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Last updated on
3 October, 2007

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Short Stories
Developing and Writing the Short Story
with Jan Sparkman

REGISTRATION:

COST, LENGTH, PREREQUISITES:

No prerequisites.

Standard course: $100 / 4 weeks. Click here to register

Extended course: $125 / 8 weeks. Click here to register
Extended course gives you two weeks to do each lesson but contains NO additional material.

For questions about this COURSE, e-mail Jan Sparkman at: janzepub@windstream.net

Short fiction is unlike longer fiction in more ways than length. This course will help you understand the basic structure of the short story, how to develop your own style when writing one, and the importance and process of revision. By the end of this course you will have learned what makes a good short story and you will have written a short story using the principles we've studied together.

Some fantastic good news: Fiction Feast (a major UK print publication) wants to publish 'The Yellow Dress' (the story I wrote on Jan Sparkman's course), and offering very good money. - Christine

COURSE OUTLINE BY WEEK:
Week I: The Structure of the Short Story
a. Foundation
b. Building Tools
c. Construction

Week 2: The Style Factor
a. Defining Style
b. Developing Style
c. Practicing Style

Week 3: The Revision Process
a. Revising for Meaning
b. Revising for Clarity
c. Revising for Specific Requirements

Week 4: The Final Draft
a. One more once over
b. Feedback
c. Copyediting, Proofreading, and Manuscript Preparation

PLANNED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS BY WEEK:
Week I: Select a short story of medium length (not a short-short) from a book you own, can borrow, or can access on line. Read the story once, then read it again, taking notes on how the story elements are presented. Next, plot the story's arc using the diagram that follows as a guideline. Send instructor the name of the story, your notes on its structure, and the arc you plot for it.

Week 2: Using some words/phrases given you by the teacher, write a first draft of a short story. It can be as long or as short as you like. Don't censure yourself, and don't make corrections at this time. This is a FIRST DRAFT. You're just trying to get your thoughts on paper and practice what you've learned. Consult the plot arc from last week's lesson to help you move from step to step. Send the first draft.

Week 3: Revise your story according to the course principles of Meaning and Clarity. Send in your revision. Instructor will make comments after which she will ask you to cut the story by one-third (as if you had been told by an editor to do so in order to meet space requirements). After you have done this, send the new revision.

Week 4: Read your story aloud to one or more people you trust to give honest feedback. Write down their suggestions and send them with your finished story. You may incorporate the suggestions into your work, or not, depending on whether you think they are valid, but you must still include the suggestions with your assignment. Instructor will make comments, then ask you to review your story one last time, checking carefully for errors. Prepare the manuscript as if you were submitting it for publication before sending it back for instructor's final comments.

Jan Sparkman received her BA in Writing / Literature from Burlington College, Burlington, Vermont and has also studied writing at Sue Bennett College, London, Ky., Cerritos College, Norwalk, Ca., University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., and at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Ky. She has been a self-employed writer since 1972.

Sparkman is today the Owner/Manager of Janze Publications, London, Kentucky, where she offers consulting, editing, cover design, page layout, and publishing. From 1990-1997 Sparkman worked for the Laurel News Leader, London, Kentucky doing a bi-weekly column, copyediting, ad design, layout, feature stories and office management.

Sparkman's published writings include two novels, three nonfiction books, a collection of short stories, a children’s story, magazine articles, a few poems, and hundreds of newspaper columns and book reviews.

Her books are: Our Fathers Before Us: A Family Journal, history, 1980; A Memory of Summer, novel, 1981; Years of Grace, Years of Light, history of First Baptist Church, London, KY, 1994; One Vision, Many Hands, history of First Baptist Church, Corbin, KY, 1995; Silk and Steel: Stories of Strong Women, short story collection, 2005; and Window to Home, novel, 2007.

Sparkman serves on the boards of two literary entities in her area and facilitates the meetings of a bi-monthly writers group.