PBDS 731

Seminar in Creative Writing and Publishing

NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester.

The Seminar

(6 credits) This is the capstone course for the MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing. Entering the course with a completed or nearly completed manuscript, you will revise, design, and produce a publication consisting of your own original work. You will act as peer advisors to one another and are responsible for providing in-depth critiques of each other's work. The course revisits and re-examines practices and concepts introduced in earlier courses: experiential learning, the creative process, and making ideas public. You will also be challenged to look at your creative life beyond graduate school. The course will culminate in a public reading.

Requirements

1. Mandatory attendance

2. Weekly pillowbook writing

3. Weekly writing: fiction, 5 pages minimum; poetry, 1 new poem minimum; and/or revisions (copies for instructors and writing group)

4. Six fieldtrips: 2 with the class, 4 independently from recommended list or approved by instructors

5. One page response to each fieldtrip

6. Two page paper on guest speaker who most spoke to you (or what you got from each)

7. Public performance

8. Seminar Reception participation

Expectations

´ Use all resources available to you

´ Work hard/work soft

´ Help and inspire each other

´ Surprise yourself

Grades

1/3 for pillowbook, minor projects, and participation

1/3 for writing in Seminar Project

1/3 for design and production of Seminar Project

Course Schedule*

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1/29/03 Week 1 [Cancelled due to weather]

2/5/03 Week 2 Introductions

Syllabus

Course overview

Drawings

Proposals

2/12/03 Week 3 Writer's group

Conferences on proposals

2/19/03 Week 4 Fieldtrip Ü labyrinth

Metaphors

2/26/03 Week 5 Model of book

Production schedule

Writer's group

3/5/03 Week 6 Concept due

Writer's group

Turn in Production schedule

3/12/03 Week 7 Scheduled conferences (discuss prod. sched.)

Writer's group

3/19/03 Week 8 Videos

Writing workshop

3/26/03 Spring Break

4/2/03 Week 9 Writing workshop

Recommend to have completed document

1 page papers due about field trips

4/9/03 Week 10 Guest panel

Writing workshop

4/16/03 Week 11 Guest panel

Writing workshop

4/23/03 Week 12 Guest panel

Writing workshop

4/30/03 Week 13 Writing workshop

5/7/03 Week 14 Seminar project due

(2 copies + hardcopy of complete manuscript)

Write letter to self

2-page paper due on guest speakers

5/14/03 Exam Period Reading / Party

5/18/03 Reception

*Subject to change