Short Story Structure:
Writing Transformative Fiction

Join us at the Southern California Writers Association for an inspiring presentation by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, acclaimed author, longtime writing instructor, and host of the award-winning radio show Writers on Writing. In her talk, “Short Story Structure: The Secret to Writing Transformative Fiction,” Barbara will draw on her decades of experience as a teacher, speaker, and published writer to reveal the techniques that give short stories their power and resonance. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to elevate your craft, this session promises practical insights, fresh inspiration, and a deeper understanding of how structure can turn words into unforgettable fiction.

Bio

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett is the author of Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman's Guide to Igniting the Writer Within (Harcourt Mifflin Harcourt/Mars Street Press), which was a Los Angeles Times bestseller and winner of the Best Book Award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She edited the anthology Palm Springs Noir (Akashic Books), and her short stories have been included in the anthologies Coolest American Stories (Coolest Stories Press), USA Noir: Best of the Akashic Noir Series, and Orange County Noir (both Akashic Books). Her short fiction has appeared in Oyez Review, Literary Hatchet, Broad River Review, Rock and a Hard Place, and Dark City Crime and Mystery Magazine. Her essays and articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Inlandia, the Antarctica Review, the Ocotillo Review, the San Jose Mercury News, Orange Coast Magazine, Poets and Writers, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. She hosts and produces the long-running podcast Writers on Writing, and she was a co-producer and writer of the documentary Not in My Neighborhood. She has taught at Chapman University, the University of California, Irvine, and Saddleback College. Her current release, Pool Fishing, is available at Amazon and where books are sold.