FICT 119 — The Art of the Essential: Short Fiction Workshop
Quarter: Winter
Instructor(s): Shawna Yang Ryan
Date(s): Jan 7—Mar 11
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Thursdays
Class Meeting Time: 6:00—8:30 pm (PT)
Tuition: $1040
Refund Deadline: Jan 9
Unit(s): 2
Enrollment Limit: 18
Status: Registration opens Nov 30, 8:30 am (PT)
In the words of Julio Cortázar, “The novel wins by points, the short story by knockout.” Its power lies in compression, precision, and implication. Master short story writers achieve their effects by eliminating everything inessential, so that every detail carries weight, and what remains resonates beyond the page.
In this course, we’ll study the work of writers such as Jhumpa Lahiri, Kristiana Kahakauwila, and George Saunders, reverse-engineering the mechanics of their stories to discover how they create such powerful effects within a limited space. Through close reading and conversation, we’ll develop a shared vocabulary for talking about what a story is doing and why. Writing exercises will target specific craft elements, including structure, conflict, voice, time, and point of view, gradually building toward one complete story of up to 5,000 words. Each story will be workshopped by both the instructor and the group, helping you develop the critical eye and technical precision needed to write stories that leave an indelible impression.
SHAWNA YANG RYAN
Author
Shawna Yang Ryan is the author of numerous short stories and three novels. Her work has received an American Book Award, the Association for Asian American Studies Award for Best Book in Creative Writing, the Elliot Cades Award for Literature, and the UC Davis Maurice Prize. She previously directed the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Creative Writing Program, where she was a tenured professor. Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.