Spring Fiction Workshop: An Exaltation of Novellas
Course Description
Summary
The novella is a pleasing narrative container, more flexible than the short story, less meandering than the full-length novel, and often composed with a kind of brilliant internal poetry. This rigorous course, part seminar, part fiction workshop, will be devoted on one hand to the study of fourteen postmodern and contemporary novellas; on the other to the production of students’ own, ambitious long-form fiction projects. One book-length work of fiction will be assigned per week, to which students will be expected to write weekly responses. Approximately half of each week’s class time will be devoted to workshop, during which we will discuss not only that week’s student submission, but also an element of craft related, somehow, to the given piece (e.g. dialogue, character, setting, exposition / scene). Letters of critique will be due in advance of each week’s workshop, but will be subject to generous addenda after class discussion. Final projects will consist of one long story, to be drafted, refined, and significantly expanded on over the course of the semester.
Learning Outcomes
- To engage in deep study and conversation with a diverse series of novellas
- To compose and revise our own long-form creative works of prose
- To read and offer feedback on one another's work with consistency, respect, generosity, and enthusiasm
- To practice "reading like a writer" and bringing what we learn to our own creative practice
Prerequisites
Please apply with a short manuscript / sample of your work.
Please contact the faculty member : rachellyon@bennington.edu
Corequisites
All students are required to attend all Poetry at Bennington readings and Literature evenings, held at 7pm most Wednesdays in the spring.
Cross List
- Creative Writing (BFA)
- Literature
- Writing