Whether you are a writing novice looking to cut your teeth or a published professional, the short story is a unique and challenging medium that offers you amazing opportunities. Participants will consider the building blocks of story: plot, character, point of view, and other elements. What makes a first paragraph memorable? How do characters come to life on the page? When might dialogue serve a story better than narrative summary? Writer and teacher Reine Bouton, PhD, shares her recipe for crafting an irresistible short story!

Reine Bouton teaches literature and creative nonfiction classes at Southeastern Louisiana University and frequently travels to Spain and Italy with the school's study abroad program. She has published scholarly essays, edited a collection on Eudora Welty, and written nonfiction pieces on travel and culture.