Department of English

W401 is an advanced course in fiction writing. My assumption at this level is that you are familiar with all craft components of fiction, and that you have written (and revised) multiple works of short narrative prose, multiple times, bringing your work closer to a fully realized draft.
In the first part of the semester we will read fiction. We will spend time considering the writing process, our working habits, and revision, the most important element in the production of completed stories. After that, we will focus our attention on your short stories during workshop discussions. You should be able to identify and articulate your specific needs as a writer at this stage of your artistic apprenticeship. What kind of writing interests you, and what you want to accomplish as a writer? You should be asking yourself what you must do to get your writing to the next level. Having a specific focus will enable you to work toward this goal.