Look back in wonder : how the endings of short stories can be their most powerful and effective distinguishing features

Drawing on her experiences as a writer and teacher of short fiction, the author offers an interrogation of the defining qualities of short stories, with a particular focus on how the ending of a narrative can be one of the most useful ways of teasing out generic differences between short fic-tion and other prose forms. A survey of critical and writerly opinion leads into a practical demon-stration of how endings work, with detailed reference to James Joyce’s Dubliners. The essay concludes by suggesting ways in which Dubliners prefigures the composite novels and story cy-cles that are prominent features of contemporary practice

Teaching the changing story

This paper begins with a brief survey of the state of contemporary short fiction practice, with particular reference to McSweeneys Quarterly Concern, leading into a reflective account of pedagogical approaches to short fiction on Creative Writing degree programmes; an examination of expectations of Creative Writing courses from the point of view of students, teachers and the publishing industry; and consideration of how teaching methods can accommodate or respond to potentially conflicting aspirations. An account of delivering a short fiction module, and an evaluation of personal teaching practice, lessons learned and principles extrapolated concludes