Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Advanced Fiction Writing (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 4020-01

Course: ENGL 4020-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: English
CRN: 31572

Course Description

An advanced course in long-form fiction projects. Students complete 50+ pages of either a novel or novella. Extensive close reading and analysis of touchstone works are required. May be repeated once for credit. Enrollment is limited to 15 students. $18.00 course fee.

Required Texts

  • A Long Game by Elizabeth McCracken 978-0063375291

Learning Outcomes

You can see what learning outcomes (LOs) are associated with which assignments by looking for the LO number (e.g. LO #5) in the full assignment description. These learning outcomes aren't everything you'll learn this semester, but it's what I'm going to try to measure.

LO #1 – Creative Thinking

Students will demonstrate a creative process that shows divergent and convergent thinking, and the production of a unique deliverable that is avoids being derivative of other works.

LO #2 – Project Mangement

Students will be able to effectively manage a large-scale creative project, stay on task through multiple milestones, create a record of traceable effort, and report on their progress.

LO #3 – Metacognition

Students will reflect on their own creative processes, and be able to adjust those processes to meet current and future tasks.

LO #4 – Critique

Student will be able to effectively critique the work of others to promote its development and improvement, and they will also demonstrate the ability to receive critique and use it to improve their own work.

Course Requirements


Pop Quizzes
I will give quizzes on the day's reading assignment, at random, in class, on paper. You can't make up a pop quiz unless you have an excused absence. If you do have an excused absence, then you'll be given an alternative task.
Weekly Words
Most weeks you'll submit a minimum of 1250 words, or the rough equivalent of a page a day. You'll add to a single document for this with markers place in the document to show "traceable effort." You'll want to watch for pop up questions in the submissions, which will ask you to do some simple reflection on a specific aspect of your work and/or process.
Workshop Submission
You'll submit copies of your chapter drafts with a cover letter that offers guidance to us. This is a simple complete/incomplete assignment that allows you to earn some credit for being on time and keeping up with the obligation.
Workshop Reflection
You will submit copies of all the letters you wrote to others during workshop, reflect on what you learned from reading other people's projects, and then reflect on what you learned from others in class.
Reverse Outline
Once you're done with workshop and your first 50+ pages, you'll go back and outline what you've written in reverse, then pivot and lightly outline what remains in the novel project. There is a reflective component to this assignment as well. I'll ask you to discuss your project, process, where you're at with it, and where you think it's headed.
Aesthetic Introduction
This is in the form of an online discussion. You'll give an aesthetic introduction of yourself to the class and then share three possible projects you're considering for this semester. If you're continuing a project from a previous semester, then you'll fill us in on everything you've done so far.

Course Outline

This brief schedule of the course is broken down by week, and it is subject to change. The information contained here is not a substitute for attending. More information on the schedule will be given in class throughout the semester. This plan for the semester is an abstract idea of what will happen. Things will undoubtedly change. When this happens, I'll inform you. 

As I mentioned in the course overview above, the content in this class is not predetermined, except in a general way. The content of class comes in response to our discussions, your individual projects, and me looking for patterns of need. Assignment due dates aren't included here, you can find them at the bottom of the syllabus, attached to the assignments, and in your Canvas ToDo list.

Week 01 – Up & Running
During the first week, we'll get up and running with the syllabus, how class will run, and most importantly get you started on your projects. I mention this elsewhere, but this has to be a new project, or one that you've already been working on in another section of 4020 that you've taken. I have to know that the work that you're doing for a grade in this class was done in this class. I will also introduce our craft book: A Long Game by Elizabeth McCracken. One of the big first assignments is your aesthetic introduction and project pitches.
Week 02 - Committing to a Project & Diving in
We've got a Labor Day in there, but it doesn't really affect us because we have a TR meeting time, but it could inflect when and how you are able to prepare for class. On Tuesday we will discuss chapters I and II in A Long Game and talking about craft vs technique. I'm interested in what you already know, so I can work out how to build on your prior knowledge. We will also the importance of character. Thursday we discuss chapters III and IV of A Long Game. I will also try to sneak in a discussion of entropy in fiction.
Week 03 – Drafting Chapter One
This is our first full week. We will discuss A Long Game V and VI. We will also dive into Freytag's pyramid and sine waves as common ways of depicting stories. I will introduce a hopefully new structural idea: KISHŌTENKETSU. I also want to present the idea that the main skill of a fiction writer is not actually language—which is important—but it's the control of time. Then we'll discuss A Long Game VII and VIII on Thursday and get into tone and mood, which is really a way of getting into language and style.
Week 04 – Finishing Chapter One
We'll be into it for just one month when we discuss A Long Game IX and X, and talk about building a better workshop. I'd like to start with a discussion of workshops you have loved and hated, then introduce some new language and alternate approaches. We'll talk about how to workshop something so raw and unfinished as these projects will be. Then we'll prep for the first workshop next week by bringing in printed copies of your first chapters (or the next chapter for people in the class last year). I'd also like to talk about how workshopping happens all the time in our professional lives, but it never gets called that.
Week 05 – Workshop #1 Begins
Workshop begins. During the workshop weeks, we'll critique two students' work each day, covering four people in a week. This gets us through everyone in three weeks.
Week 06 – Workshop #1 Continues
Another four students will workshop this week.
Week 07 – Workshop #1 Wraps Up
The final three students, with one space for emergency workshopping and some reflection on the process.
Week 08 – Fall Break & Setting up Workshop #2
On Tuesday 10/20 it's Fall Break, so there will be no class. You'll bring in printed copies of your second chapter (or next one) and we'll get back in the saddle for the next round of workshop.
Week 09 – Workshop #2 Begins
Our first four writers and their chapters. 
Week 10 – Workshop #2 Continues
The next four writers and their chapters.
Week 11 – Workshop #2 Wraps Up
Our final three writers, with some space left over for reflection on the whole process.
Week 12 – Reverse Outlining & Project Reflection
With two chapters written and workshopped, and with 50+ pages drafted, it's time to take a look back and see what happened, and that process will be done through a process where you outline in reverse. We'll discuss that process, what it can reveal, and how to use the patterns found in the outline to project your project into the future.
Week 13 – Thanksgiving
It's Thanksgiving Break. Time for a breather.
Week 14 – Conferences
You'll all come to visit with me for short projects about your project, where you started, where you are now, where you're headed. This will be done instead of coming to class. The conferences will take place during class time, to help avoid any scheduling conflicts.
Week 15 – Middles, Ends, Publishing
With conferences done, we'll meet two last times to talk about how the middles of novels function and how to get them written. Then we'll switch to endings. During the week we'll also talk about publishing, agents, queries, and the ever-present specter of AI. I'll also share ways you can translate what you have learned as a creative writing student into usable language and skills for resume. Believe it or not, you have many valuable skills as someone you can think creatively, manage a large-scale project, work autonomously, critique other people's work, and use critiques given to you. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Discussions about grades, late work, and other class policy matters must be done in person.
Late Work is OK, But With Penalties
As mentioned, my assignments are not due at 11:59 pm, which is simply the Canvas default. Most of the time, assignments are due right before class begins. Be careful to double check each assignment's due date and time in the full write-up.
If you do turn in work late, you'll get a 5% reduction on that assignment's grade for each day that it's late. I will give late work a grade but no feedback. 
Assignments will close two weeks after they are due. You may not turn in a closed assignment.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is Required
Attendance is expected in this course. If a situation arises, you must request an excused absence, which is normally done in writing and in advance. 
Surprises obviously can't be worked out in advance. In the event of a surprise or emergency, reach out as soon as possible. In any case, start this process by sending me an email describing the situation and why it is unavoidable. Use your SUU email address only, not Canvas. 
Each request will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 
There will be no penalty if you are granted an excused absence. If your absence is not excused, then it's a 4% reduction of your final grade.
Students who have accommodations through the Disability Resources Center (DRC), and who follow correct procedures as outlined in their accommodations, will have access to excused absences through a slightly different process.
Official university absences, as defined by SUU policy 6.30, will count as excused absences as long as university policies and procedures are followed. You still have to reach out to me and formally request the excused absence. It's not automatic.

Course Fees

$18.00 course fee.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.