VIC479Y1Y Syllabus – Valid as of August 27, 2015. Any subsequent versions issued by the instructor will take precedence.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO - VICTORIA COLLEGE
2015-16 FALL/WINTER
VIC479Y1Y - Writing a First Novel: A Master Class
NF205; Mondays, 4:00–6:00 pm
INSTRUCTOR:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
OFFICE HOURS:
Professor David Gilmour
[email protected] / (416) 585 4456
Tuesdays. 2:00-3:30 in Northrop Frye Hall, Room 215
Accessibility Needs (www.accessibility.utoronto.ca)
If you require accommodations for a disability, or have any accessibility concerns about the course, the
classroom or course materials, please contact Accessibility Services as soon as possible.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Not for tourists.
When I was a young writer, I didn’t have anyone show me the important lessons about writing a novel.
Specifically, you have the start it and you have to finish it. Finishing things. A very important lesson in fiction
writing. But so is dialogue – an essential way to keep a story moving forward. Always moving forward. Vital
too is the lesson about “how to work.” It’s probably more important than having a good story – because with the
right work habits, that will come. Do you work in the morning or at night? Do you start with an image or an
idea? Who should you show it too? How do you get published? These are just some of the things we’re going to
explore in our Master Class. With any luck we will all have a short novel by year’s end. Most first novels tend to
be autobiographical -- not that they have to be, but it’s often a big part of their charm. For that reason, we’ll be
paying attention to “going where the heat is.” By that I mean what you think about first thing in the morning or
the last thing at night. That could be and often is the stuff of a compelling novel. But first you have to be honest
about what it is. Novel writing is not for those who want to hide.
Why should you listen to me? Here are 9 reasons: http://www.calypsoconsulting.com/davidgilmour.html
REQUIRED READINGS
“Hills Like White Elephants.” Ernest Hemingway (short story).
“Tell the Women We’re Going.” Raymond Carver (short story)
“Viewfinder,” Raymond Carver. (short story)
“Lady with the Lapdog:” Anton Chekhov (short story).
Elmore Leonard’s Ten Rules of Writing. (handout).
“Then It All Came down.” Truman Capote (short story.)
“Mojave:” Truman Capote (short story).
The beginning paragraphs of The Great Gatsby. Scott Fitzgerald.
All short stories will be available in the class reader.
COURSE WORK AND GRADING
Assessment Tool
Early sections of novel
Later section of novel
Participation
Grading Weight
40%
40%
20%
Due Date(s)
December 8th
April 8th
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By the end of course, you will have written, re-written, and submitted a novel draft totalling (at least)
50,000 rewritten words. This is non-negotiable.
The draft will consist of the following:
 Early sections of the novel: (at least) 25000 rewritten words to be submitted by December 8 th,
2015.
 Later sections of the novel: an additional 25000 rewritten words to be submitted by April 8th,
2016.
Assignments
Assignments are due in class by 4:00 pm on the appropriate date noted above.
Late assignments will be subject to a 4% late penalty per day (including weekends), starting after 4:00 pm on
the due date.
Assignments will not be accepted 5 days after the due date.
If there are extenuating circumstances (illness, death in family) that prevent you from completing an assignment
on-time you must email the instructor as soon as possible, preferably BEFORE the deadline and NO LATER
than one week after the due date. Requests for extensions will be granted if there are legitimate medical or
compassionate grounds only. Documentation (such as the official UofT medical form, which can be found here:
www.illnessverification.utoronto.ca) must be submitted.
Participation
Participation marks are awarded for active attention and constructive class interaction, for clear evidence of
familiarity with assigned readings, and for focused attention and participation in the seminar and assignments.
Your participation grade will be based on reasoned, thoughtful and informed contributions to this course.
Academic Misconduct (http://uoft.me/CodeofBehaviour)
The University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters outlines the behaviours that constitute
academic misconduct, the processes for addressing academic offences, and the penalties that may be imposed.
You are expected to be familiar with the contents of this document. Teaching Assistants and Instructors are
required to report any instance of suspected academic dishonesty to the Program Office.
Potential offences include, but are not limited to:
In papers and assignments:
 Using someone else’s ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.
 Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the instructor.
 Making up sources or facts.
 Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment (this includes working in groups on
assignments that are supposed to be individual work).
On tests and exams:
 Using or possessing any unauthorized aid, including a cell phone.
 Looking at someone else’s answers.
 Letting someone else look at your answers.
 Misrepresenting your identity.
 Submitting an altered test for re-grading.
Misrepresentation:
 Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including (but not limited to)
doctor’s notes.
 Falsifying institutional documents or grades.
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If you have any questions about what is or is not permitted in this course, please do not hesitate to contact me. If
you have questions about appropriate research and citation methods, you are expected to seek out additional
information from me or other available campus resources like the College Writing Centers
www.writing.utoronto.ca/writing-centres/centres/arts-and-science , the Academic Success Centre
www.asc.utoronto.ca , or the U of T Writing Website www.writing.utoronto.ca.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
WEEK OF
Sep 14
Sep 21
Sep 28
Oct 5
Oct 12
Oct 19
Oct 26
Nov 2
Nov 9
Nov 16
Nov 23
Nov 30
Dec 7
Dec 9
TOPIC
Introduction: How to work. Going where the heat is. 1000 words a week= 29,000words
approx.
First paragraph read loud; keep the story moving; discussion of present tense vs. past tense
First paragraph read aloud. Elmore Leonard on dialogue: Hemingway’s “Hills like White
Elephants.”
Class Reading. Discussion of when to quit writing. Raymond Carver, “Viewfinder.”
Thanksgiving – No Class on October 12th
Class reading; avoidance of noxious words, phrases and clichés.
Anton Chekhov’s “Lady with the Lapdog”
Class reading
November Break - No Class on November 9th and November 10th
Class reading; use of obscenity
Class reading
Class reading
Raymond Carver’s “Tell The Women We’re Going.”
TBA – Make-up Monday
Winter Break: December 23 rd to January 10 th
Jan 11
Jan 18
Jan 25
Feb 1
Feb 8
Feb 15
On Writing: Stephen King
Truman Capote “Then It All Came Down.” Class reading
Class reading
Class reading; adjectives and adverbs vs. a stark noun.
Class reading; cut, cut, cut.
Family Day & Reading Week: No classes from February 15th – February 19th
NOTE: February 15 th is the last day to withdraw without academic penalty.
Feb 22
Feb 29
Mar 7
Mar 14
Mar 21
Mar 28
Apr 4
Truman Capote “Mojave.”
Class reading
Class reading
Class reading
Class reading
Class reading
Last Week of Classes – Class reading
NOTE: April 8th 2016 is the last day to request LWD from Y section code courses. See your
Registrar’s Office for details.
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