Professor: Kelman Course format: Workshop Number of respondents: 11 Total Enrollment: 20 Class Composition: Froshs: 9 Sophs: 7 Jrs: 2 Srs: 2 Concs: 2 Non-Concs: 4 Don't Know: 1

Instructor Average: 1.63 Course Average: 1.59

If you"re fortunate enough to get into "Workshop in Fiction Writing I" through their often-infuriating lottery system, you"ve got a great class to look forward to. Students in this course not only practice writing short stories, but also learn to recognize different writing styles and start to develop one of their own. One of the most valuable parts of the class cited was learning to critique both your own writing and your classmates". Don"t worry about impressing anyone, as many of the respondents had never written a story in their life but still enjoyed the course.

Nicholas Kelman, the instructor for this section of the course, was very good at getting his students involved in discussions. His suggestions were always helpful, and he created a laid-back atmosphere which would surely be appreciated by any student paralyzed with fear at the prospect of his story being torn apart by his classmates. Of course, nothing of the sort occurred, and Kelman managed to get everyone to participate in useful critiques of each student"s work.

Students usually spent three to five hours a week on work for the course. The assignments consisted of six short writing exercises, one to two pages each, a 15- to 20-page story at the end of the course, and about one novel every week. Many students, although they enjoyed the material, felt that this was just too much reading. Some people suggested that the reading assignments consist of more short stories, allowing more time for their own writing.

Not surprisingly, many students found motivation in the fact that their classmates would be reading what they wrote. However, the mandatory S/NC grade designation for this course allowed some of those grade-driven students to slack off on the reading assignments. But everyone felt that the course was an ideal setting to improve their own writing skills, due in large part to the helpful, sensitive suggestions made by both the instructor and fellow students.

Whether you aspire to be a great writer, or are just sick of problem sets and want a change of pace, this course is a great chance for you to give your own creativity a chance to come out and not be worried about the results.

View EL/0007 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.