July is nearly over and my last Fast Flash class of the summer concludes August 2nd. I’m already feeling the end of summer approaching and I’ve begun to look at my schedule for the Fall. There remains a high demand for my workshops and for that I’m very grateful. I’ll soon be sending out an email to those on my mailing list (sign up on the right side of this page if you’re interested). I’m excited by all the NEW things I’ll be offering and I hope you will find them exciting too!
I have also made the radical decision to give myself a month “off” from teaching Fast Flash in order to focus on a large writing project that has been sorely neglected. Beyond Fast Flash, I have numerous other projects and teaching obligations, such as teaching for the Mile High MFA, along with the Flash Fiction Retreats that Nancy Stohlman and I are creating, so it won’t be a total break, but, my friends,…I need this. I need to honor the writer me and give myself time to fill my own creative well. It will make me a better teacher and human and happier in general.
Now I want to address something: I get a lot of emails from those of you who have tried to get into my classes to no avail and I’m often asked to increase class size and/or offer more sessions. That would certainly make me richer, but the quality of my workshops would suffer. My ability to read your work with care and respond thoughtfully means a great deal to me. Fast Flash is both substantive and intense. It’s also an intense workshop for me to teach! In short, I want to do my best by you and that means limiting the number of classes I teach and keeping class sizes to a reasonable level.
So my apologies in advance if you don’t get a spot this time around. (Please note I am, again, offering two sessions ONLY to those who’ve not gotten in before.) But! There are numerous GREAT teachers out there, offering terrific online courses. The beauty of being a flash fiction writer at this point in time is all the wonderful teachers and mentors at your disposal as well as the generally kind, supportive nature of the community. All of us approach teaching a bit differently and that variety is good for all of us! If you don’t get into my classes, I urge you to seek these out.
Enjoy the waning weeks of summer, my friends. I will be in touch soon.
Has it really been just 4 years since that first beta class? So many lasting friendships came out of that group. So much has happened for all of us. I couldn’t be more thrilled for your success, Kathy, and no one gives back as much as you do. Yes, of course take a month for yourself. You need to recharge and regenerate and for God’s sake rest. Love you, my friend.
Yes, four years! I can’t quite believe it myself, Jayne. As ever, I’m grateful to the eight of you who signed on to do the Beta test for me. And thanks so much for the kind words. I am stretched too thin lately and need this break. Love you too, my friend. 🙂