Alchemy: A Microfiction & Poetry Workshop
Come spin your stories into gold with award-winning, short-form writer Autumn Bettinger and Tadpole Press head judge Amber Byers.
In this advanced workshop, you will:
Learn how to create emotional depth and a narrative pivot.
Practice infusing your writing with the soul of a poem.
Engage with a small group of committed writers.
Provide constructive feedback to 2-3 other writers.
Receive personalized, in-depth feedback from both Autumn and Amber, as well as your fellow attendees. Literally So. Much. Feedback.
Plan your next steps with a curated list of resources and submission opportunities.
Walk away with 4 fully polished, contest-ready entries.
“Autumn’s enthusiasm and passion make it such a welcoming learning environment and I am excited about the pieces I wrote and workshopped during the class.”
~ Christy Hartman
Two-time winner of NYC Midnight
Autumn is a short-form fiction writer living in Portland, Oregon. She was the 2024 Fishtrap fellow, and has won The Not Quite Write Flash Fiction Prize and the Silver Scribes Prize.
Autumn also won 1st place in the November 2023 Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest. Then she came back for a 10th-place win in our April 2025 contest. Now she's bringing her top techniques for crafting powerful microfiction to you!
Amber Byers writes poems the way young children capture fireflies—with wonder, a thrilling excitement, and a reverent understanding that these beings only visit us for a short while before they must be released into the darkening night.
As the founder and managing editor of Tadpole Press, Amber runs the internationally renowned Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest, Mini Moon Contest, and Tadpole Press Literary Magazine. Celebrating creativity and community is at the heart of it all.
From crafting an entry to recognizing its spark, we know the contest experience from both sides. Now we’re combining our insights to help you turn small stories into literary gold.
“[Autumn's microfiction workshop] offers valuable feedback for your writing, especially micro pieces. Autumn and Amber provide a safe space for your work. Highly recommend it!”
V Marie
1st class:
Nov 3, 2026
11:00-11:30 a.m. MT (Denver)
Optional community time 15 min before and after class.
2nd class:
Nov 10, 2026
11:00-11:30 a.m. MT (Denver)
Optional community time 15 min before and after class.
3rd class:
Nov 17, 2026
11:00-11:30 a.m. MT (Denver)
Optional community time 15 min before and after class.
4th class:
Nov 24, 2026
11:00-11:30 a.m. MT (Denver)
Optional community time 15 min before and after class.
Additional Notes:
This is a live, interactive workshop, and sessions will not be recorded. Please plan to join us live so you don’t miss the conversation, feedback, and creative sparks!
This is an advanced class. In addition to class sessions, please plan to spend time outside of class each week writing and providing written feedback on your fellow attendees' pieces.
Class size is limited to 4 writers. A minimum of 3 participants is required for this workshop to run as scheduled.
