Preliminary Schedule

Monday September 26th -- 1st day, intros, "The Wolf at the Door." Writing Exercise.

Wednesday, September 28th -- "The Shawl" by Louise Erdrich; Stern: Write What You Know, What Not to Do, Atmosphere, Character, Position, Premise, Scene, Showing/Telling, Short Story. Break up into groups. Narration Exercise.

Monday, October 3rd -- "The Burning House" by Ann Beattie, "Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog" by Stephanie Vaughn; Stern: Ambiguity, Beginnings, Dialogue; Dialogue Exercise;

Reading Schedule, Fall 2005

Tuesday, September 27th -- Continuing Studies Faculty Reading. 7:30pm.
Tuesday, October 4th -- Rebecca Black and Geri Doran, 7:30pm, Terrace Room
Monday, October 10th -- Alice McDermott, 8pm, Cubberly
Tuesday, October 11th -- Alice McDermott, 11am, Terrace Room
Wednesday, October 12th -- Keith Ekiss and Sharon May, 6:15pm, Terrace Room
Wednesday, October 19th -- Kaui Hart Hemmings, 6:15pm, Terrace Room

Wednesday, November 2nd -- Maria Hummel & Rusty Dolleman, 6:15pm, Terrace Room
Wednesday, November 16th -- Eric Puchner, 6:15pm, Terrace Room
Thursday, December 1st -- Leaves of Grass, 150th Anniv. Celebration, 7:30pm, Kresge

Syllabus:

Intermediate Fiction Writing
Stanford University, Fall Quarter 2005
Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:15-5:05pm, Room 110-111A

Tom Kealey, kealey@stanford.edu
Office 211-460 (Margaret Jacks Hall)

English 190 is an intermediate course in the craft and art of fiction writing. We will spend a short time re-examining the basic elements of fiction: narration, description, and dialogue. But mostly we will spend our time together reading advanced works of short fiction, presenting reports about the craft of fiction, and of course we’ll read and comment upon each others’ creative work. The workshop aspect of our class will begin in the third week. We’ll also do plenty of in-class writing as well as group work.

Texts: --Two books. More Stories We Tell: The Best Contemporary Short Stories by North American Women, edited by Wendy Martin; and Making Shapely Fiction by Jerome Stern. Both available in the bookstore. You’ll of course make copies of your story for the class, and you’ll purchase a story collection.

Requirements:

Class participation, 20%. This grade will be determined by your coming to class, by being on time, and by your contributions to our discussions. I will determine this grade. How can you help? Come to class, be on time. Help out in our discussions. I would appreciate it, and your grade will be very much helped.

Presentations, 20%. A good portion of your work will be completed in groups of three and four students. Together, you’ll make two presentations during the course of the quarter. One about a story collection or novel (including a biography of the author), and one about an aspect of fiction writing (You can choose from the dozens of subjects in Making Shapely Fiction). Each presentation will last 5-10 minutes, and should be accompanied by a handout for each member of the class.

Notebook 15%. Your notebook will be your writing notebook. It will include all of the in-class writing assignments, the out-of-class writing assignments, and the “notes” section, where you’ll write down your random observations, ideas, and bolts of lightning. You’ll turn this notebook in to me on the second-to-last day of class. Though, it is your private notebook, and I’ll only be checking to see if you’ve completed the assignments.

Feedback Letters, 15%. Three students will be assigned to each workshop story. Those students will write one page letters (single-spaced) and will be prepared to answer specific questions about the story. The rest of the class will write comments, but only on the manuscript itself, and we’ll still have a full workshop. The point of this: To cut down on the time that it takes to type letters, and yet still create an atmosphere where students receive full workshops. So, by the end of the quarter, each student will have typed around 6 letters, instead of say 25 or more. These are to be turned in to me an hour before class, via email. A paper copy is also to be given to the writer.

Your Story and its revision, 15% – eight to eighteen pages. This will be due on Monday, Wednesday, October 12th. A revision is due on the first day of final exams.

Reading Attendance, 15% – You’ll attend three campus readings during the quarter. A list of readings is attached to this syllabus. I’ll announce them as they come up in class. You don’t need to write a reaction to the readings, but you do need to let me know you attended.

Late Assignments: Anything turned in late will receive a grade of C.

Finally: I’ll be working hard to make this class an enjoyable and valuable learning experience for you. If it’s in my power, I’ll make this your favorite class.