Women's Writing Days: Short Story

In the second in our new series of one-day online masterclasses, award-winning short-story author, novelist and tutor Manya Wilkinson will explain the key components of a successful short story so you can write a compelling piece of fiction.

When Mslexia creates a Women’s Writing Day we know it must deliver high value in a short space of time. You might be busy with work, writing, and caring responsibilities, so we bring in expert tutors who can distil craft quickly and effectively – leaving you with the skills, confidence and momentum to move your writing forward.

If you’re interested about the short story craft, this one-day masterclass is an energising journey through the genre, and a rare chance to dedicate an entire day to your writing in the company of likeminded women writers.

The tutor

Manya is a prose, stage and radio writer. She has been teaching creative writing at the highest level for decades, specialising in the novel and short story genres. Her fiction has been widely published, her plays have toured the UK, and her radio plays have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Her novel Lublin won the Hawthornden Prize, the Wingate Literary Prize and the RSL Encore Prize in 2025.

'Manya's day was a high point for me. Her sessions were really thoughtful and incredibly helpful. She is obviously a very skilled teacher.' 

'I feel as if I have been guided out of the undergrowth.'

'Manya's teaching on structure was wonderful. I truly made some shifts forward with some blocks I'd been having.'  

'Now I know how to move forward with a book I’ve been struggling with for 14 years.'

What you'll be doing

The day will be a mix of high-level tuition and writing exercises with tangible outcomes. 

Throughout the masterclass you will be producing fresh ideas to form several new pieces of fiction. You will work through one story on the day but leave with other options to develop in the future and principles you can apply to your existing works as well.

All you need to bring is an open mind and something to write on. 

What you'll leave with

By the end of the day, you will leave with the building blocks and confidence to write multiple short stories:

• The 7 ingredients of a successful story 

• A memorable protagonist

• A page-turning plot

• The first page of a story

• A distinctive writing style

Who it's for

This masterclass is designed for:

• Short story writers looking to sharpen their craft

• Writers who want a clear, confident starting point for writing short stories

• Novelists needing respite from long-form fiction

• Poets and memoirists ready to explore fiction

When it runs

The course will run twice:

• 10-4, Friday 3 July, online

• 10-4, Sunday 5 July, online

What past participants say 

We ran a Women’s Writing Day in March 2026. Here’s what participants said:

‘I got a huge amount from the day. I was looking for advice on how to structure my novel and the masterclass gave me everything I was looking for –I found it fantastic.’

‘I just want to say it was one of the best one-day masterclasses I have attended.’

‘Just thank you. I always find Mslexia courses inspiring.’

We won’t run this course again this year, so book now if this is the year you’re going to write short stories. Booking closes 1 July.

We offer two bursary places for low-income writers. Please fill out this form and return it to postbag@mslexia.co.uk by 8 June.