The Elegant Variation: THOSE WHO CAN'T ...

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November 02, 2009

THOSE WHO CAN'T ...

For those interested, registration has officially opened for my first foray into higher learning, the Novel I writing course I will be teaching at UCLA in the Winter term. Syllabus has been submitted and here's the high level look at what the 10-week class will cover:

Week 1. Introductions & Beginnings
Week 2. Reading Like A Writer
Week 3. Characterization
Week 4. Voice, Language and Point of View
Week 5. Structure, Setting and Theme
Week 6. Work-shopping
Week 7. Dialogue
Week 8. Scene and Conflict
Week 9. Revising
Week 10. The Business of Publishing and Where We Go Next

A splendid time is guaranteed for all. You can check my instructor statement here. You can sign up for the class here.

Posted at 10:29 AM in Personal | Permalink

Comments

What novels, if any, will be part of your course?

Posted by: Niall | November 02, 2009 at 10:36 AM

I'll be using a lot of what I used in last year's Melbourne Master Class:

http://marksarvas.blogs.com/elegvar/2008/08/required-readin.html

Posted by: TEV | November 02, 2009 at 10:41 AM

I was going to ask the same question Niall did.

Also, what mix of students can you expect? Absolute novices? Educated dillitantes? Serious writers with some credentials?

Posted by: Paul Lamb | November 02, 2009 at 10:46 AM

I'm told it runs the gamut and to be prepared for anything ...

Posted by: TEV | November 02, 2009 at 10:53 AM

I think it might be more helpful to have students read bad novels, rather than good ones. That way you can point out where their authors went so very wrong.

Posted by: Niall | November 02, 2009 at 10:54 AM

It's interesting that you are teaching a course given your generally critical attitude toward MFA programs (as expressed in this blog - not totally hostile, but critical still). Your course isn't part of a MFA, but pretty close. I was wondering how your course is going to be 'different' - or how you intend to correct for the deficiencies you see in the MFA paradigm.

Posted by: EG | November 02, 2009 at 11:18 AM

The main difference, EG, is I won't really be getitng into the whole world of literary theory. I'm not training anyone to be a writing teacher, I'm teaching them how to write a first novel - it's a hands-on, practical thing with a clear goal in mind. And, in fact, I do intend to tell 'em on Day One that there are limits to what can and can't be taught about writing.

Posted by: TEV | November 02, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Mark, you're pulling your punches. Here's what really goes on in MFA programs, at least one's taught by John Cheever:

"In 1973, when he began teaching at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he had T.C. Boyle, Ron Hansen and Allan Gurganus as students. Not only were these talented young writers, but one of them – Gurganus – was extremely handsome (as the photograph included in Bailey’s biography makes abundantly clear) and, as Bailey puts it, ‘quite insouciantly gay’. As Cheever admired Gurganus’s work (and introduced him to Maxwell, who published one of his stories), he presumed that Gurganus would return the compliment by sleeping with him, despite the fact that he was almost 15 years older than Gurganus’s father. Some of his letters to Gurganus were playful, including the one where he asked (in return for the Maxwell introduction) for some favours. ‘All I expect is that you learn to cook, service me sexually from three to seven times a day, never interrupt me, contradict me or reflect in any way on the beauty of my prose, my intellect or my person. You must also play soccer, hockey and football.’ Gurganus let him know as sweetly as he could that while he liked him, he did not want to sleep with him. ‘How dare he refuse me in favour of some dim-witted major in decorative arts,’"

(http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n21/colm-toibin/my-god-the-suburbs)

That's the extra you get for the MFA. I doubt Mark will offering quite the same heuristic experience.

Posted by: Niall | November 02, 2009 at 01:16 PM

Actually, the cooking part doesn't sound so bad, yo ...

Posted by: TEV | November 02, 2009 at 01:43 PM

Am I correct in assuming we won't have the pleasure of viewing your course lectures remotely? I've enjoyed some of the Literature courses made availalbe by Yale Open Courses and wonder to what extent your winter term class would be made public for non-students.

http://oyc.yale.edu/english

Posted by: John | November 03, 2009 at 06:48 AM

Excellent link, John. I always wanted to learn more about Milton...

Posted by: john | November 03, 2009 at 10:53 AM

The main difference, EG, is I won't really be getitng into the whole world of literary theory.

Uh... since when do MFA programs teach lit theory? You sure you aren't confusing them with English PhD programs?

Posted by: L. | November 03, 2009 at 12:11 PM

The comments to this entry are closed.

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The Elegant Variation

A Literary Weblog.
A Guardian Top 10 Literary Blog * A Forbes "Best of the Web" Pick * A Los Angeles Magazine Top Los Angeles Blog
"Really brave ... or really stupid" - NPR

November 02, 2009

THOSE WHO CAN'T ...

Comments

MY NOVEL

WORTHY READINGS

TEV DEFINED

RECOMMENDED

THIS GUN FOR HIRE:
Reviews & Criticism

SECOND LOOK

Categories

The Elegant Variation

A Literary Weblog. A Guardian Top 10 Literary Blog * A Forbes "Best of the Web" Pick * A Los Angeles Magazine Top Los Angeles Blog "Really brave ... or really stupid" - NPR

November 02, 2009

THOSE WHO CAN'T ...

Comments

MY NOVEL

WORTHY READINGS

TEV DEFINED

RECOMMENDED

THIS GUN FOR HIRE: Reviews & Criticism

SECOND LOOK

Categories

A Literary Weblog.
A Guardian Top 10 Literary Blog * A Forbes "Best of the Web" Pick * A Los Angeles Magazine Top Los Angeles Blog
"Really brave ... or really stupid" - NPR

THIS GUN FOR HIRE:
Reviews & Criticism