Join award-winning short story writer and novelist Gurnaik Johal for a deep dive into the art and craft of the short story.
In this round table workshop Gurnaik Johal – author of the short story collection We Move, and novel Saraswati – will run a short workshop focusing on setting and character in short story writing. After a break the session will continue with an extended Q&A where participants can ask questions about the craft and career of a short story writer.
What will you do in the workshop?
The first section will include a discussion and exercise featuring extracts from Colson Whitehead, Stuart Dybek and Jhumpa Lahiri. After a break there will be approximately 50 minutes to discuss short story writing in more detail. The format of the session will be relaxed and conversational.
Who is this opportunity for?
This workshop is for experienced short story writers who are looking to make a step-change in their practice. We encourage writers who are keen to know more about short story publishing to sign up.
Access
If you require BSL interpretation, and/or have other access needs please email [email protected] so we can accommodate you.
Red Room – The Albany, Deptford
The Red Room is located on the ground floor. There are accessible toilets on the ground floor.
The nearest station – Deptford, New Cross and Deptford Bridge stations have step free access to all platforms via lifts.
Limited disabled parking is available to the rear of the building. There are nearby free parking spaces for Blue Badge holders in Frankham Street car park.
Published: Friday 15 August
About this Event
Gurnaik Johal
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Gurnaik Johal’s short story collection We Move (Serpent’s Tail, 2022) won the Somerset Maugham Award, the Tata Literature Live! Prize, was a Guardian Book of the Year, and a Hindustan Times Book of the Year. He won the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize in 2022, and has since had work featured in BBC Radio 4’s Short Works series, as well as in the short fiction anthology Duets (Scratch Books, 2024). His first novel Saraswati is an Observer Best Debut of 2025, and has been shortlisted for the 2025 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.