Introduction to Short StoryCreative Writing, January 2014

Before we begin, a few notes of Re

1. You guys are focused student writers and rock.

2. You have a voice in your studies…let it be heard, people!

3. You’ve been asking to write stories, and the time is nigh. (Is that exciting or does it sound ominous? I’m going with the latter.)

The short story unit will include…• Know – Want to Know – Learned • Essential/guiding questions & self-directed “research”• Mrs. Salfia Q&A• The study of “great” short stories (*more on that

later)• Beautiful passages (weekly)• Character, conflict, plot development• Dialogue boot camp • Workshop• A story you can be proud of

My guiding questions…

• What makes a good short story?• What do great short stories have in common?• What makes an effective first line and exposition?• What makes an effective ending and last line?• How do writers establish character voice?• What can student writers reasonable and effectively

imitate and apply to their own writing?

Bare Bones

• What do we already KNOW about the short story genre?

From Jump

• What are some things we WANT TO KNOW about the short story genre or writing short fiction?

Best of…?• What are the best short stories you know or

have studied?• What makes them spectacular?

(Me – “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff It’s weird, seductive, surprising, and subtle, and the language is beautiful, too.)