In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to the techniques that masters of fiction use to ground a story in a concrete world. From the most realist settings to the most fantastical, writers will learn how to describe the physical world in sharp, sensory detail. We will also learn how to build credibility through research, and to use creative meditation exercises to deepen our own understanding of our story worlds, so that our readers can see all that we imagine.
Ce cours fait partie de la Spécialisation Rédaction créative
Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description
proposé par
Programme du cours : ce que vous apprendrez dans ce cours
Semaine
1Persuasive Settings: Why Description Matters
Writing a great short story is like conveying a dream. As we will see from studying one famous master, a "persuasive" setting is necessary in order to build mood, character, and even plot.
7 vidéos (Total 39 min), 4 lectures, 1 quiz
7 vidéos
Why Do We Write?6 min
The Power of Persuasion3 min
Moving Through Time and Space4 min
Nothing Can Happen Nowhere8 min
Shop Talk with Brando Skyhorse10 min
Feedback Expectations for the Specialization2 min
Assignment Overview: Slow-Motion Moment1 min
4 lectures
"The Power of Persuasion" by Mario Vargas Llosa10 min
"The Odour of Chrysanthemums" by D.H. Lawrence10 min
A Note on Assignments10 min
Promo Codes10 min
Semaine
2If You Build It, They Will Come
Pack your fiction with "vitamin-rich" detail. Looking at the work of both masters and students, we will discuss how funny, meaningful, and powerful details can be.
4 vidéos (Total 25 min), 3 lectures, 1 quiz
4 vidéos
"Things That Suck"3 min
Shop Talk with Salvatore Scibona14 min
Assignment Overview: Habitual Ritual1 min
3 lectures
Text of "How to Write About Africa" by Binyavanga Wainaina10 min
"How to Become a Writer" by Lorrie Moore10 min
"Forever Overhead" by David Foster Wallace10 min
Semaine
3Credibility and Research
Create settings both familiar and unfamiliar to you, while avoiding common missteps. You will be guided through several meditation exercises as you practice "imaginative research".
4 vidéos (Total 37 min), 1 quiz
4 vidéos
Three Phases of Research12 min
Meditation Exercise7 min
Shop Talk with Amy Bloom14 min
Assignment Overview: Strange Lands3 min
Semaine
4Realities
Setting and description works in realist and non-realist fiction, as well as across literary genres. Consider how to write about your own "primal landscape".
4 vidéos (Total 35 min), 1 quiz
4 vidéos
What Is Genre? (including Shop Talk with Amy Bloom on Noir Fiction)10 min
Visiting Writer: Historical Fiction with Valerie Martin13 min
Assignment Overview: Primal Landscapes3 min
4.7
187 avis83%
Meilleurs avis
par DP•Jul 18th 2018
This course gave a real depth to the importance of describing your character's environment, as a way of deepening and exciting them. excellent work on imagining your characters in the environment
par JW•Jan 27th 2018
The course was very well organized and quite challenging. Each week gave me the opportunity to develop a piece which I have further developed into longer pieces which I am looking at publishing.
Enseignant
Amity Gaige
Visiting Scholar in Creative WritingÀ propos de Wesleyan University
At Wesleyan, distinguished scholar-teachers work closely with students, taking advantage of fluidity among disciplines to explore the world with a variety of tools. The university seeks to build a diverse, energetic community of students, faculty, and staff who think critically and creatively and who value independence of mind and generosity of spirit.
À propos de la Spécialisation Rédaction créative
This Specialization covers elements of three major creative writing genres: short story, narrative essay, and memoir. You will master the techniques that good writers use to compose a bracing story, populated with memorable characters in an interesting setting, written in a fresh descriptive style. You will analyze and constructively evaluate peer writing. In the Capstone, you will draft, rewrite, and complete a substantial original story in the genre of your choosing.
Our courses are designed for anyone from the aspiring short story writer to established novelist. Whether you have a finished novel sitting on your desk calling for a fresh look or have had the germ of an idea for a decade, this Specialization gives you tools to achieve your goal. Through 4 courses focused on a key aspect of writing, and taken in any order you choose, you will develop a stronger ability to not only refine your writing, but critique writing in general and find inspiration in the works you are already reading.
Thanks to our sponsors, upon completion of their first assignment, learners in each course will receive up to an 80% discount from Write-Bros and a 30% discount off their first purchase from Scrivener to use on their writing software. Additionally, learners who complete an assignment will receive 30% off membership at the online writing community Scribophile. For more information about our partners, see the FAQ below.
Foire Aux Questions
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Une fois que vous êtes inscrit(e) pour un Certificat, vous pouvez accéder à toutes les vidéos de cours, et à tous les quiz et exercices de programmation (le cas échéant). Vous pouvez soumettre des devoirs à examiner par vos pairs et en examiner vous-même uniquement après le début de votre session. Si vous préférez explorer le cours sans l'acheter, vous ne serez peut-être pas en mesure d'accéder à certains devoirs.
À quoi ai-je droit si je m'abonne à cette Spécialisation ?
Lorsque vous vous inscrivez au cours, vous bénéficiez d'un accès à tous les cours de la Spécialisation, et vous obtenez un Certificat lorsque vous avez réussi. Votre Certificat électronique est alors ajouté à votre page Accomplissements. À partir de cette page, vous pouvez imprimer votre Certificat ou l'ajouter à votre profil LinkedIn. Si vous souhaitez seulement lire et visualiser le contenu du cours, vous pouvez accéder gratuitement au cours en tant qu'auditeur libre.
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