MALS 140 Fiction Workshop: Short Story

Creative Writing
Instructor: Saul Lelchuk, MALS

This writing course uses a discussion-based, workshop-centered approach to allow both novice and experienced writers to develop their abilities in fiction and particularly the form of the short story. Weekly reading assignments will draw from both past and contemporary writers across numerous genres, with an effort being made to expose students to a wide variety of voices and styles. We will approach these stories with an eye towards not only their literary weight but also will examine the internal elements that make them succeed. Students are expected to both read and actively critique peer work that will be selected in advance of each class by the instructor. Weekly writing assignments will involve both new work and revision of this work, and students will complete several stories of varying length throughout the term. The course's reading will include authors such as: Borges, Carver, Egan, Gogol, Greene, Hammett, Kundera, Lardner, Le Guin, Maupassant, O'Connor, Oates, Salter.     

A formal background in writing is not required but students should have a strong interest in creative writing and a willingness to share, and accept critique on, their work.  

Instructor

Saul Lelchuk