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In Short: Writing the Short Story - CED00002C

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  • Department: Centre for Lifelong Learning
  • Module co-ordinator: Information currently unavailable
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2023-24

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.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Short Story & Critical Commentary		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Short Story & Critical Commentary		 N/A 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)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.