Teaching the changing story

Hurley, UK

Abstract

This paper begins with a brief survey of the state of contemporary short fiction practice, with particular reference to McSweeneys Quarterly Concern, leading into a reflective account of pedagogical approaches to short fiction on Creative Writing degree programmes; an examination of expectations of Creative Writing courses from the point of view of students, teachers and the publishing industry; and consideration of how teaching methods can accommodate or respond to potentially conflicting aspirations. An account of delivering a short fiction module, and an evaluation of personal teaching practice, lessons learned and principles extrapolated concludes.

Citation

Hurley, U. (2007). Teaching the changing story. Writing in education, 57-61

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: May 6, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: May 6, 2009
• Journal: Writing in Education
• Print ISSN: 1361-8539
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Issue: 43
• Pages: 57-61
• Keywords: Pedagogy, short fiction
• Related Public URLs: http://www.nawe.co.uk/metadot/index.pl?id=2383; http://www.nawe.co.uk/metadot/index.pl?id=2506&isa=Category&op=show
• Additional Information: References : Betts, Doris. 1984: Undergraduate Creative Writing Courses. Association of Departments of English Bulletin 79, 34-36 Brown, J., Forsyth, M., and Johnston, P. 2004: The Short Story in the UK: an overview of the current state and exploration of opportunities for new initiatives. Jenny Brown Associates Book Marketing Limited. Retrieved 27 September 2007 from http://www.theshortstory.org.uk/aboutus/The_Short_Story_in_the_UK_Report.pdf, 30 Booktrust. 2006-7:The Story Story Website. Retrieved 27 September 2007 from http://www.theshortstory.org.uk/ Cox, A. 2005: Writing Short Stories. A Routledge Writer's Guide. Routledge. Eggers, D. editor, 2005: The Best of McSweeney’s Volume 1. Hamish Hamilton Ltd. xi, 13-33, 89-100, 101-122, 349-385 Eggers, D. 2001: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Vintage. Hunter, L.D. 1994: A renaissance woman author: Doris Betts helped plant the seeds of renewal in southern fiction. Now she is watching them grow. The Virginian Pilot. Landmark Communications, Inc. Retrieved 28 September 2007 from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1994/vp940724/07220588.htm Joyce, J. First published 1914, this edition 2000: Dubliners. Penguin. King, S. 2001: On Writing. New English Library. Mansfield, K. First published 1945, this edition 1981: The Collected Stories of Katherine Mansfield. Penguin. McSweeney’s Books, 2005: McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Issue 16. The Irish Times, 8 January 2005: Fifty Books to Watch, Books Review, 111 Notes Short Story Conference ‘The Story Shall Be Changed’: Tales and Re-tellings in the Short Story. Saturday 21st July 2007, Edge Hill University. http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/Faculties/FAS/English/CreativeWriting/NWShortStory07.htm The Edge Hill Prize for the best short story collection by a single author from the British Isles. http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/Faculties/FAS/English/CreativeWriting/NWShortStory.htm More information on the teaching at Salford University is available from: http://www.espach.salford.ac.uk/english/info_for_students.php