ENG 204 - Introduction to Writing Short Fiction

Fall 2024

Instructor 
Flanagan

The short story comes, like shoes, in numerous sizes and styles so we will study stories in various configurations by a variety of writers. During the first week of class, students are asked about their reading preferences and adjustments will be made to the syllabus to accommodate specific desires. After learning how to develop characters, write dialogue, create scenic settings and the other necessities in good fiction through examples provided in published stories, writers will be asked to demonstrate their creativity through the creation of Flash/Sudden fiction and longer stories. Creativity, a sense of humor, and the willingness to learn how to write compelling stories are required. 

Satisfies Literary Studies, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric requirement.

Spring 2025

Instructor
Flick
 

The study of sentences thumps at the heart of this writing class. As writers we need to love them and we need to understand and control and practice drafting and refining them. Plan to obsess over sentences this semester.
We will also examine, mess with, discuss, and practice (inside and outside of class) the essential craft elements that make up a story: dialogue, setting, character, point of view, plot, and big idea-using published work as our guide. We’ll look at the use of objects in fiction. And how the daily habit of observation plays into creativity. The often-ignored craft element of compression will come into play as we draft flash fiction (from 100 to 1,000 words), which can be revised-expanded or compressed-for final submission.

Satisfies Literary Studies, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric requirement.