In a series of opening discussions and interviews, students are encouraged to explore their own story interests, voice, modes. Stories collected in chapbooks as final project. Students use fiction notebooks to create and sustain the mind and world of a primary fictional character. The notebook can experiment with point of view, motivation, researched information relevant to character, etc. The workshop brings students together in conversation to evaluate works pursued largely outside of class.
Students commit to workshop dates in the second week of class.
Students are responsible for picking up these works and preparing a written response prior to the class meeting. In all writing classes, however, there is also a subjective, holistic factor based on sincerity of intent, degree of effort, progress and novelty. Instructor may also assess reading assignments, journals, even participation levels in workshop settings. Information English 409 should be viewed as an extension and intensification of English 309.