| SES # | TOPICS | READINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction, Process, the Origins of "Story" | ||
| 1 | Introduction and Discussion of the Process and the Nature of the Story | (no readings) |
| 2 | Discussion of Readings and Exploration into the Notion of What Makes a Short Story |
The following are all one-page essays: Anderson, Sherwood. "Hands." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 19. Gordimer, Nadine. "A Company of Laughing Faces." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 345. Munroe, Alice. "How I Met My Husband." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 661. Updike, John. "Separating." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 808. Wharton, Edith. "Roman Fever." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 841. |
| Use of Biography in Story | ||
| 3 | Biography, Slice of Life, and the Use of Real Life in Creating a Story |
Cisneros, Sandra. "Barbie-Q." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 160. Silko, Leslie Marmon. "The Man to Send Rain Clouds." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 739. ———. "Author's Perspective: Silko on the Basis of 'The Man to Send Rain Clouds'." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 792. |
| 4 | Exercise in Developing Story From Incident and Life | (no readings) |
| Beginning Character | ||
| 5 |
Begin Discussion of Character Character as the Center of the Story |
Gogol, Nikolai. "The Overcoat." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 311. ———. "Author's Perspective: Gogol on Realism." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 331. |
| Character | ||
| 6 | Creating Characters |
Mansfield, Katherine. "Miss Brill." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 562. Oates, Joyce Carol. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 664. Walker, Alice. "Everyday Use Walker." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 810. |
| 7 | Exercise/Workshop in Character Creation (Bring in a Character Sketch) | (no readings) |
| Plot | ||
| 8 | What is a Plot and How can it be Constructed? |
Achebe, Chinua. "Dead Men's Path." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 10. Hurston, Zora Neale. "Sweat." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 378. Jin, Ha. "Saboteur." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 420. O'Connor, Flannery. "A Good Man is Hard To Find." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 678. |
| 9 | Exercise in Creating Plot | (no readings) |
| Point of View | ||
| 10 | Examination of the Idea and Usage of Point of View |
Atwood, Margaret. "Happy Endings." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 22. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 297. Updike, John. "Separating." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 800. |
| 11 | Exercise on Point of View | Note: This exercise is best executed if it is printed out and distributed to students without them knowing what appears on the later pages. |
| Description | ||
| 12 | Description as a Central Element and Metaphor |
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 238. London, Jack. "To Build a Fire Faulkner." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 548. Mishima, Yukio. "Patriotism." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 629. |
| 13 |
Exercise with Description Discuss Reading in Terms of All Techniques Discussed in Class | Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." In [The Art of the Short Story]. p. 238. |
| Workshop and Revelation | ||
| 14 | Workshop: The Forms and Methods of Revelation | (no readings) |
| 15 | Workshop (Story 1) | (no readings) |
| Where to Start | ||
| 16 | Making the Decision Where to Begin | (no readings) |
| 17 | Workshop (Story 1) (cont.) | (no readings) |
| Place | ||
| 18 | Workshop | (no readings) |
| Strategies for Rewriting | ||
| 19 | Discussion of Place as Part of the Story | (no readings) |
| 20 | Rewriting and Overcoming Writers' Block | (no readings) |
| Workshop | ||
| 21–22 | Workshop (cont.) | (no readings) |
| Workshop | ||
| 23–24 | Workshop (cont.) | (no readings) |
| Publishing | ||
| 25 |
The Way a Professional Writer Works in the World The Business of Publishing (About Conglomerates, Agents, Distributors, etc.) | (no readings) |
| 26 |
Evaluations Discussion of Getting Published in the Real World | (no readings) |
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