About the Program

What makes a short story collection a cohesive work of art and not just a handful of fiction by the same author?

In One Story’s Short Story Collection Incubator, we’ll spend 9 months together exploring this question as you work to complete your own book of short stories. Through workshops, lectures, and discussions, we’ll build a supportive accountability network to help each writer finish their project.

We’ll pay special attention to finding connective threads across stories and examine formal considerations such as sequencing, as well as craft elements like setting, character, plot, dialogue, and language. We’ll read work by published short story writers and examine the arc, throughline, and themes that unify their collections into a satisfying whole. 

In addition to workshopping the group’s collections, we’ll enjoy visits from authors and publishing industry professionals who can talk through what the contemporary fiction marketplace looks like for collections. We’ll learn about submitting stories to magazines, crafting query letters, and the different avenues for publication. Students will leave with a firm grasp of what the next steps are in their collection journey and an understanding of where their work sits in the literary landscape. 

Writers in the incubator will move through three cycles. The first weeks will be spent presenting the vision for your collection and fine-tuning your goals for our time together. The next few months will be spent workshopping 50-page excerpts and examining how to move the book closer to your established vision. The final weeks will be spent workshopping single stories.

For our last session, students will read from their work at a live, public Zoom reading.

This class is limited to 10 students and is designed for writers with significant workshop experience. Tuition includes two 30-minute meetings with the instructor.

This course is designed for writers who: 

• Have a working draft of a short story collection manuscript
• Are looking for feedback on multiple stories
• Can commit to attending group meetings every other week for the duration of the course
• Have a goal of publishing their collection with a traditional publishing house
• Are looking to learn from and connect with other short story writers
• Have significant workshopping experience

While writers with published books are welcome to apply, note that a fair amount of the information covered in this course is geared toward those working on a debut book.

What you’ll get: 

• Comprehensive workshop of up to 75 pages of writing
• Access to all of One Story’s Self-Guided Classes (Hit Submit, Building Your Collection, Revise with Hannah Tinti)
• Access to One Story’s 2026 and 2027 Craft Lecture Series 
• Generative exercises to spark new ideas
• A supportive group of writers to cheer you on
• Visits from authors and industry professionals
• Weekly write-ins for focused time to work on your project
• A dedicated Slack channel to connect with your instructor and fellow writers
• Two 30-minute private meetings with the instructor

Course Schedule

2026 Sessions:

• September 15th & 29th
• October 13th & 27th
• November 10th & 24th
• December 8th 

2027 Sessions:

• January 5th & 19th
• February 2nd & 16th
• March 2nd, 16th, & 30th
• April 13th & 27th
• May 11th & 25th
• June 1st (final reading)

All sessions will take place 6:30–9pm ET. Schedule subject to change. Sessions will not be recorded.

Program Cost

Price: $4350

Patron Price: $4200

Application Fee: $25

How to Apply

Please complete the application form on Subfolio to apply. In addition to the application questions, you will need to include a 3,000-word work sample. Applications are due July 13, 2026. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $25. If the cost of the application fee is a burden, please write to edu.support@one-story.com

Applicants will be notified of their status in mid-August.

Please note that to be eligible for the Patron rate, applicants must be an active Patron of One Story as of August 18, 2026. Patrons commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in the organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers are patrons. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a patron, you can do so here.

Unfortunately we are unable to offer scholarships or payment plans for the Short Story Collection Incubator at this time.

Policies

Our 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.

Application fee waivers are available. If you require one, please contact edu.support@one-story.com. We are unable to offer scholarships for the short story collection incubator.

If you have any questions, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.