In this class, we will read stylistically various short stories and one novella with an eye for what we can steal as writers. What can we learn about manipulating point of view from Mavis Gallant? About toying with narrative structure from Italo Calvino? About voice from Denis Johnson? We’ll spend the bulk of each class discussing assigned short stories, focusing on how they’re made, and will save the last fifteen minutes for discussing student responses to generative creative-writing prompts themed after the reading.

Among others, we’ll read work by Donald Barthelme, Jon Fosse, Anton Chekhov, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Can Xue, and Mona Awad. We'll discuss craft topics such as the effective use of detail, story logic, point of view, the making of character, and narrative progression. For this iteration of the class, I plan to bring in more writers in translation and to showcase more avenues for formal experimentation. This is a limited enrollment class.

$225 | In person

*This is a limited enrollment class.

Five-Week Course Schedule | Tuesdays
May 6 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
May 13 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
May 20 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
May 27 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
June 3 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

This class will be held in-person at WIH