1.0 Introduction
1.1 Understanding the Short Story: What Makes It Unique
1.2 Key Elements of Short Story Writing
1.3 The Evolution and Styles of Short Story Writing
1.4 Summary

2.0 Introduction
2.1 Exploring and Understanding Genre
2.2. Writing Techniques for Specific Genres
2.3. Practical Applications and Genre-Specific Challenges
2.4 Summary

3.0 Introduction
3.1. Mastering Story Structure: The Three-Act Framework and Beyond
3.2. Conflict and Tension: Driving the Narrative
3.3. Creating Emotional Impact: Engaging the Reader
3.4 Summary

4.0 Introduction
4.1 Building Dynamic Characters
4.2 Crafting Authentic Dialogue and Emotions
4.3 Using Setting and Description to Enhance the Story
4.4 Summary

5.0 Introduction
5.1 Mastering the Revision Process
5.2 Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Genre Writing
5.3 Improving Pacing, Structure, and Clarity During Revisions
5.4 Summary

6.0 Introduction
6.1 Preparing for Publication: Polishing and Pitching
6.2 . Traditional Publishing and Routes
6.3. Digital Platforms and Author Branding
6.4 Summary

Carver, R. (1981). What we talk about when we talk about love. Knopf.
Duotrope. (n.d.). Duotrope. Retrieved from www.duotrope.com
Friedman, J. (2018). The business of being a writer. University of Chicago Press.
Gardner, J. (1983). The art of fiction: Notes on craft for young writers. Vintage.
Gravatar. (n.d.). How to create a Gravatar profile. Gravatar. Retrieved from https://gravatar.com/support/profile-creation
Jackson, S. (1949). The lottery and other stories. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
King, S. (2000). On writing: A memoir of the craft. Scribner.
Lahiri, J. (1999). Interpreter of maladies. Houghton Mifflin.
Lamott, A. (1995). Bird by bird: Some instructions on writing and life. Anchor.
Le Guin, U. K. (1998). Steering the craft: Exercises and discussions on story writing for the lone navigator or the mutinous crew. Eighth Mountain Press.
The Write Life. (n.d.). The Write Life. Retrieved from www.thewritelife.com
Writers.com. (n.d.). Short story submissions. Retrieved from https://writers.com/short-story-submissions

You recognise and accept the following terms and conditions by accessing and taking part in this course:
1. Course Content: Only instructional aims are served by the course content. Although every effort has been taken to ensure authenticity and relevancy, the course materials are not all-inclusive and shouldn't be used in place of a one-on-one session.

2. No Promises: Enrolling in this course does not promise any particular results, such as book publishing or sales success. Results obtained depend on student effort, market dynamics, and numerous outside variables outside the course's control.

3. Intellectual property: Copyright and intellectual property laws safeguard all course materials, including text, photos, videos, and other information. A non-exclusive, personal, and non-transferable licence is granted to participants to access and use the course materials solely for educational reasons.

4. External Resources: The course may include hyperlinks to other materials, websites, or applications. These are offered for your convenience, and their inclusion does not imply that they are endorsed or that their correctness, security, or suitability has been guaranteed.

5. Individual Responsibilities: Based on the course material, participants are solely accountable for their own actions, choices, and interpretations. Any reliance you place on the offered information is at your own risk.

6. Feedback and Interaction: Although the course may offer opportunities for interaction and feedback, any comments, ideas, or feedback made by instructors, peers, or participants are opinions and should not be taken as recommendations from professionals.

7. Course Modifications: There is a possibility that the syllabus, instructors, and timetables could change at any time without prior warning. Any substantial alterations will be communicated to participants via the relevant methods.

8. Limitation of Liability: To the extent allowed by law, the course organisers, instructors, and affiliated parties shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of or related to participation in the course, even if such damages were foreseen.

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10. Termination: If there are violations of the course's policies, guidelines, or any other behaviour deemed improper, the course organisers reserve the right to terminate or suspend participant access to the course at their discretion.

By enrolling and participating in WRITE YOUR SHORT STORIES: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE, you declare you have read, comprehended, and accepted the terms of this disclaimer. You should not sign up for and take part in the course if you disagree with any element of this disclaimer.

Welcome to WRITE YOUR SHORT STORIES: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE! To make this course great for everyone, please observe the following etiquette guidelines:
• Be engaged and respectful: Participate, listen, and give helpful feedback. When others give you feedback, be open to it.
• Support each other: We're all learning. Be positive and encouraging.
• Be professional: Turn in work on time, proofread your messages, and give credit when you use others' ideas.

Let's write some great stories together!

Assessment 1: Fundamentals of Short Stories (30%)
Test 1: Develop a detailed outline for a short story that demonstrates understanding of key narrative elements, including plot, character, setting, conflict, and theme (30%)
Test 2: Write an original short story and format the work to meet professional standards for publication in print and digital media (40%)

Ice-Breaker: Design Your Story Cover with AI!
Welcome, writers! Let's kick off our course by mixing creativity with cool tech. We're going to design a book cover for an imaginary short story using AI!
Your Task:
1. Think of a simple short story idea. Just a quick concept, including a title and a genre (like mystery, sci-fi, or fantasy).
2. Go to a free AI image tool. Try Copilot (Microsoft Image Creator) or Ideogram.ai. (You'll need a free account).
3. Type in a "prompt" to tell the AI what to draw. Be descriptive!
Example: "Book cover for a spooky mystery called 'The Whispering Woods.' Dark, eerie forest at night, twisted trees, fog, a
small, glowing light in the distance. Moody, realistic style."
4. Pick your favorite image. If you don't like the first one, change your prompt and try again!
5. Be ready to share! When it's your turn, quickly:
Introduce yourself (name, what you hope to learn).
Tell us your story's title and basic idea.
Show us your AI cover!
Explain your prompt and why you picked that image.

Why are we doing this? It's a fun way to get creative, see how covers sell stories, and explore new tools for writers.
No need to be perfect – just have fun with it!

Welcome to the "Write Your Short Stories: A Beginner’s Guide" course! We're thrilled to welcome you! As you begin this course to improve your short story writing and publishing skills, we'd like to understand your current knowledge and what you hope to gain. Your confidential responses to this brief entrance survey will help us customize the course to your needs.

Please complete your Entrance Survey here: https://shorturl.at/fT46u