This is an introduction to the reading and writing of fiction designed as the first in a sequence of courses for creative writing majors and also as a general course for students wanting some experience in creative writing. Writing exercises will be devoted to such aspects of fiction as description, characterization, and narration, and to the writing of scenes and stories. In the second half of the course, students write a full short story of around 10-12 pages due two weeks before the end of the term. These are distributed to the class, discussed, and revised.