Bring a story you already love—novel, short story, or other written work—and break it down to see what makes it sing: the plot twists, the characters, the themes, the voice. We’ll look closely at how queerness shows up in the text, what resonates, and what could be reimagined. Then, you’ll craft your own retelling, keeping what works, transforming what doesn’t, and making it unmistakably yours. You’ll leave with a filled-out story blueprint and a solid draft ready to grow!

By the end of this workshop, participants will leave with a document they fill out that clearly helps them identify the aspects of a story they like and establish a basis for their retelling. They will also be able to complete a draft of their own story!

Before the workshop, please re-read your favorite story and come with a short excerpt of it to use during this workshop.

Note: Since this is an all ages workshop, please do not include adult content in your excerpt or in-group discussion (save it for after the workshop!)

About the facilitator: Luka (he/they) is a storyteller and author from Squirrel Hill with a particular love for literary fiction, horror, and spending time outdoors. Luka is also one of Write Pittsburgh’s Write Spark Emerging Writers-in-Residence!

Date: Saturday, August 23, 1-3pm

Virtual: Link and pre-workshop instructions will be sent via email after registration!

Age Group: 13+ (free for ages 13-18)

Level: All Levels

Max # of Participants: 10