creative writing courses vancouver

• Creative Writing Programs
• Opportunities
• Prospective Students
• MFA Program Options
• Optional Summer Residency
• How to Write a Novel
• Writing for Video Games
• Communications Support
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Indigenous Engagement
• Prize for Best New Fiction
• Job Opportunities

CREATIVE WRITING

Introduction to Creative Writing

CRWR 200 2023 S Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in multiple genres of writing, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenplay, stageplay, graphic forms, lyric forms, children's literature, and writing for new media. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

BROWN-EVANS, TAYLOR

CRWR 200 2023 W Credits: 3

BROWN-EVANS, TAYLOR | HUSSAIN, TARIQ | TATER, MALLORY

This course is designed for students looking to develop their writing skills through an exploration of a variety of creative genres. Using a combination of lectures, active writing exercises, and in-depth assignments, students will be given the chance to explore a variety of topics and concepts designed to elevate their craft including constructing story arcs, handling structure, character development, image-building, point of view and creating effective dialogue. Genres to be explored include fiction, creative nonfiction (including memoir, personal essay, profile), poetry, songwriting, screenwriting, and playwriting. This course is an inspiring and fun introduction to the world of creative writing and is sure to get your creative juices flowing. This class is an in-person class, although classes are recorded and may be attended asynchronously.

This course is designed for students looking to develop their creative writing skills through an exploration of a variety of creative writing genres including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, songwriting, screenwriting and more. Students will have the chance to explore a variety of topics and concepts designed to elevate their craft such as constructing story arcs, character development, image building, managing dialogue. This course will consist of video lectures and online modules with weekly writing exercises. Students will also engage in readings and some longer length writing assignments (in genres of their choosing) all of which will contribute to a regular writing practice and an end-of-term portfolio of work they can be proud of. Students will be able to complete the requirements for this course asynchronously. There will also be some synchronous activities such as peer-to-peer sharing “draft days,” discussion groups, etc. and though attendance is encouraged for these sessions, students will not be graded on their participation in these events. Note that students are required to submit new work only for this course. CRWR 200 is an inspiring and fun introduction to the world of creative writing and is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

This course is designed for students looking to develop their creative writing skills through an exploration of a variety of creative writing genres including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, songwriting, screenwriting and more. Students will have the chance to explore a variety of topics and concepts designed to elevate their craft such as constructing story arcs, character development, image building, managing dialogue. Students will engage in readings, weekly writing exercises, and some longer length writing assignments (in genres of their choosing) in order to maintain a regular writing practice. By the end of the course, students will have amassed a solid body of creative work—a portfolio!—that they can be proud of with work they can continue to revise and draw inspiration from after the term ends. This course will take place in real time and consist of weekly face-to-face lectures, which students are required to attend. Note that students are also required to submit new work only for this course. CRWR 200 is an inspiring and fun introduction to the world of creative writing and is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

This course is designed for students looking to develop their creative writing skills through an exploration of a variety of creative writing genres including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, songwriting, screenwriting and more. Students will have the chance to explore a variety of topics and concepts designed to elevate their craft such as constructing story arcs, character development, image building, managing dialogue. This course will consist of video lectures and online modules with weekly writing exercises. Students will also engage in readings and some longer length writing assignments (in genres of their choosing) all of which will contribute to a regular writing practice and an end of term portfolio of work they can be proud of. Students will be able to complete the requirements for this course asynchronously. There will also be some synchronous activities such as peer-to-peer sharing “draft days,” discussion groups, etc. and though attendance is encouraged for these sessions, students will not be graded on their participation in these events. Note that students are required to submit new work only for this course. CRWR 200 is an inspiring and fun introduction to the world of creative writing and is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

This course is composed to help students hone in on a variety of techniques and practices as we explore multiple genres of writing, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenplay, stageplay, graphic forms, lyric forms, children's literature, and writing for new media. Come and find your voice by playing with various craft elements and to experience instrumental published work in contemporary forms and genres through lectures, readings, writing assignments and guided discussions.

CRWR 200 2024 S Credits: 3

Introduction to Writing Poetry

CRWR 201 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in the writing of poetry, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of poetry. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

TATE, BRONWEN | WARRENER, SHERYDA

In poetry, the chaos and disorder of living are made meaningful by the shaping powers of language and the imagination. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of contemporary poets including Ocean Vuong, Ada Limón, and Jericho Brown, you will write many poems and explore the capacity of language to name the world, sing us back to our senses, say what matters, and imagine other possibilities. Together, we’ll discover how to invite wildness and surprise onto the page. We’ll also investigate the radical possibilities of revision, give and receive written feedback on work-in-progress, and cultivate a shared craft vocabulary of diction, syntax, image, line, metaphor, echo, pivot, and rhythm to help you make more conscious choices in your writing. To support flexible learning, this is a blended course with asynchronous videos, readings, and exercises supported by weekly synchronous lectures and collaborations.

This course offers an accessible introduction to the process of poem-making. You will practice forms of poetic attention, experiment with craft skills and techniques foundational to the genre, and explore the sensory details of everyday life: memory, experience, feeling, and imagination. In order to write about the world, you will engage with it through intentional and focused exploration. This process will require both self-discovery and discovery of subject matter outside the self. This course blends synchronous and asynchronous content. Weekly modules of pre-recorded videos and readings allow you to move through key concepts at your own pace. In addition to reviewing online materials, you will be required to attend class, engage with assigned readings, and participate in discussions and workshops. You will utilize in-class writing exercises and prompts to spark ideas for content. For your final assignment, you will revise and assemble a collection of five poems demonstrating your technical skills and singular sensibility. Together, we will strive toward artistry, and come to a richer understanding of the possibilities of poetry.

Introduction to Writing for Children and Young Adults

CRWR 203 2023 W Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in creating, developing and writing for children and young adults. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

We’ll delve into the breadth of forms encompassed by children’s literature, as well as a diversity of genres and topics. We’ll examine the unique pace and structure of books for different age and reading levels. We’ll learn to build memorable characters, then send those characters on fast-paced quests and adventures. Coursework includes three major writing assignments, a mock Instagram novel review, and frequent short writing exercises. Regular attendance is required. Our goals in this class are to learn about the growth of contemporary children’s writing, to become better writers ourselves, and to embrace a spirit of childlike wonder, exploration, and fun.

Introduction to Writing Creative Nonfiction

CRWR 205 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in the writing of creative nonfiction, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of creative nonfiction. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

CATRON, MANDY

Welcome to Introduction to Creative Nonfiction!

This term we will focus on both the craft and the ethics of creative nonfiction writing and consider some of the big questions that continue to shape the genre:

• What exactly is creative nonfiction and what distinguishes it from other genres?
• How does an obligation to the truth shape the ways we tell stories and write sentences?
• Why might a reader care about an individual writer’s experiences and ideas?
• Where does the personal intersect with the political, the ideological, or the profound?
• How can we find authority and curiosity in our own knowledge and experiences?

We will spend our semester taking risks, trying out new skills, and sharing your work and ideas in a warm and welcoming environment. This is a hybrid course and students are expected to participate both online and in person.

Introduction to Writing for the Screen

CRWR 206 2023 W Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in creating, developing, and writing a screenplay. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

MCGOWAN, SHARON | GRAEFE, SARA

It all starts with the script. Every screenwriter has a unique creative process, but shares tools from a common toolbox.

In this course we will screen and discuss excerpts from a variety of films, analyzing the essentials that make a great screen story. You will explore these fundamentals in weekly writing exercises and script assignments, applying techniques of visual storytelling and screenplay formatting, as well as the key elements of dramatic film structure, character development and dialogue. You will also learn how to pitch a script idea, a skill that is essential to succeed in the highly collaborative practice of filmmaking.

The structure of this course is online and asynchronous, with modules and exercises posted on Canvas for completion each week.  There is also an optional one-hour Zoom drop-in session each week with bonus materials and a chance to ask questions and discuss the weekly assignments.

Your coursework will include completing weekly writing assignments (worth 15% of your final grade), writing a 4-page silent screenplay (25%), writing a 10-page screenplay with dialogue (35%), creating a written pitch for your dialogue screenplay (15%), and completing an open-book quiz on screenplay formatting (10%).

Please note that while we will discuss and screen a few feature-length films and excerpts of television series in this course, the majority of the coursework and course content will focus on short films. This is because short films are an excellent form in which to learn and apply fundamentals quickly. Short films are also one of the main starting points for building a career in screenwriting.

In this hyper-connected digital age, we consume stories at an unprecedented rate, on screens large and small.  A great film or TV show or Netflix series will make us laugh or cry and stay with us for forever. In this hands-on class, we’ll take a look behind the scenes to uncover where the magic of film begins – with the art and craft of narrative screenwriting. As the saying goes in Hollywood, “it all starts with the script.” We will screen and discuss excerpts from a variety of films, analyzing the essentials that make a great screen story. You’ll explore these fundamentals through class writing exercises and script assignments, applying techniques of visual storytelling and screenplay formatting, as well as the key elements of dramatic film structure, character development and dialogue. You will also learn and practice how to pitch a script idea, a vital skill for surviving and thriving in the collaborative film industry. You will write two original scripts – a 3-4 page silent screenplay and an 8-10 page screenplay with dialogue.

This is a blended course, meaning half your learning will take place face-to-face in the classroom, and the other half online in a text- and video-based, modular format on Canvas.

Introduction to Writing for Graphic Forms

CRWR 208 2023 W Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in creating, developing, and writing the graphic novel, manga, and other forms of illustrated writing. The ability to draw is not required. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

In this course, we will explore writing for comics and graphic novels through a combination of discussions, lectures, guest speakers, online content, low-stakes exercises and creative writing assignments. This course is a blended learning course, which means it is conducted partially through self-directed engagement with online content, and partially through lectures and discussion. You'll find a variety of readings and videos and exercises online each week to prepare for a weekly lecture and hands-on creation and discussion. By the end of the course, you will hopefully have gained a broad understanding of the form as well as the skills to create your own well-crafted comics, from inception to publication.

Introduction to Writing Fiction

CRWR 209 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of the writing of fiction, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of fiction. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

This introductory undergraduate course is held 100% online and is designed for those interested in the art and craft of fiction writing. We’ll focus on the creative impulse and generative process while exploring and practicing the foundational elements of fiction writing, including, character development, scene design, dialogue and subtext, prose style, the fundamentals of story structure, and the importance of emotional and psychological authenticity. We’ll experiment, take risks, and expand our creative practice each week through a variety of online activities, including pre-recorded video lectures, writing exercises, assigned readings, and discussion. Through an examination of craft, writing practice, creative inquiry, and close reading, we will bridge the gap between creative intention and execution on the page and do our best to create something meaningful and beautiful. We’ll be rigorous in our study and analysis of our efforts and invest ourselves in the efforts of our peers. The course is offered online asynchronously with a weekly synchronous Zoom session focused on generative exercises, advanced craft exploration, and discussion of course concepts with the Instructor, Teaching Assistants and fellow students.

Introduction to Writing for the New Media

CRWR 213 2023 S Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in writing for new media, including podcasting, blogging, and writing for websites, games, and online environments. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

CHAN, CRYSTAL

CRWR 213 2023 W Credits: 3

OSWORTH, AUSTEN | MOSS, JENNIFER

What makes media “new?” How have older media come to influence the bleeding edge? This course focuses on memes, pitching publications (and making your own), Twine games, artificial intelligence and, most importantly, how to explore and learn with confidence and conscientiousness when the media landscape is constantly evolving.

This section will be taught by A.E. Osworth .

CRWR 213 2024 S Credits: 3

CLARK, RAYMOND

Introduction to Creative Writing with an Indigenous Focus

CRWR 220 2023 W Credits: 3

Covers three genres from fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, radio drama, radio feature, or stageplay.

BELCOURT, BILLY-RAY

In this course, students will engage with a range of literary works by contemporary Indigenous writers as well as with supplementary critical/theoretical texts. The goal is to introduce students to the aesthetic, political, and social concerns operative in the Indigenous literary landscape. We will acquire the language to ethically and rigorously engage with the material and the larger context of colonialism in which we in North America live and study. To be clear, the aim is not to produce “Indigenous writing” (unless, of course, a student is Indigenous), but rather to write from the social locations in which students exist about topics such as race, history, identity, geography, power, and structural oppression.

Introduction to Writing for Comedic Forms

CRWR 230 2023 W Credits: 3

An examination of and practice in creative writing in comedic forms, including stand-up, sketch, film, new media, and text. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

DEL BUCCHIA, DINA

This course will be taught both synchronously and asynchronously. Video lectures and slides (with relevant questions and writing prompts) will be recorded and posted to Canvas in the Modules. Students will not be penalized for their inability to attend synchronous sessions. The course materials in Canvas will need to be completed by the due dates indicated and before the start of the weekly synchronous session.

Comedy has the ability to bring levity to the difficult things in life. In this course we will study humour writing across various forms, styles and genres, including: joke-writing; stand-up and sketch comedy; comic prose and verse; television; film; stage; and new media. Lectures and discussions will be complemented by writing prompts, group work, readings, and engaging with media relevant to all areas of comedic forms covered. A major learning objective for this course is to develop a greater understanding of comic structures and style, as well as exploring issues of comedy and free speech, and comedy as social commentary. Students will have the opportunity to not only write their own comedic pieces, but to consider the power of jokes and how humour can affect an audience.

Intermediate Writing Poetry

CRWR 301 2023 W Credits: 3

The writing of poetry in various forms using a combination of workshopping and online modules. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

WARRENER, SHERYDA

This course is part workshop, part exploration of writing in established, evolving, and invented poetic forms. You will direct language through the apertures and frames of the sonnet, prose poems, ghazal, haibun, ode, elegy, villanelle, zuihitsu, and more. You’ll explore the variations and innovations formal constraints make possible, and then return to free verse with newly-acquired technical chops and a dynamic, renewed energy. This course blends synchronous and asynchronous content. A weekly compilation of videos and craft essays feature insights from contemporary poets as they take you through advanced modes and techniques. You’ll be required to attend in-person classes, engage with assigned readings, and participate in discussions, presentations, and workshops. For your final assignment, you will revise and assemble poems into a collection that demonstrates your technical skill and formal imagination. We will strive toward artistry, and come to a richer understanding of what poetic form makes possible.

Writing for Podcast

CRWR 302 2023 W Credits: 3

Exploration of and practice in writing for podcast.

SAMMARCO, PIETRO

Intermediate Writing for Children and Young Adults

CRWR 303 2023 W Credits: 3

The writing of work for children and young adults in various forms using a combination of workshopping and online modules. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

In this class, students briefly explore a variety of forms in children’s literature before delving more deeply into the creativity and adventure of middle-grade and young-adult novels. By refining an idea, developing that idea into an outline, and writing several major scenes, students will experience some of the thought processes involved in creating a novel. Along the way, they’ll practice two major components of the writing life: individual creative work and collaborative critique. This is a hybrid class, involving weekly online lectures as well as in-person seminars. Attendance at the seminars is required. Throughout the course, students will explore the ways children’s literature can spark young readers’ imaginations and change the ways they see the world.

Intermediate Writing of Creative Nonfiction

CRWR 305 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in the writing of creative non-fiction, covering four of the more basic forms of this genre: memoir, profile, commentary, and exposition. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

In its pursuit of truth, Creative Nonfiction has the capacity to help us connect with our wisest, most honest, most humane selves. In trying to say what is true, we are forced to become curious and attentive, to question our own assumptions and biases, and to create space to locate our own beliefs and sense of wonder.

Welcome to Intermediate Writing of Creative Nonfiction! This course builds on the concepts covered in Introduction to Creative Nonfiction (CRWR 205) with more emphasis on writing as a practice and process. We’ll talk about how to create a sustainable writing practice and how to think about ourselves as writers. We’ll confront some of the myths around the writing life and we’ll consider how, when approached with sincerity and rigor, one might discover something fundamentally redemptive in writing creative nonfiction. My hope is that you’ll come to think of writing as a practice, as a way of thinking, and as a powerful tool for making meaning of your experiences and the world around you.

Intermediate Writing for the Screen

CRWR 306 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in writing for the screen, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of screenwriting. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

KINCH, MARTIN

CRWR 306 (Intermediate Writing for the Screen) is a blended course combining online teaching and in-class workshop/seminars. Each week consists of online instruction, screenings and assignments, and seminar/workshops led by our Teaching Assistants. Our primary objective is to explore the processes, craft, and techniques of screenwriting and create original work for the screen. Online, students will find a variety of videos addressing specific writing challenges, (What makes a great film idea? …How do you create memorable characters?”) short lectures on aspects of technique, illustrative and inspiring film clips from the history of the movies, and other resources addressing theoretical and practical aspects of screenwriting

The workshop/seminar sessions are focused on the wider discussion of weekly online material, writing exercises, and the creation of original work. Film being a collaborative art, attention will also be given to ways in which we analyze and critique our peers’ work and creatively participate in workshop script development.

Intermediate Writing for the Stage

CRWR 307 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of practice in the writing of the one-act stage play, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of this genre. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

IRANI, ANOSH

This intermediate course focuses on the techniques of crafting stage plays and fiction podcasts.

You will engage in dramatic writing assignments focusing on, but not limited to, character, scene development, dialogue, and theatricality. You will also look specifically at techniques that will help you create a dramatic fiction podcast.

Instruction will be provided in person.  We will combine interactive lectures with in-class writing exercises and readings/viewings.

You will write a one-act play for the stage and a short dramatic fiction podcast.

Intermediate Writing for Graphic Forms

CRWR 308 2023 W Credits: 3

The writing of graphica (comics, manga and graphic novels), using a combination of workshopping and online modules. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

Picking up where 208 leaves off, students will be guided through the production process of creating comics, with the goal of creating a finished self-published graphic work by the end of the term. Through a combination of workshop, discussion, lecture and online content, we look at graphic storytelling, character design, world-building, panel composition, page layout, thumbnails, pencils, inking and digital design with a focus on refining student work and creating polished and professional finished products. The class meets weekly for in-person sessions with a focus on creating and building student work.

Intermediate Writing Fiction

CRWR 309 2023 W Credits: 3

TATER, MALLORY | OSWORTH, AUSTEN

In CRWR 309, students will work to sharpen their already unique writing voices and further develop a sustainable writing practice. This course will help students more consciously understand their creative choices and narrative approaches through engaging in fiction readings, writing exercises, collaborative learning and discussion.

Students in this class will focus on scaffolded assignments to deepen understanding of craft fundamentals such as characters, scenes, settings and voice. A variety of feedback modalities will be covered with an emphasis on giving and receiving feedback gracefully, and choosing what to focus on in revision.

This course will be taught by A.E. Osworth .

Video Game Writing and Narrative

CRWR 310 2023 W Credits: 3

Narrative design and writing for video games.

An exploration of narrative design and writing for video games. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

Intermediate Writing for Lyric Forms

CRWR 311 2023 W Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in writing for lyric forms, including song lyrics, lyrical narratives, and libretti. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

HUSSAIN, TARIQ

In this course, students will examine aspects of lyrical craft such as the use of rhyme, repetition, point of view, structure, balance and other elements. We will explore personal songwriting, writing in a non-autobiographical style, protest songs, the comic lyric and more. Students will engage in readings and listenings (song samples, podcasts, etc.) and will have ample opportunities to flex their creative muscles through weekly writing exercises and longer songwriting assignments. Students should be prepared to submit audio recordings with their assignments which can be created using phones and/or recording programs like Audacity or GarageBand. Further guidance on recording software will be offered in class and proficiency on an instrument is not a prerequisite. This course will take place in real time and will consist of weekly face-to-face lectures which students are required to attend. Note that students are expected to submit new work only for this class. Once completed, students of all levels will have participated in a rigorous and regular writing practice and will have amassed a solid body of creative work—a portfolio!—that they can be proud of with work they can continue to revise and draw inspiration from well after the term ends.

Interactive Storytelling

CRWR 312 2023 W Credits: 3

Origin, theory and practice of interactive story forms. Exploring structural links between interactive theatre, gaming, and extended (virtual, mixed, and augmented) reality.

OSWORTH, AUSTEN

Colloquially called “Infinite Fiction,” this course engages with fiction as a verb rather than a noun or adjective. We will explore controversial or commonly held beliefs using radical collaborative storytelling to examine massive concepts from varying vantage points in worlds where the consequences are imaginary: by using tabletop role-playing games “read” against academic theory. Students will also create one piece of interactive fiction using Twine over the course of the semester.

Intermediate Writing for Television

CRWR 316 2023 W Credits: 3

Elements of episodic and serialized comedic and dramatic television writing with writing practice applied to primary formats and genres.

MCMAHON, MICHELE

This course is designed for students who are interested in exploring the art and craft of screenwriting for television.  Over the course of the term you will learn how to transform your half-hour television idea (comedy or drama) into a series pitch document, then a pilot script outline, and finally the first act of a pilot script.

We are experiencing a new Golden Age of television with hundreds of shows to watch across multiple platforms.  There are more diverse stories being created than ever before and it’s an exciting time to tell your story.  A television show is the culmination of a writer’s unique vision and it all begins with their script.  While we will cover a variety of formats and genres showcased in today’s exciting television landscape we will focus on the fundamentals of television writing: structure, plot, character development, dialogue and narrative arcs for an episode and an entire season.

We will explore comedic and dramatic television in a variety of ways.  We will screen and discuss television shows, read television scripts, and analyse the essentials in what makes a script great.  We will also read current online articles, specific readings from texts, listen to podcasts and experiment with in-class writing assignments.  As television is a collaborative business, students will engage with the instructor, teaching assistants and other students as much as possible.

Please note that while we will discuss and screen the first act of a few hour-long dramatic television series, the majority of the coursework and course content will focus on half-hour television. Half-hours are an excellent form in which to learn and apply fundamentals quickly and are a growing trend on cable and streaming platforms.

Writing Genre Fiction

CRWR 319 2023 W Credits: 3

Exploration and practice in writing major genres of genre fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, romance, crime, horror, and historical fiction.

HOPKINSON, NALO

The vast majority of fiction written and read in North America falls into the broad categories of popular or commercial fiction. This course will focus on introducing students to four major genres: fantasy; science fiction; historical fiction; and young adult (that last being more of an age category than a genre). To write successfully in any of these genres requires an understanding of the development and conventions of each of them, as well as an understanding of the implicit agreement between writer and reader that exists in genre fiction writing. Genre conventions serve, like the many forms of poetry, as both limitations to and spurs to creativity, as well as wayposts to the reader that signify (usually) what to expect. Students will read texts and related materials in each genre, and practice writing in at least two of the four.

Intermediate Comedic Forms

CRWR 330 2023 W Credits: 3

Contemporary and historical comedic writing in a variety of forms. Emphasis on critical analysis and creative writing of comedic works, and changes in the comedic landscape. Recommended: CRWR 200

In this course, we take the craft of comedy seriously through experimentation, discussion and the analysis of comedic media. We play with comedic writing to develop comedic voice, and explore storytelling through a variety of forms, from comedic fiction to non-fiction, to sketches and stand up. Students will work to use comedic tools, like escalation, repetition and tone, and play with comedic elements, like irony, incongruity and surprise, to create new works that spark laughter while they tell a story. As well, through comedic collaboration, and workshops that focus on constructive and informed feedback and discussion, students will be able to work on a variety of projects that will challenge their concept of comedic writing as an art form.

This course will be taught by Dina Del Bucchia .

Intermediate Poetry Workshop - INTRMD POETRY

CRWR 351P 2023 W Credits: 3

An intermediate level workshop class in writing poetry. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

In this class, I invite you to explore content that is meaningful to you in the form of a poetic cycle, series, suite, or sequence. Designed to foreground practices of attention and inquiry-based research, this class provides the time, encouragement, compassion, rigour, and flexibility necessary in order for you to feel both well supported and challenged in the process of poem-making. You’ll be required to attend class, engage with assigned readings, and participate in discussions, presentations, field trips, and workshops. Pre-writing and generative writing activities, as well as a self-directed research assignment, will lead to the composition of a unified collection of poems. My hope is that you will leave this class with a renewed sense of your own creative process, and a community of writerly support.

Intermediate Children and Young Adult Writing Workshop - INTRMD CHLDRN

CRWR 353Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An intermediate level workshop class in writing for children and young adults. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

POHL-WEARY, EMILY

This section of 353 focuses on middle-grade (MG) and young adult (YA) fiction, age categories that tend to be adventurous, playful, unpretentious, and reflect the critical issues of our time. We’ll explore the weird and wonderful world of writing for young readers, the changing industry, how the age of your readers impacts your writing style, and developing our writerly voices. We will put into practice the tools learned in CRWR 203 and 303, but focus more on workshopping and incorporating feedback. Major assignments include weekly feedback on other people’s writing, two pieces of new fiction (10 pages each, double-spaced, 12pt font), a short piece of experimental writing (5 pages, double-spaced, 12pt font), and a brief presentation on a contemporary MG or YA novel.

Intermediate Screenplay Workshop - INTRMD SCRNPLAY

CRWR 356Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An intermediate level workshop class in writing for the screen. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

Screenwriting is a craft. Creative Writing 356A (Intermediate Screenwriting) is a workshop on mastering the techniques of the craft and writing original short film scripts that you can produce. Our emphasis will be on the creation of character-driven stories that can be imaginatively told with an economy of production demands. We will also focus on visual storytelling, flexible structure, and effective dialogue. Over the course of the term, you will develop a short film screenplay, proceeding through the logline/pitch, to the outline, the first and revised drafts. At each stage, you will read and provide feedback to your fellow students’ work and participate in an in-class and online workshop discussion.

There will also be writing exercises accompanied by short talks exploring various aspects of craft.

Intermediate Fiction Workshop - INTRMD FICTION

CRWR 359P 2023 W Credits: 3

An intermediate level workshop class in writing of fiction. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

TATER, MALLORY

The goal of CRWR 359 is to put into practice, through considered creative choices, the craft-based skills students learned in CRWR 209 and CRWR 309 (prerequisites). The discussions, exercises, collaborative learning activities and individual writing assignments in this course will help you bring greater intention to your writing process and to artfully engage in the act of revision.

CRWR 359Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Writing Poetry I - WRITING POETRY I

CRWR 401P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of poetry.

NICHOLSON, CECILY

Intimations of Place

This course will provide a hands-on approach to the study and practice of poetry as we explore ways to engage the individual poem as well as the collection of poetry in book form. Intervals of the course will be devoted to experiencing and discussing selected works related to intimations of place. Through works by Jordan Abel, Gwendolyn Brooks, Renee Gladman, Lee Maracle, Fred Wah, Rita Wong and more, we will consider site specificity, scenic narrative and setting, interrelations in ecology, geological time, and the construct of landscape, as well as the poem itself as a place that can enact geography, nation, refuge, and belonging. Students will develop a shared vocabulary as we deepen our understanding of poetic technique and expression and expand our awareness of imagery, figurative language, perspective, and positionality in poetry. Through regular prompt and exercise our reading practice will align with written assignments as we learn to experiment within a range of formal strategies.

CRWR 401Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Words Sound

This course will provide a hands-on approach to the study and practice of poetry as we explore ways to engage the individual poem as well as the collection of poetry in book form. In a discussion on the “poetics of renewal” Lillian Allen notes that “the poetic line glides, skips, is stubborn sometimes, it shouts, dances, whispers, and asserts itself as beings do in the world. We know that words are not just words as our voice is not just lines on paper.” Taking up the active and variable presence of words, we will consider elements of voice, cadence, metre, and a range of sound devices in poetry. Our readings will include works from Lillian Allen, Christie Lee Charles, e.e. cummings, Cathy Park Hong, Kaie Kellough and more. Students will develop a shared vocabulary as we deepen our understanding of poetic technique and expression and expand our awareness of diction, structure, and tone as it relates to poetry. Through regular prompt and exercise our reading practice will align with written assignments as we learn to experiment within a range of formal strategies.

Writing for New Media I - WRT NEW MEDIA 1

CRWR 402Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing for new media. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

MOSS, JENNIFER

Take your podcasting dreams to the next level with this hands-on and applied course focussing on the finer points of audio storytelling. Encompassing aspects of scripted, and non-scripted podcasting, narrative, fiction, documentary, and more, this course will help you lean into the audio medium to deliver work that is compelling and engaging. At the same time, you’ll get practical ideas for how to identify and grow your audience and promote your show.

Writing for Children and Young Adults I - CHILD & YOUNG I

CRWR 403P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for Children and Young Adults.

During this course, we’ll explore picture books, middle-grade novels, young-adult novels, and more. Students will participate in lively discussions about the craft and techniques of writing for children and young adults, with a particular emphasis on character and voice — elements necessary to catch the attention of the world’s most fickle reading audience. Workshop participants will give thoughtful feedback on work by fellow students, and will submit two original stories or novel excerpts as well as a final revision. Throughout, we’ll examine ways we can imbue our writing with fun, humour, and hope.

Writing Creative Nonfiction I - CREATIV NONFIC I

CRWR 405P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing creative nonfiction, focused on some of the more popular forms of creative nonfiction: autobiography, rhetoric (commentary), literary journalism, and the personal essay.

This semester we’ll immerse ourselves in the many techniques of Creative Nonfiction: everything from research and reporting to structure and style. In the first half of the term we will develop our craft through reading, discussion and frequent writing exercises. Then we’ll spend the second half of term sharing and polishing work in writer-centered workshops.

You can expect to finish the semester with a deeper understanding of the craft of creative nonfiction, a body of new work, a sharper skill set for revising your own writing, and a polished piece of short-form creative nonfiction.

CRWR 405Q 2023 W Credits: 3

MARZANO-LESNEVICH, ALEX

To Essay is to Try

This course provides an overview of one of the most elastic and exciting literary forms, the essay, often colloquially thought of as the working-through or trying out of an idea. We will read a wide range of both traditional and experimental essays, including those that are narrative, lyric, personal, fractured, and persuasive, and that use an array of subjects as their starting point. Together we will arrive at understandings of voice, tone, characterization, structure, and pacing. Students will have weekly ungraded writing assignments that will build to the workshopping of one short essay and one long.

Writing for the Screen I - WRT FOR SCREEN I

CRWR 406P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for the screen.

This advanced screenwriting workshop will support students as they transform their initial story idea into a pitch, then an outline and finally 25-30 pages of a feature-length screenplay (with the option of submitting two short films with the equivalent number of pages).

While this course will focus on workshopping your writing assignments, your creative process will be supported by in-class presentations on the craft of screenwriting including: structure, plot, character development, dialogue, scenes and visual language.  There will also be substantial resources online including: current industry articles, specific readings from texts, podcasts, video clips, as well as sample screenplays from many genres.

Grades will primarily be based on your written work (70%) comprised of your revised screenplay which will be submitted in a final student portfolio at the end of the term.  You will be expected to have made substantial rewrites to the creative submitted in earlier workshops. You will also be graded on your attendance and participation (30%). Your participation includes your verbal contribution in-class and written feedback after each workshop.  As you write your screenplay your thoughtful reflections on the scripts of other students will build your own screenwriting and story editing skills.  The goal of this workshop is to creatively engage with others and to ask questions with a compassionate inquiry that supports each writer’s vision.

CRWR 406Q 2023 W Credits: 3

MEDVED, MAUREEN | MCGOWAN, SHARON

Students in this advanced screenwriting workshop will write one or two short screenplays (depending on length and number of rewrites) or an outline for a feature-length film and a draft of the first act of that film. The goal is to help each student reach their full potential in their work.

We loosely follow an industry model, so all projects, whatever length, begin with a short pitch.  The class then workshops an outline for all scripts before moving to a draft, or more detailed outline in the case of a feature length screenplay.

In class we will review and discuss aspects of story, plot, dialogue, character, theme and many more elements of the screenplay form.  We will also discuss the process of connecting with the film industry and getting a screenplay produced.

We will workshop two pieces a week, sometimes three, if they are short.  There is a minimum page count of 30 pages for workshopping in the course that must be submitted by set deadlines. Rewrites will be counted as 1 page for 2 pages of re-written material but rewrites must be substantial to be counted (at least 50% of the material on the page must be reworked).

Students will be required to review and submit written notes by set deadlines on all pieces being workshopped as well as participate in discussions of the work during class time.

Grading will be based 70% on the screenwriting work students submit and 30% on their written notes and participation in discussions of other students’ work.

Writing of Drama for the Stage I - STAGE DRAMA I

CRWR 407P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing of drama for the stage. Studio work is required, and some plays may be given a live stage production in Brave New Play Rites (adjudication process involved).

KONCAN, FRANCES

CRWR 407Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Writing for Graphic Forms I - GRAPHIC FORMS 1

CRWR 408P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of graphic novel, manga, and other forms of illustrated writing. The ability to draw is not required.

LEAVITT, SARAH

What are comics and how do they work? How do you make a good comic? In this class we’ll examine the building blocks of comics (text and image combinations, panel and page composition, and more) and practice the skills needed to create clear, compelling, memorable comics. By the end of the term, you’ll be a more insightful comics reader and a more skillful comics maker. No drawing skills or experience required, but we will be drawing in this class, for both exercises and assignments. Please note: this course emphasizes readings, assignments and in-class exercises; there are only a few workshops.

Students at all levels of skill and experience have produced excellent comics in this class, and many have continued to make comics after completing the course. Others find that the skills learned in comics class help them with their work in other forms. Students who plan to write comics scripts for others to draw will gain insights into the writing process from the experience of drawing.

Writing Fiction I - WRITING FIC I

CRWR 409P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of fiction.

MAILLARD, KEITH | OSWORTH, AUSTEN | IRANI, ANOSH

The purpose of this workshop is to help students write excellent fiction. Many workshops move toward final draft too quickly and encourage feedback that is largely editorial. We, however, will explore the writing of fiction anywhere on a spectrum from the earliest exploratory stages to polished final drafts. Editorial feedback is not appropriate for story ideas in their earliest stages when they are often incoherent, vague, and fragile; students will be encouraged to resubmit these early drafts until they begin to cohere. As stories move closer to completion, higher degrees of editorial feedback become appropriate. Students should expect to submit written material at least three times during the term, and they will be required to bring one of their stories to polished final draft or close to it. The social environment in this workshop should be warm, friendly, supportive, and cooperative. Students who like courses with fixed and unvarying syllabi so that they will know exactly what they will be doing in any class throughout the term should seriously consider not taking this course. The syllabus is variable and will change in response to student needs and interests.

This class, colloquially called “The Airing of Grievances,” explores writing from a place of righteous anger and using fiction to explore, expand and resist everything from the minor inconvenience to the systemic injustice. Students will depart from standard ways of discussing craft to create their own craft rubric for the semester. Workshop components will all use a Radical Praise method.

This is a workshop in the writing of short fiction designed to help students develop as both writers and critical thinkers. Each week we will discuss students’ written work as well as the craft and techniques of literary fiction. In addition, assigned readings will be posted on Canvas.  This is required reading for class discussion. During the term, students will be expected to turn in a short story for workshop, plus a rewrite of the story.  Over the duration of the course, we will examine a wide range of story elements, including—but not limited to— character, dialogue, structure, plotting and so on.  The course will also guide students through the process of rewriting their work.  Overall, this workshop aims to give students the opportunity to express themselves creatively, hone their voice, and gain a deeper understanding of their own work.

CRWR 409Q 2023 W Credits: 3

MAILLARD, KEITH

Video Game Writing - VDEO GM WRT

CRWR 410Q 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class on writing for video games. Restricted to Creative Writing majors.

A workshop class in writing for video games and interactive fiction. Students will create short games using Twine or similar software; the ability to program is not required. In addition to the workshop, this course includes a reading list of indie games and a small in-class presentation.

Writing for Lyric Forms I - LYRIC FORMS 1

CRWR 411P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class exploring the words that accompany music in varied forms including pop, art, musical theatre, and opera.

In this class students will explore the craft of songwriting through a variety of methods from participating in creative exercises to personal practice. Students will be challenged to look deeply at the work of professionals through readings, close listenings, podcasts, and to go deep within their own work as well. Students will create, share and discuss their songs with the goal of helping each other create more effective writing through the workshopping process and will be encouraged to take risks while still holding true to their artistic vision. Audio recordings are expected for submissions along with lyric sheets however technical knowledge of recording software or proficiency on an instrument—though an asset—are not required. This course will take place in real time, face-to-face in a weekly two-hour session which students are required to attend. Participation and discussion as well as maintaining an environment of support and mutual respect is key to the success of this course as students will be participating in a genre that is more performative in nature than some others, and perhaps extra challenging if students haven’t tried it before. This should not be seen as a deterrent for anyone who’s new to songwriting, however, but rather as an invitation to try something fun, exciting, and challenging.

Workshop in Literary Translation I - WK LIT TRANS I

CRWR 415Q 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in literary translation. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

TATE, BRONWEN

In this workshop course, we’ll explore the many artistic choices involved in literary translation—involving sound, syntax, temporality, idiom, metaphor, literary context, social register, and so on—and consider what’s at stake in each. Guided by student interest and experience, we’ll explore translation challenges presented by particular linguistic and cultural contexts and specific genres. We’ll also discuss ethical questions raised by English as a language of empire that has become a global language, examine literary forms and movements that have traveled through translation, investigate the capacity and limits of machine translation, and consider our relationships to languages we use, languages we’ve learned, and heritage languages we may have lost. Students will translate and co-translate, experiment and play, research translation networks, and identify their principles and values as translators.

Prerequisite: Proficiency in a language other than English. (Proficiency here is understood as the ability to engage with the specific texture and structure of a language, not “mastery” or “fluency.”)

Note for MFA Students: While this course is taught at the undergraduate level, graduate students are reminded that they may enroll in six credits of undergraduate coursework with permission from the instructor and the graduate chair.

Writing for Television I - WRT TELEVISION 1

CRWR 416P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for television.

SVENDSEN, LINDA

The purpose of the workshop is to create your own original half-hour TV series concept and pilot script, via three modules with peer and instructor reviewed assignments: TV series concept, pilot beat sheet (brief outline), and draft pilot script.  Concurrently, your peer review reflections and contributions in the writers’ room group/s build your TV writing and editing prowess. Essentially, while you create and write a brand-new TV series, you also act and serve as story editor on other series. While the class is not prescriptive, per se, the mission of a writer’s room is to creatively and speculatively engage, to bring your years of TV-series chops to the table, to brainstorm, to ask “what if?” while always supporting the creator/writer’s vision.

The course is front-loaded with dramaturgical grids and rubrics for each assignment, readings on structure and the industry, as well as sample pilot scripts as available. The course concludes with excerpted pilot table reads with a peer cast.

Participation:  critically thoughtful and constructive written feedback prior to the workshop discussion, collaboration with an in-class TV partner or group, as well as attendance contribute considerably to the grading component.

CRWR 416Q 2023 W Credits: 3

The course is front-loaded with dramaturgical grids and rubrics for each assignment, readings on structure and the industry, as well as sample pilot scripts as available. The course concludes with excerpted pilot table reads by a peer cast.

Participation:  thoughtful written feedback prior to the workshop discussion, collaboration with an in-class TV partner or group, as well as attendance contribute considerably to the grading component.

Writing Speculative Fiction - WRT SPEC FIC

CRWR 419Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Workshop-based class focused on writing speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, and horror; emphasis on reading various genres and peer feedback. Restricted to Creative Writing majors.

Indigenous Writing - INDIGENOUS WRTNG

CRWR 420P 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced study of contemporary Indigenous writing in North America across genres focusing on the production of critical and creative writing about coloniality, race, history, and identity.

This course is an investigation of trends and debates in contemporary Indigenous writing in Canada and the United States. We will study the ways Indigenous writers approach subjects such as history, colonialism, trauma, politics, identity, ethics, representation, and power; students will explore these subjects and reflect on how they relate to their own writing practices through a range of critical and creative modes and across genres.

Experimental Forms - EXPRMTL FORMS

CRWR 423S 2024 S Credits: 3

Interdisciplinary perspectives on non-traditional forms of writing. Emphasis on combinations of poetry with prose, extra-literary structures, and visuals. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Climate Writing - CLIMATE WRITING

CRWR 425Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Workshop-based class focused on writing related to climate change and environmental issues; emphasis on reading various genres and peer feedback. Restricted to Creative Writing majors. A maximum of 6 credits is permitted between CRWR 425 and 525.

OHLIN, ALIX

Stories about climate surround us, personal and global, near and far. From wildfires and mudslides in BC to climate-based migration and displacement, the reality of anthropogenic climate change is everywhere. This is a workshop class focused on creative writing about this encompassing reality. As we engage in our creative practice, we will ask: what stories do people tell about climate, and what are the stakes of those stories? What does it mean to write about, from, and of the places we live? How can artistic expression, narrative, and language itself render the complex realities of climate change—and explore the possibilities for justice, resilience, and alternative futures?

Throughout the course, we will develop our understanding of climate through reading, discussion and writing exercises. We’ll also spend a significant amount of class time sharing, discussing, and revising our own creative work. Students will be expected to read, respond, and engage in examples of writing in a range of genres (poetry, nonfiction, fiction), culminating in a final portfolio and reflective essay, and to provide thoughtful, constructive responses to the work of their peers in the class.

Preparation for a Career in Writing

CRWR 430 2023 W Credits: 3

Credit will be granted for only one of CRWR 430 or CRWR 530.

Writing is a career as well as a calling, and this course bridges the gap between the two. We’ll delve into traditional and self-publishing models, pitches and queries, collaboration with editors and agents, contracts, grants, marketing, interview techniques, and more. Throughout, we’ll hear from guests who are working in the industry, we’ll prepare our own professional materials, and we’ll build a supportive community of collaborators and mentors. This course offers practical know-how for entrepreneurship, and you’ll leave understanding more about how to sustain your own unique creative practice… while still paying your rent.

Advanced Comedic Forms

CRWR 431 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class exploring comedic writing in varied forms including film and television, prose and poetry, non-fiction, and new media. This course is restricted to students in the CRWR BFA program.

In this course students will learn the fundamentals of comedic forms as well as comedic tools that can be used by writers to make their work, regardless of genre, engaging, clear and hilarious. Through lectures on craft, discussions and close readings and viewings of comedic works students will be able to experiment and explore what comedy is, and the serious mechanics of humour writing at work. By the end of this course students will be able to analyze, using the language of comedy, why a work is funny, and identify the tools successfully used to create compelling comedy. The focus will be on generating comedic work, thinking deeply about comedy as an art form and practice, and creative inquiry through analysis and discussion. There will be an emphasis on asking questions about our own work, why comedy is the right choice for a piece of writing, and how to delve deep into a project designed to produce laughter.

Interdisciplinary Projects - INTRDIS PROJECTS

CRWR 440O 2023 S Credits: 3

Group projects and workshops with students majoring in other creative arts.

CRWR 440R 2024 S Credits: 3

Writing Poetry II - WRITING POETRY 2

CRWR 451P 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing poetry. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

This course focuses on modes of poetic inquiry: ways of sustaining poetic work across projects and a life in the context of a broader socio-political world. We will study how poets (1) carry out process-based, situational, and durational works and (2) account for their poetic labor through both poems and other forms of writing. By the term’s end, students will have produced a substantial amount of poems toward a larger project.

Writing for Children and Young Adults II - CHILD & YOUNG 2

CRWR 453P 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing for children and young adults. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Writing the Young Adult (YA) Novel is a new course that builds on skills learned in 403 (Writing for Children and YA) and 409 (Fiction). We will develop the tools essential for completing longer manuscripts while foregrounding the teen audience’s reading levels and life experiences. The class will involve workshops, reading discussions, and hands-on exercises aimed at outlining, plotting, pacing, character development, setting realization, deeper themes, and dramatic tension. Major assignments include preparing regular feedback on other people’s writing, discussing readings and craft topics, a midterm portfolio and a final portfolio.

CRWR 453Q 2023 W Credits: 3

SCOTT, JORDAN

A workshop class that discusses theoretical underpinnings of picture books and early chapter books and incorporates generative exercises based on elements of craft. Emphasis is placed on editing, critical reading, manuscript development, and tons of fun. Students will workshop two picture book and / or early chapter book manuscripts and are expected to provide rigorous and supportive feedback.

Writing of Drama for the Stage II - DRAM FOR STAGE 2

CRWR 457P 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing drama for the stage. Studio work is required. Assumes a greater level of experience in writing drama for the stage than CRWR 407.

CRWR 457Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Writing for Graphic Forms II - WRIT GRAPHIC 2

CRWR 458Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing for graphic forms. The ability to draw is not required. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Students in CRWR 458 will use their strong foundational skills in comics as a launch pad for a glorious flight into experimentation. Exercises and assignments will offer opportunities to explore a wide range of approaches to comics-making, including poetic, abstract and wordless comics. Students will also dive deep into their creative process, discovering and developing their own taste and style, as well as a way of working that’s productive and sustainable. This course will require consistent independent work in between classes, with weekly homework including readings and exercises. Please note: the emphasis is on readings, assignments and in-class exercises; there are only a few workshops.

Writing Fiction II - WRIT FICTION 2

CRWR 459Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing fiction. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

ARMSTRONG, THEODORA

This advanced 3-credit fiction class will meet in person once a week to explore the novel/novella form. Expanding on the fundamental story-telling skills developed in 409, this class will give students the opportunity to work for an entire term on their own large-scale fiction project. Students will learn how to create solid groundwork for a book-length work by developing their skills in outlining, research, and worldbuilding. Through craft discussions and exercises, we will examine key elements of the novel, such as writing a captivating first chapter, establishing and escalating conflict, and layering image patterns and motifs, as well as deepening skills in crafting a narrative voice and creating compelling characters. Students will share several chapters from their book-in-progress with the opportunity to workshop in full class or small group sessions, as well as one-on-one with the instructor. Students taking this course should be motivated, self-directed writers with some vision of their project in mind before they begin the term. Bring your big story ideas and come to this class ready to explore, create, and collaborate with generosity.

Advanced Writing of Poetry I - ADV POETRY I

CRWR 501O 2023 S Credits: 3

MUSGRAVE, SUSAN | TATER, MALLORY

CRWR 501P 2023 W Credits: 3

TATE, BRONWEN | MUSGRAVE, SUSAN | WARRENER, SHERYDA

Don’t Write Alone: Crafting Poetry in Conversation

This course offers a deep exploration of what it means to approach writing as always after, in conversation, in relation. We’ll begin by reflecting on the many sources of influence and inspiration—chosen and imposed, joyful and fraught—that we bring to the shared space of the class. Each student will then choose a poet and a poetic element for a sustained apprenticeship experience. Over the weeks of the term, students will invite others into their process by designing an introduction, writing prompt, and questions for conversation emerging out of their apprenticeship. We will write a lot, read new work out loud, discuss process and practice, and occasionally pause for group critique. Throughout the course, we’ll explore the possibilities of new technologies (like the wiki) and old technologies (like the commonplace book) for organizing information, distilling insight, and sparking inspiration as we read and write together.

My aim is to help those who have grown up in fear and/or love of poetry attain a new perspective: "What they say "there are no words for" — that's what poetry is for.” Through a combination of workshopping, online craft lectures, writing exercises, and essays for discussion we will examine techniques and approaches to some central elements of the poet’s craft—the music of the line; rhyme and repetition; abstractions (for and against); voice or presence; imagery, metaphor and simile, the stanza, the title, revision, and, of course, getting published.

“Poetry is all that is worth remembering in life.” - William Hazlitt

In this course, you will experiment with assembling longer poems from a series or sequence of smaller parts. Together, we’ll ask: How do individual poems speak to one another across a collection? Where might longer poems come from, and what capacities and resources make them possible? This inquiry will begin as an exploration of your own collections (facts, objects, memories), accompanied by close readings of contemporary poets working in sequential modes. We will re-imagine the workshop as an atelier, where writing emerges from rigorous experimentation and through the process of artistic inquiry. You’ll be required to attend class, engage with assigned readings, and participate in discussions, self-directed field trips, presentations, and workshops. The pre-writing and generative writing activities, as well as your individual creative research, will lead naturally to a cycle, series, suite, or sequence of poems unified by subject, mode, and form.

CRWR 501Q 2023 W Credits: 3

NICHOLSON, CECILY | MUSGRAVE, SUSAN

This course centres on revision as an integral aspect of the writing process. Students engaged in a poetry practice are invited to advance current work in the company of other poets, coalescing existing poems and opening the work to further contemplation. What constitutes a body of work? What elements or methods generate cohesion in your poems? What do you look for when editing poetry? And, how do you know a work-in-progress is complete? Students can expect to collaborate and dialogue as we explore multiple writing and revision techniques, drawing on new possibilities and forming fresh iterations of previous work. Alongside our written practice we will read and compare successive poetry projects from writers such as Larissa Lai, Tanya Lukin Linklater, Chris Nealon, and M. NourbeSe Philip. Following a process of revision, research, and rewriting, our final project will be a chapbook-length collection formed from a suite, series, or lengthening of previously written poems.

POETIC FORMS for the innocent, the eager, and the reluctant.

There is so much more to form than the traditional rhyming couplet, which seems to be heavily featured by budding poets who haven’t read contemporary poetry. In this course, we will look at diverse poetic forms from around the world, from the Abecedarian and ae freislighe (Irish form) to the Zejel, a form invented by a ninth century Hispano-Muslim poet, as well as the more established poetic forms (like sestinas and ghazals) and newer invented forms such as the Duplex, Golden Shovels and Blitz and Fibs.

A confession: poetic forms have long intimidated me. But learning about them, as I have allowed myself to do over the years, has, I admit, opened my   mind to the infinite possibilities. By the end of this course I hope you will feel more confident of your craft, more flexible and alert to formal choices and (among other things) to the powers of repetition and variation, to the frictions and complicities of sentence and line.

CRWR 501S 2024 S Credits: 3

MUSGRAVE, SUSAN

Advanced Writing for New Media I - ADVWR NEWMEDIA I

CRWR 502S 2024 S Credits: 3

Advanced Writing for Children I - ADV WRIT CHILD I

CRWR 503P 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced writing for Children and Young Adults, with an emphasis on picture books and early chapter books. The course focuses on genre-specific and critical readings as well as weekly writing exercises. Students are expected to complete two picture book manuscripts and one early chapter book. Peer feedback and revision are core principles of this course. Emphasis on narrative, poetry, sound, visual language, and the thrill of being a kid again.  

Advanced Writing for Children and Young Adults, with an emphasis on picture books and early chapter books. The course focuses on genre-specific and critical readings as well as weekly writing exercises. Students are expected to complete two picture book manuscripts and one early chapter book. Peer feedback and revision are core principles of this course. Emphasis on narrative, poetry, sound, visual language, and the thrill of being a kid again.  

CRWR 503Q 2023 W Credits: 3

KYI, TANYA | SCOTT, JORDAN

Prepare to embrace curiosity and wonder. This course is an interactive journey through the world of children’s literature, from picture books to young adult novels. We’ll explore narrative devices, character development, and wordplay through weekly activities and in-depth assignments. Workshop participants will give thoughtful feedback on writing by fellow students, and will submit a work or excerpt for young children as well as one for tweens or teens, along with a final revision. Students will leave the class with a broad understanding of the purpose and possibilities of contemporary writing for children.

An advanced workshop class in writing for children. This course relies on multiple manuscript submissions with a focus on editing and revision. As our schedule will focus on group critique, this course will be most useful for students who already have a general understanding of the genre conventions and craft vocabulary of picture books and early chapter books. Students are permitted to bring in material they have already started.

CRWR 503S 2024 S Credits: 3

Advanced Writing of Creative Non-Fiction I - ADV CRTV N-FIC I

CRWR 505O 2023 S Credits: 3

TAYLOR, TIMOTHY

CRWR 505P 2023 W Credits: 3

MARZANO-LESNEVICH, ALEX | CATRON, MANDY

The Fractured, the Lyric, the Imaginary

This course examines the relationship between form and content in contemporary creative nonfiction. What possibilities might transcending genre conventions via formal experimentation, rupture, or imagined scenes offer for creating work that is, counterintuitively, more deeply true or nonfictional? We’ll consider a wide range of essays and excerpts from longer work and together derive principles of productive rupture. Students will have weekly ungraded writing assignments that will build to the workshopping of one short work and one long. These may be stand-alone pieces or excerpts from an ongoing larger project.

In this course, we will focus on Creative Nonfiction as a practice for looking more deeply at ourselves and more widely at the world around us. In our pursuit of the truth, we get to ask big questions. And, in attempting to answer them, we are forced to become more curious and attentive, to examine our own assumptions and biases, and to create space to imagine new ways of being in the world.

This semester, we'll spend the first half of the term on a series of CNF writing experiments--in memory, research, immersion, and reflection--imagining each as a mode of inquiry into self and the world. In the second half of the term, we'll turn our experiments into essays, sharing our work in structured peer workshops.

This course will be offered on Canvas in a fully asynchronous format. It welcomes those who are new to creative nonfiction as well as experienced CNF writers.

CRWR 505Q 2023 W Credits: 3

CATRON, MANDY | MARZANO-LESNEVICH, ALEX

Memoir Beyond the ‘Me’

This course considers the contemporary memoir and personal essay as sites of storytelling. How is the story of a person always also the story of a place, a time, and sociopolitical forces beyond the individual? We will read a wide variety of published work, with an eye to examining how writers evoked effects simultaneously intimate and large. Students should expect to turn in ungraded assignments weekly and to write one shorter work and one long. These may be stand-alone pieces or excerpts from an ongoing larger project.

Advanced Writing of Drama for Screen I - ADV DRAM SCRN I

CRWR 506O 2023 S Credits: 3

GRAEFE, SARA

CRWR 506P 2023 W Credits: 3

HOPKINS, ALLAN

Instructor: Zac Hug

Every movie you have ever loved started as a feeling inside someone’s heart, and the expression of that feeling involves a good deal of emotional work. Movies also involve a good deal of what’s called “story math.” In this online graduate workshop, we blend the former with the latter. With a focus on beginning, middle, and end, we’ll take a look at finding an idea that can sustain a feature length story, and break down the mechanics of three act, five act, and nine act structure ( psst , they’re all similar). We’ll talk about how early humans used story to create fire, we’ll watch a few movies, and we’ll write an entire film treatment. We’ll then move on to the key scenes of a feature-length film project (90-120 minutes) and prepare each other to finish the script. More importantly, we’ll ask some questions about your voice as a writer and use it to how to create a visual story on the page. We’ll figure out how to do all of that without relying on flashbacks. Original stories, please. (No adaptations, as that goes beyond the scope of the course.)

CRWR 506Q 2023 W Credits: 3

MEDVED, MAUREEN | GRAEFE, SARA

In this advanced, online screenwriting workshop, we focus specifically on writing for film. We will explore techniques for creating, developing and writing a long-form screenplay (a.k.a. feature film, 90-120 minutes), from initial pitch to treatment to early pages of script. Original stories only please; no adaptations, as this goes beyond the scope of the course. We will also screen movies and examine screenwriting structure, formatting, craft and business skills.

Filmmaking is a collaborative art involving other creatives, where the script serves as the blueprint for the finished film. In this course, you will be exploring and uncovering your own unique voice and sensibility as a screenwriter while also learning about North American film industry rules and conventions. You will complete this course with a sense of where your work fits in the marketplace, and with a set of professional skills to help you survive and thrive as a writer in this collaborative industry.

CRWR 506S 2024 S Credits: 3

Advanced Writing of Drama for the Stage I - ADV DRMA STG I

CRWR 507P 2023 W Credits: 3

CRWR 507Q 2023 W Credits: 3

KONCAN, FRANCES | ROY, ANUSREE

Advanced Writing for Graphic Forms I - ADV GRAPHC FRM I

CRWR 508P 2023 W Credits: 3

Note : This is an Opt Res course, but it is open to on-campus students as well, as it is the only offering of 508. All Opt Res courses run online asynchronously over a 27-hour period.

Advanced Writing of Fiction I - ADV WRT FICTN I

CRWR 509N 2023 S Credits: 3

LYON, ANNABEL

CRWR 509O 2023 S Credits: 3

CRWR 509P 2023 W Credits: 3

MAILLARD, KEITH | RAMADAN, AHMAD | MEDVED, MAUREEN | OHLIN, ALIX

For each class I will send students a Zoom link.

The purpose of this workshop is to help students write excellent fiction. Many workshops move toward final draft too quickly and encourage feedback that is largely editorial. We, however, will explore the writing of fiction anywhere on a spectrum from the earliest exploratory stages to polished final drafts. Editorial feedback is not appropriate for story ideas in their earliest stages when they are often incoherent, vague, and fragile; students will be encouraged to resubmit these early drafts until they begin to cohere. As stories move closer to completion, higher degrees of editorial feedback become appropriate. Students should expect to submit written material at least three times during the term, and they will be required to bring one of their stories to polished final draft or close to it. The social environment in this workshop should be warm, friendly, supportive, and cooperative. Students who like courses with fixed and unvarying syllabi so that they will know exactly what they will be doing in any class throughout the term should seriously consider not taking this course. The syllabus is variable and will change in response to students needs and interests.

Times Before / Times to Come

This course will examine fiction set in times other than our own. For the first half of the semester, we’ll focus on historical fiction; for the second half of the semester, we’ll focus on writing the future. This will not be a traditional workshop. Instead, we’ll focus on close reading, craft analysis, generative prompts, and in-class assignments. By the end of term, you will have written first drafts of two short stories, one in each of these two modes (past and future), and you’ll also provide a substantive revision of one of these two drafts.

Some of the craft topics we’ll address include approaches to incorporating research, ethical considerations, voice, and how fictions from both times before and times to come essentially speak to our present.

Readings will include short stories by Andrea Barrett, P. Djèlí Clark, Ted Chiang, and jaye simpson.

Dream, make, destroy, discuss, and learn the magic of fiction writing.

This is a workshop for graduate writers of any combination of short and long fiction - short stories, micro or flash fiction, poetry/fiction/other hybrid, or chapters from a novel or novella.

The course will be mainly asynchronous with a weekly 27-hour workshop on Canvas. The rest of the week, you will produce your own fiction, read the scheduled writing of your cohort, and actively work through the weekly craft threads. We will explore fiction techniques as well as approaches to narrative and the process of writing (including revision) and examine subjects such as appropriation and literary citizenship. Excellent works of fiction and craft essays will be our texts, and we will discuss these in the context of our work in class. You will be asked to write your own tiny craft essay during this course and share it with your cohort. Students may be invited to attend Zoom sessions both in a group and one-on-one.

You are welcome to explore any form of fiction with the exception of formula or genre writing – romance, science fiction, crime, mystery – unless you spin the genre and make it new. The goal is to understand how to identify the strengths and challenges of your own work, so that you can return to your writing again and again with skill and confidence.

Repeat customers are welcome.

In this class, we’ll come together as a community to read, write, explore, dream, and play with short stories. The class will include substantial conversations about craft and assigned readings—both fiction and essays about writing. Among the many things we’re likely to discuss are: structure, point of view, techniques to develop and deepen characterization; the establishment and maintenance of narrative and stylistic urgency; the engines of form and language; and how meaning can be made from images and other tools. The first half of the semester will be focused on generating new work, experimenting, establishing a shared craft vocabulary, and building trust. The second half of the semester will move into workshop discussions of a complete short story draft. The semester’s work will culminate in a final portfolio and reflective essay. Overall, this workshop aims to push students to take risks with their work, to hone their ambitions, and to develop a sophisticated understanding of the myriad possibilities of fiction.

CRWR 509Q 2023 W Credits: 3

OSWORTH, AUSTEN | MAILLARD, KEITH | OHLIN, ALIX

This graduate-level class will focus on weekly writing that adds up to a larger work and is perfect for those writing in longer forms (novellas or novels). This process-oriented course emphasizes self-analysis, experiments in both form and generation techniques, and integration of feedback into revision. All workshop components will use a Radical Praise model.

Note: this course will be taught ONLINE by Keith Maillard.

CRWR 509S 2024 S Credits: 3

Advanced Writing for Lyric Forms I - ADV LYRIC FORM I

CRWR 511Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced Writing for Television I - ADV WRIT TV I

CRWR 514P 2023 W Credits: 3

The purpose of the workshop is to create your own original one-hour TV series concept and pilot script, via three modules with peer and instructor reviewed assignments: series concept, pilot beat sheet (brief outline), and draft pilot script. Concurrently, your peer review reflections and contributions in the writers’ room group/s will build your TV writing and story editing skills. Essentially, while you create and write a brand-new TV series, you also act and serve as story editor on other series. While the class is not prescriptive, per se, the mission of a writer’s room is to creatively and speculatively engage, to bring your years of TV-series chops to the table, to brainstorm, to ask “what if?” while always supporting the creator/writer’s vision.

The course is front-loaded with dramaturgical grids, rubrics for each assignment, readings on structure and the industry, as well as sample pilot scripts. The course concludes with excerpted pilot table reads by a peer cast.

Participation: critically thoughtful and constructive written feedback prior to the workshop discussion, collaboration with an in-class TV partner and/or small group, as well as your attendance contribute considerably to the grading component.

This advanced workshop takes a strong look at creating serialized television: from idea to development to outline to draft. Using a combination of lecture, workshop, television writer’s room methodology, and quite a bit of writing time - students will create the world of their TV shows on three levels: series, season, and finally, a pilot that students will generate over the fall and winter terms. Term One will focus on the development and outline stage of television writing, while Term Two will focus on a first draft of a pilot episode and a hybrid pitch/bible document. Students will also screen various television shows and scenes that illustrate character development, projecting future story, tying theme to a plot, and the ins and outs of a solid act out.   Please note that this course will be taught in Canvas.

This course will be taught by Zac Hug .

CRWR 514Q 2023 W Credits: 3

The purpose of the workshop is to create your own original half-hour TV series concept and pilot script, via three modules with peer and instructor reviewed assignments: series concept, pilot beat sheet (brief outline), and draft pilot script. Concurrently, your peer review reflections and contributions in the writers’ room group/s will build your TV writing and story editing skills. Essentially, while you create and write a brand-new TV series, you also act and serve as story editor on other series. While the class is not prescriptive, per se, the mission of a writer’s room is to creatively and speculatively engage, to bring your years of TV-series chops to the table, to brainstorm, to ask “what if?” while always supporting the creator/writer’s vision.

The course is front-loaded with dramaturgical grids, rubrics for each assignment, readings on structure and the industry, as well as sample half-hour pilot scripts. The course concludes with excerpted pilot table reads by a peer cast.

CRWR 519Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced writing of speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, magical realism, horror, folk tales, and weird stories. Emphasis on reading examples from the subgenres and peer feedback.

CRWR 521P 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced study of contemporary Indigenous writing in North America across genres focusing on the production of critical and creative writing about coloniality, race, history, and identity. A maximum of 6 credits is permitted from CRWR 420, CRWR 521.

This course is an investigation of trends and debates in contemporary Indigenous writing in Canada and the United States. We will study the ways Indigenous writers approach subjects such as history, colonialism, trauma, politics, identity, ethics, representation, and power; students will explore these subjects and reflect on how they relate to their own writing practices through a range of critical and creative modes and across genres.

Thinking and Writing Through Art - THNK WRTE ART

CRWR 523R 2024 S Credits: 3

Interdisciplinary perspectives on non-traditional forms of writing. Emphasis on poets working at the intersection of writing and art practices and rigorous experimentation in hybrid works.

CRWR 525P 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced workshop-based class focused on writing related to climate change and environmental issues; emphasis on reading various genres and peer feedback. Restricted to graduate students in the MFA Program in Creative Writing. A maximum of 6 credits is permitted between CRWR 425 and 525.

We’ll consider these questions through reading, discussion, and creative work. Students will produce climate-focused writing in several genres (poetry, nonfiction, fiction), culminating in a final portfolio and reflective essay. Students will be expected to read and write widely; to conduct research into climate issues and create artistic work related to that research; and to provide thoughtful, constructive responses to the work of their peers in the class.

CRWR 530 2023 W Credits: 3

KYI, TANYA | TATER, MALLORY

As writers, our creativity isn’t limited to the page. It takes that same creativity and resilience to grow a sustainable writing career. CRWR 530 will teach students the basics of book publishing, marketing, and promotion and prepare students. Students will learn how to pitch their work to literary publications as well as to develop a professional writing practice outside of class deadlines. The course will contain lectures and support on grant applications, publications and will feature online discussions through Canvas with an emphasis on the importance of community and self-care. As students complete each assignment, they will hone the skills necessary to handle the business side of their writing career.

Teaching Creative Writing - TEACH CR WRIT

CRWR 550Q 2023 W Credits: 3

In this hands-on course, students will design, try out, and reflect on assignments and lesson plans for a prospective creative writing class. Drawing on perspectives from writers, teachers, and education scholars including Mathew Salesses, Liz Lerman, Paisley Rekdal, Carol Dweck, Felicia Rose Chavez, and James Lang, we’ll think together about how to teach each part of the writing process. We will explore strategies for inclusive teaching and weigh the benefits of various workshop structures, and as well digging into thorny issues like how to handle challenging classroom dynamics and how to grade creative work.

Throughout the course, we’ll keep the student experience at the heart of our inquiry, and consider how our teaching goals and methods might vary depending on different formats (small workshop or large lecture, in-person or online) and contexts (university, public library, private workshop, prison, or community center). Students will support one another in developing a teaching persona and practice informed by scholarship on teaching and learning and enriched by individual experiences, strengths, and commitments. The course will be held asynchronously via Canvas with a few optional synchronous small-group sessions and will be assessed on a Credit/No Credit basis.

This course is open to on-campus and optional-residency students; 6 spaces have been reserved for each program for the initial enrolment window, after which slots can be allocated to students in either stream upon request. This course is not open to first-year MFA students in order to prioritize those closer to the end of their degree.

Advanced Writing for Graphic Forms II - ADV GRAPHC FRMII

CRWR 558Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Over the course of the term, students will develop a solid foundation for a book-length project, including a proposal, outline, script, thumbnail sketches and finished chapters. In addition to creating these items, students will develop collaborative and supportive working relationships within the class, meet and interview professional cartoonists, and closely study and analyze book-length comics. Students will also build skills for sustaining, developing and refining their creative practice in the long term. Please note: While this course offers many opportunities to connect and engage with fellow students, the emphasis is on readings, exercises, and assignments that support your independent progress on your project. There are only a few workshops.

Notes : This is an on-campus course, but is open to opt-res students as well, as it is the only offering of 558. The class will be delivered synchronously online for two hours each week.

Prerequisite: CRWR 508 or permission of instructor

Advanced Special Projects in Creative Writing - ADV PROJCTS CRWR

CRWR 570N 2023 S Credits: 3

CRWR 570Q 2023 W Credits: 3

This is a grad level CNF workshop with a twist: it’s for CRWR MFA’s as well as physics students from UBC’s Quantum Matter Institute. We’re going to be working on the skills to produce popular, persuasive science writing, such as might appear in Scientific American, National Geographic, Discovery, Nature, or any one of many similar publications. There is a big market for this kind of writing. And as with students in my regular 505 CNF course, I would anticipate publication opportunities for many of you.

What will these articles be about?

Quantum stuff! It’s a wild and crazy field, let me tell you. And one of the most exciting aspects of this course is that YOU will have access to researchers at QMI. I’ve been working with QMI for about a year on another project. And I’ve spoken with researchers doing a range of mind boggling things, like developing quantum computers that use photons as bits, manufacturing super-strong materials only a single atom thick, and working with some of the most out-of-this-world equipment you can imagine, like microscopes that map the surface of individual atoms, and refrigerators that can cool things down to less than 10 microKelvin. That’s a few hundredths of a degree above Absolute Zero folks. And that is, well, VERY COOL. Pick an area of research that fascinates you. Interview some people and think about why this research might just possibly change the entire WORLD. There’s your article.

Why should I consider this course?

 In addition to the cool factor, consider that we’ve never needed persuasive and truthful writing about science more than we do today. There’s a lot of skepticism out there, much of it the product of ignorance, prejudice, and political manipulation. Writers can contribute to positive change by writing persuasively about science. Researchers can contribute similarly by being able to talk persuasively about their work.

Directed Reading - DIRECTED READING

CRWR 590A 2023 W Credits: 3

CRWR 599 2023 W Credits: 6

H F T L YT I

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• SFU Continuing Studies
• The Writer's Studio: Creative Writing Certificate

Creative Writing Courses

The Writer’s Studio offers a wide selection of creative writing courses for writers of every genre, and at every stage of their writing journey. Our courses take place in Vancouver and online, and provide an ideal way to connect with our writing community, gain fresh perspectives and receive support to reach your writing goals.

Our courses are scheduled throughout the year and you’re welcome to register at any time. 

To explore our part-time creative writing program, workshops, open houses and other events, visit us at The Writer’s Studio . 

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Creative Writing

This two-year studio program offers workshops in the following genres: fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, writing for children, translation, stage play, radio, television, song lyric and libretto, screenwriting, new media, and writing for graphic forms.

This program is also offered at UBC's Okanagan Campus

Program information.

• Campus: Vancouver
• Length 2 yrs
• Co-op Yes You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
• Honours No You can study intense specialization in a single field.

The Creative Writing program offers a two-year studio course, with instruction by faculty who work in a variety of literary and dramatic forms. The program leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing or a joint degree with another department, in which Creative Writing serves as half of the Double Major.

Campus features

The Creative Writing program is the editorial home of western Canada’s oldest literary periodical, PRISM International, which publishes the best in contemporary writing and translation from Canada and around the world.

• PRISM International

What can you do with this major after graduation?

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including publishing, communications, marketing, public relations, social media, non-profit, government, tourism, education, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests, including:

• Arts administrator
• Book publishing manager
• Communications manager
• Communications policy researcher
• Community centre coordinator
• Community organizer
• Careers with Creative Writing

Your future

A UBC education will introduce you to people and ideas from around the world, open doors to new opportunities, and take you places you never imagined. You’ll graduate not only with expertise in your chosen field, but with the skills you need to continue growing, learning, and evolving with your career over time.

Related programs

You’ll find these pages helpful, deep dive into ubc programs and get a taste of campus life on snapchat, meet al, a lover of books and bacteria who double majored in english literature and microbiology, ready to choose your degree.

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Content writing course by iim skills, table of contents, 8 best creative writing courses in vancouver.

• April 1, 2024
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Do you always have a hard time expressing your imagination in words or does it take you hours to write even one line on a blank document? If your answer is “Yes” then fret! Most people are terrible at creative writing when they first try it, but this is one of those skills that can always be improved upon. In this article, we’re going to cover the top institutions offering creative writing courses in Vancouver to help you improve your writing.

So, What’s Creative Writing?

Before you apply to any institutions providing creative writing courses in Vancouver, you must understand what you’re getting into. Creative writing is the art of expressing your emotions, thoughts, and experiences to readers using words. A method of putting up words into action in a creative way, to make readers imagine a non-existing world, and feel it with all their senses.

It’s about setting up a stage in the mind of readers and making them lose track of real-world existence. Creative writing is in contrast to factual forms of writing. In creative writing, facts take a vivid form which means the same but is more descriptive and catchier.

Even more, you can start sensing those facts with your senses. Creative writers use metaphors, hyperbole, personification, and onomatopoeia to make their writing more appealing to the reader. As a human, we all inherited the art of storytelling. We use storytelling everywhere, whether we gossip, tell a lie, or even, while making excuses.

We all have that part of the brain that cooks up stories using imagination. But putting up that imagination into words could be a bit of a challenge. Using the right word at the right place is important, don’t forget about the structure and research techniques. Creative writing as a subject could help you cook up your imagination into a fine article, in an easy-to-digest form.

Therefore, this is a high-in-demand subject on a global level. And, if you want to become an expert, to convert your imagination into text, then you can select any of the creative writing courses in Vancouver listed below.

Various Types of Creative Writing

We tend to focus on fiction and literature when we discuss creative writing, but there are several other forms to consider. Most authors eventually gravitate toward one particular style (and/or genre) over others. For the most part, this is a positive thing since it allows you to hone your skills in a certain style or genre.

While practicing with one kind of writing is useful, it’s good to sometimes experiment with others as well. Trying out new forms and genres keeps your writing fresh and free of tired cliches. It’s a great opportunity to learn methods that may be outside of your comfort zone but can be applied to great effect in your work.

Note: Once you enroll in any of the creative writing courses in Vancouver, your assigned instructor will walk you through all the forms.

For Now, Let’s Have a Quick Glance at Some Varied Forms of Creative Writing:

Free Writing: Just start writing without worrying about what will come out. Give the odd words and pictures a chance to make it into the page. No limits! Free writing, often known as stream-of-consciousness writing and is the apex of creative writing.

Journal: A journal can be any kind of written record. A journal can serve as a place to record thoughts, ideas, and progress toward a certain objective. Many authors utilize Omni-Journals or concept journals for anything from daily freewriting to detailed project preparation.

Diaries: A diary is a personal notebook in which the author records events as they occur. It’s common for some diaries to begin with “Dear Diary…” in an extended letter. Starting a diary is a fantastic first step if you’d like to write a memoir someday.

Memoir : Creative nonfiction work that focuses on the author’s own life and experiences are called memoirs or autobiographies. An individual can, for instance, pen an account of personal travels.

Essays: Although essays have a reputation for being dry academic assignments, there are many different types of essays, some of which require a great deal of imagination to complete.

Poetry: Poetry is one of the most read but least cherished forms of literature, despite being the most creative. Poetry can be written in a variety of forms, including free verse and prose.

Lyrics: Songwriters and musicians work together to create song lyrics. Lyric writing is a lot like poetry in many ways, and it’s a great form of expression for anyone who can play an instrument.

Screenplays: Writing screenplays may get you on the big or little screen, or even on stage or in a computer game. The film is primarily a medium for directors, not writers; nonetheless, movies may sometimes appeal to those who don’t read.

Story: Stories can be found in both fiction and non-fiction, making them the most common type of creative writing. There are a wide variety of popular fiction types to pick from, from flash fiction and short stories to novellas and full-length novels.

Journals, diaries, memoirs, and other related types of writing all contain true tales, which are records of actual people and events. Telling a story is a fundamental part of every type of writing, from literature to speeches, making it a very useful skill.

Speeches: Writing speeches, whether they are meant to persuade, inspire, or enlighten, may open doors to exciting careers in virtually any profession. In addition, being able to write and deliver a speech is a valuable ability to have in case you are ever required to do so for a formal occasion like a graduation, marriage, or awards show.

List of Institutions Offering Creative Writing Courses in Vancouver

The followings are the top institutions providing the best creative writing courses in Vancouver. This list was created after thorough research, to help you choose the best place to get started. It’s advised that you must go through the institution’s website first, before enrolling in any program or course.

1. IIM SKILLS

When it comes to online professional courses, IIM SKILLS ranks among the top institutes. This institute has been offering high-in-demand courses tailored for both students and professionals. Over the years, many aspirants have benefited from these courses.

One of these courses is the Content Writing Course , which helps you to make a career as a creative professional writer. IIM SKILLS not only help you to become a writer but also help you to launch yourself as a successful writer. In the course, you’ll be given internship projects to get you real-world experience.

All the assignments or given projects will be reviewed by experts and then brief feedback will be given to you to improve yourself. The sole objective of this course is to build you up as a full-fledged writer, ready enough to work in real-life gigs. During the course, you’ll be given many job opportunities to choose from and the required help to crack interviews.

This program from IIM SKILLS is quite affordable and efficient enough to make you a writer in less time than other institutions. Which makes it the top contending institution offering creative writing courses in Vancouver.

Course Duration –   1 Month + 3 Months Internship. It’s a 30 hours online course including 16 hours of lectures and 14 hours of internship sessions.

Enrollment Fees – The total cost of the course is 243.44   Canadian Dollars +GST.

Contact Information –

Phone: +91 9580 740 740 E

Email: [email protected]

2. SFU – Simon Fraser University

The writer’s studio program by Simon Fraser University does offer a certificate in creative writing. The sole purpose of this program is to provide you with the required tools, strategies, and support to develop you as a writer. An active community of fellow writers will be there to help you practice and learn all sorts of writing.

The program itself is quite alike other full-time courses, but it costs less and can be completed in less than a year. This is also one of the reasons that this program has scored its place in the list of top creative writing courses in Vancouver. The classes are available in both online and offline modules, which means you can attend your lectures according to your lifestyle.

Course Duration – This part-time course will be covered for 10 to 11 months, including workshops focused on specific writing categories.

Enrollment Fees – The total cost of the course is 5,500 CAD and there’s a program application fee of 75 CAD. Scholarship programs are also available to applicable students, please check their website to learn more.

Phone : (+1) 778 782 8000

Toll-Free : (+1) 844 782 8877

3. UBC – University of British Columbia

If you are looking to have a full-time course in creative writing, then go no further than The University of British Columbia (UBC). UBC offers both bachelor’s and master of fine arts in creative writing to make you a writer. The students who have done their master’s in creative writing from UBC have achieved success in many creative fields.

Thanks to the faculty’s writing workshops, seminars, and real-world projects. To know about the course and its contents, you can watch the course’s information video on the official website.

The lectures will be conducted on the campus grounds and to make out living you can work with local or international organizations. The university will have no issue with you getting paid for work and studying full-time at the same time.

Course Duration – This is a 2 years program including workshops in various creative writing genres.

Enrollment Fees – You must join the information session to know about the course and its Enrollment fee.

Phone : (+1) 604 822 2211

For more information about contacting the faculty, please visit the official website.

4. Langara – The College of Higher Learning

Many other institutions are offering creative writing courses in Vancouver, among those is Langara College. This college offers a diploma in creative writing that helps you to express yourself in text in different voices, forms, and techniques. This course is offered on the campus grounds situated in Vancouver.

The faculty is quite great when it comes to motivating students. Each year the college organizes contests for new writers to showcase their skills, which helps the contestants to improve as a writer by competing with fellow mates.

Course Duration – This diploma in creative writing will be covered in 2 years.

Enrollment Fees – The enrollment fee for the course is more than 6,880 CAD. To know more about the fee structure, you can use the tool specifically made to check the cost of study on the official website. You can also find information related to other expenses and student loans on the same page.

Phone : (+1) 604 323 5385

Email : [email protected]

Must check out the other best courses:

• Creative Writing Courses in Canada
• Creative Writing Courses in the UK
• Creative Writing Courses in Amsterdam
• Creative Writing Courses in Singapore
• Creative Writing Courses in Wales
• Creative Writing Courses in Scotland

5. VCC – Vancouver Community College

When it comes to high-level education, the VCC – Vancouver Community College has its dominant domain. The Continuing Studies program introduced by VCC is solely focused on offering professional studies which can be used right away on the job.

The goal of this program is to provide access to high-caliber, adaptable, and practically relevant education with professionals from relevant fields. There are more than 60 areas of skills that are being taught at the Downtown Campus.

One of these skills is Creative Writing and there are 10 courses in total to expand your writing skills as a profession.  All these courses are crafted to help you achieve solid ground in different writing genres.

Course Duration – Please check the website for more information on the specific courses.

Enrollment Fees – Almost all the courses cost around 271 CAD, but you must visit the official website to be sure about it.

Phone : (+1) 604 443 8484

6. Capilano University

If you are looking to enroll in an open university, then Capilano University should be on your list. This university ranks 61 st position in Canada and is also known for its top-quality education programs around the world. For students in Arts & Sciences, Capilano University has crafted an Associate of Arts Degree in writing.

The instructors are writing practitioners specialized in various creative writing genres, so you’ll get a great deal of real-life experience. The first year of the course is solely focused on learning about writing and its genres.

In the second, you’ll get the opportunity to dive deep into poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction writing genre. After completing this course, you can also apply for bachelor’s programs in the same to level up your skills.

Course Duration – This course/degree in creative writing will be covered in 2 years.

Enrollment Fees – The total fee for this entire course is 11,842 CAD, this includes tuition and other fees.

Phone : (+1) 604 986 1911/2291, (+1) 604 984 4900

Email : [email protected] / [email protected]

7. VIU – Vancouver Island University

One of the largest campuses in Canada, ranking 11 th position, and 43 rd on the global level. This university offers more than 120 programs, including degrees, diplomas, and certificates. All the courses are tailored to help the student in their professional life. The university offers a bachelor’s degree in journalism and creative writing to make you a master of writing.

The instructors, who’re going to teach you are professionals who are published and received many awards for their writings. The best part that made this university on this list of institutes offering creative writing courses in Vancouver, is the small size class.

The faculty believes in consulting with the students in one-on-one sessions, therefore the class size is quite small. With this, each student gets enough chance to express their concern and receive appropriate help from the professor. This bachelor’s degree is highly focused on improving your literary skills and helping you to face real-life writing challenges.

Course Duration – This bachelor’s degree in creative writing and Journalism will take up to 4 years.

Enrollment Fees – The total fee for this entire program is 7,166.27 CAD. It’s highly advised to check the official website to know about the latest fee structure.

Phone : (+1) 250 753 3245

Toll-Free: (+1) 888 920 2221

8. Camuson College

Situated in British Columbia, this college offers more than 160 programs to its students. All the programs are designed to prepare you for high-skilled professions, to fit you in a job-ready environment. In this course, you’ll dig deep into the world of English literature from old to modern classics.

You’ll be challenged to look at the world of literature from a different perspective and express it to the world. By the end of the course, you will have mastered the skills necessary to critically evaluate sources, create a convincing argument, and write well-organized, well-thought-out writings.

The course includes internship programs to get you a hands-on experience on a live project. Also, there are no restrictions on any student to work at local businesses to make money. But you must check the official website for more critical information on that matter.

Course Duration – This Associate of Arts Degree is a 2 years long program. This includes the internship if you apply for it.

Enrollment Fees – The enrollment fees start from 7,178 CAD and go up to 8,630 CAD, depending on the course type you wish to register for.

Phone : (+1) 250 370 3298 / 3000

Toll-Free: (+1) 877 554 7555

Frequently Asked Questions About Creative Writing Courses in Vancouver

1. is it possible to teach creative writing.

Yes, as a skill creative writing can be taught. It’s the art of using words in a beautiful way to express emotions, experiences, and thoughts. It uses imagination which we all have, but putting words into play in a proper format is another thing, which can be taught.

Just like any other field or industry, you need to understand the basics and the rest depends on your practice. Creative writing is just like telling a story to a person with words; as humans, we are all gifted with that skill. Moreover, after enrolling in any of the creative writing courses in Vancouver, you’ll be given assignments to practice what you learn in the lecture.

2. Is it hard to learn creative writing?

You’ll face hardships whenever you start learning something new. You must have fallen from your cycle many times as a child just to learn how to ride it. The same goes with creative writing, all you must do is follow the right approach and invest time practicing it. It may take time but that will be worth everything. All the above-listed creative writing courses in Vancouver include both theoretical and practical training. So, this also means that you’ll get many assignments to practice your writing skills.

3. What is the average salary of a creative writer?

Most creative writers work for businesses online as a freelancer and some get hired by reputed companies for full-time jobs. Some get paid on an hourly basis and some for projects. But the average salary that you can make as a creative writer is more than 50,000 CAD in a year.

It’s one of the high-paying jobs out there and you can make tonnes of money with this skill. This is why many professionals are shifting to the writing industry and enrolling in creative writing courses in Vancouver.  And if you’re seeking to change your career, then you should enroll too.

4. Is creative writing good as a career?

Yes, of course, it’s one of the best careers out there. Creative writers are required by many industries as they depend on writers to meet their end goals. For many individuals, creative writing is the best choice of profession as it pays well, more than average jobs. The future of a creative writing career is full of opportunities.

As a creative writer, you’ll work collaboratively with other writers in different niches and as a result, you’ll earn new connections. Not only that, you’ll gain experience which will help you to improve as a writer.

So far, it must have become clear to you that creative writing is an in-demand skill, which can be taught. Also, it’s one of the most lucrative careers out there in the modern world. You can attain this skill and start up as a freelancer or work for an organization. If you’re looking forward to becoming a successful writer then you are only a step away from it. Just enroll in any of the creative writing courses in Vancouver listed above.

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Top 9 Creative Writing Courses In Vancouver WIth Live Training

Do you love to write do you love to express yourselves creatively and imaginatively do you want to discover more ways to make your writing compelling and attractive enough if yes is your answer, this article is going to be helpful. in this article, i am going to make you informed of how to write tempting stories, and articles, how to make your piece tempting to read, and, also how to grow as a writer. if you are someone who loves to read and write, then this article is for you. here, i will also list down the institutes that are offering creative writing courses in vancouver . pursuing comprehensive creative writing courses in vancouver is going to help you in lots of ways. if you do so, you will not only enhance your writing skills, in the context of essays and other kinds of writing but you will also grow as a writer. i will state the benefits of enrolling in comprehensive creative writing courses in vancouver later on. first, i will make you aware of the definition of creative writing..

The goal of creative writing is to communicate ideas and thoughts in a way that is unique to you by applying your imagination and creativity. Simply put, it’s about putting your unique twist on writing and deviating from the conventional lines of academic as well as other technical types of literature.

Creative Writing – As its term indicates, creative writing is a type of writing that deviates from more conventional genres like technical, conventional, academic, or professional writing. Instead, it comprises a variety of diverse genres and approaches in both the fiction and non-fiction writing fields, as well as prose, storytelling, essays, reports, poetry, playwriting, journalistic, and much more. Creative writing can generally be regarded as any form of writing that is unique and expressive of the writer.

However, the term can be extremely ambiguous. It is typically distinguished by a focus on narrative construction, which emphasizes components like character development, narrative, and storyline while also injecting its structure with originality, story, and creativity. In this perspective, creative writing is technically any writing that is a modern, original, and unique composition, since it is not constrained by rules and uses a wide variety of components in its craft. With stress on writing in an authentic manner that is not limited by pre-existing forms and genres, creative writing programs in academic contexts are often grouped into scriptwriting, poetry, non-fiction, or fiction classes.

Benefits of Comprehensive Creative Writing Courses in Vancouver

Imagination:.

As you construct new worlds, situations, and characters for your writing, you enhance your image. You’ll be more capable of coming up with innovative ideas and viewing challenges from many perspectives when you’re training your brain to “come up with new ideas.” Your ability to push limits to solve problems will improve, as will your way of thinking.

As you invent new characters, you not only build personalities and emotions but also begin to perceive the world in a way that you have not explored previously. By doing this, you gain skills like empathy and acquire insight into the perspectives of others who live quite different lives than you. Empathy is a wonderful quality to have in both the universe and the workplace. Understanding and empathizing with the issues that your co-workers or classmates are facing will provide them with a sense of value and support as they work to overcome those issues. You’ll be fostering a more collaborative environment, which will eventually result in enhanced relationships and the achievement of your goals and the goals of your teammates.

Enhanced Thinking Clarity:

Establishing outlines in your creative writing allows you to organize both your thoughts and your emotions into a logical procedure. You’ll be able to identify clear routes to solve challenges in the future by having a clear perspective on scenarios in the workplace and for the remainder of your life.

Gain Knowledge of Making Your Piece Compelling:

As you try out different ways to express yourself through creative writing, you are encouraged to increase your vocabulary. You will find that as your writing improves over time, so does your variety of language and use, which will be helpful in every social environment and career track in the long run.

Critical Assessment:

As you enroll in the advanced creative writing courses in Vancouver, you will learn how to assess others’ pieces of writing as well as get yours evaluated by them simultaneously. No matter whatever career track you choose, if you learn to receive feedback and execute constructive criticism is an essential skill that will help you later on as well. 

Having learned the various advantage of pursuing a creative writing program, you will now be fully aware of the institutes that are offering the best creative writing courses in Vancouver . 

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Top 9 Creative Writing Courses in Vancouver

1. iim skills.

IIM SKILLS is one of the top trusted educational platforms that provide online professional programs. The institute is well known for its content writing and digital marketing courses. IIM SKILLS’ courses are for everyone – from students to professionals. Its programs are well-thought-out and, were designed, and, launched after catering to the requirements of the students and professionals. If you want to improve your writing skills, choose IIM SKILLS’ content writing course, wherein you get to learn how to craft a mind-blowing piece of writing.

Whoever took this program has gained a lot. Apart from learning how to write an attractive piece, you will also learn how to sell yourselves, i.e – how to earn money from your writing, why reading and writing go hand-in-hand, expand your knowledge of words, how to grow and retain your loyal fan base, launch yourself, and many more. Besides exposing you to the professional world, this advanced creative writing course will also make you acquire some valuable practical experience by making you work on real-life assignments during the internship program.  

While you are on your assignments, you can always ask the trainers who are not only qualified but also possess years of experience. Starting right from the program commencement to the internship, they will act as a guide. Once you submit the given assignments, your work will be assessed by them, following which you will receive brief feedback that will help you identify the areas where you need to improve. The main objectives of this program are to help you transition into a professional writer from an amateur writer and make you feel what it is like to work as an expert writer and that too in a professional environment.

As you complete the course, you are then advised to enroll in the three-month internship program that will provide you with the ultimate experience of working as a writer. Moreover, when the internship ends, you are provided with a career counseling session which will help you to decide your career path – be it a journalist, scriptwriter, content writer, or any other role. The above-mentioned points prove why IIM SKILLS’ exceptional creative writing courses in Vancouver are pursued by many students and professionals.

More Professional Courses from IIM SKILLS

• Digital Marketing Course
• Technical Writing Course
• Content Writing Course
• Financial Modeling Course
• Business Accounting And Taxation Course
• CAT Coaching

Contact: +919580740740,  [email protected]

2. Simon Fraser University

Founded in 1965, SFU, or Simon Fraser University is a public research university that offers graduate and undergraduate courses. The university was established so students across Canada can avail of or access higher education. The institute has maintained its status of being the country’s top comprehensive university.

When it comes to providing creative writing programs, SFU’s certification in advanced creative writing courses in Vancouver is one of the best. The main aim of this program is to provide you with the necessary assistance, strategies, and, tools that will ultimately help you grow as a writer. For any assistance and support, there is a live active online community of established writers who will not provide you with ample practice exercise sessions but will also make you stay abreast of the various forms of writing. 

Since this complete creative writing course in Vancouver resembles the facilities and features that come along with other full-time programs offered by other institutes, and, as its fee is also less, this program is highly valued by several learners. This course can be completed within one year and is available in both online and offline modes. The course lasts between 10 and 11 months.

3. University of British Columbia

Founded in 1908, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university that offers graduate and undergraduate courses pan Canada. When it comes to providing top-quality creative writing courses in Vancouver , this institute comes closer to IIM SKILLS. To equip the students with the necessary skills and knowledge, UBC’s creative writing program covers everything so that you, the student, can transform into a successful writer seamlessly. Track records prove that students who registered in this program have gone on to achieve success in their careers.

Since UBC’s faculty holds seminars, and workshops, and provides assignments that are based on real-life, you will have no problem establishing yourself as an expert writer. The institute’s trainers deliver lectures on its campus ground and provide you with the opportunity to work with local or global companies so that you get some essential experience before entering the professional world. You will have no problem completing the two-year program even when you are on a full-time job. During the course, you will be taught different creative writing beats and genres.

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4. Langara College

Founded in 1994, Langara is a public degree certificate providing college. The institute provides courses in several fields like Arts, Humanities and Social Science, Health, Science and Technology, and, Business. The most popular programs in the arts field are journalism and creative writing. With the help of Langara’s rigorous creative writing courses in Vancouver , you will learn how to express yourselves in writing, various methods, kinds, and voices. The two-year course is delivered on its campus ground. When it comes to training students and providing top-notch learning experiences, the institute’s faculty is highly qualified and experienced. At the end of an annual year, there is an event arranged for you so that you can exhibit your skills and identify the areas where you need to improve.

5. Vancouver Community College

Established in 1965, the Vancouver Community College (VCC) is a public community institute that offers many courses in areas like Business, Hospitality, Academic upgrading, English, etc. One among these courses is the advanced creative writing courses in Vancouver which is offered under the name – Continuing Studies. The main objectives of this course are to provide expert studies that can be applied immediately while you are on a job and to make easy access top-caliber, flexible, adaptable and practically pertinent studies for working individuals from relevant fields. VCC delivers all of its lectures and lessons on its main campus. The institute offers more than nine programs that will help you enhance your writing career and take it up as your profession. With the help of these programs, you will build masterclass writing skills and grow your hobby or career in dialogue writing, script writing, poetry, mystery, crime, narrative, and many more. All of these courses were designed to help you establish a concrete grasp of various writing genres.

6. Capilano University

Based in North Vancouver, Capilano University is a teaching-oriented university. The 1968-founded institution offers several high-standard educational programs across Canada and all over the world. Although Capilano has no individual program, it has comprehensive creative writing courses in Vancouver that includes some aspects of creative writing. The name of this course is Associate of Arts Degree Certification in Writing.

As the trainers are writers themselves, who are experts in teaching different creative writing genres, you will acquire some essential real-world practical experience before getting onto a job. In the first year, you will learn how to produce compelling writing and the various writing genres. In the second year, you will be taught various genres like fiction, drama, non-fiction, poetry, etc. After you complete the program, you are advised to take the bachelor’s program so that you can upskill yourselves.

7. Vancouver Island University

Founded in 1969, Vancouver Island University is a public university that provides one of the best programs on writing. One of them is the advanced creative writing courses in Vancouver offered by its department of journalism and creative writing. 

The department offers detailed degree certificate courses (Bachelor of Arts, Major as well as Minor). To build professional-level skills in a variety of literary genres, including news articles, short fiction, plays, poetry, feature stories, and, screenplays, students enrolling in the program will get the opportunity to collaborate with published and acclaimed, and successful writers. 

They could also decide to learn about the publishing as well as entertainment industries and how those industries link to the careers of established writers. The batch size is intentionally kept small to provide personal attention to the students concerned. This degree certification is entirely focused on enhancing your literary skills and making you confront real-world writing issues. 

8. Emily Carr University of Arts and Design

Founded in 1925, the Emily Carr University of Arts and Design, or ECU is a public art university based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The institute offers one of the best courses in the field of arts and design. And one among them is the inspiring creative writing courses in Vancouver . Over 1800 students have pursued its graduate and undergraduate courses, with more than thousands taking part in its unique, certificate programs and workshops. 

According to ECU, writing itself is a form of creativity. A writing practice involves sketches, works of art, ultimate realizations, and everything else in between. You will learn about important topics like fiction, group writing, and art writing along with reviewing, creative nonfiction, poetry, drama, script writing, project-oriented writing, editing, publishing, and many more throughout the program. Whatever may be your level of fluency, you can explore the potential of language by writing creatively in a variety of languages. 

The university, which puts a strong emphasis on experimentation, provides you with the opportunity to establish a writing practice in a multidisciplinary society and to combine it with your practices in design and art. This can mean working on particular writing assignments while being guided by experienced, successful, and well-published writers.

Its faculty, staff, and alumni are well-known throughout the world as award-winning innovators and creative thinkers whose work consistently increases the resiliency and capacity of the economy and cultural sector.

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9. Douglas College

The largest public university in British Columbia, Canada that awards degree certificate is Douglas College. Douglas provides educational experiences that are demanding and informative and offer opportunities for lives of aspiration and dedication. It urges its students to accomplish what they enjoy and be great at it. You can choose from a selection of first, second-, and third-year university transfer curricula in composing the personal narrative, fiction, screenwriting, songwriting, memoir, stage plays, poetry, speculative fiction, and children’s literature through Douglas’ advanced creative writing courses in Vancouver .

In addition to writing and analyzing your creative pieces, Douglas College’s Creative Writing programs also involve lessons on crafting and discussions of published writing. All of its classes are organized using a typical face-to-face workshop model which encourages and promotes student participation. For more information on the course duration, you can visit Douglas’ website and contact the persons concerned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. what qualities does an excellent creative writing piece have.

It’s crucial to remember that there isn’t any universal definition of what it entails to write a “fine” piece of writing. Creative writing is indeed an imaginative method that is created by an individual with all of their idiosyncrasies and personalities, as the term suggests. There can never be a general description to define the “ideal” piece of writing because it doesn’t fit into any particular genre. Take a short Gothic story and then draw a comparison of its features with those of famous Romantic poetry, the two are so drastically different that comparing them would not be unfair. To keep your creative writing as powerful as it can be, however, by keeping it as original and genuine to yourself as possible, there are a few broad guidelines that you may adhere to.

Consider the Following Points:

• Learn more about your audience (readers)
• Try to write whatever you know or whatever is in your mind
• Showcase your imagination or creativity
• Expand your imagination
• Compose a brief plotline

Q2. Can I learn creative writing?

Yes, of course, you can. To discover more about the various writing genres that fall under the umbrella of creative writing, those who explore the field often read a wide range of texts from various historical periods. They will learn about some of the most notable creative writers throughout history as well as some unknown and upcoming or future writers in this industry.

Q3. How do I start creative writing as a hobby or career?

Read some of our suggestions mentioned below on how to begin creative writing if you’re interested in improving your writing skills and igniting your imagination.

• Read more and more 
• Start and maintain a diary or journal
• Begin writing practice by applying literary devices and writing more and more 

Q4. Is compulsory to enroll in a creative writing program?

No, there isn’t a firm regulation stating that enrolling in a creative writing course is necessary. However, enrolling in a creative writing program can help you discover a lot more about writing techniques and tools simply by writing practice using different innovative assignments, letting others go through your piece of work, and receiving constructive criticism.

Creative writing demands you to utilize your own story, imagination, and creativity to convey a certain idea, emotion, or storyline. It is an expressive type of literature. It transcends the limitations imposed by conventional writing styles and is wholly based on our individual preferences as well as experiences. If you are thinking about when and how to start creative writing, you must get ready to take a plunge into the universe of literature. Read and write as frequently as you can, wherever and whenever you can perform a dramatic piece of writing. A terrific method to network with like-minded people, exchange, share feedback and knowledge and enhance writing skills are provided via creative writing training programs and classes.

Author: Arka Roy Chowdhury

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Creative Writing and Journalism (BA)

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• tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)

Do you want to write for a living? In VIU’s Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Journalism program, learn the skills you need to become a master of words from professors who are published, award-winning authors, poets and journalists.

Experience small class sizes for a unique workshop format in many creative writing courses, and more one-on-one time with instructors at Vancouver Island University's journalism school.

Whether you want to work in the publishing, entertainment or journalism industries, this degree in Journalism and Creative Writing will sharpen your literary skills and introduce you to the realities of working as a professional writer. 

The Creative Writing and Journalism (BA) Program

The Creative Writing and Journalism department offers introductory, intermediate and advanced-level courses in book publishing, dramatic writing (including writing for the stage and scriptwriting for radio, television and film), fiction, journalism, and poetry, leading to a  B.A. with a Major or Minor in Creative Writing  and a  B.A. with a Minor in Journalism . Students have the opportunity to combine applied and creative writing skills with a background in all aspects of print and electronic publishing including editing, distribution, promotion, and production of print materials.

Note:  some courses may not be offered every year.

Program Outline

Requirements for a creative writing major.

Students must fulfill all the  Institutional B.A. degree requirements , including  Degree English Requirements  and courses listed below.

Note:  All senior-level courses require completion of at least one prerequisite course at the 200-level; students must attain a minimum grade of “B-” in the prerequisite course in order to progress to a senior-level course in the same genre.

Note : All 200-level courses have a 100-level prerequisite. Also, note that students must complete 200-level courses in at least three genres in order to have sufficient prerequisites for entry into courses in three genres at the senior level.

*  Directed Studies courses  CREW 450  - (Directed Studies in Writing and Publishing I) and  CREW 451 - (Directed Studies in Writing and Publishing II) may, depending on the nature of the project, be used to satisfy genre requirements for any of the five genres.

**   CREW 452  - (Special Projects in Writing and Publishing) can be used to meet either Non-fiction or Publishing categories depending on the nature of the student's project.

Note:  Upper-level Creative Writing (CREW) courses can be taken no more than twice for credit.

Requirements for a Creative Writing Minor

Note:  Required courses applied to the Journalism Minor may not also be applied to another Major or Minor.

Note:  Students taking  CREW 300  - (Creative Non-Fiction Workshop) and/or  CREW 301  - (Advanced Feature Writing) may use  ENGL 315  - (Advanced Workshop in Composition) as part of their upper-level credits.

Recommended Electives

Courses in  English ,  Graphic Design ,  Media Studies ,  Music ,  Theatre , or  Visual Arts  are recommended. Students wishing to pursue careers in journalism should consider taking upper-level courses in  Digital Media Studies ,  History ,  Political Studies ,  Economics ,  Media Studies ,  Philosophy ,  Sociology , or  Women's Studies .

Requirements for a Journalism Minor

Students are advised to consider completing a Major in a complementary discipline such as Political Studies, Economics, History, Sociology, First Nations Studies, Women's Studies, Business, Criminology, or Global Studies.

Program Fees

Domestic fees.

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee .

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee .

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

International Fees

Start date, deadlines, and additional application details, domestic (canadian), international.

Further information on this program can be found on the Department website.

Previous versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive .

Writing for Film, Television & Games

Develop an absolute command of the craft of storytelling, and a deep understanding of the world of film, television and games.

Creative Economy

VFS’s signature programs and facilities are at the heart of a creative economy worth $3.4 billion in B.C. alone. From film production and 3D animation to game, digital, and VR/AR design, VFS is helping shape the entertainment and media industries’ transformation. In 2021, VFS alumni were credited on 8 of the 15 highest grossing films and on 5 of the 10 best-selling video games worldwide, in a global industry set to generate US$2.1 trillion in revenues in 2021.

Alumni Success

Vancouver Film School grads are some of the most successful and sought-after professionals in the entire screenwriting industry. You will find our alumni working all over the globe, pushing boundaries, discovering new frontiers, winning all kinds of awards and honours, and leading today’s creative economy.

Testimonials

I attended VFS in 2010 and can't say enough good things about this program. The courses here helped me develop many of the skills and tools that are often overlooked when trying to break into screenwriting. Great teachers and community.

Tyler Burton Smith

Writing for Film, Television & Games Graduate

Writer of Kung Fury 2 , Boy Kills World , and Child's Play

Such an amazing school! The Writing for Film, Television & Games program is brilliant. Teachers are very supportive and course content is superb. Loved my time here!

Jillian Mannion

Writer on Blood , Sex & Royalty and winner of the Best Long Running Series Award from the WGGB for River City

I attended looking for a way to get a firm grasp of the base principles of good storytelling in a variety of mediums, and was very satisfied with the results. I personally thrived in this highly structured and intensive program.

Zachary Pope

Narrative on The Necromancer's Tale and QA Specialist at DYSYS

I graduated from the Writing for Film, TV and Games program in 2022, and this school changed my life. I always knew what I wanted to do, but it was VFS that gave me the skills and confidence to do it. The staff are kind, friendly and always willing to go the extra mile to help out.

Daniel McGrath

Script Reader at The Golden Script Competition

VFS has been the greatest experience of my life. I not only developed an amazing creative skill to tell stories but I learned how to work as a team player with other incredible writers. My native language is Spanish, so I also developed a sense of confidence while writing and working in another language.

Antonio Barrón Toro

Storyteller at Taringa!

A VFS Writing for Film, Television & Games Education

In 12 months you will graduate with:

• A diploma in Writing for Film, Television & Games
• A diverse portfolio of your work, designed to open doors
• Access to the VFS Alumni Directory & Job Board
• Industry connections that will help guide your career

Develop fundamental skills in visual storytelling, structure, character, format, and genre.

Commit to story and character development for your first feature screenplay.

Workshop the first drafts of your feature and TV scripts.

Specialize in film, TV or games writing, and begin work on your final project.

Electives include writing for comics, video games, and writing for commercials.

Complete drafts of your final feature film script or TV pilot for your final project, and polish it through intense workshopping.

Specializations

In the final half of the year, students choose to focus one of the three specialized streams below for their final project.

Writing for Feature Films

Writing for Television

Writing for Games

Discover our new games stream.

VFS is now one of the only schools in the world to offer an innovative new specialization stream in games within our current Writing program. Learn more by watching this video.

Admissions Info

Next Class Starts in

To make sure you have accurate admissions information please select your region based on country of citizenship.

Start Dates

Requirements

You will be asked to submit one of the following along with your application. Your advisor can help with selecting the best option.

A synopsis of an original feature film, television, or video game project that you are passionate about making.

Write a one-page (maximum) synopsis. Provide the genre and use references to other movies, television shows or games to explain how you would write the project. Explain the concept, vision, or idea. In addition, provide a minimum of two and a maximum of four other creative writing samples in their original form (maximum 20 total pages). You’ll find information on how to send your work in the application form, or you can ask your Advisor.

Successful completion of the VFS Foundation Visual Art & Design program

When you talk to your Advisor, let them know that you've completed the Foundation program and they will put a copy of your diploma in your file for you.

Student Work

While training at VFS, students are immersed in the Writing for Film, Television & Games industry, and spend a lot of hands-on time creating professional-quality work. And, nothing is a greater testament to the incomparable industry resources and career preparation that define VFS’s education model, than the top quality work our students produce. Here, a portfolio of outstanding work is just the beginning. Just take a look.

Written and Directed by Cristina Martínez

A Rabbit Called Jack

Written and Directed by Sofia Auza

Created by Jonas Roy Bjarnason

Industry Partners

VFS doesn’t just teach you about the industry, it IS the industry. With veteran instructors, mentors and an education Advisory Board recruited straight from the professional world, we are able to constantly update our award-winning curriculum to keep up with an ever-evolving industry. Plus, students also have lots of opportunities to connect and network with industry leaders during special workshop sessions, training presentations, and industry social events hosted by VFS.

Campus Life

Your year inside Writing for Film, Television & Games will put you in close contact with students in a host of other VFS programs, from actors and filmmakers to makeup artists and animators. This downtown campus features near round-the-clock access to computers, production space, and an extensive library of screenplays. You'll also be surrounded by the city's best cafes, restaurants, and cultural attractions – not to mention some of the leading film and television production studios.

We're here to help you submit an application that best reflects your abilities, and gives you the best chance of being accepted. We've helped thousands of people complete a single year at VFS by answering questions like these:

Application Tips

• What does VFS look for in an application?
• Can I apply if I haven't met all the requirements yet?
• What does this part of the application form mean?
• How much does my program cost?
• Can I pay in installments?
• How much will I need for living expenses in Vancouver?
• How do I get to Vancouver?
• Where will I live in Vancouver?
• Do I need a visa?

View Foundation Visual Art & Design

You know you’re creative, but you’re not sure where to get started? Explore visual media, screenwriting, drawing, filmmaking, animation, design, acting, and more. Discover what you can do in just one year.

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