Wild Aster Young Writers Summer Studio

In this 6-week workshop, young writers will explore the craft of the short story through imagination, observation, and play.

*purchase tickets on our website wildasterbooks.com/writing-workshop

In this 6-week workshop, young writers will explore the craft of the short story through imagination, observation, and play. Each week blends short readings, guided discussion, and generative writing exercises designed to help students discover their voice and develop original fiction.

We’ll focus on the core elements of storytelling—character, scene, dialogue, setting, and conflict—moving between looking closely at how stories work and writing new material in real time. The emphasis is on process: staying curious, experimenting on the page, and learning how stories begin to take shape.

In the final sessions, students will have the opportunity to share a short story in progress and receive supportive, structured feedback from the group. The goal is to build confidence as writers while learning how to revise with care, attention, and intention.

By the end of the workshop, students will leave with a completed short story draft, a stronger understanding of fiction fundamentals, and a community of fellow writers.

Workshop Goals

By the end of 6 weeks, students will:

• Understand the foundational elements of short fiction (character, scene, dialogue, setting, conflict)
• Learn how to generate and develop story ideas from prompts and observations
• Practice writing vivid, scene-based fiction with attention to voice and detail
• Explore how stories build momentum and meaning
• Gain experience sharing work in a supportive group setting
• Learn simple revision strategies to strengthen and expand drafts
• Complete a short story draft (1,000–3,000 words)

Instructor: Aeriel Merillat is a writer based in Atlanta. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh, where she also taught undergraduate writing courses. A 2021 Lighthouse Workshop Fellow and 2023 Bread Loaf Contributor, she writes speculative short stories and is currently working on a science fiction novel. Aeriel is also a bookseller at Wild Aster Books and hosts their monthly Literary Open Mic and Fiction Book Club. Her work has appeared in The Massachusetts Review, Reed Magazine, and Fractured Lit.