​For early bird pricing, use code FFFS21 until 8/31/26.

​Every life has its creatures—the dog who greets us at the door, the cat curled up on the couch next to us, birds nesting outside our window each spring, or the horse we rode for one unforgettable summer. Don't forget the goldfish, the turtles, the caterpillars, the animals we feared, the ones we rescued, the ones still with us, and the ones we miss.

​In this hands-on generative workshop, we'll use short writing prompts, examples from our own work, and small-group conversations to explore how animals become part of our lives and our stories. Whether the creatures in your life are beloved companions, passing visitors, or wild encounters, you'll leave with several new pieces of writing and fresh ways of thinking about the pets that call us their own.

​What you'll discover

• ​How animals can unlock memory

• ​Finding story through small, specific moments

• ​Writing emotion without sentimentality

• ​Letting ordinary encounters reveal larger truths

​What you'll do

• ​Write several new micro memoirs

• ​Learn from examples by both instructors

• ​Share in optional breakout conversations

• ​Leave with prompts to continue writing

​Optional Add-on: If you purchase the Workshop + Reading option, you can send us two micro prose pieces (up to 300 words each) for a personal response from both instructors. We’ll respond to each piece with a short paragraph by email. This is a readerly response, not an editorial letter or critique, and comments should not be read or used as an endorsement of work. To learn more, go here.

​From Previous Workshops

• ​"Abby and Darien were both wonderful. Such good examples of micro memoir writing and such great prompts!"— Kathleen M.

• ​"Such easy, great writers' chemistry between Darien and Abby." — Donna K.

• ​"The workshop was so great. Lots of gems from both Darien and Abby." — Gina E.

• ​"This was a wonderful workshop. I loved the intimate feel of it, the sharing and the writing prompts." — Melissa H.

• ​"Darien and Abby made a great team as they both have so much valuable experience to share." — Charlotte H.

• ​"I absolutely loved it. I love that you both shared your own work first and then gave us a space to write. I got two great pieces from it. You're both so lovely and talented. I loved being in a collaborative and creative space like that." — Shea M.

• ​"I loved this workshop. I wrote things I didn't know I had in me to write." — Jane R.

​Preparation: There's nothing to prepare in advance, but if you'd like a head start, let your mind wander to the animals in or that have passed through your life.

​ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTORS

​Abigail Thomas is the bestselling author of multiple acclaimed memoirs including A Three Dog Life, Safekeeping, and Still Life at 80. Stephen King called A Three Dog Life "the best memoir I have ever read," and her work has been featured in O Magazine and taught in classrooms worldwide. She has been teaching memoir writing for over 30 years and writes The Next Interesting Thing on Substack at abigailthomas.substack.com.

​Darien Hsu Gee is an award-winning author whose work includes the micro memoir collection Allegiance, poetry chapbook Other Small Histories, and forthcoming Fortune Cookie in Bloomsbury's Object Lessons series. Her novels have been published by Penguin Random House and translated into 11 languages. She teaches micro prose on Writer-ish (writerish.substack.com) and shares her creative process on Drafts, Deals & Detours (draftsdealsdetours.substack.com).

​REFUND POLICY

​If your plans change, refunds are available through September 5, 2026, minus a $35 administrative fee. After September 5, registrations are non-refundable. In the unlikely event the workshop is cancelled, registered participants will receive a full refund.