Oftentimes dismissed as insignificant, the work of writers pandering to
our ever-decreasing attention spans, flash fiction (imaginative prose of
no more than 1000 words) can be as stunning and provocative as any
other kind of creative writing. In this course, students will be
introduced to many different kinds of “short shorts,” with a strong
emphasis on contemporary American manifestations of the genre. Through
readings and class discussions, students will come to understand how the
unique demands of flash fiction affect key aspects of traditional
narratives such as plot, setting, characterization, dialogue, and point
of view. To help better appreciate the challenges of the genre, students
will write, revise, and present some flash fictions of their own. By
the end of the course, students will come to understand that, despite
their brevity, flash fictions are complex and emotionally moving works
in which absolutely every single word counts.
- Dozent/in: CocchiaraleMichael