What is a novel but a collection of sentences? This writing workshop approaches the formation of fiction by addressing the magic and science of its smallest units: lines and sentences. By reading flash fiction (very short stories), novels-in-verses, and poetry, we will explore the potency of short work and literary compression. Throughout the semester, you will write your own poems and flash fiction pieces. How deeply and quickly can you affect readers by working at the line level? What happens within a sentence or between lines? What can poetry and flash fiction do that so speaks to our age? For fiction writers intimidated by poetry and poets intimidated by long-form fiction, this writing workshop takes a gentle approach to the close reading and writing of poetry and fiction. From studying the works of Danez Smith, Safia Elhillo, Ocean Vuong, Jamaica Kincaid, Warsan Shire, and more, we will amass a series of questions useful to our own practice as readers and writers.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 15

Prerequisites: None.

Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered; Spring

Notes: Mandatory Credit/Non Credit.