This unit offers you advanced techniques in writing, editing and publishing, including development of advanced narrative techniques. It aims to give you an opportunity to develop different writing techniques and styles through a closely guided series of writing exercises and theoretical analyses. This is a closely directed opportunity to consider your work closely on the level of language and technique.
Aims
This unit aims to develop writers' awareness of stylistic and technical devices used in creating prose fiction. It aims to help you write and present a portfolio of specifically situated creative works through to publication stage.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. demonstrate an applied understanding of a broad range of stylistic and technical devices used in writing and publishing prose fiction
2. analyse critically and engage with stylistic and technical devices used by a wide range of published authors
3. develop and write experimental narrative, including deliberate manipulation of reader experience through critically applied technique
4. apply techniques of rewriting and editing to both linear and non-linear narrative
Content
The unit content addresses a mixture of reader response and narrative theory, a series of focused writing exercises designed to strengthen specific prose techniques, advanced narrative technique, and practice-based guided writing.
Description: (Formative and Summative) A writing portfolio arising from a series of in-class writing exercises which includes a selected short piece of prose fiction and a reflective analysis of the techniques used. The selected piece and reflection constitutes the assessable component of the portfolio. Length: 1000 words (700 word selected piece of prose, 300 word reflective analysis of the prose).
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4
Weight: 40%
Due date: Mid-semester
Assessment name: Second portfolio submission
Description: (Formative and Summative) A writing portfolio arising from a series of in-class writing exercises which includes a selected short piece of prose fiction and a reflective analysis of the techniques used. The selected piece and reflection constitutes the assessable component of the portfolio. Length: 1000 words (700 word selected piece of prose, 300 word reflective analysis of the prose).
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4
Weight: 40%
Due date: End of semester
Assessment name: In-class presentation
Description: (Summative) A fifteen minute in-class analysis of a selected work of prose fiction by a published author. This presentation comprises an analysis of one aspect of style or technique used by the author as demonstrated by a close reading of the author's work. It includes a reader-response or narratological analysis of the impacts of that narrative technique or style.
Relates to objectives: 2
Weight: 20%
Due date: Throughout semester
