Sunday Shorts
January-June 2026
Reading Group
Lena Valencia
$65
$55
Virtual (Zoom)
A (Somewhat) Silent One Story Reading Group
Join One Story for a monthly silent reading group. We’ll provide the stories. You’ll provide the love for literature.
What’s better than a great short story? Reading a great short story together! In this class led by Lena Valencia, One Story’s director of educational programming, students will meet once a month to read a past issue of One Story from our archives. The best part? There’s no advance reading! During each session, students will meet on zoom to silently read that month’s chosen story, followed by a brief group discussion. The meeting will end with a conversation with either the author or editor of the issue. Sign up today for six months of reading and community with One Story.
About Lena Valencia:
Lena Valencia is the author of the short story collection Mystery Lights (Tin House Books / Dead Ink Books), which was longlisted for the Story Prize, named a Best Short Story Collection of 2024 by Electric Literature, and a Best Horror Book of 2024 by Esquire. Her fiction has appeared in BOMB, The Baffler, Electric Literature, Ninth Letter, Epiphany, the anthology Tiny Nightmares, and elsewhere. Her writing has been supported by the Elizabeth George Foundation and the Convent Arts Fellowship, and she holds an MFA in fiction from The New School. For more information please visit lenavalencia.com.
March 22 Session: "Aerogrammes" by Tania James
In this session of Sunday Shorts, we’ll be reading and discussing Issue #88, “Aerogrammes” by Tania James.
Tania will be joining us for a conversation at the meeting’s conclusion.
If you are interested in purchasing this as a standalone session, you may do so here. Note that those who sign up for the standalone sessions will not receive access to the author interview recording.
About Tania James:
Tania James is the author of four works of fiction, all published by Knopf: Loot, which was nominated for The National Book Award and the Carol Shields Prize; The Tusk That Did the Damage, which was a finalist for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and the Financial Times Oppenheimer Award; Aerogrammes and Other Stories, named a Best Book of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, and The San Francisco Chronicle; and the novel Atlas of Unknowns, which was a New York Times Editor’s Choice and a finalist for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. Her short stories have appeared in Freeman’s: The Future of New Writing; Granta; The New Yorker; O, The Oprah Magazine; and One Story, among other places, and thrice featured on Symphony Space Selected Shorts. She has received fellowships from the Macdowell Colony, Ragdale, the Sustainable Arts Foundation, and the Fulbright Program, and is an associate professor of English in the MFA program at George Mason University. Photo: Elliott O’Donovan.
Meeting Schedule
Meetings will take place on Sundays, from 4-5:30pm ET, on the following dates:
January 11
February 22
March 22
April 26
May 31
June 28
How It Works
The story we’ll be reading will be announced one month in advance, should participants want to read before we meet (not a requirement). The interview portion of each session will be recorded, however group discussions and silent reading time will not be. Upon enrollment, participants will receive a link to a virtual classroom on Thinkific, our online learning partner, where they can download a PDF of the issue and get the zoom link for the session.
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration is open now and will remain open until the course’s conclusion.
Will I be able to interact with the authors and other participants?
Yes! You’ll participate in group discussions and will have a chance to ask the authors questions.
How much time will the class take?
90 minutes, with approximately 30-45 minutes devoted to silent reading, 15-20 minutes of group discussion, and a 30 minute author interview.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a phone.
Will you mail me the issues that we’re reading?
No, however we will provide digital versions. If you would like to purchase a hard copy of the issue, you are welcome to purchase one from our website (if it is in stock).
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
If the cost of the class is a significant burden, please email edu.support@one-story.com
Troubleshooting FAQ
I paid for the class but never received an email with a class link.
Please visit one-story.thinkific.com/ and enter your email and password. The class should appear on your Thinkific student dashboard. Remember that you will need to use the email address associated with your One Story account. Do not create a new Thinkific account.
I paid for the class but I forgot/don’t know my Thinkific password.
Visit one-story.thinkific.com/ and click “Forgot Password.” Enter the email address connected with your One Story account. Do not create a new Thinkific account.
Discounts & Policies
Our online classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.
Patron Discount: In order to qualify for our patron discount, you must be a member of our patron circle at the time of registration. Patrons commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in our non-profit organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers or supporters are patrons. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a patron, you can do so here.
Refund Policy: One Story class payment is non-refundable after the class’s start date. For this class, refunds are no longer available after 1/11/26. For questions about the refund policy, or if you are unable to take the class after you have registered, please contact maribeth@one-story.com.
If you have any questions, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.
