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Tom Hazuka 317 Willard Hall 832-2762 hazuka@ccsu.edu |
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Willard 317 (832-2762) Office Hours: MWF 10:50-11:50;
T, TH 4:45-5:45
Required Texts:
Novakovich, Fiction Writer’s Workshop
Thomas, Thomas and Hazuka, Flash Fiction
Maney and Hazuka, A Celestial Omnibus
Course Requirements:
Regular attendance and participation in workshops
Completion of assigned exercises
Reading Journal
Writer’s Notebook
Frequent written criticism of other students' work
25-30 pages of new fiction
In English 371 we will develop not only fiction
writing ability, but also critical reading skills. A writer is unlikely to produce
quality fiction without knowing what makes a story work, and that means being
a good reader. Consequently, we will focus not only on getting stories down
on paper--although of course that is crucial--but also on analyzing and criticizing
other work, from both professional writers and from other members of the class.
Thus for every story we read, professional
and student alike, I expect you to mark up the pages. Interact with the text:
underline, ask questions, disagree, and most of all, examine yourself vis-à-vis
the text. Why are you excited, bored, angry, impressed, depressed, laughing,
etc.? How is the story achieving the author's desired effect, or conversely
why is it failing to do so?
To ensure worthwhile class discussion, and
to get you writing and thinking, keep a Reading Journal and write a paragraph
concerning each story we read (two sentences for Flash Fiction stories). Feel
free to write much more. This also relieves anxiety--if you're called on to
begin the discussion, it's a simple matter of referring to your journal to get
us started. I expect analytical writing here, from a writer’s perspective,
not simply plot summary. We will devote a portion of virtually every class to
discussing the published stories, so keep up with the reading and be prepared
to contribute.
Keep a Writer’s Notebook as well. Keep
your eyes, ears and mind open, and every day record at least one entry--a line
of dialogue, an observation, a bit of description, etc.--that might eventually
find its way into a story you write. This is a resource for potential stories,
not a personal diary.
Twice during the semester, each student will
photocopy a selection of his or her fiction and distribute it to the class for
workshop. As a matter of common courtesy--and a very important part of your
grade--we will all read it carefully at least twice, make extensive written
comments on the manuscript (and sign our names to the critique), and come to
class prepared to discuss the story with an eye toward helping the writer improve
the piece. This process is the heart of the class. For every story submitted
to the workshop I will assign a discussion leader, who will be responsible for
ensuring that the session be a productive one.
Given this structure, attendance and class
participation are crucial: every absence after the second (i.e., a week of class)
results in a penalty of one-third of a grade (e.g., C+ becomes C). It’s
simple: blow off class and/or consistently arrive late and your grade heads
downhill fast. This course is designed for serious students of fiction writing.
If you’re not in that category, please drop the class and give your place
to someone who is.
BACK UP ALL WRITING DONE ON COMPUTERS, PREFERABLY
IN AT LEAST TWO PLACES. COMPUTERS DINING ON LAST-MINUTE WORK WILL NOT BE AN
ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE.
Grading
Fiction Portfolio 80%
Participation 10%
Journals 10%
100%
Assignments
Starting 10/1, every other Tuesday three typed
pages of new fiction are due. Those days are indicated by three asterisks (***).
If you miss a date, wait until the next time; these assignments will not be
accepted late.
For every chapter of Fiction Writer’s Workshop, prepare at least one of
the exercises and bring it (typed) to class. Submit these exercises with your
final portfolio at the end of the term.
9/3 Introduction
9/5 Fiction Writer’s Workshop Intro, ch. 1; Flash Fiction (FF) 11-30
9/10 FWW ch. 2; “Mr. Green”
9/12 FF 31-49; “First Confession”
9/17 FWW ch.3; “Cathedral”
9/19 Small group work on 250-word story; FF 50-68
9/24 FWW ch. 4; “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”
9/26 Workshop (I provide the story); “Everyday Use”
10/1*** FWW ch. 5; “The Conversion of the Jews”
10/3 Workshop; “Little Miracles, Kept Promises”
10/8 FWW ch. 9; FF 69-85
10/10 Workshop; “Sweat”
10/15*** FWW ch. 6; “Good Country People”
10/17 Workshop; “Act of Faith”
10/22 Workshop; FF 86-104
10/24 FWW ch. 7; “The Celestial Omnibus”
10/29*** Workshop; FWW ch. 8
10/31 Workshop; “The Man in the Black Suit”
11/5 FWW ch. 10; FF 104-119
11/7 Workshop; FF 120-139
11/12*** No class
11/14 Bring in a favorite piece of literary fiction to read to the class
11/19 Workshop; “A Father’s Story”
11/21 Bad fiction cornucopia; FF 140-158
11/26*** Workshop; FF 159-178
11/28 No class--Thanksgiving
12/3 Workshop; “All Stories Are True”
12/5 Publishing seminar; “Gimpel the Fool”
12/10 Workshop; FF 179-197
12/12 Workshop; “The Expert on God”
12/13 Due date for fiction portfolios, journals and exercises