Making Things Happen: Short Story Writing Masterclass with Chris Power (In person)
We’re teaming up with Word Factory, the national short story organisation, to bring you a series of inspiring writing masterclasses from the atmospheric spaces of The London Library. This second session, taught by novelist and short story writer Chris Power, will consider how to make things happen.
Making things happen is one of the fundamental tasks of storytelling. It’s also one of the hardest. What should happen when? What if too much happens, or too little? In this workshop we’re going to think about how to make things happen. By taking a close look at Denis Johnson’s short story ‘Emergency’ (in which a lot happens) we’ll learn to better understand what possibilities are available to us when we write, and gain the courage to take bolder steps in our own work.
The workshop will run from 10am to 1pm at the Library and all participants will receive a complimentary London Library day ticket (worth £20) so that you can continue writing or using the Library until it closes at 5.30pm. A guided tour of the Library will be on offer after the workshop for anyone who wants to explore. Tea and coffee will be provided throughout the workshop.
Chris Power is the author of a novel, A Lonely Man, and a collection of short stories, Mothers, which was longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize and shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize. He teaches postgraduate creative writing at Goldsmiths College in London, and can sometimes be heard presenting Open Book on BBC Radio 4.
Word Factory creates literary excellence and long-term relationships supporting the next generation of short story writers.
We have some bursary available to enable those on low or no income to attend. This will be allocated on a first come first serve basis and according to need. If you would like to apply for a partially or fully subsidised place, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by 30th June, letting us know why you’d like to attend, details of your financial situation (income, responsibilities and dependents, benefits, any other relevant information) and the amount of subsidy you’d need to attend.
Attendees will be able to access The London Library from 9.30am ahead of the event starting at 10am. Please see our Event Access and COVID Guidelines before you arrive.
London Library events are subject to Terms and Conditions.
