Upcoming workshops and submission opportunities
Dates for your diary
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Welcome to a roundup of the upcoming classes, courses and submission opportunities available at WestWord and The Mindful Writer.
Workshops
Monthly Craft
The monthly Craft Post for members is now going to be a short story masterclass each month, a proper craft breakdown of what makes it work, and writing exercises and prompts to get you trying different things out and starting new stories. Inspired by the Slow Story workshop series Amanda ran last year.
Easy as 1, 2, 3: Tackling the Triptych
Sunday 4th October 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM BST
A triptych is three associated pieces of art, music or text that work together to create a bigger picture. Join Martha Lane as she explores the techniques we can use to create stories full of connected threads.
This workshop is included with WestWord memberships. Join here or just book separately and come along.
Crafting Satisfying Story Endings
Tuesday 13th October 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM BST
How many times have you read a flash, a story, a novel even and the ending feels flat?In this workshop we’ll look at endings in flash fiction specifically, and how to land that end with emotional resonance even with the constraint of a reduced word count.
WestWord members can attend this workshop at a discounted rate.
Homespun Stories
Sunday 1st November 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM GMT
Stories of domesticity are an important part of the literary landscape, peering behind closed doors is fascinating, and the unassuming everyday items that fill our homes can be as inspirational as any far-flung travels. Use easily accessible prompts to create wonderfully rich stories set in the home.
This workshop is included with WestWord memberships. Join here or just book separately and come along.
Writing Compelling Conflict in Flash Fiction
Tuesday 10th November 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM GMT
It’s extremely difficult to have a story without conflict, the push and the pull is what drives plot forward. And the resolution (or lack of) is what shapes the ending. However, conflict in flash fiction works a little differently. Without the space to build tension slowly you have to compress everything and work within the confines of immediacy.
WestWord members can attend this workshop at a discounted rate.
Friday Flashing
Every Friday 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM BST
Join Debbi Voisey for focused flash fiction development that will sharpen every aspect of your writing. Each session features a reading, associated writing prompts and a chance to take your flash writing to the next level. These sessions are included in a WestWord membership or you can pay as you go.
If you have your own idea for a workshop, get in touch.
Deadlines
You have a week left to contribute to our latest charity anthology, raising money for Mary’s Meals - an organisation dedicated to providing school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest communities. We want explorations of HUNGER. A tornado rips through a town - devouring as it goes, a dolphin’s stomach is full of plastic bags, a café owner makes his last sandwich, someone enjoys their first meal after a long illness. Swallow us whole. Deadline: 20th September.
Our final edition of WestWord is also open for submissions. Send us your stories, micros and flash fictions exploring the theme MIRROR. A pregnant woman suffers the rare Mirror Syndrome, a public toilet becomes the subject of scrutiny after a strange message is found, a ringleader sets up his hall of mirrors and can’t find his way out. Reflect your characters in fascinating ways. Deadline: 30th September.
I know the season’s only just changed but our annual Christmas Countdown is ready for submissions! What better way to celebrate the festive season than with a literary advent calendar? Ten seasonal stories starting 12th December — and in true advent style the prizes are revealed when the story is published. Send your stories (up to 1,000 words) by 25th October.
Always open
Mini Memoir
We’re looking for pieces up to 1,500 words — true stories told with the precision, resonance, and craft of the best short fiction. Mini memoir sits in that particular sweet spot where a single moment, relationship, or fragment of lived experience is held up to the light to reveal universal truths about being human.
Flash Focus
Two flash fictions (up to 750 words) are chosen each month for Flash Focus. All writers selected will also have an interview about the story that will run alongside it. There is no theme for this one.
Monthly Micro
On the first Monday of each month a prompt is posted, you then have a week to comment with a 75-word micro. The winner (randomly selected so everyone who participates has equal chance) gets a free ticket to a WestWord workshop of their choice.
Short Story Spotlight
For longer stories of up to 5,000 words. All those stories published will be accompanied by an author interview. There is no theme but we suggest reading previously published stories to get a feel of what we like.
Coming soon
100 Word Stories
Can you tell a story in exactly 100 words? Then this submission slot is for you.
Long Short Stories
For those of you who have more to say. Our new submission slot is for much longer short stories, think of the epic sagas and emotional journeys you can take us on in 5000-10,000 words.
If you’re a member of the WestWord Community you now get one free submission a year included with your membership.
Courses
A Year of Mindful Writing
Over twelve months, you’ll explore what it really means to write mindfully: with intention, authenticity, vulnerability, fearlessness, and compassion. Each month builds on the last, weaving together craft, self-inquiry, and spiritual practice to help you become not just a better writer, but a more present and honest one.
This isn’t a course about rules and techniques. It’s about understanding why you write, what you’re writing towards, and how to get out of your own way so the work that wants to come through you actually can. Applications close in December 2026.
Journalling Courses
The Mindful Writer has three self-study courses developed to help you use mindful writing and therapeutic journalling as tools for genuine inner transformation. Each one is rooted in Amanda’s training as a therapeutic journalling practitioner and mindfulness mentor, and in her own ongoing practice — these are approaches she lives by.
Work through them at your own pace, returning to any session whenever you need it. Each course includes teaching, guided writing prompts, and a meditation or mindfulness practice. There are three courses, From Limiting Beliefs to Limitless Self: A writing journey from wounded to whole, Cultivating Self-Compassion: A journalling journey to being kinder to yourself, and Ageing Gratefully: A journey to embracing the wisdom and joy of your elderhood.
Please help us support UK homeless charity, St. Mungo’s and buy a copy of our flash anthology, Dislocation. If you buy direct using the QR code or button below it means far more money reaches the charity, since we’re not paying 55% of the cover price to retailers. The direct orders are available for shipping in the UK and US only. If you want to buy from a bookstore then it is available in Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Amazon, and can be ordered in by independent stores.
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© 2026 Amanda Saint
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