Semester.ly

Johns Hopkins University | AS.220.311

Intermediate Fiction: Time and Perspective

3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

(4.62)

This intermediate workshop will focus on rendering perspective and examine the passage of time within fiction. In addition to exploring questions of psychic distance and reliability, we will examine how point of view comes to bear on voice, character, the management of sympathy, and narrative structure. We will also look at how the temporal inflects point of view—how time comes to bear on not just the story itself but the way it is told. Students will write and workshop stories and discuss published fiction. Diverse and contemporary readings to include work by Mary Gaitskill, Ling Ma, Dantiel W. Moniz, and Charles Yu.

Fall 2014

(4.4)

Spring 2015

(4.83)

Fall 2014

Professor: Roderic Puchner

(4.4)

Students praised this course for having a thoughtful and intel igent instructor who gave students insightful feedback and an opportunity to grow as a writer. Perceived issues with the course varied. Most students thought the course didn’t give them enough time to discuss short stories in depth. Suggestions for improvement varied. Multiple students wanted more opportunities for students to practice writing from various points of view. In addition, some students wanted the course to spend more time talking about published works and what worked in them. Prospective students should know that students found the course didn’t require them to have a significant writing background; however, students had to be comfortable with having their writing workshopped.

Spring 2015

Professor:

(4.83)

The best part of this course was the interesting, wel organized workshops. Some students found it disappointing that all assigned material was not covered in class. This course could be improved by discussing more short stories during the anthology phase. Prospective students should know that this course will require a lot of preparation for workshop. Students are encouraged to attend all lectures and commit to the writing process and course activities.