Great interview

Here's a terrific 2003 interview with writer (and former MPH parent) Tobias Wolff.

http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/5391/the-art-of-fiction-no-183-tobias-wolff

Homework

See the calendar for homework information. See me if you have any questions.

Your assignment, and something else to read

For next time, you're to revise your three-minute fiction pieces.

In addition, you're to read and come prepared to comment on the three student handouts with which you were proviced.

Also:

Read this article.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/i-know-how-youre-feeling-i-read-chekhov/?partner=rss&emc=rss

A scene, a character

For next class, let's try to produce that start of a story by introducing a character in a scene. There are a host of ways to do this, depending on what point of view you elect to use and whether you describe someone's actions more than, say, his or her appearance or even his or her motives.

What I'd like to do with those pieces is for us to read them carefully on our own, then, next time, provide a critique (or, as I explained, "workshop" each story).

I'll hand back the three-minute pieces, which I'd like to see revised. I'll have comments on each piece, both on what we, as a class, liked about a story and what I thought needed work.

Three-minute fiction

The link to the contest theme and the winner is here:

http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189330731/three-minute-fiction-the-round-11-winner-is

Also, you should read the two finalists (to whom they provide links) and the comments of people. What do you think of the stories chosen?

Your story should be no more than two double-spaced typed pages.

Have fun. (Should I play, too?)

Welcome to your writing seminar!

Creative writing folks! There's no work due on September 3, the first day of classes. We'll talk about plans for the class and discuss writing (as you might expect). I'll assign something brief, and we'll then have a full class on September 4.

See you soon!