Writing a short story that responds to another is a wonderful way to learn craft and to engage in an intimate conversation with another writer. In this presentation, we’ll analyze a number of pairs of short stories, looking at how the author has chosen to respond. In some cases, the connections will be clear and transparent; in others, the response will be more nuanced. Then, we’ll try our hand at this technique, with a number of guided writing exercises. Responding to another story can be a wonderful writing prompt and a new way to consider one’s own work. Participants will take home examples of paired short stories as well as tips and strategies for how to incorporate this technique into their own writing.
Laura Spence-Ash serves as Editor-at-Large for The Masters Review and writes a monthly blog series for Ploughshares on fiction responding to fiction. Her work has appeared in One Story, The Scofield, Literary Hub and elsewhere. She received her MFA in Fiction from Rutgers-Newark in... Read More →