Course Descriptions

Creative Writing Program

Fall 2020

CW 1040 Intro to Creative Writing    Bergstraesser      TR 2:45-4:00

This course is designed to help you craft various works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. In addition to in-class writing exercises, creative exercises outside of class, and discussions, you will critique each other’s writing in a constructive workshop atmosphere—thereby developing useful editorial skills that will help you improve your own writing.

Through lecture and discussion, we will explore the technique and devices involved in creating these three genres. We will read and discuss the works of many different writers, using their technique and content as a guide for your own writing.

And if this course description seems dull, the class is anything but.

 

CW 2050 Intro to Fiction     Pexton TR 2:45-4:00

One goal of this class is to introduce you to the tools needed to write and revise good fiction. We will focus on the short story as a form, rather than long form.  The short form, as Octavia Butler knew, is a perfect length for fiction writers to practice the skills needed to writer good long form fiction. Through in and out of class writing exercises, class discussion and workshops, students will learn and experiment with the elements of writing fiction.  In addition, we acknowledge that good writers are also careful, critical readers, so our second goal is to improve our skills as good readers.

 

CW 2080 Intro to Poetry      Northrop        TR 1:20-2:35

In this course we will read and write poetry; we will discuss, enthuse over and question our responses, question the poems and our expectations of poems. Completing and revising both in- and out-of-class writing assignments, students should expect to produce, by the end of the semester, a poetry portfolio (and artist statement).  Class time will be divided between discussion of reading assignments and workshop submissions.  Please see instructor with any questions. 

 

CW 4050-01 Writers Workshop: Making Multi-Genre Work      Northrop          TR 9:35-10:50

In this multi-genre class we will experiment with making and reading creative work which mixes and switches and grows a new tail. What happens, in a creative work, when poems meet up photographs? When story incorporates passages of poetry? Or veers into film clips? What happens when essay breaks and breaks again into recorded instrumental or song? We don’t know. You will have to write your way in – to find something out.

Students should expect to fully draft several free-wheeling writing exercises and produce, by the end of the semester, a substantial hybrid creative work. Please contact instructor with any questions.

 

CW 4050-02  Writers Workshop: Fiction     Watson                 TR  11:00-12:15

In this class students will read examples of published short stories, and possibly some longer work, and participate in discussions that break down the elements of fiction at work: character, setting/place, point of view, tone/style/narrative voice, dialog, conflict/plot, main ideas, etc. The reading will be mostly, if not entirely, Realism. The writing will be short stories of varying length, from flash fiction to short-short stories to full-length stories. Students who wish to write longer pieces should discuss the work with the instructor before committing to such a project for this class. The writing will be approximately 30 pp +/- of original fiction (this excludes, for the purposes of this course, fan fiction or game fiction) plus additional writing of occasional exercises and critiques/analyses of the outside reading and peers' work. Attendance required. If circumstances force the class to move entirely online, attendance will consist of posting required materials on the required date at the required hour. Text materials supplied by the instructor.   

 

CW 4050-03  Writers Workshop: Creative Non-Fiction   Heaney   TR 1:20-2:35

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