Poets & Writers

Genre is a tool we have invented to categorize different types of story structures and the accompanying narrative choices readers expect from them. What is a HEA, and why is it a must for many romance readers? What role does colonization play in our conception of fantasy, and why is the Orc always the bad guy? In a space opera, are there always new frontiers to be explored by ragtag groups of outlaws, or are we talking about westerns? And in literary fiction, are last lines always a subtle (or not so subtle) allusion to death? In this course we’ll break down multiple genres, their accompanying frameworks, and the historical contexts that led to their creation, while also studying contemporary writers who work in new territory, outside of categorization. Reading will consist of authors like Mariana Enríquez, Charles Yu, Kelly Link, and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah.

Expect to complete in-class writing exercises that combine elements from multiple unexpected traditions of storytelling. We will experiment with voice, plot, character, themes, motifs, poetry, and rhythm, while looking closely at the relationships formed between narrators and readers, all with the intent of helping students find their unique voice and style. This course is for those who chafe at the idea of cookie-cutter “writing rules” and want to develop the skills to think individually and creatively.