Program in Creative Writing
Faculty
Director
- Yiyun Li
Executive Committee
- Elena Araoz, Theater, LCA
- Michael W. Cadden, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Tina M. Campt, Art and Archaeology
- Jane F. Cox, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Martha Friedman, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Su Friedrich, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Aleksandar Hemon, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Brian E. Herrera, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Rebecca J. Lazier, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Yiyun Li, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Pamela E. Lins, Visual Arts, LCA
- Susan S. Marshall, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Paul B. Muldoon, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Kirstin Valdez Quade, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Joe Scanlan, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Susan Wheeler, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Jeffrey Whetstone, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Rhaisa Williams, Lewis Center for the Arts
- Stacy E. Wolf, Lewis Center for the Arts
Sits with Committee
- Michael C. Dickman
- A.M. Homes
Professor
- Aleksandar Hemon
- Yiyun Li
- Paul B. Muldoon
- Susan Wheeler
Associate Professor
- Kirstin Valdez Quade
Professor Emeritus (teaching)
- Joyce Carol Oates
Lecturer
- Michael C. Dickman
- Alex Dimitrov
- Mark Doten
- Garth Greenwell
- A.M. Homes
- Daphne Kalotay
- Sheila Kohler
- Christina Lazaridi
- Lynn Melnick
- Susanna Moore
- Idra Novey
- Kathleen Ossip
- Craig M. Teicher
Visiting Professor
- Patricia Smith
Visiting Lecturer
- Marilyn M. Chin
For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.
Program Information
The Program in Creative Writing, part of the Lewis Center for the Arts, allows undergraduates to work with practicing writers while pursuing a regular liberal arts course of study. Students develop their writing skills; explore the possibilities of contemporary poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and translation; and gain special access to the critical understanding of literature through their involvement in the creative process.
Small workshop courses in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and translation are taught by the program faculty and visiting writers. These courses are limited in enrollment to ensure the benefits of working closely with faculty. Students begin the creative writing course sequence in either the fall or spring with 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 348, 349, or 448. (Any of these may be repeated for credit with a different instructor.) Students who have taken two 200-level courses in poetry, fiction, and translation may move on to the 300 level. Screenwriting students may take intermediate and advanced screenwriting classes after one introductory screenwriting class, or any other two CWR courses.
Each workshop focuses on one genre only (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, or translation). Workshops meet for up to three hours weekly and are devoted to a craft-based consideration of published writing, and to the discussion of student work.
All creative writing program courses are graded pass/D/fail, but are not counted in the pass/D/fail budget.
Program of Study
Students may earn a certificate in creative writing by successfully completing the following requirements:
(1) Candidates for the certificate normally take two 200-level courses in creative writing by the end of sophomore year and two 300-level courses by the end of junior year, though a portion of this requirement may be waived in unusual circumstances. The courses need not be in a single genre; students are encouraged to experiment with kinds of writing that are new to them. Applicants for a screenwriting thesis must have taken one course in poetry, fiction, or translation; and at least two courses in screenwriting.
(2) Students may earn a certificate in creative writing by writing a creative senior thesis in one genre (e.g., collections of poems, stories, one feature-length or several short-form screenplays, a novel, or literary translations in poetry or fiction) under the direction of program faculty.
During the spring term of junior year, candidates for the certificate apply to the Program in Creative Writing for permission to write a creative thesis. The application consists of a short form, an extensive portfolio of work in the relevant genre, and a thesis project proposal. Successful applicants are assigned specific deadlines and an adviser they meet with throughout senior year.
Accepted students seek permission from their home departments to use the creative thesis to satisfy departmental thesis requirements. For students in the Department of English creative writing track and Comparative Literature Path E, approval is routine, and several other departments have welcomed creative theses, but some students undertake the creative thesis as a "second thesis." Unlike creative writing workshops, which are pass/D/fail, theses receive letter grades.
Certificate of Proficiency
Students who fulfill the requirements of the program receive a certificate of proficiency in creative writing upon graduation.
Courses
CWR 201 Creative Writing (Poetry) Fall LA
Practice in the original composition of poetry supplemented by the reading and analysis of standard works. Each student is expected to prepare a manuscript each week. There will be a weekly workshop meeting and occasional individual conferences. Prerequisite: by application. Instructed by: StaffCWR 202 Creative Writing (Poetry) Spring LA
Practice in the original composition of poetry supplemented by the reading and analysis of standard works. Each student is expected to prepare a manuscript each week. There will be a weekly workshop meeting and occasional individual conferences. Prerequisite: by application. Instructed by: StaffCWR 203 Creative Writing (Fiction) Fall LA
Practice in the original composition of fiction supplemented by the reading and analysis of standard works. Each student is expected to prepare a manuscript at least every other week. There will be a weekly workshop meeting and occasional individual conferences. Prerequisite: by application. Instructed by: StaffCWR 204 Creative Writing (Fiction) Spring LA
Practice in the original composition of fiction supplemented by the reading and analysis of standard works. Each student is expected to prepare a manuscript at least every other week. There will be a weekly workshop meeting and occasional individual conferences. Prerequisite: by application. Instructed by: StaffCWR 205 Creative Writing (Literary Translation) (also
COM 249
/
TRA 204
) Fall
LA
Practice in the translation of literary works from another language into English supplemented by the reading and analysis of standard works. Each student is expected to prepare a manuscript each week. There will be a weekly workshop meeting and occasional individual conferences. Prerequisite: fluency in a language other than English and by application. Instructed by: P. Muldoon COM 249
TRA 204
CWR 206 Creative Writing (Literary Translation) (also
TRA 206
/
COM 215
) Spring
LA
Practice in the translation of literary works from another language into English supplemented by the reading and analysis of standard works. Each student is expected to prepare a manuscript each week. There will be a weekly workshop meeting and occasional individual conferences. Prerequisite: fluency in a language other than English and by application. Instructed by: Staff TRA 206
COM 215
CWR 214 Graphic Design (See VIS 214)
CWR 215 Graphic Design: Typography (See VIS 215)
CWR 221 Fiction Workshop: Literary Lineage, Tribute, and Homage Spring LA
This fiction workshop will look at the ways writers learn from and pay tribute to one another - sometimes intentionally and explicitly, other times tacitly, perhaps even unconsciously. Reading across a range of genres and voices, each week we will discuss a pair of stories revealing writers' artistic heritage, in some cases clearly identifiable as literary tribute to (or subtle critique of) enduring stories, in other cases, less overt in acknowledgment. Throughout, we will explore fundamental elements of fiction through analysis and discussion of these works and through peer critique of student writing (your own original works). Instructed by: D. KalotayCWR 222 Spark! Sparking Creativity in Writing Spring LA
This is a multi-genre writing class that explores daily creative practice. This semester, you'll be challenged to push your creative limits and to take risks in your work. Together we'll explore how we can become more alert to the world and how, through language, we can respond in fresh ways to the events of our lives. As we imagine other experiences and engage in a conversation with the long tradition of writing, we'll practice thinking flexibly and seeing opportunity in failure. In this class, you will be a member of a community of writers prepared to challenge and support each other as we navigate the process of creation. Instructed by: K. QuadeCWR 223 360 Degrees With 7 Storytellers (See VIS 223)
CWR 224 Spoken Word Poetics Spring LA
Poets should come to this class ready to move, yell, play, and discover. Writing and performing our way towards a deeper understanding of ourselves as spoken word poets, we will collaboratively work our way towards a final public performance and, hopefully, the tools to better move the crowds we face, which are the tools to change the world one poem at a time. Instructed by: D. SmithCWR 225 The Writers' Room (See THR 224)
CWR 301 Advanced Creative Writing (Poetry) Fall LA
Advanced practice in the original composition of poetry for discussion in regularly scheduled workshop meetings. Prerequisites: Two 200-level CWR courses and by application. Instructed by: StaffCWR 302 Advanced Creative Writing (Poetry) Spring LA
Advanced practice in the original composition of poetry for discussion in regularly scheduled workshop meetings. Prerequisites: Two 200-level CWR courses and by application. Instructed by: StaffCWR 303 Advanced Creative Writing (Fiction) Fall LA
Advanced practice in the original composition of fiction for discussion in regularly scheduled workshop meetings. Prerequisites: 203 or 204 and by application. Instructed by: StaffCWR 304 Advanced Creative Writing (Fiction) Spring LA
Advanced practice in the original composition of fiction for discussion in regularly scheduled workshop meetings. Prerequisites: Two 200-level CWR courses and by application. Instructed by: StaffCWR 305 Advanced Creative Writing (Literary Translation) (also
COM 355
/
TRA 305
) Fall
LA
Advanced practice in the translation of literary works from another language into English supplemented by the reading and analysis of standard works. Prerequisites: 205 or 206 and by application. Instructed by: P. Muldoon COM 355
TRA 305
CWR 306 Advanced Creative Writing (Literary Translation) (also
COM 356
/
TRA 314
) Spring
LA
Advanced practice in the translation of literary works from another language into English supplemented by the reading and analysis of standard works. Prerequisites: 205 or 206 and by application. Instructed by: Staff COM 356
TRA 314
CWR 309 Playwriting II: Intermediate Playwriting (See THR 305)
CWR 312 Vital Signs: Writing On and About the Body (also
GSS 452
/
HUM 319
) Spring
LA
The Body: we all have one and inhabit it in a myriad of ways, as a source of joy, a contradiction to be reckoned with, a failed experiment, an inadequate container for all that we are, and an unending mystery. In traditional workshops we don't discuss what we are writing about and why; content and context come second to craft. In Vital Signs we will explore narratives of the body, beginning by reading material illustrative of a wide-range of expression and experience while working toward finding language for our individual physical and emotional experience. Instructed by: A. Homes GSS 452
HUM 319
CWR 319 For Man is a Centaur: Reading Primo Levi Spring LA
A reading-intensive advanced fiction workshop dedicated to a close reading of Primo Levi's The Periodic Table, an indefinable masterpiece of Italian literature which combines autobiographical and fictional elements, calling into question the equivocal relationship between truth and invention. Careful analysis of this text will serve as an ongoing frame of reference for class discussion and creative inspiration. Instructed by: J. LahiriCWR 323 Writing Near Art/Art Near Writing (See VIS 323)
CWR 345 Special Topics in Creative Writing (also
AMS 345
/
GSS 383
) Not offered this year
LA
Students gain special access to the critical understanding of literature through their involvement in the creative process. Topics include autobiography, prosody, non-fiction, revision and point of view. Students are expected to prepare a manuscript at least every other week. Specific topics and prerequisites will vary. By application. Instructed by: Staff AMS 345
GSS 383
CWR 347 Screenwriting I: Short Screenwriting for Filmmakers (also
VIS 340
) Spring
LA
This course will introduce students to the foundational principles and techniques of screenwriting, taking into account the practical considerations of film production. Questions of thematic cohesiveness, plot construction, logical cause and effect, character behavior, dialogue, genre consistency and pace will be explored as students gain confidence in the form by completing a number of short screenplays. The course will illustrate and analyze the power of visual storytelling to communicate a story to an audience, and will guide students to create texts that serve as "blueprints" for emotionally powerful and immersive visual experiences. Instructed by: M. Molson VIS 340
CWR 348 Introduction to Screenwriting: Writing the Short Film (also
VIS 348
) Fall
LA
This course will introduce students to core screenwriting principles and techniques. Questions of thematic cohesiveness, plot construction, logical cause and effect, character behavior, dialogue, genre consistency and pace will be explored as students gain confidence by completing a number of short screenplays. The course will illustrate and analyze the power of visual storytelling to communicate a story to an audience, and will guide students to create texts that serve as "blueprints" for emotionally powerful and immersive visual experiences. Final portfolio will include one short exercise and two short screenplays. By application. Instructed by: C. Lazaridi, A. Hemon VIS 348
CWR 349 Introduction to Screenwriting: Writing for a Global Audience (also
VIS 349
) Spring
LA
How can screenwriters prepare for the evolving challenges of our global media world? What types of content, as well as form, will emerging technologies make possible? Do fields like neuroscience help us understand the universal principles behind screenwriting and do tech advances that alter the distance between audience and creator, man and machine, also influence the content of our stories? This class will use fairytales, films, games and new media to illustrate universal script principles while creating a rich interdisciplinary lens to explore the innovative intersection of narrative screenwriting, science and technology. Instructed by: C. Lazaridi VIS 349
CWR 351 Archive Writing (See COM 350)
CWR 385 The Art of the Essay (See FRE 385)
CWR 401 Advanced Creative Writing Tutorial Not offered this year LA
Tutorials in the original composition of fiction, poetry, or translations, open to those who have demonstrated unusual commitment and talent through four terms of creative writing or who provide equivalent evidence of their capacity for advanced work. Open also to qualified graduate students. Individual conferences to be arranged. Instructed by: StaffCWR 402 Advanced Creative Writing Tutorial Not offered this year LA
Tutorials in the original composition of fiction, poetry, or translations, open to those who have demonstrated unusual commitment and talent through four terms of creative writing or who provide equivalent evidence of their capacity for advanced work. Open also to qualified graduate students. Individual conferences to be arranged. Instructed by: StaffCWR 403 Special Topics in Screenwriting (also
VIS 406
) Not offered this year
LA
This class will familiarize students with the complex use of metaphorical, emotional, and visual threads in long form screenplay writing. Analyzing examples of international, independent, and classical structures, students will be exposed to the rhythms and demands of the process of conceiving and writing a long form narrative film. Prerequisite: Introduction to Screenwriting and by application. Instructed by: Staff VIS 406
CWR 405 Advanced Screenwriting: Writing for Television (also
VIS 405
) Fall/Spring
LA
This advanced screenwriting workshop will introduce students to the fundamental elements of developing and writing a TV series in the current "golden age of television." Students will watch television pilots, read pilot episodes, and engage in in-depth discussion about story, series engine, character, structure, tone and season arcs. Each student will formulate and pitch an original series idea, including season arcs, and complete most or all of the pilot episode by end of semester. Instructed by: A. Homes, S. Styron VIS 405
CWR 448 Introduction to Screenwriting: Adaptation (also
VIS 448
) Fall
LA
Introduction to screenwriting adaptation techniques, focusing primarily on the challenges of adapting "true stories" pulled from various non-fiction sources. The class will address the ethics of adaptation, questions and techniques surrounding the need to fictionalize truth for dramatic purposes, as well as touch on the differences between fictional and nonfictional original materials. Students will be exposed to various contemporary non-fiction adaptations, and will write a short film and one longer project. By application. Instructed by: C. Lazaridi VIS 448