Aims of the course
Building on our 'Creative writing: an introduction to short story writing' online course, this course provides a 'next level' course appropriate for more experienced writers who seek: a community of writers; expert advice; a mixture of group teaching and one-to-one feedback; and a stepping stone between open access and accredited courses.
As a result of the course, within the constraints of the time available, students should be able to:
- deploy the skills they have observed in use in the writing of short fiction
- complete an original short story
Students can expect written feedback from the tutor on an individual basis on an extended piece of work (a short story of up to 3,000 words) at the end of the course.
Target audience
This course is designed for students who have already completed the 'Creative writing: an introduction to short story writing' online course offered by the Institute, or students who judge they are already at a level not to require an introductory course but who seek detailed feedback on their own creative writing and who wish to extend their skills in writing fiction.
Schedule (this course is completed entirely online)
Orientation Week: 9-15 January 2023
Teaching Weeks: 16 January-19 February 2023
Feedback Week: 20-26 February 2023
Orientation Week:
By studying this week the students should have:
- Become familiar with navigating around the VLE and from VLE to links and back
- Tested their ability to access files and the web conferencing software and sorted out any problems with the help of the eLearning Helpdesk
- Learnt how to look for, assess and reference internet resources
- Used forums to introduce themselves to other students
- Contributed to a discussion forum to introduce themselves to other students and discuss why they are interested in the course, what they hope to get out their studies and also to respond to News item sent out on behalf of tutor
Teaching Week 1 - Structure
A combination of tutor video and structured reading from contemporary and classic short stories will help deliver answers to these questions:
What are the basic kinds of short story? How do event-plot stories differ from anti-plot stories? What is the appeal of each basic type?
How do we structure a short story? Is a plot a series of events or the arrangement of who knows what and when they know it? Does a story have to unfold chronologically? What happens when a plot splits? How do we ‘hide’ plot? How do we avoid ‘losing the plot’? How do we manipulate reader response? How do we ensure an anti-plot story is not merely a sketch?
What is the relationship between character and plot? How do we decide how many characters we need? What are the ways of introducing characters to the reader? How much do we need to plan characters? How do we manage minor characters? Can characters change?
Students can start planning their story and will be encouraged to share an outline on the forum provided.
Teaching Week 2 - Beginnings and Endings
A combination of tutor video and structured reading from contemporary and classic short stories will help deliver answers to these questions:
Why is it sometimes so hard to begin a story? Why am I rewriting my opening so many times? Where should my story start? Is there an advantage in starting in medias res? What is the function of an opening? Does my opening fulfil the function I’ve assigned to it? How do I decide how much the reader needs to know from the outset? How do I stimulate the reader’s curiosity at the beginning of my story?
Why is it helpful to know how my story ends before I begin writing? What are the functions of an ending? How do I decide where my story ends? In what relationship should my ending stand to my beginning? How does my ending define the meaning of my story?
Students draft the opening and the end of their story and will be encouraged to share this on the forum provided. Peer feedback will be encouraged.
Teaching Week 3 - Narrative Voice
A combination of tutor video and structured reading from contemporary and classic short stories will help deliver answers to these questions:
What are the relative advantages and limitations of first- and third-person voices? What different kinds of first person voice are available to us? How can we use internal monologue? How do we achieve the impression of an unreliable narrator? How useful is a non- or semi-participant observer as first-person narrator? What different kinds of third-person voice are available to us? What are their relative advantages and limitations?
While working independently on their own story students will have the option of participating in a range of exercises to experiment with narrative voice and to share their responses on the forum provided.
Teaching Week 4 - Detail and Description
A combination of tutor video and structured reading from contemporary and classic short stories will help deliver answers to these questions:
Why and when do we describe things in any detail? What are the functions of a description of a place? How do we avoid cliché when using metaphors and similes? Why should we be careful with modifiers? How is detail different in short stories? How much detail is too much? How can I use ‘telling’ details? How can I give proportionate attention to details? How is the idea of ‘Chekhov’s gun’ useful? Where is my description coming from? When should I ‘show’ and when should I ‘tell’?
While continuing to work independently on their own story students will have the option of participating in a range of exercises to explore how they might approach description and detail. Sharing on the forum will be encouraged.
Teaching Week 5 - Editing
A combination of tutor video and text will supply guidance on strategies students can apply to edit their own work, including:
- Understanding different types of editing, required for different purposes
- Editing techniques/methods
- Interpreting editing notes
Students will edit and submit their short story for tutor review and feedback. They will also have the option of participating in a range of editing exercises. Sharing on the forum will be encouraged.
Week 6 - Reaching Readers & Feedback
A combination of tutor video and text will supply guidance on:
- Entering competitions
- Submitting to periodicals
- Further study
Students will receive individual and detailed feedback and advice from the tutor on their short story (this takes the place of end-of-course individual feedback). They are encouraged to take notes on board and amend their story as they see fit. Sharing their new improved draft on the final forum (‘Your short stories’) will be encouraged.
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours reading material, etc., although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Virtual Learning Environment
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (discussion boards etc).
Certificate of participation
A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/assignments for the duration of the course.
What our students say
"I thought the lectures were indepth, I enjoyed the referencing to authors' work that we were required to read so techniques/issues/writerly choices were explained in situ."
"The course material met my expectations, and having studied short story as part of an MA, it did feel appropriately 'advanced' too."
"I have really enjoyed the course. Sarah’s style is informative, reassuring but challenging. She provides constructive and helpful suggestions. I was impressed by the range of materials provided. The lectures contained so many gems and she was always encouraging. I especially 'enjoyed' the editing section. What she said was sensible, to the point and ultimately reassuring. It cut a daunting task to size. Previously I have not given enough time to the edit or to waiting to do the edit. Following the course, I felt better equipped."
"I've studied with Sarah before so I knew the course would be informative and useful. I did not expect it to suck out over 2400 words from a single image that I had held in my head for years. The way that the process was constructed meant that it wasn't Everest but the '3 peaks', i.e. challenging but achievable. I had no idea that so much could be made from so little. It has shown me that I can produce something from the tiniest idea and not to dismiss it without trying."
"I have gained a great deal from this course more particularly regarding description, details and editing. It is always a real pleasure to work with Sarah, and it is really motivating. I might do the advanced course again to write another short story. I am now more self-confident. I think I have improved a lot. It is really nice to belong to a kind of 'writing community'."
