Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Novel
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2007
Course Code: COMM5410
Course Title: Refine writing and editing techniques - Novel
School: 345T Creative Media
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5181 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing
Course Contact : Professional Writing and Editing Administration
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4368
Course Contact Email:brendan.lee@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Dr Olga Lorenzo
9925 4058
olga.lorenzo@rmit.edu.au
Laurie Clancy
9925 4340
lclancy@bigpond.net.au
Nominal Hours: 85
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Students should have completed Produce Writings- Novel (VBP552)
Course Description
The emphasis in this course is to extend a novel in progress, concentrating on further development of plot, themes, characterisation and dialogue.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBP553 Refine writing and editing techniques - Novel |
Learning Outcomes
Not applicable
Details of Learning Activities
All classroom-based lectures, workshopping, group exercises.
Students are expected to do their own research and writing off-campus.
Teaching Schedule
Please note: this is a rough guide subject to change depending on class needs and the teaching style of individual teachers.
Weeks 1-2
Orientation and/or Introduction
Weeks 3-4
Review of Craft Elements in the Beginnings of Novels, introduction to Craft elements in the middle of novels
Weeks 5-7
Voice and Point of View, reviewed
Weeks 8-11
Rhythm and Pace
Weeks 12-13
Show, don’t Tell
Weeks 14-15
Dialogue
Weeks 16-20
Characterisation
Week 21
Music as a theme in novel writing
Week 22
Dialogue, continued
Week 23
Writing from life
Week 24
Writing from dreams
Weeks 25-28
Plot and structure
Week 29
Writing food
Weeks 30-33
Publishers, agents
Weeks 34-35
Editing and Revising
Week 36
Semester Review
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
For Olga Lorenzo:
Weeks 1-18:
The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck
The White Hotel by DM Thomas
Weeks 19-36:
Cinnamon Kiss by Walter Mosley
Perfume by Patrick Suskind
For Laurie Clancy:
Weeks 1-18
Ulysses by James Joyce
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard
Weeks 19-36
If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Overview of Assessment
Assessment includes part of a novel manuscript, a class presentation and in-class workshopping.
Assessment Tasks
1. 5000 word manuscript
A 5000-word excerpt from novel, including word count, edited to publishable standard.
80% of assessment
2. Presentation on set text
Five-minute presentation on the text set above, focussing on a single element of craft.
Note: this is not a book review, nor a discussion of the themes of the novel or a recounting of the plot. It is a discussion of ONE of the elements of craft covered in the teaching schedule above; i.e., pace, dialogue, point of view, etc. Your report should focus on WHAT I LEARNED about this element of craft while reading this book. Take notes while reading.
10% of assessment
3. Class participation: Workshops, Class Discussions and Exercises
Students are expected to participate in class discussions, consistently workshop manuscripts, respond to feedback, provide a positive contribution to the work-in-progress of other students, contribute to an analysis and discussion of set texts, and participate in writing and discussion of class exercises.
10 % of assessment
Assessment Matrix
Not applicable
Other Information
Not applicable
Course Overview: Access Course Overview