Do you have an idea for a story but don’t know how to start?
Do you have a draft but need an editor?
Are you stuck on your summary? Cover letter? Query?
Do you want to make your story, memoir, or fiction shine and sparkle?
During this 4-week session, I’ll take your writing to the next level. That means something different for everyone. I’ll ask questions about your overall project and the chapters, segments, or scenes you submit. You’ll start seeing new possibilities and approach your writing with renewed energy.
Trying to figure out what to write next? We can do some free writing to help you figure out what you want to write about.
Stuck in your writing or productivity?
Why?
Let’s find out and do something about it.
We will brainstorm, try new tactics and techniques, and move your writing forward. Whether you need help getting started, want to revitalize your writing, are seeking fresh inspiration, or are digging more deeply into familiar subjects, I’d like to be your sounding board and advisor.
Your writing will generate questions from me. As you answer my questions, you’ll start seeing new possibilities. Find out what’s working. Learn to spot the segments that need improvement.
Ready to find a publisher? Let’s work on your cover letter or query and polish those first chapters until they sparkle. Together we’ll make your work the best it can be.
Because this is Independent Study, we work at your pace. I can guide you to useful sources for submitting shorter pieces, help you research and approach agents, and help you learn about the options for self-publishing, depending on your needs.
Tuition
SCN members: $205. Non-SCN members: $255
Instructor Bio
B. Lynn Goodwin owns Writer Advice. She’s written Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 (memoir), Talent (YA) and You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers (self help). Never Too Late and Talent are award winners. Her newest book, Disrupted, came out in January. Google Goodwin + Disrupted to find it. Shorter works have appeared in Hip Mama, The Sun, Good Housekeeping.com, Purple Clover.com, and Flashquake. She is a reviewer and teacher at Story Circle Network. Visit her website and her blog.
Flash Memoir tells a true story, one that you’ve been a part of as a participant or spectator. It runs 750 words or less. You can submit prose or prose poetry. You can also submit a personal essay or the core of a personal essay.
Sometimes the ending makes readers say “Wow,” for one reason or another. It leaves an impact and makes readers think. If the narrator changes her life, some readers will realize they can change theirs too.
I realize you already know this, but a memoir of any length is a true story as you remember it.
How can you tell your story in 750 words or less? It’s not your whole story; it’s a crucial moment in your life.
Focus on the moment or realization that changed the narrator.
Start far into the story.
Be clear.
Be insightful.
Cut everything that isn’t essential.
Let your verbs and nouns describe.
Let tone, attitude, and behavior as well as dialogue get your ideas across unless you want the piece to be dialogue only.
Can’t fit it into 750 words? Plenty of other places are looking for longer pieces, but you might ask a trusted reader if s/he sees anything that’s not essential to the story
Write about what interests you or the moment you can’t let go of. Or dig out old memoir moments that haven’t placed elsewhere, decide whether or not to revise, and submit those.
You can find some samples of Flash Memoirs in Prior Winners
How do you enter? Starting December 18th, you can use the Submittable link at the bottom of the page. The contest will close on March 2 at midnight ET.
PRIZES? PUBLICATION? ABSOLUTELY! for the best 3 to 8 pieces. All can call themselves winners in Writer Advice’s 2025 Flash Memoir Contest. We no longer rank as first, second, and third place.
JUDGES: Since everyone who’s published is now considered a winner, as opposed to first, second, and third place winners, we use judges from previous contests only when needed. B. Lynn Goodwin consults with former Writer Advice winners as needed.
Questions? Use the Contact Box on the home page.
Submittable will ask for a $5 submission fee which goes towards prizes and an additional $10 if you’d like feedback on what’s working and what might trip readers up. Despite the price of gas, groceries, and everything else, I’m keeping my rates the same, which is my gift to those who enter.
If you prefer to send it directly to me, use the contact box on the home page. I’ll ask you to pay the fee through PayPal and as soon as I receive the payment, I’ll read your work.
Questions? Please ask but read the suggestions first.
SUGGESTIONS:
Stick to 2-3 characters unless you can make your point using only one character.
Start late in the story.
Make every detail–every word–count.
Let the protagonist change.
Give readers a reason to care.
Make descriptions sparkle with verbs and/or nouns.
Know how you want readers to react.
Test your writing by having a trusted friend read it to you. Listen for places she or he trips up and fix them.
Please use a readable font. If we can’t read it, we’ll have to change it. Try Arial or Verdana 14 or 16 if you want the first reader not to struggle.
Done it all? Please stop judging yourself and submit.
Finalists will be notified in mid-December.
If we publish your work, you can call yourself a winner – as opposed to the winner—and you will be financially compensated. The amount varies depending on the number of winners.
FOR BEST RESULTS:
Include your name, contact information, and title on the Submittable form, but include only your title in the actual submission so it remains anonymous. Please leave the header and footer blank.
Since we judge these anonymously, you don’t need a cover letter that includes more than your contact information. If you are a finalist, we’ll ask for a bio.
Pleasedouble-space your submission. We recommend that you use a 14-point font that is easy to read. Cambria, Ariel, and Verdana are all good. If you forget, we may fix it for you.
You own the copyright. If we publish your work, the rights still belong to you, though we ask you not to resubmit to anyone other a publisher or agent until 90 days after it appears on Writer Advice. Please give us credit if it is published elsewhere.
Simultaneous submissions accepted.
If your work is accepted elsewhere, please notify us immediately.
We prefer unpublished work, though we do accept stand-alone excerpts from work seeking a publisher or agent.
Please hit the contact button and ask questions if anything is unclear or missing. Thank you!
Names of all winners will be announced on WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com in early April or—worst case–later.
E-mail questions to editor B. Lynn Goodwin through the contact button on the home page. We value your work and look forward to reading it.
COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTANTS:
Although I’ve received many more kind words since I posted these, I haven’t updated. My interest is in your writing–not promotion, though I have books for sale. Curious? Please ask. I appreciate being able to choose where I put my time.
“Thank you for your great advice. I appreciate it and will use it to improve my writing.” –Shelley Malicote
“Your suggestions for improvement rock.” –Shelley Stutchman
“WriterAdvice.com is one of my all-time most reliable and accessible sites for writers. I use it—and recommend it to my clients.” ~Carolyn Howard-Johnson, multi award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers (http://howtodoitfrugally.com), poetry and fiction
“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve told about the great feedback you give to folks no matter how many entries you get.” –Bill Buschel
“It’s such a refreshing experience to have some exchange — as most submissions disappear into the either like rogue satellites.” –Charles Watts
“Your insights are excellent” –Dan Dubelman
“You are the first professional to offer feedback and your encouraging words have given me additional motivation! It is reassuring to know that I was on the right track; you have a remarkable ability to give constructive feedback in a positive way (and you are absolutely correct). I look forward to submitting more stories and continuing to improve.” –Jamie Fouty
“I learned about this contest from the Submittable page. I then checked out your website and felt comfortable submitting my story as you seem like someone who genuinely wants to help and advise others.” –Roger Yetzer
“I’m always striving to improve my writing, and feedback from editors like you make it much easier to do so.” –Margarite R. Stever
“Many thanks for your response, from it, I can tell you’re very good at what you do.” –Kisa, Visually Versed
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to read and analyze my work . . . It’s not every day a contest gives you comprehensive feedback instead of a simple yes/no!” –Lena Crown
“Thanks for the wonderful feedback, never, never, got that before in thirty years.” –Jenny Hickinbotham
B. Lynn Goodwin 