Course Syllabus

Google Doc  ·  PDF  ·  Word Doc  ·  Canvas

Beginning Short Story Writing

Form & Feeling

T/Th 10:30 am - 11:50 am · MEB 245 / map
Instructor: Jerico Lenk · lenkj@uw.edu · Instructor Info · PDL B-33 · Open Office Hours T/Th 9 am - 10 am 

 

Coming Ashore

What is a “land acknowledgement?” Puyallup Tribe · Muckleshoot Tribe

“When our ancestors traveled by canoe to another territory, it was our protocol to stop offshore to announce our arrival, offer respect to the lands and the people, and ask permission to come ashore. Our people continue this practice today, both on and off the canoe.” (from the spuyaləpabš: Puyallup Tribe)

Seattle & the University of Washington campuses were built on the homelands and shared waters of the historic dxʷdəwʔabš and spuyaləpabš, the Peoples tending to this land long before us. Today they endure as the Muckleshoot, past and present, King County’s Federally Recognized Treaty Tribe—along with the Suquamish, Tulalip, Lummi, and Puyallup Tribes—all of whom, despite generations of national violence, cruelty, and genocide, continue to model harmony with the land through their economic, community, and environmental battles. 

More than this, with respect and gratitude to the ancestors and elders of this region, I hope for our time together, come ashore and gathering every Tuesday and Thursday, to be a space that inspires thought on our individual relationships with nature, climate, and culture, and how we find the harmony of sharing aliveness, of giving and receiving in all ways: environmentally, personally, culturally, academically, etc. 

Course Description 

We’re gonna write. We’re going to write, read, write again and read some more. The official reg name of this course is Beginning Short Story Writing, but we don’t need to limit ourselves to one genre. Instead, we’ll explore prose writing at large, stories full of feeling in many forms — short fiction, flash, novel passages, prose poetry, hybrid/experimental — and practice the craft techniques needed to write them. Creative writing isn’t just any one skill, after all, but the negative space between them. 

This course is meant to be an introduction and exploration of creative writing regardless of major, minor, or “ability.” In this class, this quarter — even beyond — we’re all Writers.

Course Goals & Objectives 

  • ­Reading as a Writer: Reading a variety of prose narratives closely and critically to identify the use and effect of specific craft elements 
  • Building our Voice: Experimenting with craft choices beyond our comfort zone 
  • Contextual Curiosity: Engaging the importance of audience and intent, “implied author” and “implied reader,” to consider the connections, reflections, and refractions between what we read, write, and live 
  • Confidence in Process: Familiarizing with the art of writing as cyclical, recursive, revisionary, and envisionary 
  • Confidence in Craft: Building knowledge of “craft” through recognition and articulation of storytelling strategies in others’ work, as well as our own 
  • Mindfulness: Identifying and nurturing our individual rhythms, processes, and identities as Writers
  • Productive & Inclusive Workshop: Building community through a commitment to curiosity, openness, and care, centering the Writer to support their voice, craft choices, identities, and goals 
  • HAVING FUN  

Course Structure

Tuesdays

  • Discuss readings (Reading Notes due, if any)
  • Craft review & exercises
  • Mini-Workshop: Writing Assignments from previous week 

Thursdays

  • Discuss readings/Craft Discussion
  • Craft review & exercises 
  • Receive Writing Assignment for next week’s Mini-Workshop 

Necessary Materials

During class, I tend to take "live" notes as we discuss and go through material, in Google Docs, displayed via projector. These will be linked in each Module for the day.

All materials listed or later assigned will be provided in print, Word doc, Google Doc, and PDF to the best of my ability — but I really do recommend getting The Practice of Creative Writing if you can!

1. The Practice of Creative Writing, 4th ed. by Heather Sellers (referenced as “PCW” throughout syllabus)

  • Paperback, ISBN: 9781319215958: 3-month rental @ $38 or buy for $95 (Use Promo Code SHIPFREE at checkout)
  • E-book, ISBN: 9781319321161: 6-month access @ $41 or buy for $63

2. How We Workshop (Google Doc / PDF / Word Doc / Canvas)

3. Creative Writing: Content & Consent (Google Doc / PDF / Word Doc / Canvas)

4. Craft Glossary (Google Doc / PDF / Word Doc / Canvas)

5. Craft Discussion roster (Google Doc)

6. The usual: whatever you need in order to work with Canvas, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, UW Gmail. Pen and paper/handwritten assignments are allowed.

* A note on Google Docs: Be signed into your UW Gmail account to access Google Docs and our Workshop folders.

Assignments

1. Weekly Writing Assignments

Each week, we’ll have short (short!!) Writing Assignments to practice specific craft elements — some during class, some to submit on Canvas. These will be assigned on Thursdays and Mini-Workshopped on Tuesdays.

 

2. Reading Notes

Class readings will be divided between groups to ease workload and prepare for discussions. This means that if your peers are unable to read ALL of the week’s material, your notes will help them, and vice versa. This only works if we all do our part! 

In a collab Reading Notes Google Doc, you’ll leave key takeaways, questions, or points about the readings. Making your notes on this Doc counts for participation. These are due before the next class — everyone will share their takeaways and/or questions together. 

 

3. Mini-Workshop

On Tuesdays, we will have Mini-Workshops for our weekly Writing Assignments. In small groups, we’ll each read aloud our short piece and discuss specific craft choices within it. This is a place to play, practice, prepare, and focus on process.  

These are one-day, one class period workshops so they will NOT have written Reader responses: we experience the piece for the first time then and there. Mini-Workshop groups can be found in Canvas > People > Group tab Mini-Workshop — but there will also be a Google Doc link on our Canvas Home page. 

 

4. Final Workshop

Week 8 and Week 10 will be dedicated to workshopping a single, larger piece, which will then be revised twice: 1) After Week 8 Workshop, to be reviewed during Week 10 Workshop, and 2) Again after Week 10 Workshop to be submitted in your Final Portfolio. 

Endless possibilities!! This piece can be something entirely new, you can expand a Weekly Writing Assignment, you could even start the quarter with a single theme, character, project, etc. in mind and build it piece by piece throughout Mini-Workshops before finally submitting it in its entirety for Final Workshop. And, of course, you can change your mind on any of this at any time. 

Final Workshop groups can be found in Canvas > People > Group tab Final Workshop — but there will also be a Google Doc link on our Canvas Home page. 

See Workshop & Feedback for more. 

 

5. Final Portfolio

Writing, creative or academic, is a process. Our class is about that, too. From the beginning we’ve considered: who are we as Writers? Where does that come from and why does that matter? What choices do we make in how we use form and create feeling in our work? How have I practiced the 6 PCW Strategies in my writing? What have I learned about myself and my writing this quarter? 

At the end of the quarter, we’ll gather all our work and prepare a Final Portfolio including the following: 

  • Weekly & Mini-Workshop Writing Assignments
  • Twice-revised Final Workshop piece 
  • A 2-3 page introduction

See Canvas for a more comprehensive guide. 

 

6. Craft Discussions

Creative writers read, creatively and critically. 

Each of you will have signed up for a craft concept from our Glossary and added a related piece of prose to our Craft Discussion roster, which you’ll introduce, lead discussion, or showcase for us in the week we discuss it: Tell us how that craft concept is demonstrated in a creative work of your choice! 

For example — insight in Lights All Night Long, close observation in The Song of Achilles, or narrative structure in the Carmen Maria Machado short story “Inventory.”

Things to think about when you lead discussion: 

  • How does the author/story demonstrate that craft element? 
  • What is it doing for you as a reader? 
  • What is it doing for the story itself? 
  • How is it similar or dissimilar from other writers’ use of the same craft element? 
  • Did it or does it inspire you? 

Plan to provide an exercise, question list, or writing prompt re: the respective craft concept. Shoot for 10 minutes total: Try to keep your presentation to 5 minutes or less, opening the rest of the time for any following discussion or writing prompt. Please feel free to ask for my help if you’re not sure what to plan. Two to three students per Craft Discussion day — you can lead the discussion separately or as a pair/group (combined 20 minutes total).

Workshop & Feedback

Workshop is not about a polished draft. Workshop is about play, practice, and possibilities. 

This is a vital time for Writers during the process instead of after the fact. It’s important that Writers have a chance to talk about their work — their goals, plans, and questions, the context of their piece, their intended audience, their craft choices — and hear readers’ observations, questions, and possibilities. It’s imperative we recognize that this is not a time to offer unbidden critique (you’re not New Yorker book reviewers), presume judgments over quality or content, or impose our own style and craft choices onto another Writer’s. Workshop is about Writer wants, needs, and opportunities: how can they write the piece they want to write? 

That being said, our course will also ask Writers to focus on and practice certain aspects and elements of craft — 

but there’s no right or wrong way to do so, only the commitment to trying it out. 

We’ll spend Weeks 8 and 10 on Final Workshop: 

Week 8 Tuesday & Thursday

  • Writer’s Notes: context, intentions, guiding questions, etc.
  • Reader Responses: observations and prompting questions
  • Looking towards possibilities 

Week 10 Tuesday & Thursday

  • A revised draft of the same piece 
  • Follow up on process, revision, and questions
  • New/remaining Writer and Reader questions

(At least one of these Workshop weeks, weather permitting, we’ll meet outside!)

Assessment & Grades

Submitting Assignments

The holy trinity of assignment submission is: Canvas, Google Docs, hard copy — HOWEVER, technology and individual needs are diverse, so there is no real restriction on what format you use to submit assignments. Read through this section carefully. If you are absolutely unable to utilize the intended submission format for any assignment, let me know ASAP so we can work out a system best for you, your work, and your peers. 

Weekly Writing Assignments & Mini-Workshops

  • Canvas Discussion Post
  • Canvas Assignment Submission (doc, docx, pdf, Google Doc link, text box)
  • For Weekly Writing Assignments that will be Mini-Workshopped, bring 4-5 printed copies of your piece: 1 for yourself, 1 for me, and 1 for each of your workshop partners

Reading Notes

  • Collaborative Google Doc, which everyone can access and edit

Final Workshop

  • Google Drive with organized folders  

Final Portfolio

  • Dealer’s choice! Some options: hard copy/binder, Canvas ePortfolio, PDF, etc. 

 

Grading Structure 

Everything this quarter is a matter of Complete and Incomplete. No lates, no real point values, no curves and averages, etc. Instead: 

  • Did you submit the assignment?
  • Does the assignment follow the prompt? 
  • Does the assignment distinctly engage the respective craft element(s) and our course objectives, or does it need to be revisited for clarity/commitment? 

If you answer yes to all three of those questions, cool you’ve got a Complete!

Otherwise, the assignment will be considered Incomplete. BUT — 

I will leave a note on the Canvas assignment explaining why the assignment is Incomplete and provide guidance or suggestions for resubmission. There is no limit to the number of resubmissions; an assignment will remain Incomplete until it meets all three of the goals above.

 

Final Grade Guide

  • Reading Notes - 10% 
  • Weekly Writing Assignments & Mini-Workshops - 20%
  • Craft Discussion - 10%
  • Final Workshop - 30% 
  • Final Portfolio - 30% 

Final grades are not arbitrary evaluations of the “quality” of your work as a Writer — that’s, first of all, impossible and second of all, not my job, my intentions, or even my right. Final grades will reflect the commitment you give our Course Outcomes this quarter: 

  • Close and critical reading for craft 
  • ­Writing beyond our comfort zones
  • Thinking about the lived context of writing 
  • Process-based workshop and intentional revision
  • Awareness and engagement with elements of Craft
  • Mindfulness of your identity, needs, and Flow
  • Community and open-mindedness 

UW Standard Grading System

Letter Grade

Number

%

Letter Grade

Number

%

A

3.9 - 4.0

95-100%

C

1.9 - 2.1

74-76%

A-

3.5 - 3.8

90-94%

C-

1.5 - 1.8

70-73%

B+

3.2 - 3.4

87-89%

D+

1.2 - 1.4

67-69%

B

2.9 - 3.1

84-86%

D

0.9 - 1.1

64-66%

B-

2.5 - 2.8

80-83%

D-

0.7 - 0.8

60-63%

C+

2.2 - 2.4

77-79%

E

0.0

< 59.9%
  • Percentages will always be rounded to the next 0.5 — 93.3% = 93.5% or 86.4% = 86.5%; 97.7% = 98% or 79.6% = 80%. We will determine together as a class how to organize the range of Number grades with the ranges in the Percentage column.

Academic & Creative Integrity 

They say good writers borrow, but the best writers steal. We’ll find the heart of that sentiment this quarter without stealing a thing. Plagiarism, or academic dishonesty, is presenting someone else’s ideas or writing as your own. Please don’t steal others’ ideas or writing. Even what you might think is your worst, sloppiest, most incomplete writing is still your writing, and that’s the point. Remember, too, that there are no late penalties and that the Complete / Incomplete grading scheme presents no occasion for plagiarism.

Mental Health Days

This quarter we’ll all (including me) have two Mental Health days. You can use one Mental Health day to skip one smaller assignment/discussion post — no explanation, no penalty, no harm no foul. Have a stretch, drink water, do your laundry, ugly cry, go for a walk, binge TV, make TikToks all day — whatever you need to do for yourself. Just let me know via email that you’re cashing in a day and for what. You don’t need to tell me why. Your mental health matters. 

* Mental Health Days cannot be cashed in for Final Workshop, Final Portfolio, or Craft Discussion. 

Keep in mind life happens for me, too, so when I cash in one of my Mental Health days, I’ll send an Announcement ASAP, but no later than 10:00 pm PST the day before we meet. 

If at any time you’re feeling exceedingly overwhelmed, stressed, or in need of support, 1) let me know (at your comfort level) so that we can make a plan for OUR work together, and 2) look through the resources and support for UW students here: 

UW Counseling Center & Husky Mental Health / Campus Health / LiveWell / Crisis Center

Communication & Instructor Availability 

Communication 

Use Canvas Inbox or your UW Gmail. 

I send a ridiculous amount of Announcements via Canvas about due dates, helpful information, tips and tricks, and any changes regarding schedule or assignments. I’ll also check in personally now and again if I see any growing gaps in attendance, missed or late assignments, etc. Have notifications for your Canvas Announcements and inbox turned on. This can be found in Settings, but if you’re lost, see this Guide to Canvas. 

Most importantly, please get in contact with me re: any personal/individual needs. Whatever the situation, whatever the need, we will find ways to figure it out. I’m available to schedule office hours before class, after class, in my office, and via Zoom. 

 

Instructor Availability 

Office Hours 

My office is PDL (Padelford) B-33. Here's a map because PDL is a twisty turny dungeon. You can drop in for unscheduled visits/office hours T/Th 9:00 am - 10:00 am. If you aren’t available at those times, email me and we’ll find a day and time that works for us both. Plus, you can visit office hours in person or via Zoom. 

Grading Days 

I keep assignment grades hidden until all the submissions are graded. Some assignments take a bit longer than others. I spend Wednesdays and weekends on grading, so be on the lookout those days for grades to be unhidden. You can sign up for and set Canvas notifications to email you when grades become visible. 

Gone Dark

Please reach out any time, for any reason. I do my best to respond to emails within 24 hours — but Monday is my dedicated writing day, and I am out of the office. This means if you email me on Monday, I will not reply until the following day.  

Accommodations 

COVID-19 Precautions 

UW requires all students and personnel to be fully vaccinated (with specific exemptions). 

The University of Washington’s mask policy continues to be guided by the CDC, state, and local health guidance. King and Pierce counties recently moved to the “low” community level category and have stayed in that category for more than a week. 

As a result of this improvement in the COVID-19 situation, the UW has moved to masks being recommended inside all indoor settings where they aren’t otherwise required, particularly for the following:

  • Individuals who are not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
  • Immunocompromised individuals or those at high risk for severe illness when the COVID-19 Community Level is “medium” or “high”
  • Childcare settings
  • Activities that may generate more respiratory aerosols and involve frequent close contact of less than 6 feet, such as indoor performing arts
  • Crowded settings especially when there is a decreased ability to distance from others or when in spaces that may not be well ventilated
  • When an EH&S risk assessment of activities determines there is a higher risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (e.g., working with unvaccinated populations)

Should one or both counties move back into the “medium” or “high” categories, or we experience increases in campus transmission and/or the emergence of a more virulent variant, our mask policy will be reevaluated. (From August 2022 Message to the UW Community and August 2022 EH&S Face Covering Policy) 

We will wear masks for the first two weeks of Autumn Quarter 2022 as we all reconvene from various travels, locations, and life experiences. At the end of Week 2, we’ll revisit comfort levels as a class. 

 

Masks are available free of charge — on a first come, first served basis — at the following locations: 

Listen to your body: if you feel sick enough to stay home, stay home. Rest. Sleep. Drink water. Read. Binge anime. Find a new podcast. Eat cake or end up somehow on #bakedbeanstok. Whatever it is, just take care of yourself. Let me know as soon as you can that you’ll be absent and we’ll work together to make up for anything missed. 

If you are worried you’re exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, need to quarantine, or if a peer is worried or needs to quarantine, follow the steps on the EH&S Flowchart and please please please let me know as soon as you can so we can send many Get Well Soons, a list of good movies to watch. We’ll pivot to one week online together.

Full UW COVID-19 Health and Safety info is regularly updated and found on the EH&S website: https://www.ehs.washington.edu/covid-19-prevention-and-response/covid-19-health-and-safety

 

MPX Precautions 

Normal routine cleaning and disinfection practices, such as those prescribed for COVID-19 prevention, are sufficient for most UW spaces in fighting the spread of the MPX virus (“monkeypox”). For more information about symptoms, testing, treatment, vaccination, and prevention, visit CDC’s About Monkeypox. (From August 2022 EH&S announcement)

 

Class Days & COVID-19

This class is designed to be and is most effective in person. If you believe you meet the criteria for an accommodation or other approved arrangement allowing for remote participation in this class, please contact UW Disability Resources for Students (DRS). If you feel as though you might be distracted or uncomfortable with more than 15 people together in a classroom at once, email me. 

 

Accessibility (ADA)

My goal is to make all materials and experiences in this class as accessible as possible — but there’s never any “one” way to do that, and there’s no deadline to bringing up new needs or tweaks to be made. 

If you have established accommodations with UW Disability Resources for Students (DRS), 1) activate your accommodations via myDRS, then 2) email me to set up a time where we can sit down and highlight together all the places, if any, that could be adjusted to better support you, your needs, and better accessibility in general. 

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but believe your experience in this class will be best supported by accommodations for any lived health status, condition, or disability (“include[d] but not limited to: mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts”), contact DRS directly to set up an Access Plan. DRS facilitates the interactive process needed. 

If you run into any missing accommodations, let me know ASAP. More information about accommodation may be found at http://www.washington.edu/students/drs/. Contact DRS at disability.uw.edu. 

 

Religious & Cultural Observances Autumn 2022

Washington State law and UW policy protect accommodation of student absences for: 1) significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience or 2) for organized religious activities/cultural observances. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available here: Religious Accommodations Policy. Please submit your requests as soon as possible using the Religious Accommodations Request form.

PLEASE honor your cultural and faith holidays!! 

26 September - 5 October: Navaratri

7 October - 8 October: Mawlid al-Nabi

9 October - 16 October: Sukkot

16 October - 18 October: Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah

24 October: Diwali

26 October - 27 October: Birth of Bahá’u’lláh

31 October: Halloween 

8 November: Gurpurab

11 November: Veterans Day

24 November: National Day of Mourning 

18 December - 26 December: Hanukkah / Chanukah

Tentative Course Schedule

This schedule is a living, breathing, flexible thing, subject to change should need(s) arise. 

Week 1 - Syllabus & Intro

Th 29 September

Syllabus & other cool stuff!! 

Foundational components, Flow, Craft Concepts 

 

Week 2 - The Day That’s Different: Tension & Basics

T 4 October

Redefining “plot” (Character, complications, conflict-crisis-resolution)

Th 6 October 

Tension & Yearning (Obsessions, imitations, POV experiments)

Craft Discussion: Plot & Conflict 

Possible guest observers - TBD.

 

Week 3 - Image Pt 1

T 11 October

Setting & tone, Word choice 

Th 13 October

Pathetic Aesthetics & Ekphrasis 

Craft Discussion: Tension & Yearning

 

Week 4 - Image Pt 2 & Pattern 

T 18 October

Zooming in: Close observation + specificity

Th 20 October

Image creates patterns; tension + pattern 

Craft Discussion: Word choice

 

Week 5 - Character & Dialogue

T 25 October

Character: Characterization, Vulnerability, Relatability

Th 27 October

Dialogue & Synthesis 

Craft Discussion: Image

 

Week 6 - Energy & Pace 

T 1 November 

Pace & movement

Th 3 November 

Gaps, leaps, & temperature 

Craft Discussion: Character

 

Week 7 - Insight

T 8 November

Insight = Tension + yearning + subtext

Craft Discussion: Energy (Dialogue, pace & movement)   

Th 10 November 

NO CLASS

Final Workshop submission due Friday 11 November

 

Week 8 - Final Workshop

T 15 November 

Workshop  

Th 17 November 

Workshop  

 

Week 9 - Revisit & Refresh

T 22 November

Craft Concepts refresh & Overview of Tropes, Genres, Forms, Submissions, etc. 

Craft Discussion: Insight 

Th 24 November

NO CLASS

Final Workshop Revisions due Friday 25 November

 

Week 10 - Final Workshop: Revisions

T 29 November

Revisions Workshop 

Craft Discussion: Setting & Voice/Tone/Mood 

Th 1 December

Revisions Workshop & final housekeeping 

Craft Discussion: Narrative Structure, Shape, & Pattern 

Final Workshop Packet due Sunday 4 December

 

Week 11 - Work Day & Open Mic

T 6 December

Course evaluations & Final Portfolio work day

Craft Discussion: Writer & Audience  

Th 8 December

Class open mic & submissions party!

 

Week 12 - Finals Week

T 13 December & Th 15 December

NO CLASS / Final Portfolio due Friday 16 December

Events & More

Castalia

Castalia is a monthly reading series held at Hugo House featuring graduate students, faculty, and alumni from the University of Washington MFA program. Follow the Facebook, Twitter, and Hugo House Events page for updates and announcements. / Facebook · Twitter  · Hugo House Events

 

Black Jaw Literary Series

A monthly student-run reading series and community creative space, with featured MFA readers and community open mic. Follow the Facebook for announcements, dates, and locations. / Facebook 

 

Writers in Progress

If you’re interested in creative writing in any capacity, this club is for you! It doesn't matter if you’re a published author, or have never written anything before in your life, come by and read/give feedback on other people’s creative writing pieces or receive feedback on your own! We have biweekly prompts available if you need some inspiration, but you’re never required to write for that prompt, or bring anything at all if you don’t want to/don’t feel comfortable doing so. We want this to be a place where you can meet other people and talk about creative writing in a comfortable, safe space, so if you’ve had a long week and just want to come read other’s work, that's totally fine! If you have any questions, definitely reach out, and we look forward to meeting you! 

Find more WIP info and join the club on The Hub. 

 

Bricolage, The Literary & Visual Arts Journal at UW

To provide University of Washington students with the opportunity to gain experience in the publishing process through the creation of a quality undergraduate journal containing the work of writers and artists attending or affiliated with the UW. Bricolage publishes annually and aims to uplift the voices of emerging and established writers and artists in the UW community. Bricolage strives to foster and promote a strong literary and arts community within the UW. 

Find more Bricolage info on The Hub. 

 

Submittable 

Find, save, and submit your work for literary magazines, writing contests, grants, fellowships, scholarships, residencies, and more. 

Find more info on the Submittable site.