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Creative Writing Workshop

by Creative Writing Workshop

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Tue, Apr 30, 2024

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Writing Tips Oasis - A website dedicated to helping writers to write and publish books.

8 Top Writing Groups in CT

By Kevin Chan

If you need a selection of writing groups in CT to browse through, this post is for you. Below you can learn about 8 writing groups located in the state.

1. West Hartford Public Library Writing Groups

Based in Hartford, Connecticut, West Hartford Public Library Writing Groups are a number of writing groups hosted by the West Hartford Public Library. Writing groups welcome writers of all skill levels and experience to join one of West Hartford Public Library Writing Groups.

West Hartford Public Library Writing Groups include Connecticut Screenwriters Group, West Hartford Fiction Writers and The Faxon Poets Group. The Connecticut Screenwriters Group meets on the last Wednesday of every month on Zoom and is focused on writers focused on screenwriting. West Hartford Fiction Writers welcomes creative fiction writers and meets on the second Thursday of every month. Lastly, The Faxon Poets meet on the third Saturday of every month in person and on Zoom.

Take a look at West Hartford Public Library Writing Groups.

2. Fairfield County Story Lab Writers Meetup Group

Fairfield County Story Lab Writers Meetup Group is a writing group situated in Westport, Connecticut. The writing group is a welcoming, open community of writers and is led by group organizer Carol Dannhauser. Writers are welcome to bring whatever manuscripts they might be working on and write with other writers in the writing group.

Fairfield County Story Lab Writers Meetup Group writing meetings happen every week, twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. Meetings are held online and consist of brief introductions followed by a focused time of writing. Members are encouraged to help support Fairfield County Story Lab Writers Meetup Group with a “pay what you can” donation.

Contact Fairfield County Story Lab Writers Meetup Group.

3. The Poets’ Salon

Situated in Fairfield, Connecticut, The Poets’ Salon is a writing group that specifically focuses on the art of writing poetry. Led by co-organizers Alison McBain and Ed Ahern, both writers and poets themselves, The Poets’ Salon is a writing group that provides education, critique and support for anyone interested in poetry.

Writing meetings are held on the second Saturday of every month from 10:00 in the morning, and they have moved from their traditional location at Fairfield Public Library to meeting online to make things safer and more accessible to all writing group members. Interested participants are encouraged to RSVP as soon as possible due to limited spaces at each group meeting.

Connect with The Poets’ Salon!

4. WritersMic Meetup

WritersMic Meetup is a writing group that welcomes writers in and around the area of Westport, Connecticut. Whether you are into writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry or screenplays, you’ll be able to benefit from participating in WritersMic Meetup’s writing meetings.

Led by group organizer Gabi Coatsworth, WritersMic Meetup writing meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month. The meeting format includes time for writers to present their work in front of their fellow group members, followed by feedback or questions if the writer agrees. Connecting with other writers at WritersMic Meetup is also another great way to network with other writers who can become indispensable support in the future.

Learn more about WritersMic Meetup.

5. Shut Up & Write! Waterbury / Southbury

Supporting writers in Waterbury, Connecticut, Shut Up & Write! Waterbury / Southbury is the local chapter of the international Shut Up & Write! network of writing groups that encourage writers to come together and hold each other accountable.

No matter the genre of writing, all writers are welcome to participate at Shut Up & Write! Waterbury / Southbury meetings. Writing meetings happen every Thursday at different local venues, such as Cyrenius H Booth Library for those in the Newtown area and at Southbury Public Library for those in Southbury.

Check out Shut Up & Write! Waterbury / Southbury!

6. Farmington Library’s Adult Writing Group

Farmington Library’s Adult Writing Group is a writing group located in Farmington, Connecticut. Hosted by the local library network Farmington Libraries, Farmington Library’s Adult Writing Group encourages individuals who are passionate about writing short stories, novels, poetry or non-fiction to join them.

Farmington Library’s Adult Writing Group meets on every second Thursday in Board Room 2 of the Main Library. Writing meetings consist of reading your work-in-progress to other writers, receiving constructive and thoughtful critiques, and connecting with other writers to get ideas and inspiration to continue your writing.

Find out more about Farmington Library’s Adult Writing Group.

7. Fairfield Scribes

Fairfield, Connecticut, is home to Fairfield Scribes, a writing group led by a group of co-organizers, including Alison McBain. All fiction writers are welcome (with the exception of writers focused on erotic fiction or other adult content). Fairfield Scribes is a serious group of fiction writers who are passionate about their writing and eager to meet and support other writers who are also focused on improving their writing.

Writing meetings happen weekly on Thursday evenings. Meeting locations and other information regarding Fairfield Scribes can be found on their Meetup.com webpage. Fairfield Scribes tries to keep their group numbers limited so that every group member will have an opportunity to share their writing and also critique other writers.

Discover more about Fairfield Scribes.

8. Fairfield County Writers Group

Fairfield County Writers Group is a writing group led by a small, dedicated group of co-organizers. Writers who focus on different genres are welcome, particularly those with a focus on fiction and non-fiction writing. Prospective members are encouraged to visit Fairfield County Writers Group’s Facebook group to understand the group and how to join.

Writing meetings happen on the third Saturday of every month. Fairfield County Writers Group also regularly organizes writing activities throughout the year, including regular participation in November’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Members can also connect on Discord for more information and socialize with other writing group members.

For more information about Fairfield County Writers Group, check out their website.

What is a Book? with Ordinary New Haven

Paulette rosen and tim cabral.

Have you ever thought about what makes a book a book and not, for example…a cocktail?

CAW and Ordinary present a fun winter evening of drink-mixing and creative exploration, all online. Book artist and CAW instructor Paulette Rosen will challenge our perceptions and help us to think outside the box, while Ordinary’s mixologist Tim Cabral will lead a master class in bartending for the evening’s beverages. No prior art or bartending experience is necessary!

Registration closes on Sunday, January 24 at 10 pm. After you register , you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link. Your What is a Book? kit will be ready for pickup at Ordinary at 990 Chapel Street, New Haven on Monday, January 25, between 4-7 pm.

Age: 21+ Price: $50 per person (includes master class, snacks, and ingredients for two (2) cocktails)

1/26 | Tuesday  | 7-9 pm

Register for What is a Book?

A Valentine Just in Time!

Sheilah rostow.

Create a unique card for Valentine’s Day that can be adapted to any occasion without any special equipment—a show stopping shadow box card. It will use easily found items from around the house. You won’t see this at Hallmark.

Materials: Click here to view

2/4 | Thursday | 3:00 pm-4:00 pm 1 Session | $15

Register for A Valentine Just in Time!

Previous Workshops

Make a refillable memo pad cover.

Discover how easy it is to make a cover for a refillable small memo pad. The process of basic book binding techniques and how to become familiar with some of the hand tools used in book making will be demonstrated. No experience necessary.

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event. Materials: Click here to view

8/6 | Thursday | 1-2 pm

Register for Refillable Memo Pad Cover

Pop-Ups: Making Quick Simple Shapes

Jennifer verbit.

Make dynamic shapes pop out of any paper you have at home. There are multiple uses of pop-ups in greeting cards, children’s books, and artist’s books. Learn the basic techniques of the pop-up and end this hour inspired to create your own pop-ups.

7/30 | Thursday | 1-2 pm

Cocktails + origami, cathy reeve and tim cabral.

CAW and Ordinary present an unconventional pairing: the ancient art of paper folding, and the modern art of cocktail mixing. Pick up your Cocktails + Origami kit from Ordinary in New Haven, and then settle in at home for an evening of drinks, snacks, and sculptures. All the ingredients and art materials you need are included with your registration, and no prior art or bartending experience is necessary!

Registration closes on Monday, July 27 at noon. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link. Your Cocktails + Origami kit will be ready for pickup at Ordinary at 990 Chapel Street, New Haven on Tuesday, 7/28, between 4-8 pm.

Age: 21+ Price: $50 per person (includes origami paper, snacks, and ingredients for two (2) cocktails)

7/29 | Wednesday  | 7-9 pm

Making book cloth, paulette rosen.

In this workshop, learn two different techniques for making book cloth, a method used to back cloth with paper so that it can be used to cover books or boxes. The traditional Asian method uses wheat paste and mulberry paper and the 21st-century method uses commercially available products. These methods make it possible to glue any fabric to a surface. The decorative possibilities are endless with these techniques. Materials list provided for students to make book cloth on their own.

7/27 | Monday | 3-4 pm

Paper puzzles: paper weaving, helen hiebert.

Join paper and book artist Helen Hiebert for a paper weaving workshop. Cut two complimentary papers into strips, then weave them back together like a puzzle to create a work of art. To view examples of Helen’s paper weaving click here .

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event. Materials: Click here to view.

Tuesday, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm, 6/30/20

A touch of abstract, shilo ratner.

Grab your brushes and paint and learn about brush work, value, and the history of abstract painting.

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event. Materials: 

• Acrylic Paint – black
• Acrylic Paint – white
• 3 different sizes brushes
• 16″ or larger canvas panel

Monday, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm, 6/22/20

A day in your life: documenting 24 hours during a pandemic, lucy mcclure.

The current COVID-19 crisis has brought forced isolation and social distancing, striking at our core principles of humanity, outreach, and unity. Our day-to-day lives no longer look the same. Historically, photography has been utilized as an outlet for documentation, whether as a family memory or a record of a time that once existed in the world at large. Inevitably, photography can be a powerful portal to community.

Students are encouraged to use their phone or camera to take a picture first thing in the morning and then 5-6 more pictures throughout the day until bedtime. Insomnia? Take one or two more pictures. The goal is to build a narrative of one’s day during this COVID19 pandemic through photographic documentation.

If you like, you may send your photos to the instructor at [email protected]

We will also be looking at some ways life and previous pandemics have been documented in the past through the medium of photography.

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event.

Thursday, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm, 5/21/20

Dslr and mirrorless cameras: basics and beyond, harold shapiro.

Here is a hands-on opportunity to learn about the benefits of using a digital camera, basic camera controls, and how to choose the proper lenses. A great workshop for new camera owners and students looking to get back to basics. There may be some discussion about processing images in Photoshop.

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event. Materials: Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera or Mirrorless Digital Camera

Wednesday, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm, 5/20/20

The art of the cut: papercutting workshop, béatrice coron.

Discover facets of papercutting and how it can be used for editions (multiple copies), stencils, pop-up, and installation. Participants will learn basic principles of cutting techniques including simple exercises: how to cut paper, alternate ways to use the cuttings, how to show perspective, and how to use an X-Acto knife in paper cutting. Coron will exhibit her own works as well as those of other papercutting artists.

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event. Age: 18 and up Materials: 

• X-Acto knife
• Extra blades
• Cutting mat
• Origami papers
• Tracing paper (or transparent paper as parchment or freezer paper)
• Scotch tape

Monday, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm, 5/18/20

Hand-building with simple tools, charles jones.

Join CAW Pottery Department Head Charles Jones as he guides students through step-by-step demonstrations for making hand-built pots. Learn different techniques for making small trays from slabs using simple tools at a pace you can follow along as you create your own pieces at home. These pots can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish and the techniques are scalable for pots of different sizes.

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event. Age: 15 and up Materials: T-3 clay can be ordered for home delivery from Sheffield Pottery. This clay will be able to be fired at CAW in the future – just be sure to save your receipt so we’re sure any clay brought in is cone 10. Click here to place your order.

• A couple of pieces of canvas or heave cloth at least 1 foot square
• Several small board, heavy cardboard, or similar at least a foot square
• Some 1″ thick wood blocks (any shape) but no bigger than 4″ x 6″ or smaller than 2″ x 2″
• Some type of knife or needle tool to cut the clay
• A rolling pin of some type (PVC pipe, large wood dowel, etc will work)
• Newspaper or similar paper
• Scissors or razor knife

Optional but nice-to-have tools:

• Cut off wire
• Couple of at least a foot long ¼ inch spacers (plywood, dowels, anything smooth)
• Texture tools (stamps, forks, string wrapped around a pencil, for pressing into clay)
• Small rolling pin like a wallpaper seam roller
• Something flat to smooth the clay like a 6 inch scraper/putty knife

Tuesday, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm, 5/12/20

Float like calder: mobile workshop.

Add some movement to the art in your home with a mobile. Charles Jones, Head of CAW’s Pottery Department, will guide you through the fundamentals of making wonderful floating sculptures. All you need are some simple materials found around your home or easily acquired. Once you have the basics down, the possibilities are endless for what you can create. Artists such as Alexander Calder, Tim Prentise, and George Rikey will give you further inspiration.

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event. Age: 15 and up Materials: Please gather these materials before class:

• Some thin but reasonably stiff wire for the arms of the mobile
• A couple of empty/clean soda cans
• Stiff construction paper
• Colorful plastic bottles to cut up for the shapes we will add to the arms
• Thread and glue for attaching the arms together
• Pair of solid scissors for cutting the shapes out
• Needle nose pliers if you want to make loops in the arms instead of using thread
• Razor knife for cutting if you’re using plastic bottles
• Awl, ice pick, or nail for making holes in the shapes
• Magazine or small block of wood to keep us from making holes in our tables
• Anything you don’t have you can easily pick up at Hull’s on Chapel Street in New Haven. Click here for their website or call them at 203-865-4855.

Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 pm, 5/5/20

Albers’ color class, fritz horstman.

Working from Josef Albers’ book Interaction of Color , experiment with colors that you may already have around your home. Try your hands at exercises that Albers invented in his time teaching at the Bauhaus, Black Mountain College and Yale, such as One-Color-Becomes-Two, Reversed Grounds and Afterimage.

Price: Pay as you wish—we will provide a link during the event. Age: 15 and up Materials: Please gather these materials before class. The more colors the better.

• Old magazines, gift wrap and packaging
• Construction paper (if possible)
• Colorful napkins, place mats, book covers (flat, single color—these things won’t be cut)
• White paper

Tuesday, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm, 4/28/20

Nurturing nature discussion and critique.

In these challenging times, a great way to find some peace is to commune with nature. Take a walk with your camera, create some images you find to be soothing or satisfying along your path, then, if you wish, send one of your images to the instructor at [email protected] by Saturday, 4/18/2020. Please have your name and title as the file name, (e.g. Carol Jones-Tree at sunset.jpg).

Harold will upload the images to an online gallery that will be password protected and shared with participants. Some, but not all images, will be discussed. All digital photos accepted, including cell phone photos.

During the class, Harold will lead a discussion about nature photography, and share some images that he is creating currently.

Tuesday, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm, 4/21/20

Mindful art drawing, nellie shevelkina.

Looking at the space around you, whether inside or outside, the instructor will guide students through 5-7 minute periods of mindful drawing including lines and shapes. For ages 5-100. Children under 7 are welcome, if accompanied by an adult.

Materials: Paper, and pencil and any or all of the following: colored pencils, markers, crayons, paints (watercolor, acrylic, oil, whatever is in the home) and brushes.

Wednesday, 4:30 pm-5:15 pm, 4/15/20

Self-portraiture workshop.

While you’re in quarantine, why not spend some time with your favorite model. Get a quick introduction to drawing the head and some things to think about when starting a self-portrait. The class will be taught live on Zoom so students can ask questions and even start their own drawing during the workshop.

Materials: Paper & pencil (or digital drawing)

Wednesday, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm, 4/1/20

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Find your voice. Find your people.

Words & Music: A Collaboration with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra

$5 • saturday, february 18 • 12:00 - 1:00 pm ct in person at porch house 2811 dogwood pl., nashville, tn 37204.

This session is only open to teen writers. We’re offering this course at a discounted rate as part of the Porch’s ongoing commitment to provide low-cost writing enrichment for young people. If you are over 18 years old, please search for the adult version of this class. The Porch is excited to partner with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra (NPO), a volunteer community orchestra that brings free performances to a wide variety of audiences throughout the year. In this special one-day workshop, students will listen to excerpts from a piece of classical music that will be performed by the NPO in an upcoming concert. The instructor, Yurina Yoshikawa, will guide the students as they write down their sensory and emotional responses to the music. At the end, students will have the option to share these responses to be printed and displayed at the NPO concert venues. Students may also consent to sharing their work through the orchestra's social media and concert brochures. This class is designed for listeners and writers of all levels. No prior knowledge of classical music required! The NPO concerts will take place on March 5 and 7, 2023. Special note: There is currently a film crew making a documentary about the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, and there is a chance that the student and/or their written response might make an appearance in the final film (tentatively to be released Fall 2023). The instructor will have release agreements ready for parents and/or guardians to sign prior to the class. REGISTER HERE

Writing Sports Fiction (For Teens)

$5 • saturday, february 25 • 12:00 - 1:00 pm ct in person at studio npl, nashville public library main branch 615 church st, nashville, tn 37219.

Sports go hand in hand with storytelling, drama, and the unexpected. Sure, it’s fun to see the exceptional athleticism of a perfect swish or a thrilling touchdown run. But it’s never just about the game. Our hearts are engaged by the stories happening just below the surface. Come out to this interactive class and explore how to capture the magic of your favorite sport and put it down on the page. J. F. Ewert is a creative writer and consultant. He’s the author of Blue Ice and Other Stories from the Rink , along with occasional essays and reviews. As a Canadian emigrant, he’s grateful for Nashville’s ice rinks. When he’s not writing or playing hockey, he’s supporting his sons as they delve into the worlds of baseball and soccer. REGISTER HERE

find a class

Slant creative writing summer camp 2024, 4-6 grade: july 15-19, 9:30am - 12:00pm 7-9 grade: july 22-26, 9:30am - 12:00pm 2811 dogwood place, nashville, tn 37204 • $220.

Community Partnerships

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Connecticut Writing Project

Community outreach, high school outreach: programs and activities, writing centers.

Since 2008, the Writing Project has collaborated with the University Writing Center  to establish peer writing centers in middle and high schools throughout Eastern Connecticut, notably at schools where the Writing Project has active Teacher-Consultants. Each year, the directors of the two programs identify a new school that has an interested and willing teacher and a supportive administration. The Writing Center then provides undergraduate and graduate students to conduct intensive training of students identified by the participating middle or high school teachers as good candidates to become peer tutors. The undergraduate and graduate tutors who run this program are typically recruited from the pool of English Education students advised by the Writing Project director. After the first year of training, ongoing support is offered in the form of a fall conference organized and operated by the university Writing Center tutors and by the most recently trained group of middle or high school tutors. In 2010-11, the University Writing Center was awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the Council on College Composition and Communication that specifically lauded the Writing Center’s outreach program.

To date, this collaboration has established writing centers at Griswold High School, Bolton High School, East Hartford High School, EO Smith High School in Mansfield, Mansfield High School, Windham High School, Windham Middle School, Woodstock Academy, Ashford School, Manchester High School, and the CREC Public Safety Academy in Enfield.

To view a video of Woodstock academy students and teachers talking about their new Writing Centaur click here  and here .

Several other schools have established their own writing centers after having attended our annual fall conference .

Early College Experience and First Year Writing

Click here  for more information on a Pre-College Summer at UConn!

The Early College Experience Program offers college courses for credit in Connecticut high schools. The English Department offers UConn English, a high school version of First Year Writing , in approximately 70 high schools throughout the state. In order to maintain national accreditation, the ECE program must conduct site visits to schools for the sake of supporting its high school ECE instructors. Support is also provided in the form of professional development workshops that take place in Storrs every semester. Many ECE teachers happen to be Writing Project Teacher-Consultants.

Since 2010, the Writing Project director has assisted the ECE English program by helping to conduct site visits, assisting with the professional development workshops, recruiting ECE teachers to become Writing Project TCs (as well as recruiting TCs to become ECE teachers), and serving on an ECE English Curriculum Committee with ECE English Coordinator and former Director of First Year Writing, Tom Recchio, and five ECE teachers, two of whom are Writing Project TCs.

Since 2009-2010, site visits have been conducted at:

Creative Writing

In 2013, the Creative Writing Program’s Wallace Stevens Poetry Program celebrated its 50th anniversary. With funding from the Hartford Insurance Group, the Wallace Stevens Poetry Program honors one of the most important names in poetry every year, and invites the poet to give talks both at UConn and in one of two Hartford High Schools, typically Classical Arts Magnet School or the Community School of the Arts. There are also writing contests for Early College Experience students and for Hartford high school students. The Writing Project helps promote this program among its many Hartford Teacher-Consultants.

Undergraduates should also be aware of opportunities to intern with the Creative Writing Program, notably with the award-winning literary magazine the  Long River Review , which participates in a high school book tour involving several area high schools where there are active Teacher-Consultants of the Writing Project, such as EO Smith High School in Mansfield or Rockville High School in Vernon.

Undergraduates interested in the Concentration in Teaching English are encouraged to also consider the Concentration in Creative Writing, which provides extensive opportunities to practice the kinds of writing strategies supported by research in the teaching of writing. Some courses actually cross-list for both Concentrations.

First Year Experience and Learning Communities

The Writing Project’s newest outreach endeavor involves the Office of First Year Programs and Learning Communities. With the help of a Fellowship from Teachers for a New Era, the Writing Project director was able to develop a 1-credit INTD course (now known as a UNIV course) for Pre-Teaching Secondary English majors, along with a non-residential Learning Community for those same students. This course and Learning Community have provided undergraduate students (particularly freshmen and sophomores) with invaluable exposure to the field of English teaching. Sponsored activities have included a field trip to the Mark Twain House and Museum, screenings of educational documentaries such as  Waiting for Superman and  The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman , workshops with Young Adult and Children’s Literature authors, and talks by students from the Neag School of Education’s Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program and Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates, as well as from students who earned their English degrees at UConn but have gone on to study Education in other programs. Other aspects of these offerings include the opportunity for the students in the INTD/UNIV course to interview Teacher-Consultants of the Writing Project. Participating teachers have come from:

Consulting and Co-Teaching Partnership

The Writing Project also offers opportunities to Teacher-Consultants for Consultation and/or Co-Teaching partnerships, in which the Writing Project director works with a teacher to develop or enhance a course or unit. In recent years, the director has worked with teachers from New Canaan High School, EO Smith High School in Mansfield, RHAM High School in Hebron, and Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon.

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Co-Op Rallies To Keep Creative Writing

Lucy Gellman | April 26th, 2019

Co-Op High School  |  Creative Writing  |  Education & Youth  |  Poetry  |  Arts, Culture & Community

Dozens of students, faculty and alumni at Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School (Co-Op) are speaking out in defense of creative writing as the New Haven Public Schools district completes a full curricular audit , and the Board of Education prepares to present its proposed budget to the Board of Alders.

As of Thursday, NHPS Chief Operating Officer Michael Pinto said that he was not aware of any proposed reduction in the program. But o ver the past month, teachers and current and former students have sent written testimony to Superintendent Carol Birks in favor of the program.

Currently, Co-Op’s creative writing program offers one freshman class, one sophomore class, and two classes for juniors and seniors (view more on the courses here ). Each year, the program is also responsible for the publication of Metamorphosis , a journal of student poetry and prose illustrated with student art, and for Co-Op Voices , the school’s online student newspaper .

In addition, several students are featured each year in Connecticut Student Writers , a statewide collection of student writing published each year by the University of Connecticut. Of a total student body of almost 650, close to 100 have declared creative writing as their art.

“I think creative writing is at the core of virtually all the arts,” said Judith Katz, one of three instructors in the school’s creative writing program. “If you don’t have writing, you don’t have theater. If you don’t have writing, you don’t have song. Everything kind of comes down to the word at some point. It actually gives people a voice.”

For Katz, the problem is bigger than the NHPS budget alone. Outside of Co-Op, creative writing is not included in the National Core Arts Standards or the Connecticut Arts and Standards , which are based on the national model and include dance , music, theater and visual arts. In part, that’s because reading and writing are included in English Language Arts Standards , set by the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

“The area of creative writing (and poetry) is typically included in English language arts,” said Marcia McCaffrey, an arts education consultant with the New Hampshire Department of Education and a spokesperson for the National Core Arts Standards, when reached by email.

She pointed to the CCSS for writing, the high school versions of which ask students to hone their analytical writing skills , produce two-sided arguments, work on essay structure and flow, and integrate research into essays.

But Co-Op’s writing teachers have seen the consequences of that format on the school. Unlike teachers in music, dance and drama, creative writing instructors are certified to teach high school English, meaning that they can technically take on those classes if the school asks them to. 

When an English teacher left two years ago, creative writing teacher Aaron Brenner absorbed his classes. That translated to fewer creative writing courses for the department. Two years later, the program has continued to shrink, to balance a higher load of English classes that teachers in the department have had to take on.

But that solution doesn’t work for Co-Op’s creative writing teachers. Mindi Englart , who joined the school 16 years ago, suggested that English can’t absorb creative writing—one discipline is dedicated to creating original art while the other is dedicated to studying and critiquing it. She pointed to Bloom’s Taxonomy , noting that the very tip of the triangle—producing original work—dovetails with what she teaches each day in her classroom.

“We fit with arts standards, not English standards, because we create the work that people analyze,” she said. “In English, they analyze and learn from works of writing. But we actually make the work. We’re artists. We make the work that other people are affected by. That’s what creative writing is. It’s an art. We may do some similar things, like analyze, but it’s in order to create.”

“I think in creative writing, you’re sort of obligated to the responsibility of speaking to everyone through yourself,” added Katz. “And I think that is at the heart of creating art—that you are knowing yourself and working with yourself in a way that when you present it, it’s relatable.”

Now, there is a swelling chorus of voices behind her. Reached by phone earlier this month, Co-Op's  inaugural   arts director Keith Cunningham called the program an indispensable part of arts learning, honing in on the way Metamorphosis and Co-Op Voices help students learn both the creating and editing processes.

“The support kids give each other as they find their voice is phenomenal,” he said.

Cunningham joined the school in 1990, when it was still in its very nascent stages at 800 Dixwell Ave. At the outset, he said, the creative writing curriculum was fairly loose—decisions were left to teachers, almost all of whom were part-time. Funding left the school hanging in limbo: it was steady, then it wasn’t, then it was again. In the early 2000s, Cunningham described the school as finally “on steady footing,” so much so that faculty began to come on full time, and stay for more than a year or two.

In those years, teachers began to streamline the curriculum (more recently, Brenner also wrote a series of academic benchmarks for creative writing in keeping with the Connecticut Arts Curriculum Framework). The department came into its own, adding offerings in fiction, poetry, playwriting and screenwriting. If the program were to be absorbed by the English department, Cunningham said, “all that independent creative work is likely to be lost.”

“The English department has a very specific curriculum, much of which is outlined from the state,” he said. “Creative writing, from the outset, has been looking at production and publication and developing a creative voice. The focus is more on getting the kids to write, and to write and to write and to write, and then to edit and polish.”

Journalist, author and East Rock Record supervisor Laura Pappano echoed those words in a phone call earlier this month. As a fellow writing mentor—she visits Englart’s class about once a year—she said she is constantly impressed by how New Haven students “really have a lot of confidence about their ability to create and to be creative.”

“Writing is not just about grammar and language—it is really about thinking,” she said, recalling a recent trip to Englart’s class where she and students pored over news photographs. “Teaching creative writing really helps people understand the way they think, in a way that they don't get if they’re not doing that.”

“Getting a grasp of how to express yourself clearly and succinctly is really valuable, and it serves you even if you're not going to become a poet or journalist,” she added.

That’s also true of many of the department’s current students. Four years ago, MarQuel Woods began his studies at Co-Op with dreams of becoming a novelist. He was a quiet freshman: teachers noticed that he didn’t say much, but spoke with purpose and care when he did. He excelled in his creative writing classes, turning to his poetry and prose not just in the classroom but at home, where his relationship with his mom often became strained.

Then his junior year, she was struck and killed by a motorist on Ella T. Grasso Boulevard. While the two hadn’t always gotten along—“she had her issues and I had mine,” he said in an interview last year—they loved each other deeply. Her death was a sudden, striking blow. He said that writing a poem entitled “Free” (read excerpts of the poem here ) helped him cope.

“It felt cathartic to get all those complex feelings about her death out into words,” he said in a phone call earlier this month. “Creative writing and art in general is a great way to work through emotions and thoughts.”

“I would say that creative writing is just like any other art,” he continued. “We create to inspire, to entertain, to educate. It is the foundation of almost any other art—you need written word to create everything else.”

In the fall, he will start at Bard College, where he plans to study writing. He said that he hopes to continue on to a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and ultimately become a professor.

Sophomore Nadia “Navi” Gaskins had a similar experience her freshman year. During the previous three years at King-Robinson Inter-District Magnet School, she said she was bullied for her sexual identity, then cast out of her friend group when she came out as bisexual. In the school hallways, she heard a litany of names: slut, lesbian, whore, worthless, useless, waste of space, disgrace. She recalled being so depressed when she graduated that she considered self-harm.

When she got to Co-Op, she made the decision to write her experience down. She filled pages and pages, editing it into poem form while also joining writing initiatives in the Co-Op After School program. After publishing in Metamorphosis 2018 , she presented her poem “Take. Them. Back.” at a reading last year.

“Writing, in general, saved my life,”she said. “It was my outlet. Whenever I'm having a panic attack, I repeat my poems. Writing is basically like breathing to me, like air. It's my way of leaving my mark here. My writing is me. It's a part of me.”

This year, she’s used her poetry as an educational megaphone, advocating through verse for more thorough teaching of Black history (which, she pointed out, is simply American history ) in New Haven schools and across the state more broadly. After watching a spoken word piece that Englart played for her class, Gaskins said she realized how little Black history was being taught in school. Her poem, “The Hammer Of History,” responds to it. An excerpt reads:

Black. History I’ll say it again. BLACK. History. Dragged through the sludge of concealment. Sewn together with the needle of ignorance, And the threads of oblivion.

Locked away six feet/ Under In the casket of abandonment. This can’t be known, never tell.

There are students like Sims, who used poetry and prose to get through the death of several family members last year. In spring 2018, she received news that her grandmother had died, and her grandfather was sick. Her aunt had died of cancer just months before. When she flew to Jamaica to bury her grandmother, she spent time with her grandfather, noticing how weak and frail he’d become.

“It's just like—you know when you're going to see somebody for the last time?" she recalled. “I was going from not being able to say goodbye to my grandmother to knowing I was going to see my grandfather for the last time.”

In Jamaica, she watched her older brother break down in grief. Nine years her senior, he had been raised by her grandfather, and looked to him as a dad. Sims struggled seeing his grief while trying to also deal with hers. When she returned, she began working on a piece titled “Last Night.”

"That was my final goodbye,” she said. “It was coming to terms with everything around his death. I can definitely say that piece really helped me channel it."

Now, Sims also writes for Co-Op Voices and has done freelance work for the Arts Paper , covering art within her school and the community. She said she plans to work on a capstone on the ways creative writing helps students deal with trauma.

Several alumni have also parlayed their creative writing experience into journalism. After graduating from the department in 2014, Melanie Espinal studied journalism at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), serving as a writer and editor for Southern News and the founder of Crescent Magazine .

When she graduated from college last year, she went on to work for the Westport News , Cottages & Gardens Magazine and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, where she is a program assistant for the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative and freelance reporter for the Arts Paper .

None of that would have been possible, Espinal said, without the department. In early April, she submitted testimony to the Board of Education, asking Schools Superintendent Carol Birks not to make further cuts to the program. In the letter, she recalled the first time she saw her work in print, proudly bringing a copy of Metamorphosis home for her family and feeling its weight in her hands. She praised the department for helping her cultivate her voice, which she has since used for news writing.

“Would I, a 14-year-old girl living in poverty from Fair Haven, be given one-on-one feedback with experienced writers ... if the program had got its funding cut long before I was accepted?” she asked in the letter. “Would I have been given the opportunity to see what a writing community looked like? Would I have been exposed to non-fiction as not just this boring section of books in the library I always avoided but instead the heart-wrenching, sad, funny, analytical and unifying storytelling that it can be? Probably not.”

“I am very grateful to the creative writing program at Co-Op and would be torn if the program were to be even smaller than it already is,” she added. “We need writers. We need writers to contextualize the world around us. We need writers who look like us, grew up like us and are trained in fiction writing, nonfiction writing and poetry. We need them to tell their stories. We need them to tell the stories of those who cannot do so for themselves.”

Jessica DiLieto, who graduated two years before Espinal, also wrote into the Board of Education, praising the department for its guidance and support. As a kid, DiLieto lived in foster care, ultimately adopted by her grandmother. She turned to writing as an outlet, world building in journals that seemed to multiply by the month “with the millions of characters I had created.” When she was accepted to Co-Op after middle school, she felt like a dream was coming true.

But at Co-Op, she struggled to balance academics and her personal life. At home, her grandmother was sick. Her uncle struggled with his health. In the creative writing department, teachers urged her to write it down, and gave her examples of poetry and prose where writers were doing that work. It saved her from failing out of high school.

“At the time, I always felt like a failure of a student because of my bad grades in school,” she wrote to Birks. “And I looked forward to writing class every day because it was something I was passionate about . When everything in my life was falling apart and I couldn’t do anything about it I at least had my storytelling to protect me.”

When DiLieto graduated—she wore her creative writing sash proudly, she recalled—she continued writing in classes at Gateway community college, and went on to do work in journalism. 

“Creative Writing is a quiet art,” she wrote. “But it doesn’t take away from how mighty we can truly be.” 

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Connecticut Writing Resources

Anywho. Connecticut is known as “The Nutmeg State.” Do with that what you will. Among the writers with CT ties are the great Madeleine L’Engle , poet Russell Edson , whose readings are delightful, and Nina Wilcox Putnam .

Presented in no particular order, here are ten Connecticut writing resources, from conferences to local critique groups to literary magazines. If you live in The Nutmeg State (snicker) or are planning a move there, these are some organizations you might want to take a peek at.

1) Westport Writers’ Workshop

Offers enriching, supportive creative writing workshops designed to nurture your creativity, inspire your imagination, and develop your writing skills.

2) The Elizabeth Ayres Center for Creative Writing

These online writing courses and East Coast retreats for writers give you nurturing instruction and supportive community.

3) Long Ridge Writers Group

Learn how to write both adult fiction and nonfiction in the course “Breaking into Print.” The group’s instructors are professional writers and editors who develop teaching plans for your individual needs and goals.

4) Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association

This organization’s goal is to help authors (and aspiring authors) improve their writing and marketing skills and increase the visibility and sales of their books, columns and articles by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information.

5) Wesleyan Writers Conference

This conference welcomes new writers, established writers, and everyone interested in the writer’s craft. The program includes seminars, workshops, readings, panel discussions, and manuscript consultations, all designed to offer careful attention to your work.

6) Yale Writers’ Conference

A ten-day program of workshops, master classes, individual conferences and readings.

7) Word for Words

Seminars and workshops in the Danbury area.

8) Central Connecticut Writers Group

A group of writers who meet for critiquing each other’s work in and around Middletown.

9) Institute of Children’s Literature

For more than 40 years, the Institute of Children’s Literature has offered the premier writing course, books, and a newsletter to adults interested in learning how to write and be published for children and teens.

10) Northern Connecticut Writers Workshop

A Meetup group in the Somers area with 200+ writers. Meets every other week and welcomes writers of all levels and all genres.

Help us add to this list, Nutmeggers! Do you run a local writing group or a lit journal we should be aware of? Feel free to share info and links in the comments section below.

The Litchfield Community Writers Group is completing its 10th anniversary as a group. We meet monthly in Litchfield CT. Its members have a wide range of interests, including poetry, short stories, personal essays, historical fiction, memoirs, and autobiographical works. The group also publishes an annual “Best of” anthology of favorite stories, poems essays and other work. Membership in the group is open to positive and supportive writers of diverse genres and with varying skill levels.

Thanks, Roy. This is a great addition to the list!

The Mark Twain House’s Writing Program in Hartford, CT offers writing courses in fiction, non-fiction, and more..and hosts an annual writers conference in April. Course offerings are online at Mark Twain House website. https://www.marktwainhouse.org/writing/classes_workshops.php

Thanks so much for this awesome addition, Melanie. We’ve added the Mark Twain House to our Connecticut resources for writers page at https://www.writebynight.net/connecticut/ . I hope to visit very soon!

Hi Justine, I wonder if you can add or workshop to your list. We’ve been teaching writing for 8 years in Westport, CT and have writers from all over Fairfield County. We offer writing courses in fiction, non-fiction, writing for children, poetry and screenwriting. We also have a Writers’ Retreat each summer. Thank you, Tish

Sure thing, Tish. We’ve added Write Yourself Free to our Connecticut resources for writers page at https://www.writebynight.net/connecticut/ . I hope it helps!

That is so kind of you! Thank you.

What is the name/address of your business?

This THURSDAY (12/3) in GOSHEN, CT 5:30 – 7:30 pm the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council invites you to attend the workshop:

Marketing 101 for Authors!! FOR MORE INFO & TO REGISTER: https://marketing4writers.eventbrite.com

One of the BEST things an artist (from any medium) can do for themselves is to stay on top of the most up to date tools and resources that enables them to continue to promote themselves in the most relevant of ways!

We are presenting a terrific program on May 7 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Emerging Writer’s Workshop & Luncheon at the Roger Sherman Inn, New Canaan, CT. Do you think you can publish our link for the program? https://www.facebook.com/events/943468412440752/

We’ll pop this up on Facebook. Thanks, Stacy!

David, thank you so much! We so appreciate it. Come and join us if you can!

Does anyone have information on writing seminars for a teenager interested in fiction writing? We are in New York about 20 minutes from Danbury, CT. would be willing to drive for a weekend workshop/seminar.

If Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown isn’t too far away, the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center always has a wide selection of great programming on its schedule. http://www.writerscenter.org/

(Though I’m not sure how often they run workshops for teens.)

We can ask around otherwise, but as you might expect, your best bet might be in the city.

Here’s our New York list of writing resources: https://www.writebynight.net/writing-resources/new-york-writing/

Looking for a writer’s group near Bristol/Terryville area. I’m a beginning author of poetry and working on short fiction. Ultimately I would like to write a memoir.

New professional theatre company Unquowa Repertory in Fairfield, CT is offering a five-day summer writing workshop which will assist teens (12-20) in developing professional script-writing skills through the framework of a ten-minute play. A duo of experienced theatre professionals will model the process by creating their own new works while concurrently guiding students through engaging step-by-step instruction. Applications are now open for the week-long intensive which is designed to teach students how to generate ideas, develop characters, structure a story, work with images and themes, and write dialogue, as well as how to give and take constructive feedback. Students will …  Read more »

We also have a free writer’s group in Milford CT, which meets at the Fire House Gallery in Milford every other Thursday. We are part of the Milford Arts Council. If interested you can email me at ewebb @ualberta.ca Best!

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Posted on Nov 19, 2018

15 of the Best Online Writing Communities for Aspiring Authors

As enjoyable and fulfilling as writing can be, the truth is that it’s often a solitary endeavor. While we might romanticize the focused artist typing away while imaginary worlds and narratives swirl inside their minds — authors know the truth: writing can get lonely. And moreover, when you’re working on a one-person project, it can be hard to remain motivated and accountable. That’s where writing communities come in.

Writing communities are the perfect place to find answers to your writing questions and to discuss the ins and outs of the writing life with people who actually understand what you’re talking about.

So, if you are tired of listening only to the voices in your head, take a look at our list of top online writing communities. (And if you're hungry for more, check out our more exhaustive list of the very best writing websites !)

Top online writing communities

1. absolute write water cooler.

With over 68,000 members, this is a large and highly active community. Here you can find threads on every genre imaginable, as well as discussions about freelance writing , the publishing industry, pop culture, writing prompts and exercises, and much more.

Perfect for: writers who are looking for a large and active community.

2. AgentQuery Connect

While this forum will come in handy for any writer, it’s especially helpful for authors who have already completed their manuscript and are wondering what to do next. The site boasts a wealth of information on publishing topics such as querying agents, self-publishing tips, and book promotion advice.

Perfect for: writers who are looking to connect with agents and learn more about the publishing industry.

3. Camp NaNoWriMo

If you’ve ever wanted to go to a writer’s retreat but can’t afford it just yet, then this site might help scratch your itch. Holding online “camp sessions” in April and July, Camp NaNoWriMo offers a digital space to encourage and empower writers at any point of their career. Here you can work on drafts, revisions, short stories, or any other writing project that involves word-count goals.

Perfect for: writers who can’t wait until November to crack their writing goals .

4. Critique Circle

Feedback should be a vital part of any writer’s process, and this is exactly what Critique Circle offers. This members-only site allows authors to post stories in exchange for feedback on other people’s writing. You can also find storyboarding tools , writing prompts , workshops, name generators , games like hangman, and much more.

Perfect for: writers who want honest feedback on their writing.

5. Chronicles

As the world’s largest Science Fiction and Fantasy online community, Chronicles offers writers the opportunity to get together and discuss the latest books, news, and pop culture in the Sci-Fi and Fantasy world. This is an active community with thousands of threads that include genre-specific challenges, workshops, critiques, and even publishing and industry information.

Perfect for: writers interested in Science Fiction and Fantasy writing.

6. Facebook Groups

If social media is more your style, don't miss the chance to interact with your fellow writers by joining Facebook groups in your own niche. Look for groups with a strict "no self-promotion" rules so that it remains supportive and useful to your writing goals.

There are a lot of groups out there in a variety of topics that range from genre-specific writing tips to traditional and self-publishing industry news. Here are just a few of them:

The Street Team — Reedsy's own book marketing group for self-publishing authors. 10 Minute Novelists — a group for the time-crunched writer. Calls for Submissions  — for writers looking for publication opportunities. Fiction Writers Global — a great resource for information about traditional and self-publishing. Writers Unite! — an active group with plenty of support and motivation for novice and experienced writers alike.

Perfect for: writers who prefer using social media.

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7. Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Whether you are a debut or seasoned author, there’s no doubt that writing a book can be intimidating and rife with bouts of self-doubt. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group aims to help you overcome those insecurities by hosting a community of like-minded authors.

Perfect for: writers who have doubts about their writing and are in need of encouragement.

8. The Next Big Writer

This is an international forum where writers can receive feedback on their writing and support on every other part of the creative process from drafting to publishing and marketing. The critiques are often thorough and many come from published authors. Keep in mind that there is a monthly cost associated with the membership, but it might be worth it to be able to bend the ear of published authors.

Perfect for: writers seeking in-depth critiques from an international audience.

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More than just a single writing community, Reddit has countless ‘subreddits’ where writers of all genres, interests, and levels of experience flock. While it may not offer workshops or tools, members can find niche threads that relate to their interests, critique other people’s work, and discover helpful sources of information.

There are so many different subreddits that you can get lost browsing them, but here are a few of the most popular ones:

r/writing — for general writing purposes. r/writingprompts — for user-submitted writing prompts. r/destructivereaders — beware, if you don’t like harsh criticism this may not be the best fit. But if you are willing to endure it, you will come out a better writer at the end. r/worldbuilding — user submitted fiction worlds. r/fantasywriters — for anybody interested in the fantasy genre. r/characterforge — the place to be for character building. r/writerchat — for those interested in talking with fellow writers. r/selfpublish — for anybody interested in self-publishing. r/logophilia — “the love of words and word games,” and that’s exactly what you’ll find here. r/freelanceWriters — for anybody interested in a career in freelance writing . r/books — because reading is just as important as writing if you want to be a successful author.

Perfect for: writers who want niche threads based on a particular interest or need.

10. Scribophile

One of the largest communities in the world, Scribophile offers workshops, tutorials, and critiques for authors in just about any genre imaginable. While it is free to join, only users who pay for a membership get access to all their features.

Perfect for: authors whowant to take part in writing workshops alongside writers of all experience levels.

11. She Writes

With over 30,000 members, this is the largest writing community exclusively for women. Here you can find articles on writing, editing, and marketing for every genre. There are forums tailored to specific needs, like travel writers, writing about trauma, NaNoWriMo, and many other topics.

Perfect for: women writers who want a place to connect and learn from fellow writers.

12. Talentville

If your passion lies in screenwriting, then you’ll want to book a one-way ticket to Talentville. Here you can get feedback on your writing and learn the skills necessary to perfect your screencraft. Plus, you can work on and build your network of contacts: the site is also a frequent stop for industry professionals (like agents, managers, and producers) on the lookout for new talent.

Perfect for: writers whoare interested in screenwriting and networking.

13. Underlined

A writing community by Penguin Random House. While any author can find helpful information on this website, it’s geared more towards younger writers. It has a well-designed platform, quizzes, genre-specific information, the latest news on book releases, Q&As with authors, and even some giveaways and excerpts as perks.

Perfect for: younger writers who are looking for genre-specific information and bookish perks.

14. Writers Helping Writers

This is a free-to-register community where you can find resources for writers, teachers, and editors alike. They offer a vast array of tools to perfect your craft, no matter your level. Their extensive creative library includes webinars, free writing and marketing tools, a thesaurus collection, story maps, idea generators, and more.

Perfect for: writers, editors, and teachers who are looking to build up their writing toolbox.

15. #WritingCommunity

Sometimes, all you need is a hashtag. And indeed, Twitter's own #WritingCommunity is one of the most robust writing collectives on the web. Ask a question, and it'll almost certainly get answered (without a lot of Twitter's trademark snark). The key here is to keep your questions concise, reply often to others, and don't go crazy with other hashtags. The community can tell if you're just thirsty for RTs. Perfect for: writers who are finally ready to use Twitter for good — and not just for procrastinating.

Do you belong to a writing community? Which one is your favorite one? Add yours in the comments below!

13 responses

27/11/2018 – 22:42

Very useful post. Thanks for this. I will be linking to it on my blog.

Dr Jack Edward Effron says:

18/02/2019 – 16:40

You left out taylz.com. It’s truly free. They are not going to give you a rubbish service to make you join their pay site because they have no pay site. Your story can be 8,000 words. They are not going to force you into flash fiction of 3,000 words. One critique out, one critique in: no mucking about with “karma” or critiquing 5+ stories to get one critique. The great new idea whose time has come! And it’s British, not American.

marieseltenrych says:

08/05/2019 – 12:28

Reedsy, thank God you are here! I want to ask a question to other authors or self publishers here: I have been approached by OmniScriptum to publish my books (research) with them. I cannot find much about this company online, so wondered if anyone has published with them recently? Thanks Reedsy in anticipation. Marie

↪️ Reedsy replied:

08/05/2019 – 12:29

Hi Marie! Sounds potentially very shady to me. If you haven't already, check out our post on predatory companies in publishing. One of the rules of thumb is that if a publisher contacts you first, be very wary. I just did 20 seconds worth of Googling and found some people who had a bad experience.

Eunice Brownlee says:

I am a member of illuminate, which is a group designed around supporting women who want to share their stories but don't know how. The majority of us write non-fiction essays and memoirs, but we have a few poets and fiction writers in the mix as well. The overall goal is to support each other, especially through those harder moments of not wanting to write, or not knowing where to start. There are monthly themes and prompts, a weekly exercise inside the Facebook group, and cross-sharing of what we're working on. My favorite feature is the expert review, where you can submit any piece you're working on each month and you'll get quality feedback from one of the editors that manage the group. This group is perfect for anyone who is just getting started writing.

↪️ Brittani B replied:

11/02/2020 – 19:27

I tried the link multiple times both from this page and separately searched and was unable to access the site.

Harry says:

05/06/2019 – 07:51

Personally I think you missed out the best writing community: https://community.jerichowriters.com/ Jericho Writers is a free writing community that writers can safely share thought, make friends, swap work and get advice

Christian says:

08/08/2019 – 12:21

I only recommend Scribophile if you enjoy being coerced into groupthink. If you hope to get meaningful critique that will help you, look elsewhere. The critiques here are mostly SPAG, and it's forbidden to discuss your work on the main forums, except in the broadest, vaguest way.

Randy says:

18/08/2019 – 06:11

I have all my dads writing research and copyrights to 18 different books....all this was before the digital world .... many negatives photos ....every major story from all over the world with his .copyright . These are huge stores and his books are really well written ....what should I do with them .....incredible spy work as well

Ratih says:

27/08/2019 – 03:50

As a new writer this article is really useful for me. Thank you reedsy

Jennifer says:

02/09/2019 – 14:15

Hi guys! Great blog! Just wanted to let you know that we linked to you in a blog on the Peaceful Living Wellness Online Magazine :) It will be published on Friday, September 6th, 2019

↪️ Martin Cavannagh replied:

17/09/2019 – 09:04

Thanks! We appreciate that!

Kaylee Downey says:

14/02/2020 – 19:09

Um...what about Wattpad?

Comments are currently closed.

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Please refer to important information on minor requirements on this page .  Five courses in creative writing and one additional course in modern/contemporary literature, selected by the student in consultation with an English Department advisor, are required for the minor in Creative Writing (18 credits hours).

Required Courses

Choose five of the following:

• ENGL 2251 - Narrative Nonfiction
• ENGL 2267 - Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENGL 2277 - Poetic Form and Formal Experimentation
• ENGL 2287 - Story Structure and Narrative Form
• ENGL 3345 - Advanced Poetry Workshop
• ENGL 3355 - Advanced Fiction Workshop
• COMM 3317 - Advanced Writing for Media
• THEA 3350 - Playwriting
• Special Topics (relevant to this category - consult with an English Department advisor)

Modern/Contemporary Literature courses (choose one from the following)

• ENGL 2202 - Modern World Literature
• ENGL 2212 - Modern British Writers
• ENGL 2214 - Modern American Writers
• ENGL 2218 - African-American Literature II
• ENGL 2275 - Popular Lyrics
• ENGL 2281 - Science Fiction
• ENGL 3385 - Contemporary American Literature
• ENGL 3390 - The Novel in English
• Special Topics (relevent to this category - consult with an English Department advisor)