A story is a constructed thing. It begins from something small, some fragment: a person, place, or thing, something seen, said, or heard. Other fragments follow until it becomes a whole entity. The quality of the final product depends, like all constructions, upon the care and craftsmanship that have gone into each of its elements, each of its constituent parts. This course will thus emphasize process over product. About one-third of our time will involve writing creatively: we will begin, like visual artists in training, with small things, sketches of character and setting, studies of objects and moods; we will then craft these fragments, polish them, and use them as starting points for building narratives. The other two-thirds of our time will involve reading as writers, studying published works as models of some core elements of craft such as Character, Point of View, Plot, Object and Symbol, Theme, and Diction. We will apply, process, and develop our understanding of these elements by discussing and writing about our readings using the tools and vocabulary of craft critique. We will explore and create narratives of all sizes, from prose poems, to flash fiction, short shorts, and short stories. Bring your poetic sensibility to this course. Assignments will alternate between writing exercises, readings, and reading responses.

Texts:

Tom Bailey, A Short Story Writer’s Companion,
a collection of short fiction to be announced,
electronic reserve readings.