Creative Writing AN3022MA, AN50000BA

Strategies in Long and Short Fiction Writing

Agustín Cadena

Tel.+204090081

Format: seminar, 2 hours; graded.

Place: Room 55

Time: Wednesday 12:00 - 13:50

Office Hours: Wednesday 16:00 - 18:00 hrs.

Description of course

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the technical problems that a young writer has to face in short fiction. The emphasis, though, will be more on the practical aspects (workshop) than on theory.

Course requirements

There are no reading assignments, but the students are expected to write as much as it is necessary in order to keep a good workshop rhythm. They are expected as well to share their critical insights on the works of each other in an atmosphere of respect and intellectual honesty. Participants will be graded in every class. Neither an oral presentation nor a written-in-class exam will be required, but students must hand in a long-fiction project by the middle of the semester, as well as a concluded short story at the end.

Class Attendance and Participation

Students May not miss more than three classes under any circumstances. Tardiness, early departures, and/or disruption of the class will not be accepted. If you have a compelling reason for arriving late or leaving early, make sure you speak with me about the problem. If you regularly cut the beginning and/or end of the class sessions, it can add up to full-class time absences.

Long Fiction Project.

The student must outline the argument, structure and technical characteristics of a novel (due on May 22). He/She doesn’t have to write it, as the purpose of this exercise is to learn planning techniques, but the outline and description of the hypothetical work must be presented in a 1700-2000 words document.

Final Work.

The student must hand in a complete short story of 2000-3000 words, ready and meant for publication.

Grading

Attendance and participation: 30%

Creative Project: 30%

Final Work: 40%

Week-by-Week Description of Course

Class 1. February 22: Orientation: course introduction and requirements. Students are expected to start shaping their writing projects.

Class 2. March 1: Basic. Situation construction.

Class 3. March 8. Basic. Situation construction.

Class 4. March 22: Basic. Space and atmosphere.

Class 5. March 29: Basic. Space and atmosphere.

Class 6. April 5: Basic. Character construction.

Class 7. April 19: Basic. Character construction.

Class 8. April 26: Basic questions (What, Who, When, Where). Short Fiction / Long Fiction.

Class 9. May 3: Advanced. Narrator (Who tells the story). Short Fiction / Long Fiction.

Class 10. May 10: Advanced. Focalization (Who sees the story). Short Fiction / Long Fiction.

Class 11. May 17: Advanced. Character construction (types of characters: main, secondary, round, flat, stereotypes, archetypes, etc.). Short Fiction / Long Fiction.

Class 12. May 24: Advanced. Character construction (building, naming, and individualizing a character). Short Fiction / Long Fiction.

Bibliography

Frank, Arthur W., The Wounded Story Teller, The University of Chicago Press, 1995.

Hillman, James, Healing Fiction, New York, Spring Publications, 1996.

Highsmith, Patricia, Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction, New York, St. Martin’s Griffin, 1990.

Keen, Sam, Anne Valley-Fox, Su viaje mítico. Encontrar el significado de la vida a través de las propias fabulaciones, Barcelona, Editorial Kairós, 1991.

Tapply, William G., The Elements of Mystery Fiction, Scottsdale AZ, Poisoned Pen Press, 2004.