See module specification for other years:
2023-242024-25
Module will run
Occurrence
Teaching period
A
Spring Term 2022-23
Module aims
To introduce writers to the specific techniques required for writing effective short stories through examination of a variety of successful examples and through the writing of them. The students will be led to :
Explore and analyse classical, modern and contemporary short stories.
Examine the market for short stories.
Begin to think about forms and outlets for the contemporary short story.
Begin to understand what the key components of a short story are; its opportunities and its limitations.
Consider the literary short story alongside the genre short story.
Explore key writing elements such as characterisation, setting, structure, movement in time and space, observation, point of view, opening and closing, voice, dialogue, cliché and description.
Support fellow students as they draft, workshop, revise and rework a narrative to completion.
Module learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module, students should have:
A basic understanding of the techniques and conventions of short story writing
Gained an appreciation of the range of writing produced within the short story field
Enriched their own writing through reading and journal keeping
Written their own pieces of short fiction and shared them with peers for critical discussion
Been active in listening, critiquing and supporting other writers in their endeavours
To have studied a range of contemporary international authors.
Indicative assessment
Task
% of module mark
Essay/coursework
100
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
Task
% of module mark
Essay/coursework
100
Module feedback
The tutor will give regular individual verbal and written feedback throughout the module on work submitted.
The assessment feedback is as per the university’s guidelines with regard to timings.
Indicative reading
Bell, J & Magrs, P The Creative Writing Coursebook (Macmillan ,2001)
Bradbury, M (ed) The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories (Penguin, 1998)
Byatt. A. S On Histories and Stories (Chatto & Windus, 2000)
Grenville, Kate The Writing Book (Allen and Unwin, 1990)
Cox, Ailsa Writing Short Stories (Routledge, 2005)
Knight, D Creating Short Fiction (Saint Martin’s, 1997)
Paxton, J Practical Short Story Writing ( Robert Hale, 1995)
Singleton, J & Luckhurst M The Creative Writing Handbook Second Ed. (Palgrove, 2000)
Sorenson, S How to Write Short Stories. Second Ed. (Macmillan, 1994)
Carver, Raymond Where I’m Calling From (Harvill, 1995)
Dahl, Roald Collected Short Stories (Penguin, 1992)
Simpson, Helen Hey, Yeah, Right, Get a Life ( (Vintage, 2001)
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