Enjoying short fiction: study and writing practice
LLyn De Danaan, facilitator
Enjoy reading fiction? Like lively conversations? Love writing?
We will read and discuss one or two short stories/or listen to spoken word fiction /each week.
Most stories are available at the on-line Short Story Project site. Access to computer in order to read stories is essential.
Resources:
https://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit George Orwell: Politics and the English Language (an essay)
https://www.shortstoryproject.com/library/classics/ The Short Story Project
Syllabus:
WEEK 1
Learn how to use Zoom. Send LLyn an email : who am I and what I am hoping to learn in these six weeks plus:
my experience with short fiction, e.g. courses, favorite short stories, or…..ldedanaan2@hotmail.com
Be sure you know how to access LLyn’s blog for her posts about the class. Visit once a week. Llyndedanaan.com. You cannot post here.
Exchange emails if you are willing to read and respond to each others’ work this way.
Read or listen to the stories/poems listed below and prepare to discuss in class. See the web site, https://www.wikihow.com/Analyze-a-Short-Story, for an outline of questions to answer of each story/piece of fiction we read.
Discussion: what is a short story (lecture and conversation)
What we will read
How to find the stories
How to prepare to respond to the stories: what elements to look for and include in your commentary
WEEK 2
https://www.shortstoryproject.com/library/classics/
Read:
Cristina Fernández Cubas
The Woman in Green
G.K. CHESTERTON
THE INVISIBLE MAN
WEEK 3
https://www.shortstoryproject.com/library/classics/
James Joyce
ARABY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=42&v=Pi6fxcqL408&feature=emb_logo
Luci Tapahonso reads
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqFat9GlEMM
Lois-Ann Yamanaka speaks
WEEK 4
https://www.shortstoryproject.com/library/classics/
Saki
Esme
Jaroslav Hašek
How I Met the Author of My Obituary
WEEK 5
MUHAMMAD AL-ASFAR
https://www.shortstoryproject.com/library/classics/
The Story of a Sock
MAHA JOUINI
THE LAST ARAB MAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbw9FBA57uo&list=PLvgnkZVVhNWvgH6dqCvMoN_MG5LKbQcp0&index=8
Nikki Giovanni “Nothing Makes Sense”
WEEK 6
https://www.shortstoryproject.com/library/classics/
MARÍA FERNANDA AMPUERO |
NAM AND AUCTION
D.H. LAWRENCE
THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER
Prepare to discuss these.
You are invited to do writing exercises, respond to each story in writing, and/or to try your hand at writing a short story during the six weeks of our class meetings. You may SEND email drafts to me and to class members and ask for response. Remember, short stories can be any length …under about 7000 words. One page, six sentences, two hundred words.
April 6-May 11
Mondays at 10-12
Pose questions to answer for each story (see outline for conversation direction)
For WEEK ONE: see below……
https://www.wikihow.com/Analyze-a-Short-Story You will need this to read critically and prepare for class discussions.
https://jerryjenkins.com/how-to-write-short-stories/ You will need this or something like it to get you going on your own short story.
STRUCTURE OF On-Line CLASS
Short lecture by LLyn De Danann
DISCUSS STORIES together (given the limitations of the technology)
