flash forms, and previews of my fellow writers flash novels in-progress. This workshop enables writers to construct a table of contents, toy with characters (new and old), and exchange ideas on how to proceed in writing their novel in flash once the workshop ends.” ~K.B. Carle
“Nancy Stohlman’s Novel-in-Flash Workshop was a thoroughly rewarding experience. Nancy was an encouraging and passionate instructor. She fostered a supportive community of writers. Her knowledge of flash fiction helped me move out of my comfort zone and try out different techniques I would otherwise have been afraid of trying.”~Candace Hartsuyker
“Nancy Stohlman’s Novella in Flash Workshop moved my writing ahead in a direction I never imagined. Before it began, I feared I’d signed up for more than I could handle. But, in a ‘flash’, Nancy, a generous person, with an infectious creative spirit assuaged those worries. From the first workshop day to the last I received encouragement and insightful responses to my writing.” ~Jo Goren
“Nancy’s class was a delight to take. Her incorporation of multimedia into each day’s approach motivated me on new levels, and her prompts opened doors to reimagining my stories in ways I had never before considered. The focus is on creation, not critique, which offered a comfort in that foggy, not-knowing phase of writing, something I’ve long struggled to find. This class was the gentle push I needed to dive head first into my ideas and let them carry me for while, before taking the reins. Thank you!”~Meagan Johanson
During these times of uncertainty and unknowing, Nancy Stohlman opens up the writer’s mind to embrace uncertainty and unknowing as a source of creativity and discovery for our potential as writers. Her workshops provide a safe environment to let things go and see what surprises return. ~Annie Bien
The Flash Novel workshop with Nancy Stohlman was an amazing immersive experience. I looked forward to each morning, wondering what she would cook up next! Her prompts worked miracles, opening my story, helping to push it out, guiding the work to the next place it needed to go. I’m so grateful for her wise suggestions, her boundless support—and for the tools to maintain a daily writing practice to continue my project after the workshop was over. ~Jean Wolfersteig
Flash Flood: Writing the Flash Novel was the most inspiring and transformative writing workshop I have ever experienced, and I’ve participated in many good ones over the decades! The structure was brilliant, including a craft lesson each morning replete with sample readings, reflective observations from Nancy, and a multi-layered prompt. The flexibility allowed for each writer to respond in the way that was most meaningful for their project and where they were in their process. The small class size and the general good will of the writers created a warm and supportive sense of community from the first introductions. Nancy’s personalized and thoughtful comments arrived daily in response to each person’s work. I learned a wealth of new strategies that will continue to serve my writing for years to come. I also gained valuable insight into areas where I needed to push myself to explore new directions and approaches. I wrapped up this workshop with a solid collection of new work and a strong foundation for moving forward. Flash Flood was a game changer for my writing and I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to work with Nancy! ~Katie Maxim
Nancy Stohlman 