About the Workshop

In this beginner-friendly writing course taught by short story writer Bhavika Govil, you will learn to read, love and write short stories of your own. You will learn to identify the traits of a good story—what makes them addictive, and unforgettable? You will learn practical tips on how to kickstart your imagination and spark ideas so you are never stuck with an intimidating blank page. And once there is an idea you wish to pursue, you will play with text and structure on how to start strong; where to begin, where to end, and what to do with the middle?

Together, we will read and dissect stories by writers as varied and wonderful as Lydia Davis and Vauhini Vara, Jhumpa Lahiri and Sandra Cisneros (and even a short story about Taylor Swift!), and learn how these writers bring us into their world and keep us there.

The most central part of story is character. You will learn tools to write memorable characters by getting down to their voice. In the last session, you will surprise yourself by writing stories that are experimental, and push the boundaries of the short story form as you know it. This writing workshop, which is in collaboration with poet and educator Aditi Rao’s The Make Space, will combine discussion, craft, writing exercises and tips from Bhavika’s own writing experience.

When: Every Saturday from November 23 - December 14, 2024

Time: 4.00 to 6.30pm India time (10.30am to 1pm GMT)

Where: Online on Zoom

Fee: INR 9,500 (or £100) for four comprehensive sessions

What will you get?

• Plenty of writing tasks and dedicated time to write

• Pre-class reading materials and a hotlist of recommended stories and essays

• A glossary of helpful craft terms compiled by Bhavika

• Tools to generate ideas right off the bat and have fun with your writing

• And a community to stay in touch with after the course

About the facilitator:
Bhavika Govil is an award-winning writer whose debut novel, Hot Water, is forthcoming with HarperCollins India in April 2025. She was the winner of the 2021 Pontas & JJ Bola Emerging Writers Prize. She has a Master's in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh. Her short stories have won the Bound Short Story Prize, been shortlisted for the Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize, longlisted for the TFA Awards for Creative Writing, and mentioned as a notable contender for the Bristol Short Story Prize. You can read her published stories ‘Eggs keep falling from the fourth floor’ here and ‘Curdled’ here.