Fiction Writing Workshop

This course focuses on the art and craft of composing fiction, including narrative design from the traditional to the experimental, and exploring the elements of craft, including point of view, voice, dramatic tension and resolution, character construction, and dialogue. Students will also discover how both student and professional writers catch and sustain their reader's attention. As models for creative writing, students will also read a small number of works by a highly diverse range of contemporary authors representing a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. However, the primary emphasis of this writer's workshop will be on shaping students' original short stories. The sessions will be highly interactive and include writing exercises, peer editing, and regular small-group work. Students will also explore the possibility of publishing their stories in literary journals and magazines.