New Class: Short Fiction Writing and the Other at the Brainery, Spring 2016

New class! I’m blending some elements of the Writing the Other classes I teach with Nisi with the Short Fiction syllabus I developed for the Brainery.

During the 15 weeks of the class, students will delve deep into learning this sometimes tricky skill through a combination of readings, analysis of published fiction, writing exercises, and developing, writing, and revising stories of their own in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

It starts with laying down a foundation of good writing craft, as many mistakes and pitfalls when writing the Other are born from lack of skill. The class will cover language, description, narrative structure, and plot, then dive deep into characterization, stereotypes and tropes, dialogue and dialect, worldbuilding, cultural appropriation, how to research the Other, and strategies for keeping your wordcounts under 8,000.

In addition to the regular instructor, students will benefit from guest lectures exclusive to this class by authors Nisi Shawl and Max Gladstone. Students will also have the opportunity to get a critique on their final submission from one of these writers.

Classes begin the week of January 25th. All the details at The Brainery.