In this masterclass from The Word Factory , we'll look at how formal constraints can free us from our usual writing habits and open up new imaginative possibilities for short fiction.
Through brief exercises, we'll explore a range of creative restrictions all designed to jolt us out of our well-worn thought patterns. We will try out niche narrative perspectives, harvest random pages from Wikipedia and dive into constraints of language and genre – all in the service of freedom (and fun.) We will be, to paraphrase Raymond Queneau, rats who build the labyrinth from which we escape.
Joe Dunthorne is a poet and novelist. His debut novel, Submarine, was translated into fifteen languages and adapted for film by Richard Ayoade. His second novel, Wild Abandon, won the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award. His debut poetry collection, O Positive, was published by Faber & Faber in 2019. His latest book, Children of Radium – a memoir about family and chemical weapons – was published in April 2025 and was adapted into an award-winning podcast for BBC Radio 4. He was born in Swansea and lives in London.
Part of the FUSIONS: short story masterclasses beyond the form collection.
Date: 2 March 2026, 6:30pm to 8pm GMT
Location: Online
Cost: £25
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