ENG 225-01 Writing Fiction: Introductory
Brandon Rauch
Classroom:
Office: 134 McIver Building, 8-5
M-F, and by appt.
Phone: 334-5459
Email: abrauch@uncg.edu
Course
Description and Goals: You will read published fiction, study its elements, complete a number
of written exercises, write stories, and read critically the writing of your
workshop fellows. Upon successful completion of this course, you should be
familiar with such basic elements of crafting fiction as structure, plot,
characterization, point-of-view, voice, and setting, style and be able to
analyze fiction from a writer’s perspective.
English 225 is a beginning course in the writing of
fiction. The level of the workshop will accom-modate
both new and experienced writers, as all writers benefit from exercises and
reviewing craft. It is assumed that you have taken a literature course that
involved the study of the short story.
Learning
Goals Adopted by the Creative Writing Program
1. To develop artistic abilities by focusing
intensively, under faculty guidance, on fiction
2. To learn sophisticated models of revision;
sharpen reading, editorial and analytical skills; and cultivate the ability to
articulate matters of craft and literary theory.
3. To become familiar with formal possibilities
for writing and explore the historical development of narrative through a close
study of the structure of fiction.
4. To develop a broader knowledge base of
contemporary works and the literary canon.
5. To enhance professional development with the
support of a community of faculty, fellow students, and distinguished visiting
writers.
Text: The Story and Its
Writer, An Introduction to Short Fiction, 6th edition,
Ann Charters
Supplies: You will need to bring two
reams of copy paper (20lb, 8.5 x 11) to the Writing Program Office (134 McIver)
by Thursday, January 30. Please write your name and the course number on
the wrapper to insure that your account is credited.
Writing:
— Writing exercises will be
assigned during the first part of the semester, some of these will be completed
in class.
— 2 original short stories (or
more if the stories are very short, for a minimum total of twenty pages) will
be due on the dates you will sign up for.
— A revision of one of these
stories will be due on our last day of class, Thursday, May 1.
— You must write a critique of
each story that comes up for discussion in the workshop. Make one copy for the
writer and one copy for me. These must be a minimum of one full paragraph (the
better part of one hand-written page).
Stories must be typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font,
on letter-sized paper, legibly printed, with pages numbered. They must be
proofread for mechanical errors—sloppy text and excessive errors will count
against your grade. Your critiques do not have to be as polished as your
stories, but must be legible. Guidelines for the substance and tone of
critiques will be provided. You must attend the classes in which your work is
to be critiqued, and in the case of an unavoidable absence, you should contact
me as far in advance as possible.
Grades: Given that this is an
introductory workshop it does not seem entirely fair to me to grade you on your
level skill as a writer of fiction. Therefore, the other components of this
course become all the more important. Your grade will be based on your
timeliness, attendance (2 absences before your grade is lowered),
participation, earnestness, organization, the
thoroughness of your critiques and revisions, and citizenship. I realize that
it can be frustrating to work the majority of the semester without receiving
grades (other than on the occasional quiz), so I encourage you to come and
speak with me if you are concerned about your performance.
Conferences: You will be required to
meet with me in conference at least once this semester, but I’m also happy to
meet with you whenever you like. I ask only that you schedule a time one day or
so in advance for longer conferences. If you have a quick question or small
concern you’d like discuss, feel free to drop by my office (134 McIver, 8-5,
M-F) any time.
Visiting
Writers: I
will require that you attend at least one reading during the semester, and will
provide you with a schedule of dates and times.
14
Jan, T – Intro, Lies
16
Jan, Th – The Writing Process, “Why I Write Short
Stories” p1472 and “Happy Endings” “Everything That Rises Must Converge” p1117
plus “A Rhetorical Reading . . .” p1685
21
Jan, T – “The Conversion of the Jews” p1229 and “On Writing” p1605
23
Jan, Th – “Boys” p1032, “Girl” p839 and “Form, Not
Plot, in the Short Story” p1453
28
Jan, T – “Hills Like White Elephants” p647 and “Hands”
p64
30
Jan, Th – “The Things They Carried” p1102 and “Where
Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” p1089
4
Feb, T – “Menagerie” p754 and “Sonny’s Blues” p84
6
Feb, Th – “Battle Royal” p464
11
Feb, T – GR Stories (stories handed out), “Creative Writing 101” p1611
13
Feb, Th – GR stories
18
Feb, T – Read Stories Scheduled for Workshop
20
Feb, Th – and
25
Feb, T – and
27
Feb, Th – and
4
Mar, T – and
6
Mar, Th – and
11
Mar, T SPRING
13
Mar, Th BREAK
18
Mar, T– and
20
Mar, Th – and
25
Mar, T – and
27
Mar, Th – and
1
Apr, T – and
3
Apr, Th – and
8
Apr, T – and
10
Apr, Th – and
15
Apr, T – and
17
Apr, Th – and
18
Apr, F – Spring
22
Apr, T – and
24
Apr, Th – and
29
Apr, T – and
1
May, Th – and
6
May, T – Last Day of Classes,
Follows Friday Schedule