Learn how to write great short stories and share them with the world.

Written by one of the country's leading experts on the short story, this practical, inspiring book is ideal if you want to write creatively in a genre that is increasingly popular with publishers and readers, and which offers plenty of competition and festival opportunities for you to showcase your work.

This new edition includes up-to-date material on the many exciting opportunities and resources online and an explanation of the world of self-publishing. In addition it discusses emerging genres such as micro-fiction, and is fully updated with new resources, events, slams and competitions.This book will help unlock your imagination and creativity, and show you how to discover stories you didn't know you had. It will help you to observe the world around you more sharply, as well as to structure, shape and polish your stories. It is full of practical exercises that will fire up your imagination, help refine your skills, and build your confidence as a writer.

Zoe Fairbairns' short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and are published in her collection How Do You Pronounce Nulliparous? Her work has appeared in anthologies including The Seven Deadly Sins, in magazines including The Yellow Room and online. She teaches short story writing and other creative writing courses at the City Lit in London.