Professor Valerie Miner EngW 3960 ADVANCED FICTION WRITING WINTER, 1999, Wednesdays 2:45 - 5:30 p.m. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will explore the craft of prose writing through the reading and critique of work by students and of published work by other contemporary writers. Each session will include a craft tutorial as well as a literary discussion. Each participant will be producing new, polished work for class assignments. Back to CV | Back to Faculty Directory | Back to English Department Home Page REQUIREMENTS Intense class participation is the heart of the class. Writing assignments include a short-short narrative, weekly discussion papers, an original, polished short story, and a thorough revision of that story. GRADING The grade will be determined this way: Fifty percent on class participation and attendance. Fifty percent on the two longer pieces of writing submitted. STANDARDS We will be meeting as writing colleagues and as such will be observing professional standards. These include: Attendance at all classes for the entire class period. Submission of all assignments at the beginning of class on due date. Presentation of all assignments typed, double-spaced, with a dark ribbon on 8 1/2 x 11" paper. Careful observance of the length requirements and deadlines. No papers or assignments will be accepted late. Length requirements are strict to ensure the smooth working of the seminar. CONSULTATION All students are encouraged to use office hours to discuss any class questions or problems. I would also be happy to talk with you about career issues, aesthetic questions, etc. Remember if you have a query about an assignment--see me in the office before the due date. My office hours are Mondays, 2 - 3 p.m. and 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 5:30 - 6 p.m. My office number is 336 Lind Hall. My office phone is 625-0183. The best way to reach me is in person during office hours. The second best way is by phone during office hours. REQUIRED READINGS Writing Fiction: A Guide to the Narrative Craft, Janet Burroway, Fourth Edition, HarperCollins, 1996 Flash Fiction, edited by James Thomas, Denise Thomas, and Tom Hazuka, Norton, 1992 Work by other students Material distributed in class Top of Page COURSE OUTLINE PLEASE NOTE: DUE DATES FOR THE PIECES ARE THE WEEK BEFORE WE DISCUSS THEM. THE DATES ON THE SYLLABUS INDICATE WHEN WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THEM. PLEASE PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE ACCORDINGLY. OTHER ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AS INDICATED BY SYLLABUS. Week 1. Introduction, 06 January Introduction of students to the course, the reading, the syllabus, the instructor, and each other. In-class writing exercise. Discussion of Critique Guidelines. Tutorial on short-short story. Week 2. From Short-Short to Longer Stories, 12 January Discussion of students' short-short stories. Student seminar on Story Form and Structure. Reading Assignment: Chapter 2, Writing Fiction, and Allen Woodman, p. 31, Flash fiction Writing Assignment: One page short-short. discussion papers. Bring copies. Week 3. Group One: Narrative One, 20 January Discussion of student narratives. Tutorial on imaginative characterization. Reading Assignment: Larry Fondation, p. 213, Flash Fiction, Chapter 4, Writing Fiction Writing Assignment: Stories--10 pages. Discussion papers. Pot-Luck Supper after class Week 4. Group Two: Narrative One, 27 January Discussion of student narratives. Tutorial on evocative setting. Mid-term sign-up. Reading Assignment: Stuart Dybeck, p. 41 Flash Fiction, Chapter 6, Writing Fiction Writing Assignment: Narratives (10 pages). Discussion papers. Week 5. Group Three: Narrative One, 03 February Discussion of student narratives. Tutorial on the pleasures and complexities of revision. Reading Assignment: Joyce Carol Oates, p. 181 Flash Fiction, Chapter 11, Writing Fiction Writing Assignment: Narratives (12-15 pages). Discussion papers. Week 6. Midterm Interviews Mid-Term Appointment: Individual midterm appointments with instructor. Please make a record of your appointment and bring a one-page self-evaluation to 336 Lind. Also bring the copy of your first narrative with instructor's comments. Week 7. Group One: Narrative Two, 17 February Discussion of student narratives. Tutorial on point of view. Reading Assignment: Mary Morris, p. 114 Flash Fiction, Chapter 7, Writing Fiction Writing Assignment: Narratives (12-15 pages). Discussion papers. Week 8. Group Two: Narrative Two, 24 February Discussion of student narratives. Tutorial on point of view, part II Reading Assignment: Student assigned story in Flash Fiction, Chapter 8, Writing Fiction Writing Assignment: Narratives (12-15 pages). Discussion papers. Week 9. Group Three: Narrative Two, 03 March Discussion of student narratives. Discussion of this past quarter's work. Tutorial on figurative language. Reading Assignment: Student assigned story in Flash Fiction, Chapter 9, Writing Fiction Writing Assignment: Narratives (12-15 pages). Discussion papers. Week 10. Conclusion and Continuation, 10 March Discussion of what we learned and how we can continue to use course resources. Tutorials on theme. Additional, student-determined topic. Reading Assignment: Student assigned story in Flash Fiction, Chapter 10, Writing Fiction Writing Assignment: Discussion papers. Also TBA Please note: There may be some changes or additions to the syllabus, to allow for flexibility within the seminar. Top of Page ASSIGNMENT EXPLANATIONS: Readings: The Flash Fiction assignments will be given each week until week 8. Then students are asked to choose the last three stories from that book. When reading chapters in Writing Fiction, please read the textbook carefully. You will be asked to read one of the story examples each week (to be assigned by the professor). We won't have time to discuss all the story examples. Tutorials: Come prepared with questions or problems related to your own writing. Discussion papers: These brief papers are meant to help you prepare for class by focusing on an aspect of the reading and responding to it in advance. The length is one page, double-spaced (no more please!). Follow the instructions for each paper as given the previous week in class. We'll be reading these aloud. Bring a copy for each class member. Special discussion paper: Each student will take responsibility for leading the tutorial on one of the topics from Writing Fiction. To help prepare for this, please write a two page paper discussing your particular chapter. Please end the paper with three provocative and original discussion questions related to the chapter. Top of Page Back to CV | Back to Faculty Directory | Back to English Department Home Page