English CSGN. Genre Fiction

Instructor: Namwali Serpell
Tuesday, 12:00-2:45pm | Location: TBD
Enrollment: Limited to 12 students

This course offers an education in the origins of what is now known as genre fiction: romance, the Gothic, science fiction, mystery, thriller, detective fiction, the children’s book, horror fiction, spy fiction, fantasy, etc. During the first part of the semester, we will read a set of classic works of genre fiction to consider their history, formal tropes, affective tendencies, and political implications; the selection of these texts will depend on the specific interests of admitted students. We will then workshop two pieces of fiction a piece, each in a different genre.

Please note: This course is geared toward genre fiction, so we are unlikely to read many works of traditional realist fiction. It is a reading intensive course, as we will be reading both short stories and books. And prior experience in writing fiction of any kind is helpful but not required. 

Supplemental Application Information: Please submit a writing sample of fiction (three pages; it doesn’t have to be genre fiction, but fiction is preferable to nonfiction for this sample) and an application letter (one page) detailing your interest in this course, any relevant writing experience you have, and up to three types of genre fiction you’re interested in reading and/or writing.

Apply via Submittable (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, November 9)