English: Intro to Creative Writing

Introductory course on techniques of writing poetry, short prose fiction, and creative nonfiction. Classes organized around discussion of student work; weekly writing assignments.

Open to Degree and PACE students

This course focuses on experimentation, imitation, and exploration in the art and craft of creative writing. Here, you’ll read with a keen writer’s eye and spawn original pieces of your own—works in four genres: creative nonfiction, fiction, playwriting, and poetry. Introduction to Creative Writing is student-driven in its spotlight on paying attention and asking questions, on making choices and connections—and in its emphasis on risk-taking and vulnerability. From the beginning, you will explore the relationship between the human self and the mysteries of inspiration to excavate the multitude of undiscovered stories within. This creative writing course emphasizes process over finished product—yes, the journey over the destination—and honors the doing (the essai in French means “to try” or “attempt”) over being done (that’s for cakes). You will seek messes over perfection as you tackle prompts to spur thinking and inspire words. Through your own creative writing endeavors, you’ll discover an innate passion for craft as well as attain confidence in your ongoing potential as a writer. Most essential to this course, to writing—and life itself: Trust the process.

This course combines seminar-style discussion and peer-review writing workshops. Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours per week on coursework outside of class, with additional time for the Midterm and Final Writing Portfolios.

Class presence and participation, includes Peer Group Workshops: 30% Four Genre Writing Project “Attempts” (Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Playwriting, and Poetry), including process (“Thinking Pages” and “Second drafts”): 20% Midterm Portfolio, including Two Drafts and “Best Of” Writer’s Notebook entries: 10% Final Writing Portfolio, including process pieces and two Final Drafts (choice of genre): 10% Writer’s Notebook (sharing reading responses, freewrites, and “Daily Warm-ups”): 10% Student-led Craft Discussion: 10% Final Creative Course Reflection (your final exam): 10%