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Creative Writing

Micro Fiction to Short Story

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

How do you begin writing a story? By putting words on the page. This course will encourage students to write a 100 word story and to develop this story each week into a 500 word story, a 1,000 word story and finally into a full-blown short story of 2,000 plus words.

Course Details

Content of Course

1. Starting a story: exploring micro fictions and short story openings using first person narrative; writing a micro story in 100 words.

2. Exploring micro fictions and short story openings using third person narrative; beginning a story in 100 words.

3. Taking your story in a new direction: introducing another's point of view (500 words).

4. Creating compelling characters: describing your protagonist; what does your protagonist yearn? (1,000 plus words)

5. Using dialogue and setting to develop your characters: allowing your protagonists to tell their own stories in their own words (1,000 plus words).

6. Yearning challenged and thwarted: testing your protagonist (1,500 to 2,000 words).

7. Yearning challenged and thwarted: asking "What if?" of your story (1,500 to 2,000 plus words).

8. Bringing your story to a close: exploring alternative endings (2,000 plus words).

9. From beginning to end: marking the changes; choosing your story ending.

10. Reading Party! An opportunity to read your finished story or work-in-progress in class.

Teaching method(s)

Class work will consist of discussion of writing in progress; creative writing exercises; discussion and reading of published work as example/stimulus. Individual feedback will be given where necessary.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Plan a short story with confidence;

  • Question the direction of a story in order to develop new ideas and viewpoints;

  • Adopt techniques to help develop a story further;

  • Have completed one short story of 2,000 words or more.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

  • DeMarinis, R., 2000. The Art & Craft of the Short Story. Ohio: F&W Publications, Inc.

  • Gebbie, V., ed., 2009. Short Circuit: A Guide to the Art of the Short Story. London: Salt Publishing.

Recommended:

  • King, S., 2012. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

  • Masih, T. L., 2009. Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction: Tips from Editors, Teachers and Writers in the Field. MA: Rose Metal Press.

Class Handouts

Weekly summary of teaching notes plus extracts from readings will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

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.