Short Story Writing Short Courses
This course enables new and experienced writers to gain confidence in exploring and developing their creativity through class exercises and discussion. You will learn practical writing skills such as structure, characterisation and dialogue and will examine the work of key contemporary short story writers. The aim of this short story writing course is to complete a short story by the end of the course.
Course Information
| Start Date | Start Time | Duration | Cost | Course Code | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 3 October 2012 | 18:30 - 20:30 | 10 weekly classes | £220.00 | CE1205 | Enrollment Closed |
| Wednesday 23 January 2013 | 18:30 - 20:30 | 10 weekly classes | £220.00 | CE1205 | Apply Now |
| Wednesday 1 May 2013 | 18:30 - 20:30 | 10 weekly classes | £220.00 | CE1205 | Apply Now |
Tutor Info
Katy Darby's short stories have been read on BBC Radio, published in magazines including Slice, Mslexia and The London Magazine, and won prizes in several international fiction competitions. Her first novel, Victorian drama The Whores' Asylum was published by Penguin in 2012 (the paperback title is The Unpierced Heart). She has a BA in English from Oxford University and an MA in Creative Writing from UEA, where she received the David Higham Award. From 2010-12 she edited short story magazine Litro, and she co-founded and currently runs the monthly live fiction event Liars' League, involving regular collaborations with Granta Magazine.
Eligibility
Short story writing applicants must have a lively interest in reading and writing short fiction and an ability to meet deadlines!
Your short story will need to be handed in during the course.
English Requirements
Good written and spoken English.
What will I learn?
- Introduction - Why do we read/write ?
- Inspiration and ideas
- Character
- Dialogue
- Structure
- Sense of Time & Place (Description)
- Narrative & Point of View + Story Workshop 1
- Genre & Style + Story Workshop 2
- Writers' Resources + Story Workshop 3
- What next ? + Story Workshop 4
Course Objectives
- To identify ideas for a short story.
- To understand a series of fictional techniques.
- To apply imaginative and critical faculties to your own and others' writing.
Teaching and Assessment
Students are assessed by their contribution to class discussions and their work on in-class and homework exercises, as well as their submitted short story.Recommended Reading
Books
Carter, A. (1997) Burning Your Boats. London: Penguin.
Carver, R. (1995) Where I'm Calling From: Selected Stories. London: Harvill
Gordimer, N. ed. (2004) Telling Tales. London: Bloomsbury
Taylor, J. ed. (2012) Overheard: Stories to Read Aloud. Cambridge, Salt Publishing
Darby, K. and Potts, C. ed. (2013) Lovers' Lies. London, Arachne Press
Websites
www.theshortstory.org.uk (a wonderful general resource site, plus recent winners of the National Short Story prize)
www.classicshorts.com (classic short stories to read online)
www.short-stories.co.uk (a selection of new and old short stories in a variety of genres)
www.shortstoryradio.com (actors read new stories by up and coming writers: you can read the text or listen to the recordings)
www.duotrope.com (the single most useful site for the short fiction writer submitting or selling their work worldwide)