This course will explore methods for generating ideas and characters for writing short stories. Some topics to be discussed in class are: character development, setting up conflicts, plotting, creating leads, establishing point of view, and revision.
Through this course, students will become familiar with some of the common conventions of short story writing, such as:
1) describing the setting of a scene with colorful details
2) development of at least one character (which is done through the character’s words, thoughts, and actions and through the words of other characters and/or the writer)
3) identifying interesting events used to develop the story line (plot)
4) finding a resolution of a problem or conflict as the story's climax
5) the conclusion (what happens after climax)
An understanding of these concepts will come from reading various short stories (some to be choosen by the student and others to be given by the instructor), and keeping a "writers notebook". As a final product students should have started writing a short story of their own, or minimally, worked out the details for writing one.
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