WRIT 319
Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction
NOTE: This is representative of the
syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any
one semester.
Course Description & Objectives
This course combines practice
in writing fiction with intensive reading and discussion of works illustrating
the distinctive elements, principles, techniques, and forms of narrative. Students will be encouraged to write
fiction that is shaped by a particular view of experience and informed by an
understanding of what stories are, how they work, and why they matter to us.
Texts
Williford & Martone
(eds.), The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction
Madison Smartt Bell, Narrative
Design
Requirements
Regular attendance and
participation in class / workshop discussions.
Reading response. A written response (approximately 3
typewritten pages) to one or more of the assigned readings, intended to foster
an approach to reading as part of the writerÍs study of craft. Your response should focus on some
aspect of the reading that is of particular interest or concern to you as a
writer. May be submitted at any
time during the semester. Due no
later than Dec 3.
Weekly writing /
workshops. You will be required to
submit writing on a weekly basis.
Each week you must submit to the instructor an annotated copy of your
work in progress. No exceptions
will be granted, and late submissions will not be accepted. When presenting your work in progress
for group discussion, you must provide a copy of your work for each member
of the group.
Writing projects.
A short short story. Due Oct 15.
A long(er) story. Due Dec 17.
[All work must be typewritten
/ word-processed, 12 point type, double-spaced, white 8 1/2 x 11" paper]
Grading:
In determining your final
grade, the various aspects of your performance will be weighed as follows:
Participation & weekly
writing 20%
Reading response 20%
Short short story 30%
Long(er) story 30%