INTERMEDIATE FICTION WRITING, ENGLISH 392-01, SPRING 2003

English department: 885-6156 (message) or 885-7128

1. Review and mastery of fiction techniques.

2. Reading and study of texts: The Best American Short Stories 2000 (ed. E.L. Doctorow); instructor-selected stories, available from Copy Center in the Commons. You are expected to read all the stories in the texts, even if we don’t have time to discuss them in class.

3. Completion of three stories, at least 30 pages of fiction, revised and polished to near perfection. This process will involve feedback from classmates as well as the instructor, and numerous drafts. Students will workshop all stories and confer with instructors on at least one of them.

4. Completion of three-to-five 2-page assignments and in-class exercises.

5. Full, constructive participation in workshops and conferences.

6. Completion of a journal focusing on the stories in TBASS that we will not have time to discuss in class.

7. Participation in web discussion when assigned.

8. Typed critique (1 page minimum) of each student story presented for workshop (you’ll need two copies of each critique–one for the instructor to evaluate).

9. Required attendance; more than two unexcused absences will affect a student’s grade and may cause him or her to fail the course.

10. Required attendance at two of the English department-sponsored readings: Kim Barnes on March 12 (Ad Aud) and Scott Russell Sanders on April 16 (Courtroom).

Intermediate Fiction Writing is a graded course. I do not grade individual stories. For final grades I factor in improvement and willingness to stretch the writing self, particularly as it experiments with point of view, narrative development, and style. I also factor in your contributions to the 392 writing community. The final grades, if all students participate fully, will most likely range from C to A. I reserve A grades for the truly outstanding, for those exceptional students who read all texts closely, who revise substantially and carefully, who offer well-considered and thoughtfully presented feedback, and who produce excellent stories after hard work. No one will receive an A unless he or she has completed all assignments–and in a timely fashion. In addition to writing comments on your written work, my assistants and I will give you comments on your performance during individual conferences during the semester and at your request.

Joy’s office hours are M 3:30-5:00, Tu 12:30-1:45 and 3:30-4:45, and others by appointment, Brink 203; she often adjusts office hours but will let you know beforehand on the ‘net or in class.

Tod Marshall, poetry, Thursday, February 13

Kim Barnes, fiction, Wednesday, March 12

Al Greenberg/ Janet Holmes, fiction/poetry, Wednesday, April 2

David Baker, poetry, Tuesday, April 8

Scott Russell Sanders, nonfiction, Wednesday, April 16