Advanced Short Stories

This class will be structured around reading, writing, and discussion of reading and writing. To that end, each week we will read at least one exemplary story and additional materials on some element of the story, such as voice or point of view. We will also have a writing assignment to practice that story element studied and take us toward the completion of at least one story of our own. We will have also at least two chats a week focused on that week's work. Finally, we will throughout the class discuss presenting and marketing our work for publication.

Week One
Review of issues of POV, character and protagonist, plot, setting, theme.
More advanced issues:
POV: conventional and unconventional POVs
Reading 1: Story 1 with focus on POV/additional reading(s) on POV
Writing 1: establish your story's POV and write story beginning

Week 2
Voice: define and discuss voice, the typical "sound" of the narrative voice: its word choices, dialect, obsessions, etc. Discuss unreliable narrator
Reading 2: Story 2 with focus on voice, additional reading(s) on voice
Writing 2: Continue progress on story, focusing on developing a strong narrative voice

Week 3
Plot: traditional vs. nontraditional plot structure, linear vs. nonlinear, "circular," use of flashbacks and backstory
Reading 3: Story 3, with a focus on plot structure, additional readings on plot
Writing 3: Continue story, focusing on plot issues

Week 4
Setting: Setting, the story "universe," as reflection of narrator worldview. The connection of all of the story elements to one theme, one statement
Reading 4: Story 4 with a focus on setting and theme, additional readings
Writing 4: Finish story, focusing on setting and one overarching theme




Instructor: Stacia Ann

About The Instructor: Stacia Ann is an Linguistics Lecturer and Writing Instructor at the University of California. She has a doctorate of Education, Master's of Art in English/TESOL. This instructor has taught writing classes for over ten years. She also teaches academic writing and English as a Second Language at the University of the Pacific. A published author including works of short fiction and academic nonfiction including contest winning stories.