Writing & Linguistics Department

Department of Writing and Linguistics

Creative Writing Courses
 

WRIT 2131 Everyday Creative Writing This course investigates the uses of creative writing in “everyday” forums such as music, advertisements, television and other forms of popular culture. Students learn the elements common to all forms of creative writing and apply these elements in their own writing exercises and projects. 

WRIT 2133 Forms in Creative Writing A workshop course that focuses on the writing of a specific creative form or genre.  The form being studied and practiced varies, but may include science fiction and fantasy, humor and satire, the prose poem, and additional forms not covered in other creative writing courses.

WRIT 3130 Creative Writing An introduction to writing in various genres such as poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama. Students learn the basics of composing creative works, read classic and contemporary examples of the genres, share their own writing and receive feedback in a workshop format.

WRIT 3140* Writing for Young Readers A workshop course that focuses on writing for children and young adults. Students read and discuss theoretical as well as creative texts, write in multiple forms, such as poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and multimedia, and produce a portfolio of work.*pending approval

WRIT 3335 Introduction to Screenwriting A course that introduces students to scriptwriting for film and television through workshops, screenings, and examination of screenplays.  Plot, character development, writing for visual media, and other elements of screenwriting will be covered.  Students develop short film and television scripts.    

WRIT 4130 Creative Nonfiction A workshop course in writing a wide variety of expository material such as family history, personal essay, autobiography and memoir.  Students read classic and contemporary examples of the genre, share their own writing and receive feedback, and produce a portfolio.

WRIT 4430 Poetry Writing A workshop course in which students review the fundamentals of writing poetry, such as the use of figurative language and sound effects, and learn and practice more complex aspects, such as writing in specific forms and genres.  Students read and discuss classic and contemporary poems, evaluate the work of their peers, and produce a portfolio.

WRIT 4530 Fiction Writing A workshop course in which students review the fundamentals of writing fiction, such as the importance of beginnings, scene building, narrative drive, stance, and endings, and learn and practice more complex aspects of literary fiction strategies in specific genres.  Students read and discuss classic and contemporary fiction, evaluate the work of their peers, and produce a portfolio.

WRIT 5531/5531G Advanced Creative Nonfiction A workshop course which deepens and expands the skills and knowledge developed in lower level creative writing courses, especially WRIT 4130.  Students read and discuss traditional and experimental creative nonfiction, share their work and receive feedback, and produce a portfolio. Graduate students will be given an extra assignment determined by the instructor that undergraduates will not be required to do.

WRIT 5430/5430G Advanced Poetry Writing A workshop which builds on the knowledge and skills introduced in lower level creative writing courses, especially WRIT 4430.  The course emphasizes traditional and contemporary use of poetic forms. Students learn metrical and formal conventions and write poems in both formal and free verse. Graduate students will be given an extra assignment determined by the instructor that undergraduates will not be required to do.

WRIT 5540/5540G Advanced Fiction Writing A workshop which builds on the knowledge and skills introduced in lower level creative writing workshops, especially WRIT 4130.  The course emphasizes traditional, contemporary and experimental approaches to plot, characterization, point-of-view, and other elements of form and content. Students formally evaluate the work of their peers and of established writers. Graduate students will be given an extra assignment determined by the instructor that undergraduates will not be required to do.

WRIT 5631/5631G Writing Crime Fiction A creative writing workshop in which students learn the history of crime fiction and read examples to develop their own fiction. Students will formally evaluate the work of their peers. Visiting authors will be a highlight of this course. Graduate students will be given an extra assignment determined by the instructor that undergraduates will not be required to do.

WRIT 5632/5632G Writing Flash Prose A creative writing workshop in which students study and write short prose forms such as the short-short story, brief creative nonfiction, and prose poetry. Graduate students will be given an extra assignment determined by the instructor that undergraduates will not be required to do.

WRIT 2090, WRIT 3030, WRIT 5030/5030G -Selected Topics in Writing These courses, ranging from introductory to advanced levels, provide additional variety to the creative writing offerings by focusing on writing subjects (e.g., the prose poem, magical realism) that are either not covered in other courses or are not covered in depth.