In this course, you will learn and apply craft terminology such as reflection and narration. You will also learn strategies of contemporary essayists (such as past and present narrators) and how to approach creative non-fiction through a variety of forms (such as list essays, braided essays, memoir). We’ll read nonfiction from authors with highly varied backgrounds and vastly different approaches to structure, style, and content. This class will be generative; you can expect a lot of writing exercises, which will be shared with our community of artists. This course also includes a workshop component in which you will give and receive feedback to fellow writers. At the end of the semester, you will submit a portfolio that showcases your writing. 

In this workshop course you will write a 3000-4,000-word short story and read those written by our peers. We will get to know each other, share our love of literature, and trade story ideas before we begin reading and critiquing each other's work in earnest. You will be expected to participate in this discussion in three ways: as readers you will be expected to read, consider, and discuss a wide range of contemporary stories; as writers you will be expected to produce one complete full-length, fully revised short story which will be discussed in workshop; and as peer editors you will be expected to produce thoughtful critiques (400 words minimum) of all work put forward in workshop (as many as fifteen or more comprehensive critiques) and to actively participate in discussion. Student learning outcomes include Scene vs. Summary; Point of View (Perspective, Omniscience, Narrative Distance; Character & Interiority (Complexity, Desires vs. Obstacles); Dialogue & Voice (including Formatting); Setting (Concrete Imagery, Sensory Details, Viewpoint & Perception); Plot & Structure (Tense, Acute vs. Chronic Tension/Top vs. Bottom story, Pacing).