Creative Writing Certificate Program

Courses - Spring 2009

If you’re interested in Creative Writing and have completed English 101, consider signing up for English 205, Creative Writing.

English 205 Creative Writing focuses on student production of original work which may include fiction, poetry, memoir and dramatic writing. Students will do extensive reading, as well as writing and developing the critical vocabulary needed to discuss these genres from a writer’s point of view. They will develop these skills through a number of activities including different forms of writing inside and outside of the classroom and peer evaluation in the form of writing workshops.

If you’ve already taken English 205, or have enough background experience in Creative Writing to get the prerequisite waived, you can take any of these courses:

English 280 Poetry Writing will focus on poetry, enabling students to create new works and continue projects begun in English 205 or elsewhere. Students will further develop a critical vocabulary and study contemporary poetry from the perspectives of writers rather than readers. They will participate in specialized, intensive workshops and learn skills needed by serious poets, including editing, revising and manuscript placement. Prerequisite: ENGL 205.

English 281 Fiction Writing will allow students to continue longer fiction projects begun in English 205 or elsewhere. Students will further develop a critical vocabulary for the genre and study contemporary literature from the perspectives of fiction writers rather than readers. They will participate in specialized, intensive workshops and learn skills needed by the professional fiction writer, especially editing and revising. Manuscript placement will also be discussed. Prerequisite: ENGL 205.

English 282 Scriptwriting will focus on scriptwriting and enable students to continue longer projects begun in English 205 or elsewhere. Students will develop a critical vocabulary for scriptwriting and study contemporary dramatic literature from the perspectives of writers rather than readers. They will participate in specialized, intensive workshops and learn skills needed by the professional script writer, especially editing, revising and manuscript placement. Prerequisite: ENGL 205.

English 285 Portfolio Development is designed for students enrolled in the Certificate Program in Creative Writing (CRWC) and is one of the last requirements for completion of the program. Students complete a portfolio of creative works and practice advanced editing and revision skills as well as textual analysis. The class consists of brief lectures, writing workshops, and seminars on practical matters of interest to working writers. Individual conferences between students and the instructor may be used to complement group activities; special projects and activities may take place outside the classroom in an effort to connect the students to resources and writing communities beyond the college.