But What Does It Mean? (Short Story Question)

kalevin · Apr 24, 2012

My apologies if this isn't in the right place, as I'm new and still trying to figure out where things go.

To make a long story short (ha): I wrote a piece of flash fiction that doubled as extra credit for a biology class at my college. The biology department ended up asking if they could use that story as part of their curriculum, demonstrating that study of the sciences can have impact and relevance beyond the realm of science. Of course, I was overjoyed and said yes (I mean really, who is going to buy a 750-word story about cell replication anyways?)

But here's my question-- what does this mean? I'm just wondering if there's some weird sort of credit I should be listing (say, on my academic resume or whatnot) because of this. On one hand, it's in use (yay!), on the other, it's not like it's actually "published" (hmm). Help me, fellow writers, for I don't know what to do!

(PS- If the answer is "oh, you silly goose, it means nothing of course!", I'm totally cool with that.)

Thanks!

Ralyks · Apr 24, 2012

I probably wouldn't mention it, although it it's incorporated with a set of curriculum materials that have a name, you could - i.e. "Flash fiction story title." 7th Grade Biology Curriculum. Such-and-such High. 2012. But I probably wouldn't include it in a list of credits myself. It's kind of like saying, "My teacher liked my story and asked if she could read it to the class." That's not really something to put on your resume. Unless it actually is published as part of a set of titled curriculum materials.

jaksen · Apr 25, 2012

If it's printed in a pamphlet, notebook or some sort of written material and distributed to students each year, then guess what, it's published. If students are required or encouraged to read it (seems like required more than encouraged) and 80 or 90 or 400 students a year are doing so, you're published.

Where I taught, something like this would be thought of as an 'across-curriculum' piece. In other words, you read it in science, but it might also be discussed in English class from a literary point of view.

I was on a teaching team and we did this a few times. Read excerpts from Moby Dick in English class, talk about whales in science class, etc.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 25, 2012

It's not something I'd mention in a query letter, but it's still a very cool thing.

kalevin · Apr 26, 2012

Thanks for your input, guys! As far as I know the story is used as an attachment to the syllabi for the college's biology courses, much in the way that jaksen mentioned. Since I will be applying to MFA program in the next 6 months, I was more wondering if this would be something to mention in a cover letter. "'X' story has been adopted into the biology curriculum at Y college..." That sort of thing.

Thanks again. This whole "credit" business gets tricky at times, doesn't it?

But What Does It Mean? (Short Story Question)

kalevin

Dark and twisty, like licorice.

Ralyks

Untold stories inside

jaksen

Caped Codder

Jamesaritchie

kalevin

Dark and twisty, like licorice.