English698/598 - Studies in Creative Writing: The Book-Length Manuscript
Fall/Winter 2009/10
Wednesday 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructors: Prof. Suzette Mayr smayr [at] ucalgary [dot] ca
Prof. Robert Majzels rmajzels [at] ucalgary [dot] ca
Course Description:
English 698 is an advanced creative writing course focusing on each student's development of a book-length prose manuscript. The critical approach of the course will focus on the various forms and genres of contemporary fiction and the novel.
Students are expected to generate approximately 120 pages of excellent, polished writing, to be handed in and critiqued in four sections during the year, two in the Fall and two in the Winter. In addition to their own work and comments on their colleagues' submissions, students will make class presentations based on the assigned readings.
The class will be conducted primarily as a manuscript workshop. Each week, participants will come to class prepared to discuss the assigned student's work, as well as a primary or critical text.
At the end of the course, students hand in to the instructors the completed and revised manuscript for final grading. Grades will be based on quality of writing (20% for submissions to be discussed in class; 40% for the final submissions), ability to critique and participate in class discussions (20%), and on formal presentations on literary texts (20%).
Students enter 698 with a 20-to-30 page portfolio of their writing and a one-to-two-page written proposal describing the book-length work they wish to complete, relevant model texts, and critical influences.
Students will read approximately 10 books or essays each term, based on the writing genres the students wish to pursue. These will range in scope and length, and will include primary texts as well as critical texts on theories of writing and the poetics of writing.
(Note: This course is double-numbered with English 598. Students enrolled in 598 will have different course requirements from those enrolled in 698.)
