WR 244 Advanced Fiction

Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Further develops the techniques of creating and revising short fiction introduced in WR 241, and examines in greater complexity the foundational theories of imaginative writing. Also examines current methods of finding print and electronic audiences for works of fiction. Employs a workshop format of presenting and critiquing student work.

Prerequisite: WR 241, WR 242, or WR 243; or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Repeatable: Course may be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Employ conventional elements of fiction within original works of fiction, including short-short stories (500 words or less) and short stories (2,000 to 5,000 words long).
Identify the strategies employed in contemporary, published fiction and assess their effectiveness.
Assess the effectiveness of peer writing.
Communicate assessments of effectiveness to peers, both in written critiques and within small-group discussions.
Revise original work based on peer critiques.
Research, analyze, and identify appropriate publications for original work.
Employ conventional methods of submitting original work for publication.

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

Read actively, think critically and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences.
Locate, evaluate and ethically utilize information to communicate effectively.
Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.

Content Outline

Review of Conventional Elements of Fiction
- Plot structure
- Methods of characterization
- Use of setting
- Point of view
Overview of Selected Aesthetic Guidelines or Theories for Creative Work, Such as Those Developed by Aristotle, Henry James, E.M. Forster
Writing Workshops
- Submitting original work for critiques from other students
- Providing written critiques of the work of other students
- Participating in discussion of fictional technique and aesthetic theory that are focused on student texts
Research and Analysis of Potential Publications for Original Work
- Online magazines
- Literary journals
- Websites
- Genre publications
Preparation and Submission of Original Work for Publication
- Manuscript conventions
- Electronic and printed formats
- Query letters
Revision and Preparation of Student Work for Submission for Publication