Writing and Reading Short Stories
An introduction to the short story form, taught through MIT's Comparative Media Studies/Writing program. Students write their own short stories and descriptive sketches while reading published short fiction, examining each piece in its historical and social context. Class time centers on workshop-style discussion, with students critiquing both assigned readings and each other's drafts. The course materials on MIT OpenCourseWare include the syllabus, reading list, and writing assignments used in the actual class, giving a full picture of how the workshop is structured across the term. No video lectures are included, but the assignment sequence and discussion framework offer a complete, self-directed path through the craft of short fiction, from sketching a scene to building a full story. Free to access, with no certificate offered.