aN energetic, generative workshop to get you writing.

WRITE A STORY IN A DAY is a one-session craft class designed to jumpstart a complete draft of your next short story.

story in a day

fri, September 25, 2026

w/ author and book editor Susanna Daniel

Meets live in person from 9a-12p CT

Meets live on Zoom from 1-4p CT / 2-5p ET

Class fee: $75

Limited to 8 writers.

write a story with us
Open notebook with handwritten notes and a black marker on a wooden desk. On the desk, there are also a laptop displaying a social media page, a white ceramic mug, a glass vase with pink and purple flowers, and a black speaker. The background shows a large window with trees outside.

can i write a story in a day?

Yes, you can!

After a writing sprint to get our beginnings on paper, we’ll work with guided exercises and prompts to write as much of our story’s middle as possible, with a focus on intensifying action and emotional stakes.

Writers will leave workshop with the beginning, middle, and end of a story and much of its content, as well as a revision plan to keep up your momentum. This session includes generative writing time, brief opportunities to share, and nuts-and-bolt craft guidance.

Bring your creative energy and writing tools.

Choose Your Session: live in person or online

For our live-in-person morning session, we’ll meet on the west side of Madison, WI. Bring your laptop or notebooks. Light snacks and coffee and seltzer will be provided. This session is limited to 8 writers.

For our live-on-Zoom workshop, ready your writing space and brew your favorite beverage. This session is limited to 8 writers.

During our meeting, writers will:
• Develop a new story or essay on the fly
• Receive guidance focused on swift, immersive storytelling
• Learn revision and polishing techniques to take away

Our workshop includes:
• Generative writing sprints
• Encouragement, feedback, and brainstorming
• Guided exercises and prompts
• Group-wide craft discussion

who should join us?

The craft skills we’ll cover in this workshop apply to writers of all experience levels, whether you’ve been writing for a month or decades.

Limited to 8 writers, to encourage investment in each writer’s work and process. Writers of fiction and memoir are equally welcome.

 

story in a day Meets in person and online on fri, aug 28, 2026.

The live meeting (9a-12n CT) will take place on the west side, and the online meeting (1-4p CT / 2-5p ET) will take place on Zoom.

A computer screen showing a Zoom video call with eight participants, all smiling, in a virtual meeting room.

Meet the Instructor

  • Susanna Daniel, author and editor

    Susanna Daniel is the author of three novels. Girlfriending is a spinoff of her award-winning short story, "The Goddess of Illicit Choices," Stiltsville, was awarded the PEN/Bingham prize, and Sea Creatures, was a Target Book Club pick.

    Susanna is the co-founder of the Madison Writers’ Studio with author Michelle Wildgen, and she’s been leading the Book in a Year workshop since 2013. She’s coached and edited more 100+ novelists and memoirists, either from the blank page or from the full draft.

    Susanna is a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and was a Teaching-Writing Fellow at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow at the UW Institute for Creative Writing. She’s been awarded residencies at the MacDowell Colony and UCross, and has been published in the Sewanee Review, Newsweek, Slate, One Story, Wisconsin People & Ideas, Significant Objects, Epoch, and elsewhere. Before co-founding MWS, she taught college-level creative writing for ten years.

    You can learn more about Susanna at her website, and you’re welcome to contact her about Book in a Year via email.

  • “It’s rare to get a nurturing environment coupled with a deep, productive critique for one’s work. You set the bar high for writing workshops.”

    — Kyle W.

  • “Without being too simple – I loved it! And yes I will do it again, and if I knew anyone who was serious about being a better writer, I would recommend the classes.”

    — Mary

  • “For me, this was a great re-entry into the practice of writing. I would take another class. It’s a wonderful resource for people from all walks of life who want to write.”

    — Zara

  • “I felt that the group was respectful of the individuals while being honest with each other. Susanna fostered that environment and made it look easy.”

    — Tami

let's write a story.

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let's write a story. *

is story in a day right for you?

Book an appointment or email Susanna with any questions.

write a story with us

Enroll in story in a day

We’ll get in touch with details and an invoice within 48 hours of receiving your registration.

Please note that all returning students receive a 10% discount on workshops.

We look forward to getting to know you and your work!