Writing Speculative Fiction

General Objectives:

Students will learn to identify and use various components of speculative fiction and its sub-genres, such as post-apocalyptic fiction, alternative historic fiction, to write stories and/or novel excerpts that also observe the narrative elements of literary fiction.

Specific Objectives:

Pre-writing:

1. Students will develop a general understanding of the forms and components of speculative fiction.
2. Students will learn to access story material and approaches through controlled classroom exercises.

Writing:

1. Students will learn the stages necessary to draft completed works of speculative fiction.
2. Students will explore the use of imagery, point-of-view, characterization, dialogue, setting and structure as it specifically relates to speculative fiction. 
3. Students will learn how to avoid imitation or clichés of the genre.
4. Throughcareful attention to narrative elementssuch as theme, motif, and plot, students will learn how these qualities relate to the writing of speculative fiction.

Reading:

1. Students will learn to adapt and use the narrative techniques found in published works of speculative fiction.
2. By reading and discussing contemporary texts, students will develop anunderstanding of how speculative fiction both reflects and differs from other literary fiction.
3. Students will develop the ability to read the work of their peers for the purpose of recognizing narrative techniques, and to aid their peers in the effective revision of their work.

Revising:

1. Students will learn to make use of insights gained from their instructor’s and peers’ workshop comments to revise their writing.
2. Students will develop their skills in giving and receiving constructive criticism in the workshop.
3. Students will learn to present their work in a professional manner.