English 90: Introduction to Fiction Writing

Stanford University, Fall 2014

Monday and Wednesday, 3:15-5:05 PM
Anthony Marra, amarra@stanford.edu
Office hours: M/W 2:00-3:00

English 90 is designed as an introduction to the art and craft of writing fiction. We will begin the
quarter by reading, analyzing, and reverse engineering contemporary short stories to understand
how they work in terms of language, structure, point of view, character, etc., and explore how we
can bring those craft elements to bear on our own work. We will work on short writing
assignments and in-class exercises inspired by and in reaction to these readings. In the second
half of the quarter, we will turn to your fiction. Each student will turn in a 10-20 page short story
for discussion in a class workshop. Along the way, each student will select a short story to
present to the class and write a critical paper on.

The only prerequisite for this course is one section of PWR. Students are encouraged to take
risks with their work, to experiment with style and genre, and are expected to treat the work of
their peers with respect and generosity.

Required Materials:
-Course Reader: available at CopyAmerica, 344 S. California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 566-0344. Note: a representative from CopyAmerica will bring the course reader in during
the second week of class. You will be able to buy it from them directly.
-A notebook for in-class writing assignments
-Please budget for printing and photocopying. All students are required to bring in copies of a
story for the class workshop.

Recommended Reading:
-The Modern Library Writers Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Stephen Koch. We
wont have enough time to discuss this in class, but Koch provides an excellent primer on the art
of fiction. I highly recommend reading it.

Requirements:
Class Participation: 45%
An active and engaged classroom is essential to the success of this course. Your participation
grade will be determined by your contributions to classroom environment in discussions,
workshop, small-group work, etc.

Included in this grade are your workshop letters. When you workshop your short story, you will
receive thoughtful, constructive response letters from your peers. In turn, you are expected to
write thoughtful, constructive response letters to your peers when they workshop their stories.
Each letter should be no shorter than three-quarters of a page, single spaced, and should focus on
where the story succeeds as well as where it can be improved (well talk more about what makes
a good response letter before the first workshop). Please bring in two copies, one for the
workshopee and one for me.
Creative Work: 30%
This grade is based on the story submitted for workshop, a full and substantive revision, and
short writing assignments. On the final day of class you will hand in a portfolio consisting of
both the workshopped story with my comments and a revised draft. I suggest that you turn in a
photocopy of the workshopped story and keep the original for your records.

Story Presentation/Paper: 15%

Over the course of the quarter, each student will pair with another to select a short story from the
world at large (unless you are willing to bring copies for everyone, Id suggest you find a story
available online). You and your partner will give/lead a brief presentation/class conversation on
the story. Additionally, you will individually write a five-page paper focusing on a single craft
element in your chosen story. Presentation and story are each 7.5% of your final grade.

Reading Attendance: 10%

We are fortunate to have a number of wonderful writers visiting campus this fall. Youll attend
three readings. A preliminary list of readings will be attached to the syllabus. Ill announce them
in class and they can also be found at http://creativewriting.stanford.edu and
http://events.stanford.edu/. Please also sign up for the Creative Writing Events Listserve by
going to http://mailman.stanford.edu and joining cw-undergrad and/or like the Stanford
Creative Writing Facebook page.

Attendance Policy:
Students with more than two absences will see their final grade reduced one letter for every
additional absence. If you miss class, its your responsibility to find out what you missed. Make
life easier on yourselves and dont miss class. Excessive tardiness and early departures will be
treated as absences at my discretion. If there is a true emergency, you must contact me via email
before class.

Late Assignment Policy:

Any late work will receive no grade higher than a C. I dont accept work via email.

Classroom Behavior:
Each student is entitled to respect and has the responsibility to treat others respectfully. Abusive
or derogatory language will not be tolerated. If you need to use the restroom, there is no need to
ask permission; just leave quietly. All cell phones should be silenced and put away for the
entirety of class (this includes texting). Well be doing a fair amount of in-class writing
assignments and you should feel free to bring your laptops to class.

Students with Documented Disabilities

Students who may need an academic accommodation based on the impact
of a disability must initiate the request with the Office of
Accessible Education (OAE). Professional staff will evaluate the request with
required documentation, recommend reasonable accommodations,
and prepare an Accommodation Letter for faculty dated in the current
quarter in which the request is being made. Students should contact the OAE
as soon as possible since timely notice is needed to coordinate
accommodations. The OAE is located at 563 Salvatierra Walk (phone: 723-
1066, URL:http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae).

Academic Honesty:
All submitted work must be written this quarter, by you, for this class. Students are expected to
abide by the Stanford Student Honor Code:

The Honor Code is the University's statement on academic integrity written

by students in 1921. It articulates University expectations of students and
faculty in establishing and maintaining the highest standards in academic
work:
The Honor Code is an undertaking of the students, individually and
collectively:
1. that they will not give or receive aid in examinations; that they will not
give or receive unpermitted aid in class work, in the preparation of reports,
or in any other work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of
grading;
2. that they will do their share and take an active part in seeing to it that
others as well as themselves uphold the spirit and letter of the Honor Code.
2. The faculty on its part manifests its confidence in the honor of its
students by refraining from proctoring examinations and from taking unusual and
unreasonable precautions to prevent the forms of dishonesty mentioned above. The faculty will
also avoid, as far as practicable, academic procedures that create temptations to violate the
Honor Code.
3. While the faculty alone has the right and obligation to set academic requirements, the
students and faculty will work together to establish optimal conditions for honorable
academic work.