Bookstock 2026 features four Master Classes on a range of topics led by professional teachers. Learn to self-publish your book, create a folding book, create micro-fiction, or tell your story effectively. And especially for teens: learn how to turn moments of your life into a compelling story. Master Classes are free, but you must register.
Bookstock 2026 Master Classes
Registration is required for all Events and Master Classes
The Art of Storytelling
Life is stories… Whether your own or someone else’s, our stories are who we are. They are our lessons, our entertainment, our way to share intimate feelings and develop personal relationships. Whether your interest is fiction or nonfiction, short form or long narrative, whether you’re writing for family archives or for publication, there are tried and true methods for making your stories the most impactful they can be.
In this course you will learn the principles of compelling storytelling: knowing how to communicate and listen on the deepest levels; developing intelligible characters; crafting cinematic scenes using mood, detail, description, and dialogue. We’ll follow up lessons with writing exercises and share some of our written work in class. Ultimately, in this workshop, you will find your “voice” by letting your words and thoughts spill out onto the page to produce a short narrative story; one you can build on even after you leave the classroom. Whether you are a novice or an advanced writer who is pursuing the never-ending process of honing your skills, this is a course for you.
Registration is required for all Events and Master Classes
Flash Fiction: TIny Stories with a Punch
3:00-4:30 pm | Norman Williams Public Library, Mezzanine
Can you tell a whole story in 100 words? How about six? Together we will encounter some “micro flash fiction” pieces, explore what makes a story a story, and delve into some specific tips to help your very short stories pop off the page. Prompted exercises will give you a chance to experiment with different aspects of microfiction. We will practice giving constructive critique and using feedback to improve our stories. The instructor will share some popular flash fiction contest sites where you can further hone your skills, meet other writers, and even win prizes! This workshop is for anyone with an interest in writing, all ability levels welcome and encouraged.
Registration is required for all Events and Master Classes
Do You Want to Self-Publish Your Book? Strategies for Success
Free, Registration required
Self-published books are on the rise, and represent a unique opportunity for authors who wish to get their messages out into the world. In this workshop, led by Dr. Beth Malow, local Vermont author of the award-winning self-published book, Beyond the Politics of Contempt, you will learn whether self-publishing is the right option for you. Using an interactive format, Beth will discuss the advantages and challenges of self-publishing along with the elements of producing and marketing a self-published book. Potential authors will come away with new insights into self-publishing and resources for how to get started on this path, and succeed.
Registration is required for all Events and Master Classes
Creative Writing for Teens: Don’t Be Boring, Turn Memoies into Stories
Free, Registration required
Where do stories hide? In overheard conversations. In family legends. In the one moment you can’t quite forget. In this lively, imagination-sparking two-hour creative writing workshop, high school students will discover how writers turn real and invented moments into art. Drawing on techniques used in both literary fiction and narrative nonfiction, we will experiment with voice, image, scene, and structure, learning how to make a reader see, feel, and lean forward. Along the way, students will glimpse how working writers shape raw material into stories that carry emotional power and intellectual depth.
This is not a lecture. Pens will move. Fingers will fly on keyboards. Students will respond to surprising prompts, build a vivid scene from scratch, play with point of view, and practice sharpening language so that every detail earns its place. We will explore how to move beyond summary into fully realized scenes, how to layer meaning without over-explaining, and how revision transforms first drafts into something intentional and resonant. By the end of the session, each student will leave with fresh pages and practical craft tools, a sharper eye for detail, a stronger sense of voice, and a deeper trust in their creative instincts.
Registration is required for all Events and Workshops