Class Narrative Techniques

The course 'Narrative Techniques' explores the techniques involved in constructing fictional texts and the nature of creative writing. It develops both the theory and practice, on an ongoing basis, of a specific literary genre - the contemporary realist short story. The focus on this particular genre aims to develop clarity and brevity - in other words, conciseness in writing - which are essential for students of Communication and Journalism, acting as a creative complement to the specific course on journalistic writing. Throughout the semester, the technical and ethical implications of using AI tools applied to literary and journalistic production are discussed.

Not applicable

1. The short story as a literary genre: the boundaries between short-story, novel and romance 1.1. The Portuguese contemporary short story: framing and historical evolution 1.2. The Realistic Contemporary short story: The Obligation to Be Credible 1.3. The importance of the initial situation/conflict 2. The macrostructures of the fiction text 2.1. The concept of dramatic square 2.2. Argument 2.2.1. Structure 2.2.2. Plot 2.3. Characters 2.4. Narrative Views 2.4.1. Focus 2.4.2. Narration 2.5. Temporality 2.6. The message 3. Specific Writing Techniques 3.1. Static Description 3.2. Description by Action 3.3. Action Description 3.4. Portrait of a Character   4. Artificial Intelligence, Literature and Journalism 4.1. The role of authorship 4.2. Ethical issues 4.3. Impact on creativity 4.4. Cognitive effects 4.5. Implications for journalism

Project-based learning methodology (writing a short story in teams over the course of the semester) and creative writing exercises inspired by the Lego Serious Play methodology.

Adam, J.-M., & Revaz, F. (1997). A Análise da Narrativa . Lisboa: Gradiva. Código do Direito do Autor e dos Direitos Conexos. Mancelos, J. (2021). Manual de Escrita Criativa (4ª Edição). Edições Colibri. Mei, P., Brewis, D. N., Nwaiwu, F., Sumanathilaka, D., Alva-Manchego, F., & Demaree-Cotton, J. (2025). If ChatGPT can do it, where is my creativity? Generative AI boosts performance but diminishes experience in creative writing. Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans, 4, 100140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbah.2025.100140 Melo, João de (Org.) (2003). Antologia do Conto Português , 2ª Edição, Lisboa, D. Quixote. Norton, C. (2001). Os Mecanismos da Escrita Criativa . Lisboa: Temas e Debates. Salema, Álvaro (Org.) (1984). Antologia do Conto Português Contemporâneo , Lisboa, Instituto de Cultura e Língua Portuguesa. Sena-Lino, P. (2023). Criative-se – Curso Completo de Escrita Criativa. Ideias de Ler. Timbal-Duclaux, L. (1997). Eu Escrevo Contos e Novelas . Lisboa: Pergaminho.