X-19
Fiction Writing:
Write Your Own
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Short Story
Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade
Imagine, design, outline, and finish your own science fiction or fantasy short story in this how-to high-interest writing course -- and grow your writing skills with a dynamic, fun adventure to make writing engaging and exciting!
Your Course Description
Do you want to write a science fiction or fantasy short story? Are you excited to make your story writing great? Then this is the course for you! With science fiction and fantasy author Erin M. Brown, learn what makes a great short story in the high-adventure genres of science fiction and fantasy. You’ll read, analyze, and discover the magic of famous short stories, while you create your own short story with all of its essential, gripping elements — including a heart-thumping plot, memorable characters, a wild world with compelling landscape and details, and a twist that makes your reader want more. Become a writer of clear, compelling text through storytelling. Writing has never been so much fun!
Your Course Outline
Class 1: What Defines Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Stories? Famous Short Stories — and Why They’re Famous; Outlining your Short Story — What it Needs to Succeed;
Class 2: Refining Your Story’s Plot Points; Writing How-To’s
Class 3: Refining Your Story’s Characters; Writing How-To’s
Class 4: Your Story’s Details: Crafting Amazing Worldbuilding and Details
Class 5: Your Story’s Details: Crafting Dialogue
Class 6: Your Story’s Twist: How to Make your Reader Love your Story
Your Course Details
Total Number of Classes: Six (6)
Prerequisites: None.
Required Materials:
Document Creation
All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
Suggested Credit: One-half (1/2) semester of Creative Writing, Writing or English.
How this course fits with your other High School Writing Excellence courses...
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ACADEMIC WRITING | |||
| X-5 Punctuation/Grammar II | COLL-1 Mastering College Essay Writing | ||
| ADVANCED FICTION WRITING & LITERARY FORM | |||
| X-9 Hero's Journey, Part 1 | X-10 Hero's Journey, Part 2 | ||
| X-11 Screenwriting, Part 1 | X-12 Screenwriting, Part 2 | ||
| 11-6 Authoring a Book, Part 1 | 11-8 Authoring a Book, Part 2 | ||
| 11-7 Writing the Short Story | X-19 SF/Fantasy Short Story | ||
| X-15 Fiction Writing Workshop | X-16 Screenwriting Workshop | ||
| CREATIVE WRITING: EXPRESSIVE & POETIC FORMS | |||
| X-17 Comedy Writing, Part 1 | X-18 Comedy Writing, Part 2 | ||
| X-13 Intro to Poetry | X-14 Poetry: Joining the Great Tradition | ||
| BUSINESS WRITING | |||
| 11-9 Pro Business Writing Essentials | 11-10 Foundations of Journalism | ||
** For a full semester of English and Writing, take the 11-7 Short Story short course (4 weeks, in recording) with the X-19 SF/Fantasy Short Story Writing course (6 weeks, LIVE Spring 2021, and in Unlimited Access recordings beginning Summer 2021).
Your Instructor
Your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).
Three Sign Up Options (Choose LIVE for the 2020-21 School Year)
1. LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSE
This course is offered LIVE for the first time in the Spring 2021 Semester. Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the coursework and quizzes; all quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Your instructor gives feedback on assignments and grades student work; the instructor is available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be one to three hours per week, depending on your student’s skills.
2. UNLIMITED ACCESS: RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
This course will be in Unlimited Access in the Summer 2021 semester.
When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lesson and complete the coursework in the learning management system. The homework’s weekly quizzes are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback, and parents grade all other work. There is an estimated one to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
3. UNLIMITED ACCESS WITH INSTRUCTOR ACCESS GRADING SERVICES
Instructor Access for this course will be available in the Summer 2021 semester. Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, in addition to the weekly quizzes that are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback, the Instructor Access instructor grades the work, gives feedback for improvement, and is available during the week for one-on-one help via email. There is an estimated one to three hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
Specific Course FAQs
Is this course required?
This course is a Writing Excellence course and is an “above and beyond” course from the FOUNDATIONS-DEVELOPMENT-ADVANCED series of 9-12th grade courses. If you’re thinking that you may want to be a published author or a writer for any of the creative arts (film, television, or more), then this course is for you.
Who should take the Writing the Short Story courses?
This course is perfect for the student pursuing a career that uses a good amount of writing — in any field. It’s also an excellent course for anyone pursuing careers using critical thinking (from law to engineering), literature-based studies (e.g. any of the humanities), or any of the creative arts. Especially for the student who may want a career as a novel writer, screenwriter, or a story writer of any kind — this course is perfect for you.
Can I take another writing course at the same time?
Yes! With the shorter, single-area courses here at Aquinas Writing Advantage — and because there are so many high-interest courses that can make your writing great — many students take more than one writing course at a time.
Courses that “fit well” with this course include the foundational fiction courses, advanced fiction courses (The Hero’s Journey, Screenwriting, Comedy Writing, and Poetry), the High School Punctuation and Grammar 2 course (to ensure strong punctuation and grammar skills), Journalism, and Business Writing. Students planning on moving directly to a career or vocational training will benefit from the Business Writing course. This course can also be taken with any foundational high school course beyond the 9-Series courses.
Is this course considered an English, Writing, or Literature Analysis course?
This course is considered an advanced English and Writing course.
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