The writing workshop is a critical element of creative writing inside and outside of the academy and is the foundation of most creative writing curriculums. The workshop not only helps writers develop the language of critique and allows them to hone their eye for craft, but—perhaps most importantly—it can establish a vital community amidst the sometimes lonely art of writing.
With these ideas in mind, the goals of this workshop are multifold:
To develop a critical vocabulary for talking about writing as writers
To understand how readers receive your work
To examine the craft of the best contemporary American short stories
To build a writer community that will hopefully carry your writing life beyond the university
Required Texts
Best American Short Stories 2016 (ed. Junot Diaz)
Story Logic and the Craft of Fiction (Catherine Brady)
Assignments
Stories (drafts and revision) for workshop
Written responses to your peers’ work
Reading Responses