Sudden or flash fiction is an increasingly visible genre distinct from the short story. We will examine the genre historically, critically and ultimately in terms of craft.  Accomplished writers in the genre tend to have the poets’ interest in language and tend to use language rather than character development to power narrative.  Students interested in taking the class should have a strong interest in reading and writing stories as well as a strong interest in language. Students will be expected to exhibit a mastery of the reading by producing ten drafts and ten revisions of the flash stories they will write.  Students will also each contribute one additional piece to a class anthology based on a theme decided upon by the class.