Drafting the Novel

In Drafting the Novel, a yearlong study of fiction writing, students will explore the craft of fiction writing and the practice of outlining a novel-length project. The first half of the year will be devoted to developing the elements of story, with a focus on specificity of setting and character. Students will respond to weekly writing prompts, drawing from these exercises to create the world of their novel. Though we will begin our outlines using a pro forma structure, students have the choice to change any aspect of their outline as their novel ideas emerge. In the second half of the year, students will workshop the opening 6,000 words of their novels; we will not use page numbers as a guide, as page length is an aspect of artistic style. Although the course is a fiction study, our readings will include occasional poetry and nonfiction. Students will complete the year with the opening pages of their novels and a detailed outline to guide them if they wish to continue their project.