Introduction
to Creative Writing
Instructor:
Charles Blackstone
Phone:
(303) 448-9186 (home) (303) 492-4571 (office)
Email:
charles.blackstone@colorado.edu
Website:
http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~blacksto
Office:
Hellems 9, Desk C
Office
Hours: Tuesday, 1:00-2:30, Wednesday 12-1:30, and by appointment
Overview
and Structure: The
course offers an introductory exploration of creative writing. Through reading,
writing, and class discussion, we will creatively, critically, and empirically
explore linguistic play, purpose, and method. We will develop a language for
creative expression and analysis. Class will consist of workshops, lectures,
large and small group discussions, frequent in-class writing exercises, reading
quizzes, and genre tests.
Required
Materials: The Norton Introduction to Literature,
Shorter 8th Ed., Jerome Beaty, et al., eds. (New York: W.W. Norton, 2002.)
Handouts
of texts and literary terminology, etc.
A
single subject notebook or binder for journaling
Workshop: A writing workshop can be rewarding and
quite fulfilling but requires much of its participants: ambitious and cleanly
presented writing, thorough and sensitive preparation of materials for
discussion, and intelligent, incisive, generous conversation. For your
peers’ perusal, you must
bring copies of your work to class one class period before you are scheduled to workshop.
Discussion
Leading: Each student will be responsible
for leading 1 reading analysis class. Depending on sign-up, you may be leading
independently or with a classmate. We will discuss the schedule and particulars
during the first week of class.
Assignments: You will be responsible for 6 poems, 1
short story, and 1 dramatic piece to be workshopped in class. You will also
complete a number of creative responses to assigned readings, in-class writing
exercises, quizzes, a response paper, genre tests, a personal journal, and a
final portfolio. All assignments must be typed (12 point, standard font): single-spaced
for poetry and drama, double-spaced for fiction.
Journal: Journal-keeping will allow you
opportunity to respond to assigned readings, workshops, couch fires on the
Hill, anything. Write about having nothing good to write about. Write
diligently, consistently, and meticulously. Write about yourself. Write about
UMC. Write about avalanches. You should try to write at least twice a week.
Write at least 1.5 pages per entry (total of 45 pages required, minimum).
Handwritten or typed. You should use a notebook or binder reserved for journal
keeping only. Periodically
I will provide prompts. I will review journals midway through and at the end of
the semester.
Portfolio
and Performance: You
will amass your work in a two pocket folder portfolio to be turned in at the
final class. It will contain original and revised copies of 4-8 poems, 1-2
short stories, 1 dramatic piece, 4 journal entries, and a 2-3 page ars
poetica (a statement of
purpose and belief, a reflection on the art and craft of writing). It will also
include a 2-3 page creative statement on the writer of your choice. Toward the
end of the semester, everyone will give an 8-10 minute presentation that will
include a portfolio excerpt and general discussion of his or her literary
objectives.
Cultural
Events: You will be
required to attend at least 1 reading, performance, concert, improvisational
act, or other cultural event and write a 1-3 page response commenting on
presentation, style, content, form, and your personal opinion of the event. The
response can be in the form of a poem, piece of short fiction, dramatic
monologue or scene, or whatever you prefer. Responses can be turned in at any
point during the semester. 1 additional cultural event response may be
completed for extra credit.
Conferences: We will meet for conferences at
least once during the
semester, outside of regular class hours. Conferencing allows us the
opportunity to discuss your goals, questions, concerns, and challenges.
Additionally, please avail yourself of my office hours, schedule an appointment
to see me outside of office hours, and email or call me as the need or
inclination arises.
Absences: Participation in class discussion and
the revision and criticism of peers’ work is mandatory. Students are
allowed to miss a maximum of three classes during the semester. Missing more
than 3 classes can have dire effects on your grade. Missing class
excessively calls your commitment into question. Come on time and come
prepared. Further, you do your classmates and yourself a tremendous disservice
by not attending workshops. The best thing to do is just come to
class.
Rules: Don’t turn in
assignments late, especially without discussing situations with me ahead of
time. Don’t miss class. Do contribute thoughtfully and intelligently to
discussions. Do try to encourage others to do the same. Do inform me when situations
arise which either compromise the quality of your learning or your happiness.
I’ll listen.
Administrative Drop: Any
student missing the FIRST two
classes of the semester will be automatically dropped, as per department
policy.
Grading: Participation,
Attendance 35
Quizzes
and Tests 20
Outside
Assignments 10
Journal 10
Final
Portfolio and present.
20
Cultural
Events 5 Potential Points 100
Accomodations: If you qualify for accommodations
because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services
(DS) early in the semester so that your needs may be addressed. DS determines accommodations
based on documented disabilities (303-492-8671, Willard 322, www.colorado.edu/sacs/disabilityservices).
Syllabus: This
syllabus details our readings and assignments for the course. I will expect
that you will have read and taken sufficient notes in the margins, formulated
questions, and thought about issues to aid you in discussing intelligently
prior to the dates listed. We will discuss the texts on the day listed. The
syllabus is subject to change. I will discuss changes with you and provide
additional material with necessary reading time in mind.
Week 1 T
8/27 Intro and syllabus. Literary Autobiography.
Fiction
overview. Developing a language: key terms
R 8/29 The Writing Process, Developing Characters
O’Connor—A Good
Man Is Hard to Find (323) 12pp.
Welty—Why I Live at the P.O. (107) 9pp.
Week
2 T
9/3. Point
of View, Observation, Story-Telling
Baldwin—Sonny’s Blues (41) 23pp.
Carver—Cathedral (580) 11pp.
Krouse—Too Big To Float (Handout)
R 9/5 Setting, Story Structure
Faulkner—Barn Burning (495)
13pp.
Lahiri—Interpreter of
Maladies (236) 16pp.
Week 3 T
9/10 Dialogue
Chekhov—The
Lady With The Dog (173) 12pp.
Hemingway—Hills Like
White Elephants (75) 4pp.
Paley—A Conversation
with My Father (471) 6pp.
R 9/12 Style, Tone, Mood;
Finding a story
James—Up
There (Handout)
DISTRIBUTE SHORT STORY DRAFTS
Week 4 T 9/17 WORKSHOP
R 9/19 WORKSHOP Conference
appointments this week.
Week 5 T 9/24 WORKSHOP
R
9/26 WORKSHOP
Week 6 T
10/1 WORKSHOP
R
10/3 FICTION
TEST; Flash Fiction and Short-Shorts, Marquez, Kincaid,
Murnick, Kaplan, Oates, James, others (handouts and in textbook).
Week 7 T 10/8 Poetry Terms
Lourde—“Hanging Fire” (656), Rios—“Advice to a First Cousin” (896),
Bernstein—"Of Time and the Line" (693).
R
10/10 [FALL BREAK] No class.
Week 8 T 10/15 Dickinson—[After great pain, a formal feeling comes—] (699), Harper—“Dear John, Dear Coltrane” (762), Roethke—“My Papa’s Waltz” (699).
R 10/17 Milton—from Paradise Lost (706), Hopkins—“The Windhover” (981), Baca—“Green Chile” (638), Thomas—“Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” (805), Kumin—“Woodchucks” (627).
Week 9 T
10/22 Plath—"Black Rook in Rainy
Weather” (989), Williams—“The Dance”
(783), Rich—“Diving into the
Wreck” (737). DISTRIBUTE POEM DRAFTS
R
10/24 WORKSHOP
Week 10 T
10/29 WORKSHOP
R
10/31 WORKSHOP
Week 11 T
11/5 WORKSHOP
R
11/7 Poetry Test, Drama Terms
Week 12 T 11/12 Miller—Death of a Salesman
(1543)
R 11/14 Miller, cont'd.
Week 13 T
11/19 Miller, cont'd.
R
11/21 Miller, drama wrap-up, discuss scenes.
Week 14 T
11/26 Film excerpt or in-class writing TBA
R
11/28 [THANKSGIVING] No class.
Week 15 T
12/3 WORKSHOP
R
12/5 WORKSHOP
Week 16 T
12/10 Performances
R 12/12
Performances, Evaluations.
Questions?
Comments? Suggestions? Come and talk to me during my office hours or send me
email at any point during the semester.