Undergraduate Course: Creative Writing Part II: Prose (ENLI10211)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | In this course, students will explore the structures, techniques, and methodologies of fiction writing through both analytical and creative practice. Focusing specifically on the art and craft of the short story, students will examine a wide range of stories, learning to analyse works from a writer's perspective. Discussions will emphasize unpacking the functional elements of selected works (character, setting, point-of-view, narrative voice, dialogue, scene versus description, plot, and so on) with the aim of learning strategies for evaluating, writing, and revising their own short stories. Weekly creative exercises and workshop sessions will complement and enhance these discussions. Students will draft, edit and revise their own short stories, while also critiquing and offering constructive feedback on the work of their peers. |
| Course description |
In this course, students will explore the structures, techniques, and methodologies of fiction writing through both analytical and creative practice. Focusing specifically on the art and craft of the short story, students will examine a wide range of stories, learning to analyse works from a writer's perspective. Discussions will emphasize unpacking the functional elements of selected works (character, setting, point-of-view, narrative voice, dialogue, scene versus description, plot, and so on) with the aim of learning strategies for evaluating, writing, and revising their own short stories. Weekly creative exercises and workshop sessions will complement and enhance these discussions. Students will draft, edit and revise their own short stories, while also critiquing and offering constructive feedback on the work of their peers.
Students will spend the first half of the course analyzing published stories and exploring these techniques and practices through creative writing exercises both in class and with their ALGs. The second half of the course will be devoted to workshop sessions in which students read, analyze, and critique short stories drafted by their peers, bringing the strategies and analytic vocabulary developed in the opening half of the course to bear on one another's short stories, while also using them to guide their own creative process as they draft and revise their own short fiction.
Indicative Topics & Assigned Readings:
Description and Setting: Anton Chekov's 'The Lady with the Dog'; George Saunders' 'The Wavemaker Falters'
Character: Anita Desai's 'Private Tuition by Mr Bose'; Muriel Sparks' 'The Executor'
Point of View: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 'The Thing Around Your Neck'; PG Wodehouse's 'The Girl Friend'
Dialogue: Eudora Welty's 'The Petrified Man'; Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery'
Plot: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'Scandal in Bohemia'; Agatha Christie's 'Tragedy at Marsdon Manor'
The above-listed readings are mostly drawn from That glimpse of truth: The 100 Finest Short Stories Ever Written edited by David Miller which is available electronically from the library. In addition to those assigned, students are encouraged to read around the craft element of each topic using the recommended reading resources. Specific readings will be assigned, but additional reading will be highly beneficial.
Required Text
David Miller (Ed.). (2014). That glimpse of truth : The 100 finest short stories ever written. Head of Zeus.
Highly Recommended:
Stephen King. (2000). On writing: A memoir of the craft. Scribner.
Jeff Vandermeer (2013) Wonderbook: An illustrated guide to creating imaginative fiction. Abrams Image.
Matthew Salesses. (2021). Craft in the real world: Rethinking fiction writing and workshopping. Catapult.
Ira Mark Milne (Ed.). (2008). Short Stories for Students Volume 26: Presenting analysis, context and criticism on commonly studied short stories. Gale.
Alternative Learning Groups
ALGs will proceed as in any literature course: groups will read assigned stories then discuss specific activities set by the instructor. This will feed into both the Craft Analysis and ALG Reflective Assignments. During the workshop portion of the course, ALGs will be devoted to writing exercises, which will be discussed with groups to further develop critical feedback skills.
Workshop Sessions
The second half of the course will be devoted to reading one another's fiction writing, giving feedback (written and oral) to classmates, while also drafting, editing, and revising a short story. Each student will have one full-length story (approx. 3,000-4000 words in length) discussed in workshop. Students must distribute these stories electronically to the class the week before their scheduled workshop date. This will give the tutor and fellow students sufficient time to give a careful, considerate reading of the work and write appropriate comments. Upon receiving stories electronically, students give constructive written feedback on the manuscripts; this is then followed up with a workshop discussion wherein oral feedback is also given. At the conclusion of each workshop, those who have share their story receive annotated copies from everyone (including the tutor), so that they have the benefit of everyone's feedback (written and oral) when undertaking revisions. Students then revise and edit their respective stories and submit this as a final folio in lieu of an exam.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 16 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% coursework:
Craft Analysis- 30%
Final Assessment - 70% |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- identify, conceptualise and define formal elements of craft in within works of fiction
- remain open to criticism and respond effectively and creatively to feedback on their own creative work
- work from initial conception through multiple drafts to the final version of a short story
- analyse works of fiction with a focus on craft effectiveness and articulate strengths and weaknesses in a piece of writing in a constructive manner
- transfer editorial skills and creative abilities from one context to another
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Additional Information
| Course URL |
https://www.ed.ac.uk/literatures-languages-cultures/english-literature/undergraduate/current/honours |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Numbers are limited, with priority given to students taking degrees involving English or Scottish Literature and Visiting Students placed by the Admissions Office. Students not in these categories need the written approval of the Head of English Literature before enrolling. In the case of excess applications places will be decided by ballot. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Seminar: 2 hour(s) per week for 10 week(s):
Plus attendance for one hour a week at Autonomous Learning Group - at times to be arranged. |
| Keywords | ENLI10211 Creative Writing (4th Yr) Prose |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Lynda Clark
Tel:
Email: lynda.clark@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Lina Gordyshevskaya
Tel:
Email: pgordysh@ed.ac.uk |
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