02433cam a22003493u 4500 65952 UtSlPG 20260610134525.0 m cr n 260607r2021||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Sheckley, Robert, 1928-2005 Writing Class Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2021 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy December 1952 Release date is 2021-07-29 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Writing Class" by Robert Sheckley is a satirical science fiction short story written in the early 1950s. The narrative centers around a writing class led by Professor Carner, a seasoned writer of alien encounters and speculative fiction, as he instructs students on the finer points of avoiding clichés in their descriptions of extraterrestrial life. The tale explores themes of creativity, originality, and the sometimes stifling nature of imposed writing conventions. The story follows Eddie McDermott, a student who is initially unenthusiastic about the class. As Professor Carner emphasizes the importance of fresh perspectives and deeper character development, Eddie grows increasingly frustrated with the constraints placed on creative writing. He believes in the power of dramatic flair, preferring the vivid, straightforward depictions of aliens that his professor discourages. Ultimately, Eddie decides to drop the course, choosing to pursue his passion for writing fiction rather than adhere to the rigid rules of journalism, which he finds uninspiring. The narrative thus serves not only as a comedic take on the writing process but also as a commentary on the balance between originality and convention in storytelling. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Authorship -- Fiction Produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy December 1952 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65952 106774 106774