Advanced Fiction Writing – ENGL 4161
Writing Workshop in Cork, Ireland
The University of New Orleans
Summer 2015
Instructor: Maureen McVeigh Trainor, M.A., M.F.A.
Course Description: An advanced workshop in fiction writing, taught in an intensive (short term) format, in residence. Advanced Fiction Writing is intended to assist aspiring writers to become better and more instinctive at their craft. Close attention is given to the structure and language that propel plots and make characters come alive. Students should have some prior experience in creative writing. Students will write three original short stories and provide constructive feedback for the works of their classmates. They will also lead a class discussion on a selected topic. Reading and analysis of published works will utilized the formats and elements of fiction as well as provide common terminology and guidance for workshop critiques. By the end of the course, students will have gained a greater understanding of the principles of creative writing and applied that to both their own creative works and their analysis of classmates’ and published stories.
The course consists of four primary activities:
· Writing stories (three per student)
· Reading and discussing stories
· Critiquing and annotating your classmates' work
· Attending and participating in student readings
Texts: Online versions of each short story are listed. Feel free to use your own hard-copy versions, if you have them.
“Araby” - James Joyce http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2814/2814-h/2814-h.htm#link2H_4_0003
(The link is to Joyce’s short story collection Dubliners. I strongly recommend the entire collection to any short story writer, especially those writing in Ireland, but we will only discuss “Araby” and “The Dead”)
“The Story of an Hour” - Kate Chopin http://www.katechopin.org/the-story-of-an-hour.shtml
“A Good Man is Hard to Find” - Flannery O'Conner http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~surette/goodman.html
“The Lesson” - Toni Cade Bambera http://cai.ucdavis.edu/gender/thelesson.html
“Cat in the Rain” - Ernest Hemingway http://biblioklept.org/2014/02/11/cat-in-the-rain-ernest-hemingway/
“Orientation” - Daniel Orozco http://www.fsgworkinprogress.com/2011/05/orientation-by-daniel-orozco/
“How to Become a Writer” - Lorrie Moore http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/20/specials/moore-writer.html
“The Dead” - James Joyce
Additional stories may be assigned. You will also read all stories submitted for workshop by your classmates.
Assignments Percentage of Final Grade
Short Story 1 15
Short Story 2 15
Short Story 3 15
Explication / Evaluation / Revision 15
Presentation 10
Workshop feedback for classmates 15
Responses to writing prompts and inspirations 10
Attendance and participation at student readings 5
Due Dates
Short Story 1 is due by June 13. This will give your classmates time to read it and prepare feedback before class begins.
Short Story 2: Monday, June 29.
Short Story 3: Monday, July 6.
Explication / Evaluation / Revision: End of semester
Presentation: On the date chosen during the first class
Workshop Feedback: Verbally and written in class on workshop dates.
Published Short Stories: The first four by Monday, June 22. The next three by Monday, June 29. “The Dead” by Monday, July 13.
Short Stories
You will write three short stories. There are no restrictions on topic, content, or length, except that each story is a complete narrative and fewer than about twenty pages. Please note that there are required and optional program and local events during the week and on the weekends, so your time will be limited. The more you can write your own stories and read the published stories before classes begin, the better.
Presentation
You will analyze and present to the class a published story, element of an author’s work as inspiration, or collection of work that is not on the list above. The goal is to share with your classmates something that you find helpful or inspirational for writing.
Workshop Feedback
You will give both written and verbal feedback of work submitted by your classmates. Verbal feedback will be discussed in class. Written evaluations must be at least one page, double-spaced, and completed before class. Your feedback should be constructive and indicate both elements that work in the story and ideas you believe would improve it. Focus on content more than editing. Include your responses and reactions as you read. Read each story several times in order to provide detailed and useful feedback.
Written feedback can be printed or emailed to the writer. After all workshops for each set of stories (Short Story 1, 2, and 3), compile all your feedback for that set into one document and submit that to me through Google Drive.
Grading
Creative work will be graded based on effort to produce a complete narrative with developed characters; use of language; originality of ideas and style; and inclusion of the elements of literature. The Explication / Evaluation / Revision will be graded for awareness and development based on workshop feedback and your own ideas of intention and improvement. The presentation will be evaluated for insight based on the story and suggestions provided to classmates for writing based on this insight. Workshop feedback will be graded based on quality of constructive feedback created by close reading and consideration.
Daily Supplies For Class
Hard-copy notebook, big enough to write in daily, small enough to carry with you. Bring it to class every day, including the first.
Published and workshop stories, printed or electronic versions. Last summer, the wireless access on the UCC campus was spotty, so you should print or download everything to your computer.
Class Schedule
This will be distributed on or before the first class day.