Professor Valerie Miner EngW 5102 ADVANCED FICTION WRITING WINTER, 1996, Wednesdays 4-7 p.m. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will explore the craft of advanced fiction writing on the graduate level through the reading and critique of work by students and of published work by other contemporary writers. We will read two MFA Essay books as well as shorter pieces. Students will have a choice of craft tutorials. 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 story, two other pieces of fiction, a five page seminar essay and brief, wekly discussion papers. Students will be discussing the two assigned texts and then making class panel presentations about published stories of their own choosing. GRADING The grade will be determined this way: Fifty percent on class participation and attendance. Fifty percent on the Essay Seminar Presentation and two pieces of fiction 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: Wednesdays, 2:30 - 4 pm and Thursdays, 4 - 5:15 pm. 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 Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich White Noise by Don DeLillo 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, 03 January Introduction of students to the course, the reading, the syllabus, the instructor, and each other. In-class writing exercise. Tutorial on short-short fiction. Week 2. From Short-short to longer and critique guidelines, 10 January Discussion of students' short-short stories Discussion of critique guidelines. Reading Assignment: Start Love Medicine Writing Assignment: One page short-short. Discussion papers. Bring copies. Week 3: Group One: Story One, 17 January Discussion of student stories. Discussion of Erdrich. Tutorial Reading Assignment: Love Medicine Writing Assignment: Stories. Essay Seminar Presentations. Discussion papers. Pot-luck at VM's house. Week 4. Group Two: Story One, 24 January Discussion of student stories. Discussion of DeLillo. Tutorial. Mid-term sign-up. Reading Assignment: White Noise Writing Assignment: Stories. Discussion papers. Essay Seminar Presentations. Week 5. Mid-term Evaluation, 31 January Individual midterm appointments with instructor. Please make a record of your appointment and bring a one-page self-evaluation to 336 Lind. Week 6. Group Three: Story One, 07 February Discussion of student stories. Plan panel discussions. Tutorial. Written Assignment: Stories. Discussion papers Week 7. Group One: Story Two, 14 February Discussion of student stories. Panel discussions. Tutorial. Reading Assignment: Student-assigned story. Written Assignment: Stories. Essay Seminar Presentation. Discussion Papers. Week 8. Group Two: Story Two, 21 February Discussion of student stories. Panel discussions. Tutorial. Reading Assignment: Student-assigned story. Written Assignment: Stories. Essay Seminar Presentation. Discussion Papers. Week 9. Group Three: Story Two, 28 February Discussion of student stories. Panel discussions. Discussion of this past quarter's work. Tutorial. Written Assignment: Stories. Discussion papers. Essay Seminar Presentations. Week 10. Conclusion and Continuation, 06 March Discussion of what we learned and how we can continue to use course resources. Tutorial. Written Assignment: Discussion papers. Please note: There may be some changes or additions to the syllabus, to allow for flexibility within the seminar. Top of Page ASSIGNMENT EXPLANATIONS: Tutorials: Come prepared with questions or problems related to your own writing. Possible tutorials: point of view, voice, characterization, narrative experiments, place, crossing genre borders, dialogue, plot, structure, organizing the writer's life, the meaning of life. 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. Essay Seminar Presentations: These five page papers will be based on the weekly reading. Assignments will be clarified in class. The papers offer an opportunity to help you prepare for the MFA Essay. We'll be reading these aloud. Bring a copy for each class member. Back to CV | Back to Faculty Directory | Back to English Department Home Page