AustLit
Texts
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y
The Best Australian Stories 2015
Amanda Lohrey
(editor),
Melbourne
:
Black Inc.
,
2015
8974137
2015
anthology
short story
(taught in 1 units)
'In The Best Australian Stories 2015, Amanda Lohrey, winner of the Patrick White Award and author of the acclaimed novel A Short History of Richard Kline, curates twenty pieces of exceptional short fiction.
'In this wide-ranging collection, there are stories that will surprise, unsettle and beguile readers. Familiar subjects are examined from new perspectives: a teenage girl sneaks into director Jean-Luc Goddard's study and steals his diaries; the life of Picasso is reimagined in miniature vignettes. And new life is breathed into the most universal of experiences: birth, death, love and loss. The mother of a girl with hearing difficulties watches her child grow into increasing independence. A young woman makes a poignant voyage to the site of her brother's suicide.
'Elegant, accomplished and evocative, these short stories move, delight and inspire.' (Publication summary)
Description
This unit introduces students to the practice, craft skills and critical reflection involved in writing fiction (particularly the short story form). Narrative writing skills will be explored and developed through close readings of a range of short fiction, as well as in-class and at-home writing exercises, building towards more sustained pieces of work. Writing and critical skills are developed through discussion and participation in the workshop process, focusing on reading and creative strategies to generate new material as well as processes of editing and revision.
Assessment
4x500wd writing exercises (30%), 1x1000wd critical analysis/reflection (20%), 1x1000wd short fiction piece and redraft (20%), 1x2000wd longer fiction piece (30%)
