ENGL 581 A: The Creative Writer As Critical Reader

Longer Literary Forms

This course offers a non-theoretical, specimen-oriented study of longer 
prose forms, viewing the challenges of composition from the perspective 
of the writer. Are there a set of common challenges faced by all 
prospective authors of book-length works of literature, whether novels 
or creative nonfiction? How do those authors’ formal decisions relate to 
the literary, political, and cultural contexts of their day, and to 
their own thematic obsessions? How are traditional genres and techniques 
adapted to fulfill individual or idiosyncratic ambitions, or to exploit 
radical technological innovations? We will be reading together seven or 
eight moderate-length texts. Requirements include a brief written 
response (of various sorts) to each, and a final project that focuses on 
a book of the student’s own choosing.