ENGLISH 672: REASEARCH AND PUBLICATION IN CREATIVE WRITING spring 2009
Instructor: Richard Terrill Phone: 5500
Office: AH 212C Hours: T 2-4, W 3-4, Th 11-2,
Email: richard.terrill@mnsu.edu and by appt.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
We will focus on three areas: 1) Graduate program requirements and planning, 2) business issues relating to being a writer, including publishing and careers in writing and teaching, and 3) developing an approach to and maybe a philosophy about what some have called “the writing life.”
Bryan, Sharon and William Olsen. Planet on the Table: Poets on the Reading Life
Dillard, Annie. The Writing Life
Gardner, John. On Becoming a Novelist
AWP Chronicle, January issue (if it arrives in time; otherwise, the December issue)
Various handouts and email attachments
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & ATTENDANCE
Every student is expected to attend every class; classes cannot be made up. Missing two classes for any reason makes it more difficult to earn an A; missing more than that makes it difficult to earn a passing grade. You will also be expected to attend the Good Thunder craft talks this term, at least two Good Thunder readings, and at least two student thesis readings (unless you have a class, work, family, or commuting conflict). I also encourage you to attend at least one Good Thunder social event with the visiting writer (lunch, dinner, reception), and to attend a Writers’ Bloc open reading.
ASSIGNMENTS & GRADE
To earn an “A” or “A-“ you must satisfactorily complete, on time, ten assignments, some of which will entail making a presentation to the class. Presentations should be brief, but also thoughtful, informative, well prepared, well organized, and interesting. We expect to learn something from what you say. Late, incomplete, hastily done, or missing assignments will result in a lower grade and could mean you won’t pass the course. You must also demonstrate close reading of all assigned texts through class discussion.
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY
Thanks in advance to our guest speakers. Since they are taking their time, without compensation, to be with us, it’s incumbent upon you to prepare thoughtful, courteous, specific questions rather than expect them to give a presentation.
SYLLABUS
1/14 Introduction.
1/21 Read the following selections from Planet on the Table: Introduction, Phillips, Rosser, Halliday Gibbons, Dunn, Bell, Kumin, Wojahn, Zagejewski. Skim through some of the other essays and find one other one that you think is pretty good. Please take notes toward your contribution to the discussion. Remember that our goal is not to workshop the essays, but to discuss the reading life, especially as it applies to poetry.
In class we will also discuss paperwork related to the MFA.
1/28 TURN IN ASSIGNMENT #1: PLAN OF STUDY AND TENTATIVE CALENDAR.
Read the January issue of The Writer’s Chronicle and discuss.
In class we will peruse the AWP Job List and other online sources for employment.
Steve Stoynoff will join us today to talk briefly about overseas teaching opportunities.
2/4 TURN IN ASSIGNMENT #2: JOB MARKET SURVEY. Turn in a list of job notices for positions you would be most interested in and for which you hope you would qualify after finishing your degree. List at least five jobs, academic or nonacademic or both. Discuss in class: What kinds of skills/experience are employers looking for and how might you acquire those credentials in the next two years?
Discuss last week’s craft talk by Nicole Helget, Jude Nutter, and Ben Drevlow.
2/11 no class. AWP National Conference
2/18 TURN IN ASSIGNMENT#3: A CURRENT RESUME. Prepare a resume appropriate for a TA/GA position, or a fellowship or scholarship, or a job in the profession that you might qualify for right now.
Kris Bigalk will visit our class today to answer your questions about community college teaching.
2/25 TURN IN ASSIGNMENT #4: JOURNAL EVALUATION. Briefly describe and evaluate two journals that publish creative work like your own—journals I’ve handed out to you, some you picked up at AWP, or others—trying to arrive at some conclusions about the following:
You may wish to find a listing for the journal in Writer's Market and compare the actual publication to its description of itself. You’ll certainly want to peruse their website. Make sure the journal is still publishing. Maximum length: 300 words, total. Be prepared to make a brief presentation to the class on your findings, with your paper to be projected on the document camera. Bring sample issues of your chosen journals.
Discuss last week’s craft talk by Julianna Baggott
3/4 Read On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner. Please take notes toward your contribution to the discussion. Remember that our goal is not to workshop the book, but to discuss Gardner’s ideas about “the writing life.”
3/11 NO CLASS – spring break
3/18 ASSIGNMENT #5: SMALL PRESS EVALUATION.*
Briefly describe and evaluate two small or independent presses that publish creative work like your own. Your approach will be similar to the journal evaluation of 2/21. Maximum 300 words total, and be prepared to present your findings in class. You may wish to consider:
Bring samples of books the press has published.
In class we will look at sample book proposals
*if you prefer, you may instead prepare a presentation on two literary agents or agencies.
3/25 TURN IN ASSIGNMENT #6: JOURNAL SUBMISSION
Prepare a submission package containing
Discuss yesterday’s craft talk by Oliver de la Paz
Read excerpts from “How to Freelance” by Peter Nelson and discuss.
Free lance writer Rachael Hanel and either Pam McClanahan, Director, or Ann Regan, Editor-in-Chief of Minnesota Historical Society Press will visit our class today to discuss book proposals, and careers in publishing and free lance writing.
(Note: Oliver de la Paz is running a free writer’s workshop this week Tuesday through Friday at 9 am, CSU202. You don’t have to commit to go everyday in order to attend. Highly recommended.)
4/1 MFA alums Nick Healy and Connie Miller will visit our class today to answer your questions about career opportunities in publishing. Please bring good questions for them
4/8 ASSIGNMENT #7 IS DUE: THESIS REVIEW
Examine three MFA theses in your genre (you can borrow them from a faculty member, or check them out from the library). Read the critical introductions for each and one or more stories/essays/chapters/excerpts or a few poems. Be prepared to talk in class for five minutes about what you found. Describe the tone and content of the critical introductions, and of the body of the thesis. Your objective is not to workshop these writers, but to tell us what we can learn from them about putting together a thesis at the end of your term of study.
In class we will also discuss financial and tax issues for writers.
4/15 ASSIGNMENT #8: AUTHOR WEBSITES.
Choose two authors you admire and peruse their websites. Be prepared to introduce the class to one or both of the sites in a brief presentation. Show us what’s noteworthy about the site, what you think might be effective (or not). What does this emphasis on marketing and self promotion tell us about the business of writing?
A panel of third year graduate students will visit our class today to discuss their experiences putting together their thesis. Bring lots of good questions for them.
4/22 Read The Writing Life by Annie Dillard Please take notes toward your contribution to the discussion. Remember that our goal is not to workshop the book, but to discuss Dillard’s ideas about “the writing life.”
Discuss last week’s craft talk by MSU Creative Writing faculty.
4/29 DUE IS ASSIGNMENT #9: YOUR THESIS COMMITTEE AND CHANGE OF ADVISOR FORM (if necessary). By this date at the latest you should have found two faculty members who agree to serve on your thesis committee. Have the chair of the committee (assuming it’s not me), sign a change of advisor form. Bring these signed forms to class and I’ll pass them on to Steve Stoynoff.
DUE IS ASSIGNMENT #10: A DRAFT OF THE CRITICAL INTRODUCTION TO YOUR THESIS.
5/6 Final Exam week. We may meet at The Hub today. TBA.