Events & Workshops

Flash is often defined as a fictional work of radical brevity that contains character and story development. Flash has become a popular form because of its ability to convey universal truths in only a few words. Flash pieces rely heavily on metaphor and narrative devices and can range anywhere from a few lines to a few pages. But they often incorporate a twist, surprise or personal epiphany at the end. 

In this workshop, Watt will present participants with some of the best in flash fiction. (Her own piece, Next Exit, was nominated for a best of anthology by Birch Bark Editing.) She will read from Pulitzer Prize Winner frank:sonnets by American poet Dianne Seuss, and Griffin Poetry Prize Winner Quarrels by Canadian poet Eve Joseph. Participants will learn a series of tools or moves that make flash shine, for example: use of definitions, rhetorical questions, lists, puns, jokes or clichés, fabulist tropes, animals and numbered sections, and unexplained shocking events. They will then practice these tools and learn the use of metaphor through a series of writing prompts. There will be time to rewrite and edit, and share with others. Ideally, this will be an exploratory and practical workshop ranging from 90 minutes to two hours, with approximately 8 – 12 participants. The atmosphere is safe, friendly, fun and inclusive, and only constructive criticism will be allowed. Through group discussion and sharing, writing prompts and quiet writing time, participants will develop a knowledge of the form and hopefully, write their own brilliant epiphanies. 

Important registration notes:

Members pay less for workshops! Are you trying to register and you’re being charged the full workshop fee when you’re a current SWG member? To access the reduced member rate for this workshop, please make sure you are logged into this website with your member profile to access the member rate for the session. (The member login link is on the top right of this page (computer) or at the top centre (mobile/tablet).)

If this workshop is sold out, please email swgevents@skwriter.com to be placed on the waitlist.

Please note that all times listed are Saskatchewan time. Find your time zone here: https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter

This event will not be livestreamed or recorded.

Accessibility Measures in this workshop

• Live auto-captions through Zoom
• Presenter self-descriptions
• Limited Zoom technical support is provided by SWG staff to assist participants while they’re in the Zoom meeting.

To help you prepare, here are the expectations for participants in this workshop:

• Camera is optional but greatly appreciated.
• Participant discussion is not required but is appreciated.
• Participants are not expected to share writing created during the workshop with the group, but it is appreciated.
• Participants are expected to participate in activities/prompts/exercises throughout the workshop. (In session only, no homework required.)

Workshop registration refund policy:

Please be certain you will be able to attend before you register. Registered participants must promptly email the SWG staff person responsible for the event (Cat Abenstein, Program Manager, swgevents@skwriter.com) to cancel their registration. Otherwise, no refunds will be issued.

• A full refund is available if you cancel your registration one week prior to the start of the workshop (by 11:59 p.m. on October 13, 2025)
• A 50% refund is available if you cancel your registration less than one week and more than 48 hours before the workshop. (For cancellations between October 14 and 19 at 11:59 p.m. SK time)
• There is no refund for registrations cancelled within 48 hours of the workshop or for no-shows. (Beginning at 12:00 a.m. on October 20)
• If you would like to donate your registration fee to the SWG’s accessibility fund so others can attend events like this in the future, please let us know in your email.

Workshop Facilitator

Kelly Watt is a Canadian writer and a frequent flyer on CBC longlists. Her latest book, a gritty collection of poetry and flash prose titled The Weeping Degree, was an International Amazon Bestseller, as well as a finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, U.K. (2024). She has published two other books—the gothic novel Mad Dog, Doubleday Canada (2001) and the mini travel companion Camino Meditations, H.S.E. (2014). Watt is accredited to run writing circles through WCDR, supported by Amherst Writers. She has taught “The Art of The Short Story” at the University of Toronto's Continuing Studies Program.

Funding provided by:

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