ENCW 2600

This was my favorite class this semester! I originally signed up for the class because I like to write, but I had no experience with fiction writing, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The class consists of reading short stories (usually around 4 each week) and then discussing them in class. The class differs from what you’d expect in a literature focused English class in that it is focused more heavily on craft and structure rather than theme (though that’s discussed as well). After reading the short stories, we took inspiration from their craft elements to write our own stories, which we then workshopped with our peers. The class consisted of writing two of these short stories. What made this class so special though, was that it felt more like a community than a class. Gahl is a fantastic teacher who fosters productive conversations and a supportive environment. She was always willing to help students, but she also encouraged us to be creative in our own ways when writing stories. I left this class with a new passion for writing, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to explore creative writing.

Definitely my favorite class this semester! The majority of the class consists of readings (mostly fiction), two smaller <5-page writing pieces, and two bigger 6-12 page short stories, which are both workshopped, and one will be revised and turned into the final portfolio. The workshop periods were definitely my favorite part of class, where we got to share and discuss one another's writing pieces. You have to print out a copy of your work for everyone to mark and have write a 1-page workshop letter for each of your peers, but I think all the valuable feedback you get for your story in return makes it all worth it.

Professor Pardes is a great teacher, and I've felt like my peers and I had formed a nice community over discussing our writing. I will say that this course assumes that you already have a love of reading and writing, as it can be intensive in those areas at times. You don't need experience in creative writing, but I personally found that my experience in it has made the class easier for me, especially in terms of writing my short stories for this class. Still, I would definitely recommend taking this course if you're even so slightly interested in writing your own fiction short story.