“When it comes to flash fiction, few can rival Tommy for knowledge and expertise – he’s not only a highly influential editor, but also a master of the form as a writer. Working with him meant being challenged continuously, asked to dig deep and question whether I am wringing every drop of possible meaning out of every sentence, or whether I have done all I can to bring a character to life or keep the reader gripped. He provided thoughtful, expert advice and our discussions were lively, stimulating, supportive and fruitful. He certainly helped me write with greater rigour, and that’s helped me achieve greater success, which can be measured by the fact that stories we worked on together have gone on to win awards and be published in fine journals.” ~Jaime Gill
One-on-One, Online, Asynchronous
10 Week Independent Flash Mentorship
Starting January 10, 2025. Open enrollment throughout 2025. Email me with questions at thomasrdean13@gmail.com.
Cost: $700
Participants will receive bi-weekly lecture notes and handouts, analysis of key story examples, and prompts to inspire new drafts, as well as check-in by the mentor. Optional reading lists are tailored to each mentee.
Weeks 1-2: Definitions and Opening Paragraphs
Weeks 3-4: Point of View and Characters
Weeks 5-6: Plot and Structure
Weeks 7-8: Putting It All Together
Weeks 9-10: Revision and Submission Strategies
Critiquing schedule: Consists of in-depth line comments and suggestions, including things working and things the writer will want to consider revising.
Pre-work packet: 10 pages
Week 4: 10 pages: Revision or new drafts
Week: 6-7: 10 pages: Revisions or new drafts
Week 10: Letter of strengths and things to work on
Zoom Meetings: 30-60 minutes each
Week 1: Welcome/Writing goals/Schedule set-up
Week 3: Discuss 1st packet
Week 6: Discuss 2nd packet
Week 9-10: Discuss 3rd packet
Class Takeaways:
1. Learning materials for craft elements of successful flash fiction.
2. Three or more full flash drafts (depending on the writer’s goals).
3. Deep, personal line notes and comments on up to 30 pages of flash writing.
4. Reading list of flash fiction examples
5. Discussion and ideas for how/where to submit.
Tommy Dean
Flash writer, editor, teacher
Tommy Dean is the author of two flash fiction chapbooks Special Like the People on TV (Redbird Chapbooks, 2014) and Covenants (ELJ Editions, 2021), and a full flash collection, Hollows (Alternating Current Press, 2022). He lives in Indiana, where he currently is the Editor at Fractured Lit and Uncharted Magazine. A recipient of the 2019 Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction, his writing can be found in Best Microfiction 2019, 2020, 2023, Best Small Fiction 2019 and 2022. His work has been published in Monkeybicycle, Laurel Review, Moon City Review, Pithead Chapel, New Flash Fiction Review, and many other litmags. He has taught writing workshops for the Gotham Writers Workshop, the Writers Center, and The Writers Workshop.
One of the best things I did for my writing in 2022 was hiring Tommy as a coach. It felt like my own mini-MFA. I’m early in my flash fiction journey but have taken numerous classes and workshops over the past several years and formed my own feedback circles to help advance my writing and stories. But Tommy’s feedback and mentorship helped take my writing (and my own awareness of myself as a writer) to another level this year, and I’m grateful for that support. His feedback was specific enough to help improve the stories but also general in a way that gave me new insights about my own tendencies as a writer. Those 2-3 insights and broader writerly self-awareness were well worth the price of admission, and ones that I will be returning to again and again this year as I enter a new chapter. ~Wes
Tommy Dean 