[SPR26] Writing Short Stories: Psychological Fiction and the Problems of Finitude

Writing Short Stories: Psychological Fiction and the Problems of Finitude

Every other Wednesday from February 4th to May 13th, 2026 | 7:00 - 8:30 pm EST

Presenters:

William J. Hendel, JD is a PhD candidate in the Department of Philosophy at
Boston College, who specializes in moral psychology, the history of ethics, and
aesthetics. He is the co-editor of misReading Plato (with Matthew Clemente
and Bryan Cocchiara, Routledge, 2022).

Kyleigh Leddy, LMSW is a writer, therapist, and educator.
She is the author of "The Perfect Other: A Memoir of My Sister" (Harper/Collins)
and "Worse Than Strangers: A Novel" (Simon & Schuster).
As a result of her writing and advocacy work, she was named on
the 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 Media list. Her writing has been featured in
the New York Times, The Cut, People Magazine, Parents, SIRIUSXM, WBUR,
among others. She has taught creative writing at Gotham Writers in NYC.

Description:

The discipline of psychology studies the human mind and how psychological, biological, and societal influences contribute to individuals' well-being. Literature is how we make sense of the world and each other. By combining these two fields, we hope to bring about a new analysis of empathy, emotions, and psychological expression. Exploring work form authors such as Flannery O'Connor, George Saunders, Shirley Jackson, Tobias Wolff, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Sheila Heti, and Weike Wang, we will employ psychological theories to analyze how writers craft compelling and realistic imitations of emotional expression that challenge our understanding of the world. We will look into research topics like Theory of Mind and The Gossip Theory of Fiction and how they relate to craft elements such as character, structure, and plot.

Learning Objectives:

Session 1 (2/4) - Literature and Psychology

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify the connection between psychology and literature and describe how the two fields relate.
• Evaluate short stories and recognize various craft elements with a brief overview of plot, character, and theme.
• Define The Gossip Theory of Fiction.

Session 2 (2/18) - Being- Towards- Death

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Explain Heidegger's concept of being-towards-death.
• Identify the resonances between Tolstoy's and Heidegger's psychological insight in The Death of Ivan Ilyich and selections from Being and Time.
• Understand how the presentations of Tolstoy's and Heidegger's insights compliment and compete with one another.

Session 3 (3/4) - Plot

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Define Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how it relates to plot and motivation.
• Evaluate short stories and recognize the craft elements of plot and time.
• Analyze the concept of conflict and apply it to story structure.

Session 4 (3/18) - The Trouble with Being Born

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Explain Cioran's philosophy of failure.
• Identify the resonances between von Kleist's and Cioran's psychological insight in Micahel Kohlhass and The Trouble with Being Born.
• Understand how the presentations of von Kleist's and Cioran's insights compliment and compete with one another.

Session 5 (4/1) - Character

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Define Theory of Mind and how it relates to creating realistic personalities in fiction.
• Evaluate short stories and recognize the craft elements of character, including dialogue and emotionally resonant characterizations.
• Explain how POV operates in a short story.

Session 6 (4/15) - The Heart of Character

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Explain Schopenhauer's philosophy of the will.
• Identify the resonances between Conrad's and Schopenhauer's psychological insight.
• Students will understand how the presentations of Conrad's and Schopenhauer's insights compliment and compete with one another.

Session 7 (4/29) - Theme

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Examine and interpret Narrative Identity Theory.
• Evaluate short stories and recognize the importance of theme.
• Interpret Freud’s psychodynamic theories about the unconscious and how they relate to theme.

Session 8 (5/13) - The Uncanny

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Explain Freud's concept of the uncanny.
• Identify the resonances between Hoffman's and Freud's psychological insight.
• Understand how the presentations of Hoffman's and Freud's insights compliment and compete with one another.

Timeline and Requirements:

The course will take place every other Wednesday at 7pm to 8:30pm EST from 2/4 to 5/13 (2/4. 2/18, 3/4, 3/18, 4/1, 4/15, 4/29, 5/13).

CE Pending: Pending approval

Fees & Policies:

Payment is due by credit card at registration. Refunds will be granted only up until registration closes at 5pm on February 4th. No refunds will be granted for errors on the participant's part (such as incorrect name/email upon registration, login failure, scheduling conflicts, etc.).

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. If you need to request an accommodation or ask a question about accessibility, please contact wcas.cece@bc.edu.

Additional offerings from the Woods College Office of Continuing Education and Community Engagement can be found on our website.