CRW 325 • Writing Climate Fiction-Wb

CRW 325 l Writing Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi)

Instructor: Pipkin, J

Unique #: 34110

Semester: Fall 2020

Cross-lists: n/a

Prerequisites: One of the following: C L 315, E 303D (or 603B), (316K,) 316L, 316M, 316N, 316P, or T C 303D (or 603B).

Description: This is an entry-level course in writing fiction about climate change and its environmental effects, with a focus on the short story form. Although it may seem like a recent literary trend, Climate Fiction, (sometimes referred to as “Cli-Fi”) has actually been around for a long time. For generations, writers have been writing about detrimental changes in the environment and in the climate brought about by human activity. This class will look at the tradition of climate fiction to identify recurring themes and issues, as well as stylistic and structural conventions characteristic of the genre. We will also discuss strategies for writing fiction that engages with climate and environmental issues in a way that avoids didacticism and foregrounds storytelling in order to make a persuasive argument. We will also identify clichés in recent climate fiction (such as the tendency to treat climate stories solely within the confines of an apocalyptic or Armageddon narrative), and instead we will explore techniques for representing the realistic consequences of climate change in daily life.

The first step in developing your writing craft is to learn how to read as a writer, so substantial emphasis will be placed on reading and discussing short stories. You will be required to analyze the structure and craft of the short stories assigned. Learning how to identify the fundamental elements and narrative techniques in these stories will help you to employ these techniques in your own work. The class will focus on the fundamentals of narrative structure, point of view, character development, plotting, pacing, tension, setting, dialogue and revision. Emphasis will be placed on making use of workshop feedback. Class will consist of lectures, in-class writing, discussion, and workshop participation. You should be prepared to read and discuss your work in class. The main goal of the workshop sessions is to help you develop editing skills so that you can continue to grow as a writer beyond this class. After your work is discussed in workshop, you should be prepared to use the ideas discussed in the critiques to improve the original draft. Participation in workshop is an essential part of this class, so you must come prepared to discuss the works under consideration.

Texts: Loosed Upon the World: The Saga Anthology of Climate Fiction, ed. by John Joseph Adams; additional handouts and short-stories will be provided in class.

Requirements & Grading: Two writing assignments: 35% each; class participation, quizzes, workshop discussion: 30%.

No final exam. Papers are due in hard copy, in class, on the dates indicated. Late or electronic submissions will not be accepted. Attendance is required.