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Academic Year 2005/2006


Writing Short Fiction: A Creative Writing Seminar and Workshop
COL 201 FA

This course may be repeated for credit.

In this creative writing course, students will analyze the narrative techniques of twentieth century modern masters of the short story such as Italo Calvino, William Faulkner, Bernard Malamud, Alice Munro and Flannery O'Connor. Students will study various ways to structure narratives and develop characters; examine problems affecting narrative distance and perspective in third- and first-person stories; explore sophisticated narrative techniques involving parallel and non-chronological plots, stories-within-stories, and characters who take over narratives; and discuss ways of plotting long stories or novellas and organizing short story collections. After writing original stories employing narrative techniques learned in class, students will share their writing in workshops. This course has demanding reading and writing requirements. Students interested in the course should contact the instructor by November 22, and submit writing samples.

MAJOR READINGS

Flannery O'Connor, COLLECTED STORIES
William Faulkner, UNCOLLECTED STORIES
Richard Bausch, SPIRITS
John Steinbeck, THE PASTURES OF HEAVEN

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Students will read approximately 200 pages of fiction per week, and write 30-40 pages of short fiction during the semester.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Prospective students must contact Paula Sharp by email psharp@wesleyan.edu by August 28, for instruction regarding submitting a writing sample. In rare cases, freshmen may be admitted to the class.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA COL    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006


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