57041 Advanced Narrative Writing

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Writing and Contemporary Cultures
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

This subject emphasises narrative development, with close attention to the relationship between structure and content in traditional and experimental fiction. Craft skills appropriate to narrative writing are developed through exercises and sustained work on pieces of fiction, along with consideration of principles of editing and revision. The focus of the class is the students' own work. A range of narrative writing is read and discussed, integrating practical work with critical reflection on the processes of narrative writing. This is a core subject for postgraduate writing students and is suitable for students in other areas wishing to develop their writing through exercises and sustained work.

Subject objectives/outcomes

At the completion of this subject, students are expected to:

Be able to produce an extended piece of narrative fiction
Bring focused critical skills to bear on their own and other's fiction narratives
Develop original ideas in narrative form
Understand how to revise and edit their own work
Have developed some level of reading knowledge in relation to a variety of narrative forms

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject:

enhances specific and general skills in writing
develops a knowledge of specific genres of writing
encourages a practical understanding of aesthetic debates
enhances critical and creative thought in relation to contemporary writing.

Teaching and learning strategies

Sessions 1-8 will include a lecture about and discussion of the week's topic, followed by a writing workshop, in which students will critically discuss their own short pieces of writing relating to the week's topic.

They will also be asked to read and talk about a range of short fiction and other short narrative pieces throughout the semester. They will be asked to present a brief seminar on a chosen text, analysing its strengths and weaknesses from a writer's perspective. Research seminars will be scheduled for presentation during weeks 6-14

After initial exercises to develop craft skills, students will be asked to work on a sustained piece of narrative fiction of their own, developing it through several drafts. This work will be intensively workshopped through the class weeks 8-14 though sections may be introduced into the class in workshops during earlier weeks. The writing is submitted as the final and major element of the subject's assignments for assessment. It must be an original piece, written specifically in the context of this class.

Content

The class focuses on various aspects of technique and structure in writing fiction for the first half of the semester. Areas considered include issues to do with viewpoint , continuous and discontinuous forms of narrative, differences between short story form and longer forms such as novels and novellas, dialogue, characterisation, location, plot and narrative action and the deployment of thematic elements in fiction writing. In the later part of the semester the class focuses more on critical feedback on each student's creative work with an emphasis on editing and re-writing.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Minor Assignments: 600-700 word exercises

Objectives	a, b, c
Value	30%
Due	Weeks 2-6
Task	To write several short narrative pieces and workshop them in class.
Assessment criteria	Capacity to realise set task Inventiveness and originality of writing.

Assessment item 2: Research seminar: 10 minute seminar on a narrative text, either a short story or novel

Objectives	b, e
Value	20%
Due	Weeks 6-14
Task	To present an analysis of one page from a chosen fictional text.
Assessment criteria	Insight and originality in discussion of chosen material Capacity to extrapolate in relation to writing practice.

Assessment item 3: 3000 word narrative

Objectives	a, c, d
Value	50%
Due	Week 14
Task	To write an extended narrative piece worked through the necessary re-writes, class discussions and editorial changes.
Assessment criteria	Inventiveness and accomplishment of writing style Originality of idea Dramatic and suspenseful structuring of work.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Indicative references

REQUIRED READING

Advanced Narrative Writing (booklet associated with this course)
The Art of Fiction, David Lodge (Penguin, 1992) Available in the Co-op bookshop.
Self-editing for Fiction Writers, R. Brown and D. King (Harper Perennial, 1994, NY)

RECOMMENDED READING

Earnshaw, S. (Ed.) 2007, The Handbook of Creative Writing, EUP, Edinburgh.

All Advanced Narrative students are expected to read widely in fiction and non-fiction.