- Items: 0
- Total: £0.00
- View basket »
- You are not logged in
- Register/Log in »
This course is currently unavailable.
Always wanted to write short stories but can’t get started? Even if you are a complete beginner this course will stimulate you to write, using simple exercises and discussions to reveal techniques of storytelling from construction to creating characters. New students welcome.
No previous knowledge required.
This is a continuation of “Write that Story 1”. However, new members are welcome and are integrated into the group by, in the first few weeks, re-capping what was covered in “Write that Story 1”. The emphasis is on creating complete short stories, and in understanding more about the form, and its many possibilities. We strive to create a group which is relaxed, friendly so as to make people feel comfortable in sharing and discussing their work. This course looks in more detail at major components of the short story: scene, dialogue, character language:
1. Creating the Scene: grasping the totality of the scene and selecting the relevant details. How to create effective atmosphere. Learning what to leave out.
2. Dialogue: what is it, isn't it, what's happening underneath? Learning how to produce speech; how to move the story on through dialogue; how to create atmosphere, tension, character through dialogue.
3. Character: what is it? Developing ideas of character and how to effectively create character by means of dialogue, description and action.
Class work will consist of exercises, discussion, and reading of work. No-one will be expected to be an actor and read their own stories aloud. Every week an assignment will be set: at first consisting of exercises, plans and outlines; later moving on to short stories. Each course member will be treated individually, as far as possible. All work will be commented on by the tutor in writing.
The typical lesson will consist of:
1. Readings of stories written. Analysis and discussion, particularly in the light of the technique being examined/practised;
2. Introduction of writing technique, with examples / class discussion;
3. An exercise to practice technique, individually, in pairs or groups;
4. Sharing of results of exercise: discussion in pairs or class.
By the end of the course students will be able to:
Write a short story (in the individual style of each student).
Apply the rules or guidelines of story with greater confidence.
Use a vocabulary and analysis to judge their own and other people's work.
Demonstrate a greater understanding of the short story form.
Recommended:
Boyd,W 2006 Fascination: Stories. Vintage
Carver,R 2009 What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Vintage Classics
Carver, R., 2010 Beginners Vintage
Vollmann,W 2014 Last Stories and Other Stories Viking Books
Chekhov, A 2009 The Collected Short Stories of Anton Chekhov Halcyon Press Ltd
Wallace, D.F. 2001 Brief Interviews With Hideous Men Abacus
Bukowski ,C 2008 Tales of Ordinary Madness Virgin Books
Carey, P 2004 Collected Stories Faber & Faber
Weldon, F 1998 Watching Me, Watching You. A collection of short stories. Coronet Books
King, S 2012 On Writing Hodder Paperbacks
Boylan, C., ed., 1993. The Agony and the Ego. Penguin.
http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes
http://www.world-english.org/stories.htm
https://www.writersreign.co.uk/short%20story.htm
Where appropriate, handouts will be provided by the tutor during the course
If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.
If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.