American flash fiction master Lydia Davis begins her short story “The Center of the Story” this way: “A woman has written yet another story that is not interesting, though it has a hurricane in it, and a hurricane usually promises to be interesting.” In this course, we will closely examine a wide selection of (mainly) contemporary short stories and try to find what makes them interesting, urgent, and relevant to society. In addition, students will write original stories (from suggested prompts) that we will discuss in an open workshop format in class. They will be required to submit a revised manuscript of their stories (based on the suggestions of their peers and the instructor) for the final project, and to participate in a public reading. 

This course utilizes a mixed-level classroom model, offering both Advanced and Standard level options.