CRW 5130 Spring 2018 Elizabeth Stuckey-French

Each student will have three drafts workshopped by the entire class: short stories or novel chapters. You can either submit two drafts and a revision of one, or three new drafts. If you want to submit a longer piece (up to 100 pages) you can do it in three separate sessions. In addition, each student will choose a story from Best American Short Stories, O’Henry Prize Stories 2015 or a story of your own choosing and do a short presentation on it in class. The presentation involves creating a handout which includes an writing exercise.

In this class we will explore some of the subtleties of the craft of fiction writing. What risks do successful fiction writers take and how can we learn from them? What new risks might you take in your own fiction? How can you make your fiction as dramatic, intense, engaging (and publishable) as possible? Our goal is the creation of a community of writers who can learn from and help each other. Courage, honesty and dedication are expected.