Write or Die

Write or Die

Creating a Short Story Collection (When You Don’t Know Where to Start)

Former Wigleaf Top 50 editor Shome Dasgupta on the art of building a collection

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Apr 22, 2026
∙ Paid
Art by Mariam Chagelishvili

Hiya, welcome to The Forever Workshop.

First time? Read this first »

Back again? Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

A workshop for:

Short fiction writers looking for insights, guidance and practical tips on putting together a collection of their work.

Your instructor:

Shome Dasgupta — author of 13 books and former Wigleaf Top 50 series editor

Takeaways:

  • Explore four approaches to building a collection — and how each suits your work

  • Navigate the logistics: word count, story order, and landing on the perfect title

  • Understand the publishing process, from finding the right home to handling setbacks

  • Learn from Shome’s transformative experiences with four very different collections

By the end of this workshop you’ll have a clearer idea of what to expect from creating a short story collection, with prompts and exercises to help you shape your own.

Four Ways to Put Together a Short Fiction Collection

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