Our Stories: A Fiction Workshop for Young Authors

A workshop on paper that examines thirty student stories to help young authors master the essential craft of writing fiction.

Presents a selection of short fiction written by students in grades four through twelve followed by Bauer's comments on each, detailing what works well and making suggestions for improvements.

Twelve focused chapters address core fiction elements such as sensory description, authentic dialogue, point of view, building tension, and revision. Bauer analyzes thirty original manuscripts to illustrate how narrative conflict and character motivation operate across varied genres.

Each section pairs student drafts with practical writing exercises that demonstrate how to rework scenes and sharpen storytelling technique.

• Creative Writing: Bauer demonstrates how to transform flat summaries into active, dramatized scenes, illustrating the technique by reworking the opening of Gretchen Yancey's story.


• Case Studies: Student drafts span multiple genres, from Joseph Cook's sci-fi mutiny aboard a starship to Sarah White's Revolutionary War historical drama.


• Actionable Strategies: Clear diagnostic questions teach writers how to spot pacing slowdowns, cut unnecessary adverbs, and resolve story conflicts through character choices rather than convenient coincidences.


• Writing Workshop: Practical guidelines for peer review show writers how to evaluate story strengths before suggesting improvements, avoiding destructive criticism while refining drafts.


• Also by This Author: A Writer’s Story.