College of Arts and Humanities
IMF 51662 Fiction: The Art of the Sentence
Instructor
Zachary Vickers
Class Type
Writing Technique
Course Description
In 鈥淭he Art of the Sentence鈥� we abandon the larger work of story to hyper-focus on the complexity of the writer鈥檚 toils on a sentence-to-sentence level. Beyond how a sentence can 鈥渕ulti-task鈥� by advancing or foreshadowing plot, developing character, establishing setting, and more all at once, we will discuss the value of word choice, structure, length, syntax, punctuation, and manipulations of grammar, among other elements of the sentence to create poetic lines that sizzle on the tongue when spoke, glint on the page, sing in the ears, and surprise and leave readers breathless. In addition to these discussions, we will practice sentence writing through prompts as well as rewriting former lines from student projects through the lens of the conversations and readings in this course. Students will leave with a new appreciation for the meticulous craft of sentence writing, and understand how this granular work鈥搊nce compiled into paragraphs, and paragraphs into pages, and pages into a complete story鈥揺levates one鈥檚 art.
Textbook
How to Write Stunning Sentences
Nina Schuyler
ISBN: 9780999431634
Publisher: Fiction Advocate
The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot
Charles Baxter
ISBN: 9781555974732
Publisher: Graywolf Press
Syntax: Rhythm of Thought, Rhythm of Song
Ellen Voigt
ISBN: 9781555975319
Publisher: Graywolf Press