English professor Seth Clabough’s Short Story Writing class met with accomplished British writers Sarah Burton and Jem Poster during a virtual visit in April. Clabough’s students, who spent the semester composing their own short stories, got the opportunity to discuss the craft of writing fiction stories and give insight into writing as a profession with these well-known writing professionals.

“Our students were treated to a master class in creative writing,” said Clabough. “The visit reflects the ways in which RMC looks to bring experts and leading practitioners into our classrooms to enrich the experiences of our students.”

Both writers are co-founders of Cambridge University’s master’s program in creative writing. Burton is the author of two biographies, Impostors: Six Kinds of Liar (Penguin, 2000) and A Double Life: a Biography of Charles and Mary Lamb (Penguin, 2003), multiple novels, a children’s book, and a page-to-stage guide for theatre productions. 

Poster is the author of two novels, Courting Shadows (Sceptre, 2002) and Rifling Paradise (Sceptre, 2006), as well as a collection of poetry, Brought to Light (Bloodaxe, 2001). He is co-author of a handbook for fiction writers with Burton. Poster also edited volume III of the six-volume Oxford University Press Edward Thomas: Prose Writings (OUP, 2018). 

RMC students engaged with two stories under their guidance during their call. Together, they discussed aspects of composition, style, and character voice. Burton and Poster also shared strategies for improving the writing process. 

“Stories don’t need to have a plot, but they need to have a point,” said Burton, explaining the two main categories of short story—“Chekhovian” vs. “event-plot.” She went on to distinguish how the plot in a Chekhovian short story is not the main focus of the piece and therefore makes it more lifelike. 

Both authors provided insight into the world of professional fiction writing and publication. Students were able to bring their own questions to the discussion and engage with the authors directly. 

This class session with Sarah Burton and Jem Poster is an annual component of ENGL 383. This was the second opportunity for the students to engage with an author as part of this class, which had also included a conversation with short story author Erika Carter.