creative writing major meaning

Major: Creative Writing

Which colleges offer a major in creative writing.

Creative Writing majors weave a rich tapestry of storytelling, exploring forms such as poetry, personal essays, memoirs, short stories, scriptwriting, novels, literary journalism, and even video games. It could be a favorite line in a movie, play, or book that lures an audience in and changes their world. 

Telling a story can shed light on societal issues that would otherwise receive little or no attention. By evoking emotion, the story and its characters captivate the reader. People become invested in the story, the impact of the problem on the characters’ lives, and the outcome. Creative writing humanizes experiences in a way that may foster compassion for others. A compelling creative writer draws readers in so that they become engaged in the story.

Your imagination, mindset, and self-expression will be challenged and sharpened as a creative writing major. You’ll explore multiple creative writing forms. Creative writing challenges you to dig deep and learn about yourself and others. 

What does a student majoring in Creative Writing study? 

To develop their skills, creative writing majors will take courses in historical and contemporary literature and participate in writing workshops. Such courses or workshops include, among others: 

• American Literature
• Introduction to Creative Writing
• Reading and Writing Poetry
• Playwriting
• Screenwriting

What can I do with a Creative Writing degree?

You’ll develop a greater appreciation and understanding of various creative writing genres. Your research, writing, and creative thinking skills are desirable in  jobs such as the following:

• Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
• Advertising and Promotions Managers
• Art Directors
• Fundraisers
• Producers and Directors

Specializations for a Creative Writing major are:

• Film and Television Writing
• Photojournalism
• Creative Nonfiction

What are the requirements for a Creative Writing degree? 

The degree requirements at your college or university will consist of specific credits needed for major and elective courses in creative writing. You’ll participate in many writing workshops and apply the critiques of your work from peers and faculty to hone your creative writing skills.   

Explore Creative Writing Careers

Arts and humanities majors and degrees, related ap courses, find colleges with a creative writing major.

What to Know About Creative Writing Degrees

Many creative writing degree recipients pursue careers as authors while others work as copywriters or ghostwriters.

Tips on Creative Writing Degrees

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Prospective writing students should think about their goals and figure out if a creative writing degree will help them achieve those goals.

Many people see something magical in a beautiful work of art, and artists of all kinds often take pride in their craftsmanship. Creative writers say they find fulfillment in the writing process.

"I believe that making art is a human need, and so to get to do that is amazing," says Andrea Lawlor, an author who this year received a Whiting Award – a national $50,000 prize that recognizes 10 excellent emerging authors each year – and who is also the Clara Willis Phillips Assistant Professor of English at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.

"We all are seeing more and more of the way that writing can help us understand perspectives we don't share," says Lawlor, whose recent novel "Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl" addresses the issue of gender identity.

"Writing can help us cope with hard situations," Lawlor says. "We can find people who we have something in common with even if there's nobody around us who shares our experience through writing. It's a really powerful tool for connection and social change and understanding."

Creative writing faculty, many of whom are acclaimed published authors, say that people are well-suited toward degrees in creative writing if they are highly verbal and enjoy expressing themselves.

"Creative imaginative types who have stories burning inside them and who gravitate toward stories and language might want to pursue a degree in creative writing," Jessica Bane Robert, who teaches Introduction to Creative Writing at Clark University in Massachusetts, wrote in an email. "Through formal study you will hone your voice, gain confidence, find a support system for what can otherwise be a lonely endeavor."

Read the guide below to gain more insight into what it means to pursue a creative writing education, how writing impacts society and whether it is prudent to invest in a creative writing degree. Learn about the difference between degree-based and non-degree creative writing programs, how to craft a solid application to a top-notch creative writing program and how to figure out which program is the best fit.

Why Creative Writing Matters and Reasons to Study It

Creative writers say a common misconception about their job is that their work is frivolous and impractical, but they emphasize that creative writing is an extremely effective way to convey messages that are hard to share in any other way.

Kelly Caldwell, dean of faculty at Gotham Writers Workshop in New York City, says prospective writing students are often discouraged from taking writing courses because of concerns about whether a writing life is somehow unattainable or "unrealistic."

Although creative writers are sometimes unable to financially support themselves entirely on the basis of their creative projects, Caldwell says, they often juggle that work with other types of jobs and lead successful careers.

She says that many students in her introductory creative writing class were previously forbidden by parents to study creative writing. "You have to give yourself permission for the simple reason that you want to do it," she suggests.

Creative writing faculty acknowledge that a formal academic credential in creative writing is not needed in order to get writing published. However, they suggest, creative writing programs help aspiring authors develop their writing skills and allow space and time to complete long-term writing projects.

Working writers often juggle multiple projects at once and sometimes have more than one gig, which can make it difficult to finish an especially ambitious undertaking such as a novel, a play for the screen or stage, or a well-assembled collection of poems, short stories or essays. Grants and fellowships for authors are often designed to ensure that those authors can afford to concentrate on their writing.

Samuel Ace, a published poet and a visiting lecturer in poetry at Mount Holyoke, says his goal is to show students how to write in an authentic way that conveys real feeling. "It helps students to become more direct, not to bury their thoughts under a cascade of academic language, to be more forthright," he says.

Tips on Choosing Between a Non-Degree or Degree-Based Creative Writing Program

Experts note that someone needs to be ready to get immersed in the writing process and devote significant time to writing projects before pursuing a creative writing degree. Prospective writing students should not sign up for a degree program until they have reached that sense of preparedness, warns Kim Todd, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts and director of its creative writing program.

She says prospective writing students need to think about their personal goals and figure out if a creative writing degree will help them achieve those goals.

Aspiring writers who are not ready to invest in a creative writing degree program may want to sign up for a one-off writing class or begin participating in an informal writing workshop so they can test their level of interest in the field, Todd suggests.

How to Choose and Apply to a Creative Writing Program

In many cases, the most important component of an application to a writing program is the writing portfolio, writing program experts say. Prospective writing students need to think about which pieces of writing they include in their portfolio and need to be especially mindful about which item they put at the beginning of their portfolio. They should have a trusted mentor critique the portfolio before they submit it, experts suggest.

Because creative writing often involves self-expression, it is important for aspiring writing students to find a program where they feel comfortable expressing their true identity.

This is particularly pertinent to aspiring authors who are members of minority groups, including people of color or LGBTQ individuals, says Lawlor, who identifies as queer, transgender and nonbinary.

How to Use a Creative Writing Degree

Creative writing program professors and alumni say creative writing programs cultivate a variety of in-demand skills, including the ability to communicate effectively.

"While yes, many creative writers are idealists and dreamers, these are also typically highly flexible and competent people with a range of personal strengths. And a good creative writing program helps them understand their particular strengths and marketability and translate these for potential employers, alongside the more traditional craft development work," Melissa Ridley Elmes, an assistant professor of English at Lindenwood University in Missouri, wrote in an email.

Elmes – an author who writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction – says creative writing programs force students to develop personal discipline because they have to consistently produce a significant amount of writing. In addition, participating in writing workshops requires writing students "to give and receive constructive feedback," Elmes says.

Cindy Childress, who has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisiana—Lafayatte and did a creative writing dissertation where she submitted poetry, says creative writing grads are well-equipped for good-paying positions as advertising and marketing copywriters, speechwriters, grant writers and ghostwriters.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual compensation for writers and authors was $63,200 as of May 2019.

"I think the Internet, and writing communities online and in social media, have been very helpful for debunking the idea that if you publish a New York Times Bestseller you will have 'made it' and can quit your day job and write full time," Elmes explains. "Unless you are independently wealthy, the odds are very much against you in this regard."

Childress emphasizes that creative writing degree recipients have "skills that are absolutely transferable to the real world." For example, the same storytelling techniques that copywriters use to shape public perceptions about a commercial brand are often taught in introductory creative writing courses, she says. The ability to tell a good story does not necessarily come easily to people who haven't been trained on how to do it, she explains.

Childress says she was able to translate her creative writing education into a lucrative career and start her own ghostwriting and book editing company, where she earns a six-figure salary. She says her background in poetry taught her how to be pithy.

"Anything that we want to write nowadays, particularly for social media, is going to have to be immediately understood, so there is a sense of immediacy," she says."The language has to be crisp and direct and exact, and really those are exactly the same kind of ways you would describe a successful poem."

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DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

• Undergraduate
• Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Major

The Creative Writing Major is an undergraduate concentration within the English Department at Northwestern University and one of the first and finest undergraduate Creative Writing programs in the country. Its reputation is based on the accomplishments of its graduates, the generosity of its accomplished professors, and a pedagogy that creates a fruitful symbiosis between close reading and inventive writing. Award-winning authors teach poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction, as well as courses that cross genres, guiding students to examine literary works as writers and encouraging them to study the best literary models. Professors and students work in a close-knit community as they write their own stories, novellas, poems and essays within the living tradition of literature.

Most Creative Writing Majors begin taking creative writing courses in their sophomore year and complete the yearlong “sequence” of study during their junior year, and some have the opportunity to complete an additional honors project before graduation (see Recommended Schedule for Prospective Writing Majors below). Students also learn from prominent visiting writers at our annual Festival of Writing in the Spring.  Recent graduates of the program include MacArthur “Genius” Award Winner Karen Russell; Veronica Roth, whose bestselling novel “Divergent” was first drafted while she was a student; poet Peter Kline; and award-winning essayist Angela Mears.

Current Creative Writing faculty include   Chris Abani ,  Brian Bouldrey ,   John Bresland ,   Averill Curdy ,   Sheila Donohue ,   Reginald Gibbons , Juan Martinez , Shauna Seliy , Charif Shanahan ,  Natasha Trethewey , Daisy Hernández ,  and   Rachel Jamison Webster .

The Creative Writing program also offers two minors; the Sequence-based Minor and, for those not pursuing one of the year-long sequences, the non-application based Cross-genre Minor in Creative Writing .

See past and upcoming Creative Writing events.

Undergraduate publication opportunities

Recommended Schedule for Prospective Writing Majors

Courses for prospective creative writing majors, in a recommended order..

*Denotes courses that are REQUIRED for the Creative Writing Major

ENG 202-Introduction to Creative Writing

(can be taken in Fall quarter of Freshman year. This provides an introduction to all three genres and prepares you for our other CW courses.)

ENG 210-1,2 - English Literary Traditions       or ENG 270-1,2 - American Literary Traditions

(While not required for creative writing, these are excellent background courses for writing students, and also serve as prerequisites for the English literature major.)

* ENG 206 - Reading and Writing Poetry

* ENG 207 - Reading and Writing Fiction    

* ENG 208 - Reading & Writing Creative Nonfiction

(You may take 206, 207, or 208 in any order.  You should have taken or be enrolled in any one of these when you're applying. )

Students may apply to the Creative Writing Program in the Spring of your Sophomore Year or in the Spring of your Junior Year.

Click here to apply. Applications close April 29th, 2024 at 11:59pm. 

Some students fulfill their requirements--of 206, 207 and 208--well before the time of application to the program. If that happens, we recommend that you stay in writing practice and continue building your portfolio by taking one of our 300-level writing courses, English 306, 307, 308, or 309. Please see Juan Martinez , Director of Creative Writing, for further suggestions and help with course planning.

Initial Required Courses

All students interested in the Creative Writing Major must take one introductory course --poetry (ENG 206), fiction (207), or creative nonfiction (208)--and at least be enrolled in another before applying to the major. Students can only apply to the major in any genre for which they've completed (or are enrolled) in its 200-level component; you can only apply for poetry after having taken or enrolling in ENG 206, for fiction after ENG 207, for creative nonfiction after ENG 208.

At the 200-level, no prior knowledge of a genre is required to enroll.

• No English Department creative writing course may be audited or taken pass/fail.
• School of Professional Studies courses offered under the titles ENG 206, 207 and 208 do not count toward any course of study within the Creative Writing program.

Admission to the Program

Admission to the next stage of the Creative Writing Major or the Sequence-based Minor in Creative Writing, the year-long 300-level advanced course sequences, is competitive. Admission to the program is granted primarily on the basis of manuscript quality and the student’s promise. An applicant may be admitted to study as a major, a minor, or a sequence-only student.

For fiction and nonfiction applications, your writing sample should be 7-15 pages.

For poetry applications, your writing sample should be 4-5 poems.

No preference in admission is currently given to those who apply to the sequences, though there are later opportunities open only to Creative Writing Majors, including participation in senior honors, one-on-one conferences with visiting writers-in-residence, and the winter senior readings series.  Students may apply for admission to the sequence courses no earlier than the spring of their sophomore year.   

Click here to apply. Applications close April 29th, 2024 at 11:59pm.

The Sequences

Theory and Practice of Poetry (ENG 393), Fiction (394), and Creative Nonfiction (395):

These year-long sequences of courses ask students to pursue a rigorous program that includes explication and critical writing, imitation and modeling, close reading of literary texts, and the creation of original creative work.  The sequences are arranged in three consecutive quarters.

They begin in the fall with specialized courses in the fundamental technical and rhetorical bases of each genre. Poetry students study the uses of metaphor and mode, and the theory of prosody (including both the major form of poetry in English-accentual-syllabic verse-and the minor forms, accentual, syllabic, and free verse). Fiction students consider the tenets of realism and its alternatives, and practice different approaches to style, characterization, structure, and point of view. Creative nonfiction students focus on essay forms, logical method, authorial tone, and techniques of discourse and description. In all genres, imitations and models of great writers are assigned.

The second half of the sequence in each genre is devoted to intensive writing of a longer original work-a poem of at least 120 lines or an essay or novella of 25 to 35 pages.

Note that in the event further work in fiction, creative nonfiction or poetry is desired outside the year-long sequence, ENG 206, 207, and 208 may be repeated up to two times for WCAS credit. Advanced one-quarter courses in creative writing (ENG 306, 307, 308, 309) are also offered for non-majors.

The application is available here . Applications will close on April 29th at 11:59pm.

Other Required Courses for MAJOR Students

In addition to the sequences, creative writing majors must take:

ENG 392 - The Situation of Writing

“The Situation of Writing,” which is typically offered in the winter quarter, investigates the writer’s relation to the culture, both currently and historically. The course addresses such questions as the relation of criticism to imaginative literature, the rise and fall of specific literary genres, the effect of the university on the production and consumption of literary works, the state of the publishing industry, and international literary contexts.

The “Third-Genre Intro” Course 

English 207 or 208, whichever introductory course was not completed before application to the sequences. This requirement ensures that writing majors will have had experience reading and writing in all three major non-dramatic modes of imaginative writing.

Six 300-level literature classes

These courses must be “pure literature”; that is, courses in which the bulk of the reading is literature and not criticism or theory. They must be selected from English Department offerings ONLY:

• Two on material written prior to 1830
• Two on material written after 1830
• Two from either period

Two non-literature courses related to one another, taught in other department(s).

These courses, in areas such as history, art, classics, and gender studies, broaden the student’s background for the study of literature. These must be approved by a creative writing advisor.

Other Required Courses for Sequence-Based MINOR students

In addition to the sequences, creative writing sequence-based minors must take:

Two 300-level literature classes

• One on material written prior to 1830
• One on material written after 1830

The Cross-genre Minor in Creative Writing

Other program features.

The Annual Writers Festival gives students the chance to learn from and interact with guest Writers-in-Residence for a three-day celebration of master classes, public readings, and a panel discussion on craft. The festival is situated within the larger Evanston Literary Festival, which hosts a number of literary events throughout the city.

Writing by students at Northwestern is recognized by the award-winning student literary magazine, Helicon, and by the  Department of English Annual Writing Competition , held in the spring.

Creative Writing Alumni Testimonials

-- Veronica Roth, author of the bestselling Divergent series

“I still believe our program at Northwestern is as good as any graduate program in the country. It was nice to have the opportunity when I was 19 to spend so much time reading and writing with these other writers. There was such a serious sense of purpose. That’s a testament to Brian and Sheila and the rest of the faculty. They really could create a community.” --Karen Russell, author of Swamplandia!, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and winner of a MacArthur Genius Award.

“As a Creative Nonfiction student in the Creative Writing program, I was pushed hard -- by my professors and fellow writers -- to find my voice. Not just my voice as a writer, but as a person and advocate of my life and experiences. More than anything else, I learned that I am still learning. I am still finding that voice, and always will be. I learned that this fact is okay, it is right, it is what makes me write.”   --Danielle Littman, 2013 graduate.

"We're not just educating people for professional tracks; we're educating them for their lives." --Professor Mary Kinzie, Founder of the Creative Writing Program and award-winning poet.

Creative Writing Major

What is a major in creative writing.

Participate in a wide range of courses reflective of your creative interests. You'll learn about major writers, literary traditions, and contemporary innovations. Under the guidance of published writers, you'll also develop a portfolio of material showcasing your range and versatility as a creative writer.

Why Study Creative Writing at Virginia Tech?

Here, you will study with distinguished authors including Matthew Vollmer, Lucinda Roy, Jeff Mann, Evan Lavender-Smith, Sophia Terazawa, and Khadijah Queen. We also host a variety of campus readings for you to attend by renowned poets, playwrights, essayists, and fiction writers. Some of our past visiting writers have included:

• Viet Than Ngyuen
• George Saunders
• Carrie Fountain
• Douglas Kearney
• Matthew Salesses
• Jenny Boully
• Zadie Smith
• Terry Tempest Williams
• Kevin Young
• Terrance Hayes
• Cheryl Strayed
• Ocean Vuong

The major offers workshops that allow you to share your poems, stories, and essays with peer's to help you grow as a writer. With this opportunity, you can improve your writing skills while building your portfolio.

  3 Study Abroad Programs

  24 Average Class Size

  100+ English Courses Offered

Caty Gordon, '10

Caty graduated from Virginia Tech in 2010 with degrees in creative writing and professional and technical writing. After graduating from Columbia University with her M.F.A. in creative nonfiction, she moved on to serve as an editorial assistant for Simon and Schuster and Penguin Group USA, where she is presently employed.

Orlando Dos Reis, '10

Orlando graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in creative writing in 2010. Post-graduation, he moved on to Kansas State University to continue his education, earning his M.A. in English language and literature in 2013. He presently serves as an editorial assistant for Abrams in the New York City area.

Erica Corder, '16

Erica graduated from Virginia Tech in 2016 with degrees in creative writing and political science. After starting up an independent journalism publication called The Pylon, Erica accepted a job in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, where she currently works as a communications manager who tells the story of the college and its students and faculty in Blacksburg and beyond through writing, photos, and videos.

Shalini Rana, '18

Shalini graduated with double majors in creative writing and professional and technical writing. During her time at Virginia Tech, her poetry was published in undergraduate publications, Silhouette and Philologia, and received third place in the Steger Poetry Prize. Shalini works as a consultant for CollabraLink Technologies and continues writing. In the future, she plans to complete a poetry M.F.A. program.

Jessica Mardian, '20

In her creative writing courses, Jessica developed strong writing skills and found the space to express herself. She was published in the Silhouette literary magazine, was a finalist for the Steger Poetry Prize at Virginia Tech, and served as a speaker at the Creative Writing Showcase. Jessica plans to pursue a career a journalism and a MFA in Creative Writing, with a focus on poetry.

Careers and Further Study

What can you do with a major in Creative Writing?

Jobs Held by Our Graduates

• Creative manager
• Literary agent
• Grant writer
• Video game developer
• Editor and copywriter
• Web designer
• Television writer
• Journalist and reporter

Creative Writing Major at Virginia Tech

Beyond the Classroom

Experiential Learning

• INTERNSHIPS
• UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT STUDY
• STUDY ABROAD
• STRONG COMMUNITY
• WRITING WORKSHOPS

Engage in your profession by writing, researching, editing, and making connections with employers across the country. Apply the knowledge and skills you learn in the classroom to the workplace. Internships earn academic credit and provide valuable real-world experience. 

You will work with a faculty mentor to experiment with language, find inspiration, grow as an artist, and share your work with peers and mentors. Learn how to brainstorm and experiment, gain experience performing your work for audiences, learn how to critique stories, poems, and plays in a workshop setting, and submit your work to literary magazines.

We host a faculty-led trip to London, an exchange program with Loughborough University, and a Wintermester Experience that visits different locations each year .  These experiences enrich your understanding of the history and culture of the English language and its literature.

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Our diverse faculty is made up of published authors and poets, accomplished playwrights and essayists, and recipients of fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. We love mentoring our students and take great pride in watching them grow as writers.

During our Creative Writing major workshops, you will have the opportunity to share your stories, poems, and essays with your classmates. You'll offer critiques, compliments, suggestions, and interpretations of your peers work; you'll receive the same in return. No two workshops will ever be the same. Our goal is to help you improve your writing skills.

What You'll Study

Bachelor of Arts in English Degree

• Including Virginia Tech's Pathways

Creative Writing Major Requirements

• Introduction to Critical Reading
• Introduction to Critical Writing
• Literary History
• Acts of Interpretation
• Writing and Digital Media
• Capstone Experience 

Minor and Elective Hours

Our program gives you the opportunity to build knowledge in another area by pursuing a minor, double major, or cognate.

120 hrs B.A. English

45 hrs General Education

39 hrs Major Requirements

36 hrs Elective

Campus Life

Virtual tour.

Explore the university through either a guided or self-guided virtual tour

Discover all that Virginia Tech has to offer inside and outside of the classroom. Our campus life aims to build communities, promote holistic education, and cultivate environments that offer opportunities for leadership, innovation, and service.

Related Programs

How can we help you decide.

Cost and Financial Aid How to Apply

Visit Campus Virtual Tour

Diversity and Inclusion Our Faculty Covid-19 Policy

Email Us Social Media Map

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

List of All U.S. Colleges with a Creative Writing Major

Writing has been my passion practically since I learned to read in kindergarten. I would write stories about princesses and my family dog, Gansett. When it came time to look at colleges, I was set on attending one with a strong creative writing program. Ultimately, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars.

Today, colleges across the country offer creative writing as a major. Because writing skills are essential for a wide range of careers, and because most curricula emphasize broad liberal arts competencies, a degree in creative writing can set you up for success in numerous fields, whether you want to be an editor or a lawyer.

Interested in majoring in creative writing? Learn which schools offer the major and what to look for in a program.

Overview of the Creative Writing Major

Creative writing is about more than spinning tales. For your major, you’ll generally need to pursue a curriculum grounded in literature, history, foreign language, and other humanities courses, along with distribution courses, if the college requires them.

Most creative writing majors must participate in workshops, in which students present their work and listen to peer critiques, usually with a certain number of advanced courses in the mix. In some cases, colleges will ask you to specialize in a particular genre, such as fiction, poetry, or playwriting. 

To succeed in creative writing, you’ll need to have a tough spine, in order to open yourself up to feedback from your classmates and instructors. You may need to give readings in public — if not as an undergraduate, certainly during your career. Of course, a passion for creating is essential, too, as is a willingness to revise your work and learn from the greats and your peers.

A creative writing major opens up doors to many careers, including journalism, content marketing, copywriting, teaching, and others. Even careers that don’t center around writing often have a strong writing component: you’ll need to write reports, deliver presentations, and so on.

Some writers go on to earn an MFA, which will help you hone your craft. It’s also often a prerequisite for teaching creative writing at the college level.

What to Look for in a College as a Creative Writing Major

Published authors on faculty.

Many world-renowned authors have another claim to fame: professorships. Writers who have taught their craft include (among many others):

• Maya Angelou (Wake Forest University)
• Colson Whitehead (many colleges, including Vassar College and Columbia University)
• Stephen Dixon (Johns Hopkins University)
• Viet Thanh Nguyen (University of Southern California)
• Eula Biss (Northwestern University)
• Toni Morrison (Princeton University)

Be aware that as an undergraduate, you may not be able to learn from the greats. That’s why it’s important to look into which courses these faculty teach before you have dreams of being mentored by Salman Rushdie — who is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU.

Genres Offered

While many schools that have creative writing majors offer fiction and poetry courses and tracks, there are some niche genres that could be more difficult to find. If you’re interested in playwriting, for example, you won’t find that at every school. Before you decide on a program, be sure it includes the genres you’d like to explore further, whether that’s flash fiction, creative nonfiction, or something else.

Workshopping Opportunities

The core of most quality creative writing curriculum is workshopping. This means sharing your work in your classes and listening to your peers discuss and critique it. While this may sound intimidating, it can do a lot to help you hone your work and become a better writer. Look for colleges that make this the bedrock of their curriculum.

Showcasing Opportunities

Are there opportunities to present your work, such as college-sponsored readings where undergraduates can participate? Or, perhaps the school has a great literary journal. At my school, students could submit their plays and have them performed by fellow students. 

List of All U.S. Colleges With a Creative Writing Major

What are your chances of acceptance.

No matter what major you’re considering, the first step is ensuring you’re academically comparable to students who were previously accepted to the college or university. Most selective schools use the Academic Index to filter out applicants who aren’t up to their standards.

You’ll also want to demonstrate your fit with the school and specific major with the qualitative components of your application, like your extracurriculars and essays. For a prospective creative writing major, the essay is particularly important because this is a way to demonstrate your writing prowess. Activities might include editing your school’s newspaper or literary journal, publishing your work, and participating in pre-college writing workshops.

Want to know your chances of being accepted to top creative writing schools? Try our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike other calculators, it takes your individual profile into account, including academic stats and qualitative components like your activities. Give it a try and get a jumpstart on your journey as a creative writing major!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Your Complete Guide to Majoring in Creative Writing with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or BA

Written by Haley Boyce

You’ve been telling stories since the first time you could string together a sentence. During recess, friends hung on to your every last fabricated word as you told them about the ghost you saw in the cafeteria. High school English teachers commended your imagination and prose, and math teachers reminded you that you can’t be good at everything.

And now you’re here, figuring out what to do with that part of you that is ready to churn the innate gift for storytelling into something that will make a real difference in your life – a bachelor’s degree in creative writing.  

Your entire education up until this point has led you to this very moment – it is time to choose your four-year college or university and declare a major. So now the question is…  

What college or university should you attend for your bachelor’s in creative writing?

Selecting the college or university where you will earn your creative writing bachelor’s degree comes down to factors that include everything from what you find in the course catalog to where the program is located. If you’re at the very beginning of your college career, you still have prerequisites to complete before focusing solely on creative writing coursework, which could play a part in where you start your degree and when.

It is also important to consider which type of writing bachelor’s will benefit you the most – a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing… or a Bachelor of Science in Writing (Yup. Science.). 

This handy guide is the result of research and years of our own college experiences that we happily share to make these decisions as easy as possible. 

How a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing Offers Preparation for Life, Not Just a Career in Writing

This is the essential creative writing education experience – totally reliable in its ability to deliver you to career readiness, and fully capable of pushing you out of your comfort zone and into the realm of self-exploration where writers thrive.

In addition to your area of concentration, you will get a well-rounded  liberal arts education that could touch on diverse areas such as history, anthropology, psychology, the sciences, and even religion. 

The Kind of Liberal Arts Education You Get from a Bachelor’s Will Include the Courses You Need to Become a Real Writer – Not Just the Ones You Want  

In those moments it can definitely feel like an injustice to spend time and money on classes that feel distant from the act of creative writing itself, but consider that the more you know about life and history and the way people think, the richer your writing will be.

Books that are swallowed whole are the ones that breathe life into otherwise static characters. Authors who write stories with dynamic character relationships, fictional worlds so real you can smell the food mingling with spices in the pan or hear the swoosh of the sword as it slices wind on its way to a villain. 

But hold strong and stay the course, the utterly fascinating humanities classes you will encounter in addition to your creative writing classes could everything from literature to thought and image to European Jewish writers to women writers of the middle ages.

The purpose of a four-year degree is manifold. Not only does it prepare you for a career in writing, but it also gives you a well-rounded education that in turn gives the world a multifaceted human who is equipped to contribute to society and even the greater good of humanity.

If that sounds lofty, consider the schools of Ancient Athens. Those were precisely the original goals of a fundamental liberal arts education laid out by philosophers, and masters of rhetoric, from Plato to Socrates.

BA, BFA, or BS – Writing Bachelor’s Degrees of All Stripes Offer Serious Career Preparation

We’d wager a confident bet that all this time you’ve been considering a bachelor’s in creative writing, you assumed it would be a Bachelor of Arts. But did you know there are options to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing and even a Bachelor of Science in writing too?

We didn’t when we were first starting out as writing students ourselves, so we did some digging and hit a goldmine of information that helped us to define and decide upon the creative writing programs best suited to our individual needs and goals.

Here’s the breakdown:

Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing

The quintessential liberal arts education and the most common four-year degree for creative writing undergrads.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

An esteemed fine arts degree that leans heavily into the literary arts and humanities, providing exceptional preparation for an MFA.

Bachelor of Science in Writing

English writing may not be a science itself, but it’s structure and rules track with an analytic worldview, giving the BS a place in less creative areas of writing.

BA vs Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing

The difference between a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Arts is the concentration in coursework. While the Bachelor of Arts spotlights several areas of the sciences and humanities, the Bachelor of Fine Arts pays special attention to an education specifically in the arts. 

Whether a BA or BFA, students are required to complete at least 120 credits, with some programs including as many as 128. How these credits are distributed among arts and humanities, though, depends on which of the routes you take.

A BFA differs from a BA in the ratio between courses that are purely steeped in the arts and those that would be considered general studies:

• BFA – weighted more heavily toward purely creative arts credits
• BA – weighted more toward general liberals arts credits, which include math, science, history, psychology, etc

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, something close to 75% of your studies would be focused exclusively on the arts. In your typical 120-credit bachelor’s program, that works out to approximately 90 creative arts credits and 30 liberal arts credits. 

Naturally, with a BFA you can expect extra extensive studies and workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, classics, and, creative nonfiction to name just a few. 

Writing begins with observations of human behavior, studying it in conjunction with craft makes for deeply compelling storytelling. 

If this sounds like something you’d like to explore, here is a little of what you might expect while earning your Bachelor of Science in Writing:

• Behavioral Science
• Story Analysis
• Action Line Writing
• Cultural Studies
• Historical Archetypes and Mythology
• Leadership and Organizational Behavior
• The Business of Writing
• Creative Communication
• Character Building
• Literary Analysis
• Technical Writing

No surprises here. The BS options you find out there will be decided less focused on artistic expression and the creative side of writing, and more geared toward careers in academic, technical, scientific, textbook, and other nonfiction and instructional types of writing.

There’s a tremendous need in the world for writing that focuses purely on clarity and concision, and that’s exactly what a Bachelor of Science in Writing will help you do.

Your Favorite Author Might Have Spent Time in the Lecture Hall – on Both Sides of the Podium

Your favorite author — the one responsible for influencing how you view literature and the world. They have been part of your life in one way or another from the moment you first picked up their book.

But what would happen if they were standing before you (or talking to you from their office during a weekly Zoom meeting), pouring into you all their knowledge about artistry and industry? Imagine being their student and how lucky many have been to learn from masters such as these (then go enroll in your first creative writing course so you can one day do the same).

Neil Gaiman ( Coraline , T he Graveyard Book , American Gods ) has taught an advanced writing workshop at Bard College.

Joyce Carol Oates ( Blonde , We Were the Mulvaneys ) has taught at Princeton and University of California, Berkeley. 

Rachel Kadish ( The Weight of Ink , From a Sealed Room ) has taught courses at Bar Ilan University, Boston College, New York University, and summer residencies at Harvard University. 

Toni Morrison ( The Bluest Eye , Song of Solomon , Beloved ) had an extensive career as a professor at Texas Southern University, Howard University, the State University of New York at Albany, and Princeton University.  

Colson Whitehead ( Harlem Shuffle , The Underground Railroad , Nickleboys ) has taught at the University of Houston, Columbia University, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, New York University, Princeton University, and Wesleyan University.

Minor Decisions Can Make a Big Impact on Your Bachelor’s in Creative Writing Program

First and foremost, declaring a minor is not a mandatory requirement for your bachelor’s degree. However, you might find at some point that you’ve earned enough credits in a particular field and decide that you may as well declare it your minor.

Choosing your minor might come to you organically, or it might be a more methodical decision.

It’s also a good idea to declare a minor if you know that the career you’re aiming for after graduation will be packed with equally qualified candidates, or if you simply want to expand your breadth of knowledge and effectively specialize in an area that aligns with the ways you will be applying your writing talents.

If your interest is in writing historical fiction, let’s say, then history would be a smart choice for a minor. Pretty much any minor can benefit your craft.

Here are a few minors that combine well with creative writing. 

Start your own publishing house, magazine, journal, or all three! Or apply to work at established publishing houses. A minor in business will show that not only are you passionate about words, but you know how to do what it takes to run a successful business as well. What an asset!

Celebrities are being touted as multihyphenates but there is none more influential than someone who is a writer and a teacher.  Taking great liberty with the old George Bernard Shaw adage, those who can, do. Those who can change lives, teach.

Stories are told in limitless mediums and it’s no secret that film is one of them. Gosh, can you imagine the audience you could captivate with skills in both writing the story and executing it on the silver screen? Do not ever limit yourself or your stories to one mode of communication. You’ve got ideas and there are people who need to hear and see them.

Take the same sentiment from above and add the electric buzz that can only be generated between performers on stage and an audience leaning toward them from their red velvet seats. There’s nothing like it.

Political Science

There’s no denying the connection between good writing and politics. As a writer with an interest and/or career goals in politics you’ll have the power to shape how people think about policy.

Even if it seems logical to choose a minor connected to creative writing in some capacity, but your gut instinct is moving you in a completely different direction – trust it. Trust yourself.  

Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing Is More Practical Than Most People Think

2022 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the median national monthly income with a bachelor’s degree to be better than $5,200, well above the national median of about $4,000 for everybody in the workforce. Compare that to the $3,200 per month you could expect to earn with a high school diploma. Even an associate degree puts you below the national median, with monthly earnings of less than $3,900 expected.

Even if money isn’t everything, there’s no arguing that it isn’t very, very important. And hey – this is the section about pragmatism after all. When you consider that the unemployment rate in America for those that hold a bachelor’s degree is half what it is high school educated Americans, the point really hits home.

A bachelor’s degree is almost a necessity these days if you want to be considered a competitive applicant in the workforce. Earning a bachelor’s in your preferred field of creative writing not only fulfills your desire to develop your craft, but it also sets you up for success as a job candidate in many other fields. 

Completing your bachelor’s degree is a wise life decision. You already know that. But there’s a sweetness to earning a degree in creative writing that transcends all the facts and figures that support that kind of practical wisdom.  

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2023 Creative Writing Degree Guide

Rapid growth in creative writing degrees awarded.

Creative Writing was the 120th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 6,817 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 231 over the prior year, a growth of 3.4%.

This year's Best Creative Writing Schools ranking compares 214 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom creative writing rankings further below.

Best Creative Writing Schools by Degree

Requirements for getting a degree in creative writing.

A major in creative writing prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.

Creative Writing Degree Program Entry Requirements

New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic creative writing program qualifications, to serve in some creative writing careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.

Types of Creative Writing Degrees

There are various different levels of creative writing degrees. You can get anything from a in creative writing to the highest creative writing degree, a . Different creative writing degrees vary in how long they take.

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to creative writing, with approximately 42.2% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for creative writing workers below.

82.7% of creative writing workers have at least a associate. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in creative writing have obtained.

This of course varies depending on which creative writing career you choose.

Creative Writing Careers

Growth projected for creative writing careers.

Want a job when you graduate with your creative writing degree? Creative Writing careers are expected to grow 6.7% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to creative writing.

How Much Money Do People With a Creative Writing Degree Make?

As you might expect, salaries for creative writing graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

Highest Paid Creative Writing Careers

Salaries for creative writing graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers creative writing grads often go into.

Getting Your Creative Writing Degree

With over 704 different creative writing degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased creative writing school rankings to help you with this.

Top Ranking Lists for Creative Writing

Best schools creative writing, best value colleges creative writing, creative writing related majors.

One of 4 majors within the Writing Studies area of study, Creative Writing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Creative Writing

View All Creative Writing Related Majors >

National Center for Education Statistics

O*NET Online

Image Credit: By KOKUYO under License More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

Compare your school options.

Undergraduate Admissions

• Creative Writing

Purdue University in West Lafayette

Creative Writing focuses on writing poetry, fiction, or drama. This major is perfect for students who love to write and who do so no matter what. Many creative writing students double major in creative writing and another area, like professional writing.

Most Creative Writing majors and minors want to have creative writing as a component of their future. As a creative writing major, you’ll learn many skills that employers find desirable, which may lead to jobs in publishing, marketing, management, and more. Other students plan to attend graduate school to hone their skills and further develop their art.

All liberal arts majors prepare students with the skills identified as contributing to managerial success:  communicating and listening well, possessing insights into others, creative/critical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to make connections across complex ideas.

Degree in 3

Plan of Study

• Creative Writing, BA

Transfer to Creative Writing

Purdue admits to individual majors. Transfer students must meet Purdue's overall transfer criteria , as well as any major-specific requirements. Before you apply, check the closed programs page to confirm this major is open to transfer students. If it is, refer to the information below for major-specific transfer criteria.

Minimum GPA: 2.5

Contact Information

Undergraduate Student Recruitment Office (765) 494-6291 [email protected]

Careers in Creative Writing

•   Writer
•   Teacher
•   Editor
•   Advertiser
•   Social Media Manager
•   Journalist
•   Freelance Writing
•   Production Assistant
•   Marketing Director
•   Attorney
• Marketing, Advertising, Communication, and Writing
• Public Service or Social Sciences
• Teaching and Education
• African American Studies
• American Studies
• Anthropology
• Art History
• Artificial Intelligence
• Asian Studies
• Chinese Studies
• Classical Studies
• Communication (multiple concentrations)
• Comparative Literature
• Digital Criminology
• Economics (Pre) (College of Liberal Arts)
• Film and Video
• Global Studies
• Industrial Design
• Integrated Studio Arts, BFA (Portfolio Required)
• Interior Design - Professional Program
• Italian Studies
• Jewish Studies
• Law and Society (Criminology)
• Linguistics
• Political Science
• Pre-dentistry
• Pre-medicine
• Pre-occupational Therapy
• Pre-physical Therapy
• Pre-physician Assistant
• Professional Writing
• Religious Studies
• Sound for the Performing Arts (Portfolio Required)
• Studio Arts and Technology
• Visual Arts Design Education
• Visual Arts Education
• Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design)
• Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
• College of Liberal Arts

What is Creative Writing? A Key Piece of the Writer’s Toolbox

Not all writing is the same and there’s a type of writing that has the ability to transport, teach, and inspire others like no other.

Creative writing stands out due to its unique approach and focus on imagination. Here’s how to get started and grow as you explore the broad and beautiful world of creative writing!

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a form of writing that extends beyond the bounds of regular professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature. It is characterized by its emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or poetic techniques to express ideas in an original and imaginative way.

Creative writing can take on various forms such as:

• short stories
• screenplays

It’s a way for writers to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a creative, often symbolic, way . It’s about using the power of words to transport readers into a world created by the writer.

5 Key Characteristics of Creative Writing

Creative writing is marked by several defining characteristics, each working to create a distinct form of expression:

1. Imagination and Creativity: Creative writing is all about harnessing your creativity and imagination to create an engaging and compelling piece of work. It allows writers to explore different scenarios, characters, and worlds that may not exist in reality.

2. Emotional Engagement: Creative writing often evokes strong emotions in the reader. It aims to make the reader feel something — whether it’s happiness, sorrow, excitement, or fear.

3. Originality: Creative writing values originality. It’s about presenting familiar things in new ways or exploring ideas that are less conventional.

4. Use of Literary Devices: Creative writing frequently employs literary devices such as metaphors, similes, personification, and others to enrich the text and convey meanings in a more subtle, layered manner.

5. Focus on Aesthetics: The beauty of language and the way words flow together is important in creative writing. The aim is to create a piece that’s not just interesting to read, but also beautiful to hear when read aloud.

Remember, creative writing is not just about producing a work of art. It’s also a means of self-expression and a way to share your perspective with the world. Whether you’re considering it as a hobby or contemplating a career in it, understanding the nature and characteristics of creative writing can help you hone your skills and create more engaging pieces .

For more insights into creative writing, check out our articles on creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree and is a degree in creative writing worth it .

Styles of Creative Writing

To fully understand creative writing , you must be aware of the various styles involved. Creative writing explores a multitude of genres, each with its own unique characteristics and techniques.

Poetry is a form of creative writing that uses expressive language to evoke emotions and ideas. Poets often employ rhythm, rhyme, and other poetic devices to create pieces that are deeply personal and impactful. Poems can vary greatly in length, style, and subject matter, making this a versatile and dynamic form of creative writing.

Short Stories

Short stories are another common style of creative writing. These are brief narratives that typically revolve around a single event or idea. Despite their length, short stories can provide a powerful punch, using precise language and tight narrative structures to convey a complete story in a limited space.

Novels represent a longer form of narrative creative writing. They usually involve complex plots, multiple characters, and various themes. Writing a novel requires a significant investment of time and effort; however, the result can be a rich and immersive reading experience.

Screenplays

Screenplays are written works intended for the screen, be it television, film, or online platforms. They require a specific format, incorporating dialogue and visual descriptions to guide the production process. Screenwriters must also consider the practical aspects of filmmaking, making this an intricate and specialized form of creative writing.

If you’re interested in this style, understanding creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree can provide useful insights.

Writing for the theater is another specialized form of creative writing. Plays, like screenplays, combine dialogue and action, but they also require an understanding of the unique dynamics of the theatrical stage. Playwrights must think about the live audience and the physical space of the theater when crafting their works.

Each of these styles offers unique opportunities for creativity and expression. Whether you’re drawn to the concise power of poetry, the detailed storytelling of novels, or the visual language of screenplays and plays, there’s a form of creative writing that will suit your artistic voice. The key is to explore, experiment, and find the style that resonates with you.

For those looking to spark their creativity, our article on creative writing prompts offers a wealth of ideas to get you started.

Importance of Creative Writing

Understanding what is creative writing involves recognizing its value and significance. Engaging in creative writing can provide numerous benefits – let’s take a closer look.

Developing Creativity and Imagination

Creative writing serves as a fertile ground for nurturing creativity and imagination. It encourages you to think outside the box, explore different perspectives, and create unique and original content. This leads to improved problem-solving skills and a broader worldview , both of which can be beneficial in various aspects of life.

Through creative writing, one can build entire worlds, create characters, and weave complex narratives, all of which are products of a creative mind and vivid imagination. This can be especially beneficial for those seeking creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Enhancing Communication Skills

Creative writing can also play a crucial role in honing communication skills. It demands clarity, precision, and a strong command of language. This helps to improve your vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, making it easier to express thoughts and ideas effectively .

Moreover, creative writing encourages empathy as you often need to portray a variety of characters from different backgrounds and perspectives. This leads to a better understanding of people and improved interpersonal communication skills.

Exploring Emotions and Ideas

One of the most profound aspects of creative writing is its ability to provide a safe space for exploring emotions and ideas. It serves as an outlet for thoughts and feelings , allowing you to express yourself in ways that might not be possible in everyday conversation.

Writing can be therapeutic, helping you process complex emotions, navigate difficult life events, and gain insight into your own experiences and perceptions. It can also be a means of self-discovery , helping you to understand yourself and the world around you better.

So, whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, the benefits of creative writing are vast and varied. For those interested in developing their creative writing skills, check out our articles on creative writing prompts and how to teach creative writing . If you’re considering a career in this field, you might find our article on is a degree in creative writing worth it helpful.

4 Steps to Start Creative Writing

Creative writing can seem daunting to beginners, but with the right approach, anyone can start their journey into this creative field. Here are some steps to help you start creative writing .

1. Finding Inspiration

The first step in creative writing is finding inspiration . Inspiration can come from anywhere and anything. Observe the world around you, listen to conversations, explore different cultures, and delve into various topics of interest.

Reading widely can also be a significant source of inspiration. Read different types of books, articles, and blogs. Discover what resonates with you and sparks your imagination.

For structured creative prompts, visit our list of creative writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

Editor’s Note : When something excites or interests you, stop and take note – it could be the inspiration for your next creative writing piece.

2. Planning Your Piece

Once you have an idea, the next step is to plan your piece . Start by outlining:

• the main points

Remember, this can serve as a roadmap to guide your writing process. A plan doesn’t have to be rigid. It’s a flexible guideline that can be adjusted as you delve deeper into your writing. The primary purpose is to provide direction and prevent writer’s block.

3. Writing Your First Draft

After planning your piece, you can start writing your first draft . This is where you give life to your ideas and breathe life into your characters.

Don’t worry about making it perfect in the first go. The first draft is about getting your ideas down on paper . You can always refine and polish your work later. And if you don’t have a great place to write that first draft, consider a journal for writing .

4. Editing and Revising Your Work

The final step in the creative writing process is editing and revising your work . This is where you fine-tune your piece, correct grammatical errors, and improve sentence structure and flow.

Editing is also an opportunity to enhance your storytelling . You can add more descriptive details, develop your characters further, and make sure your plot is engaging and coherent.

Remember, writing is a craft that improves with practice . Don’t be discouraged if your first few pieces don’t meet your expectations. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy the creative process.

For more insights on creative writing, check out our articles on how to teach creative writing or creative writing activities for kids.

Tips to Improve Creative Writing Skills

Understanding what is creative writing is the first step. But how can one improve their creative writing skills? Here are some tips that can help.

Read Widely

Reading is a vital part of becoming a better writer. By immersing oneself in a variety of genres, styles, and authors, one can gain a richer understanding of language and storytelling techniques . Different authors have unique voices and methods of telling stories, which can serve as inspiration for your own work. So, read widely and frequently!

Practice Regularly

Like any skill, creative writing improves with practice. Consistently writing — whether it be daily, weekly, or monthly — helps develop your writing style and voice . Using creative writing prompts can be a fun way to stimulate your imagination and get the words flowing.

Attend Writing Workshops and Courses

Formal education such as workshops and courses can offer structured learning and expert guidance. These can provide invaluable insights into the world of creative writing, from understanding plot development to character creation. If you’re wondering is a degree in creative writing worth it, these classes can also give you a taste of what studying creative writing at a higher level might look like .

Joining Writing Groups and Communities

Being part of a writing community can provide motivation, constructive feedback, and a sense of camaraderie. These groups often hold regular meetings where members share their work and give each other feedback. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with others who share your passion for writing.

Seeking Feedback on Your Work

Feedback is a crucial part of improving as a writer. It offers a fresh perspective on your work, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Whether it’s from a writing group, a mentor, or even friends and family, constructive criticism can help refine your writing .

Start Creative Writing Today!

Remember, becoming a proficient writer takes time and patience. So, don’t be discouraged by initial challenges. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. Who knows, your passion for creative writing might even lead to creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Happy writing!

Brooks Manley

Creative Primer  is a resource on all things journaling, creativity, and productivity. We’ll help you produce better ideas, get more done, and live a more effective life.

My name is Brooks. I do a ton of journaling, like to think I’m a creative (jury’s out), and spend a lot of time thinking about productivity. I hope these resources and product recommendations serve you well. Reach out if you ever want to chat or let me know about a journal I need to check out!

Here’s my favorite journal for 2024: 

Gratitude Journal Prompts Mindfulness Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Anxiety Reflective Journal Prompts Healing Journal Prompts Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Journal Prompts Mental Health Journal Prompts ASMR Journal Prompts Manifestation Journal Prompts Self-Care Journal Prompts Morning Journal Prompts Evening Journal Prompts Self-Improvement Journal Prompts Creative Writing Journal Prompts Dream Journal Prompts Relationship Journal Prompts "What If" Journal Prompts New Year Journal Prompts Shadow Work Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear Journal Prompts for Dealing with Loss Journal Prompts for Discerning and Decision Making Travel Journal Prompts Fun Journal Prompts

Inspiring Ink: Expert Tips on How to Teach Creative Writing

You may also like, how to journal for anxiety: a guide + 25 journal prompts for anxiety.

How to Make an Intention Journal

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• Major in Creative Writing (B.A.)

A way with words

From poetry to prose, fiction to nonfiction, script to screenplay, creative writing can challenge your imagination and serve as a repository for your reflections on the human experience.

As a student in the English Department’s creative writing major, you’ll learn to analyze effectively and to write persuasively in courses taught by faculty who are themselves published writers. Analysis of the work of great writers will provide you with ideas and inspiration, while interactive workshops will allow you to present your writing to classmates and receive valuable feedback.

There are several outlets for your creative writing. You can enter any of the English Department’s four annual writing contests; submit your work for publication in Clark’s student literary magazine; or publish your work on the Clark Student Voices blog.

Catalog Requirements for:

Why Study Creative Writing at Clark?

• Professional writers will be your guides you as you as you explore literary works and apply what you learn to develop and refine your own writing.
• Work one-on-one with faculty in the Creative Writing Capstone course to analyze and contextualize your own creative work.
• Aspiring playwrights can submit their scripts to the Visual and Performing Arts Department’s biennial New Play Festival, which produces full-length plays written, directed, and performed by Clark undergrads.

Featured Courses

Writing the novel.

Through careful study of published works, students will unpack the role and function of central elements of a novel and apply these techniques to their own over through weekly writing exercises.

Publishing & Literary Journals

Students gain experience working at an online literary journal: calls for submission, reading and voting on submissions, editing accepted works, preparing the issue for launch, and working on special-editions.

Creating Character

This course is a deep dive into creating dynamic characters, building them layer by layer, considering motivation, backstory, conflict, point of view, and voice.

The Creative Writing Path

Our program offers a range of courses, from foundational areas, such as Shakespeare, Romanticism, and global literature, to emergent fields, such as medical humanism, critical race theory, and sexuality studies. We advise English Department majors to take two historical surveys, one pre-1850 and one post-1850, early in their programs. A 100-level genre course is another good introductory class for students contemplating the major. The Creative Writing major and minor includes courses in poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction taught by professional writers. These courses guide students to examine literary works as a writer to apply what they learn to their own writing. Interactive workshops, moreover, provide the feedback that helps students to develop and refine their work. Please contact Coordinator of Creative Writing, Phil Lemos, for more information.

Our program provides a number of scholarly opportunities, such as participation in Sigma Tau Delta (our national Honors Society), our Capstone in Creative Writing, and our Honors program. We also have connections to a number of internships, such as the London Internship Program, which offers positions in the fields of theater and journalism, in addition to internships with local newspapers and journals, as well as national organizations.

The department and faculty offices are located in beautiful Anderson House. Many English courses, department colloquia, and other events take place in this historic building. We invite you to read our blog and our newsletter, The English Times [PDF], to learn more.

Qualified students are eligible for election to Sigma Tau Delta, the National Honor Society in English.

Study Abroad

The English Department has a special arrangement with the University of East Anglia in England, the Advanced Studies in English in Bath, England and the London Internship Program. For information, please consult with Professor Neuman, Chair, or Clark’s Study Abroad Programs.

Building your foundation

The Clark Experience

We structure our curriculum around Liberal Education and Effective Practice (LEEP), which connects classroom learning with action through world and workplace experiences.

At Clark, your education extends beyond the classroom. Visit the Career Connections Center  to learn more about  internship opportunities that complement your coursework and put your English knowledge into practice.

In cooperation with the University’s internship office, the English Department supports internships for all majors. Internships are available both in university offices and in venues beyond the campus-for example, newspapers, news departments of radio and television stations, periodical and book publishers, and communication departments. Please consult with Professor Neuman, Chair, for further information.

As a complement to this concentration, you can engage in a variety of related experiential learning opportunities, including internships, study abroad, and research. You can enter any or all of the English Department’s four annual writing contests; submit your work for publication in Caesura, Clark’s student literary magazine; or publish your work on the Clark Writes blog. Aspiring playwrights can submit their scripts to the Visual and Performing Arts Department’s biennial New Play Festival, which produces full-length plays written, directed, and performed by Clark undergrads.

Internships are available both in university offices and in venues beyond the campus-for example, newspapers, news departments of radio and television stations, periodical and book publishers, and communication departments.

Study Abroad and Away

Participation in a Study Abroad and Away program is an opportunity to gain world and workplace experience to complement your on-campus work. Clark approves semester, yearlong, and summer opportunities to earn credit through academic coursework, internships, community-based learning, or research.  The English Department has a special arrangement with the University of East Anglia in England, the Advanced Studies in English in Bath, England and the London Internship Program. For information, please consult with Professor Neuman, Chair, or Clark’s Study Abroad Programs.

Explore our Study Abroad and Away  page, where you can search programs by academic interest, location , and language; after you’ve identified some appropriate programs, ensure they fit into your four-year plan by talking with your faculty adviser as early as possible.

You can participate in Clark’s many clubs, organizations, and athletic teams as a way to complement your academic work. Here are some student organizations that might be of interest to you as a Creative Writing student:

• The Scarlet (student newspaper)
• Clark Poetry Slam
• Caesura Literary Magazine
• Scholarly Undergraduate Research Journal at Clark

Phi Beta Kappa Society, Washington, D.C.

writing internship for the national office

Worcester Magazine

editorial intern

New York City Ballet Archives

archive assistant

Brown for Missouri, Clayton, Mo.

campaign aide

D'Amico & Chenelle, Worcester

legal assistant/paralegal

Smithsonian Science Education Center, Washington, D.C.

digital science writer

Clark is committed to action-based learning, which means as an undergraduate you can join faculty and graduate students in their research . Our faculty are active researchers in a variety of English subfields including medieval and Renaissance literature; contemporary literary theory; semiotics and rhetorical theory; literary treatments of ethnicity; critical and literary theory; and book history and manuscript culture.

The English Department actively supports the development of young scholars and the presentation of student research in multiple formats. As an undergraduate student in Creative Writing, you’ll receive support from faculty mentors to pursue and present your creative work, with the opportunity to present your findings. You can also apply for funding to support your own research on a project of your choice during the academic year or during the summer.

The Goddard Library ’s Rare Books Open House allows students to curate an exhibition of treasures from Goddard Library’s Special Collections. English students created and contributed to the Mix(L)it Digital Exhibit , a digital exhibit of mixed race literary and screen characters.

Our program facilitates scholarly research through our Capstone in English, a senior research project, and our Honors program. Please contact Professor Blake, Director of the Honors Program, for information. Also, every year The American Antiquarian Society, a prestigious national research library of American culture located in Worcester, offers seminars in specialized topics in American studies. Please contact Professor Neuman for more information.

Writing contests

Four writing contests , with prizes awarded, are hosted annually by the English Department. They are open to all Clark undergraduates.

• Loring Holmes & Ruth Dodd Drama Contest
• Prentiss Cheney Hoyt Poetry Contest
• Betty ’79 and Stanley Sultan Short Story Contest
• Leroy Allston Ames Essay Contest

At Clark you’ll get more than a great education; you’ll also be prepared for a long, productive career and life of consequence. And once you’ve completed your degree, you can join other Clark alumni who have gone on to work for great organizations and attend some of the best graduate schools in the world.

English majors are excellent communicators and highly adaptable, creative problem-solvers who apply their critical thinking skills to productive effect in a variety of professions. A foundation in creative writing is an asset to those seeking careers in education, digital and print media, marketing and public relations, and psychology.

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College Info

So you’re thinking about majoring in creative writing! Completing an undergraduate creative writing program can be a great way to explore your love of fiction or poetry and hone your craft.

As edifying as a creative writing major can be, it may not be what you expect.  Dedicated creative writing majors are also quite uncommon, so if you're committed to getting your degree in that subject, you'll have a narrower pool of possible colleges. This post will help you decide whether a creative writing major is right for you.

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Many Great Schools (with Awesome Writing Classes) Don't Have a Creative Writing Major

As I mentioned above, creative writing is a relatively rare major, so if you're solely focused on schools with a dedicated creative writing degree, you might miss out on schools that could be a great fit for you. 

Keep in mind that a lot of school that don’t offer specific majors still have great opportunities to pursue creative writing, whether by completing a minor, contributing to the campus literary journal, or simply taking classes.

Even if you know you want to study creative writing, try researching the opportunities available at different schools with an open mind . You might be surprised by what you find!

You're Going to Have to Read — A Lot

I once had a friend who loved writing ;but hated reading—especially if he had to analyze the text. If you tend to agree with him, and would rather be submerged in a vat of ants than write a paper about Virginia Woolf's use of symbolism to comment on World War I in The Waves , this course of study isn't right for you. Most creative writing majors are run by the English department, and, in fact, many are special tracks within the English major. As such, they involve a lot of reading of all kinds , including fiction, plays, poetry, and literary theory.

I was an English major in undergrad, and we were expected to read a roughly book a week in each class . Some were long (I had one professor assign the longest single volume novel in the English language ) and some were short, but it added up to a lot of books! You’ll also have to write critical essays analyzing these works of literature—if you really only want to write your own fiction or poetry, consider majoring in something else and taking creative writing classes as electives.

You Don't Need a Specific Major to Be a Writer

Writing isn't like engineering: you don't need a specific degree to pursue it professionally. The only thing that you need to do to be a writer is to write.

Most writing jobs, whether in publishing, journalism or teaching, don’t require or even expect you to have majored in creative writing. For the few positions that do require a writing degree, which are almost exclusively in academia, you'll actually need a graduate degree (generally an MFA).

Studying writing in school is a great way to motivate you to work on your writing and to get constructive feedback (more on this below), but it’s not the only way. A lot of great writers studied something totally unrelated to writing or didn’t go to college at all.

You Can Learn A Lot From Really Focusing on Writing

So far I've focused mostly on reasons you might not want or need to major in creative writing, but there's one very good reason to do so: you'll spend a lot of time writing, talking about writing, and reading your peers' writing.

One of the key features of any creative writing major is the workshop —a small class where students closely read and dissect each other’s work. Workshops can be very productive, since they offer the opportunity for lots of revision and rewriting. However, they also involve a lot of criticism and can be challenging for very sensitive people. Consider how you'll react to someone not liking your writing or suggesting ways to improve it.

Many creative writing majors also require a capstone project or creative BA thesis, which requires you to complete a substantive piece of work that's at or near publication ready. For students who are genuinely committed to publishing their writing, this project is an invaluable stepping stone.

Some Schools Have Special Opportunities for Creative Writing Majors

At schools with particularly strong writing programs, majors may have the opportunity to attend special readings or meetings with authors that aren't open to non-majors. They may also have priority for activities like working at the literary journal or university press.

These kinds of perks are completely dependent on the school, however, so make sure to research the specific programs that you're interested in.

Final Thoughts

Creative writing majors offer a unique opportunity to focus on the craft of writing, but they aren't right for everyone. If the following statements apply to you, a creative writing major could be a great fit:

• You love to read and write.
• You take criticism well and don't mind other people reading your work.
• You want to pursue writing outside of the classroom as well as in it.

More Recommended Reading

Convinced you want to be a creative writing major? Check out our list of the best undergrad writing programs .

Creative writing majors go on to a wide range of jobs. If you're exploring different career ideas , check out our guides on how to become a lawyer and how to become a teacher .

If you're looking at colleges , also check out our guide on how to pick the best school for you and our list of the best college search websites .

For those of you interested in particularly selective schools , we have a guide to getting into Ivy League schools written by a Harvard grad.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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Major in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Major at a Glance

Students who graduate with the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing will be skilled writers in a major literary genre and have a theoretically informed understanding of the aesthetic, historical, social, and political context of a range of contemporary writing. Students in the major will focus their studies on a primary genre: fiction, poetry, or nonfiction.

The organization of the major incorporates the writing workshop model into a broader education that furthers students’ knowledge of historical and contemporary literary practice, sharpens their critical attention, and fosters their creative enthusiasm.

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• Creative Writing
• Poetry & Poetics

Summary of Major Requirements (2023-24 and beyond)

• 1 Fundamentals in Creative Writing Seminar
• 1 Beginning Workshop (in primary genre)
• 2 Technical Seminars (in primary genre)
• 1 literary genre course (in primary genre)
• 1 literary theory course
• 1 pre-20th-century literature course
• 1 general literature course
• 2 Advanced Workshops (at least 1 in primary genre)
• 2 Background Electives

= 12 Courses

Note: This set of requirements applies to students who declare a major in Creative Writing during the 2023-24 school year or in subsequent years.  

Fundamentals in Creative Writing Seminar

The Fundamentals in Creative Writing course is an introductory multi-genre seminar to be taken by all students in the major and minor. Each section of the course focuses on a theme that is relevant to all forms of literary practice and introduces students to a group of core texts from the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

Beginning Workshop

Beginning Workshops are intended for students who may or may not have previous writing experience, but are interested in gaining experience in a particular genre. These workshops focus on the fundamentals of craft and feature workshops of student writing. Beginning workshops are a pre-requisite for advanced workshops in the same genre.

Technical Seminars (in Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction)

Technical Seminars are designed to give students a deep grounding in core technical elements of their primary genre. Coursework may involve creative exercises, but papers will focus on analysis of assigned readings.

Advanced Workshops

Critique is the core value and activity of the workshop environment. Students in Advanced Workshops will practice critique under the guidance of the workshop instructor. Advanced Workshops typically focus on original student work. Students must complete the fundamentals course as well as a beginning workshop in the relevant genre prior to enrolling in an advanced workshop.

Literary Genre Courses

This requirement can be met using a cross-listed English course or an eligible literature course offered by another department. For a list of eligible courses, please visit  this page .

Literature Courses

A substantial proportion of one of these courses must involve the study of literature written before the twentieth century, and one must fulfill a theory requirement. For a list of eligible courses, please visit  this page .

Research Background Electives

Students take two courses outside of the Creative Writing program to support the student’s individual interests and creative projects. Students may indicate the selected courses on their Major Worksheet and no formal petition is required.

Optional BA Thesis & Optional Thesis Workshop

Students have the option to complete a BA thesis/project in their fourth year and should declare intent by the end of Winter Quarter of their third year. Majors who complete a BA thesis/project and meet GPA requirements are eligible for consideration for honors. Students work on their BA project over four quarters. In Winter Quarter of their fourth year, students who wish to complete a thesis should enroll in one of the optional Thesis/Major Projects Workshops in their genre.

• Types of Courses

Summary of Original Major Requirements

Note: This set of requirements applies to students who declared a major in Creative Writing prior to the AY24 update. This includes students who declared during the 2020-21, 2021-22 or 2022-23 academic years.

Newer majors, students who declare in AY24, and students who have formally redeclared under the new requirements due to extenuating circumstances should refer to the updated 2023-24 guidelines above.

• 3 Advanced Workshops (at least 2 in primary genre)
• 2 Research Background Electives
• 1 Thesis/Major Projects Workshop (Winter Quarter of fourth year)
• BA Thesis (due in Spring Quarter; requires work with Writing and Research Advisor over fourth year)

= 13 Courses and a Thesis  

Critique is the core value and activity of the workshop environment. Students in Advanced Workshops will practice critique under the guidance of the workshop instructor. Advanced Workshops typically focus on original student work. All students are strongly discouraged from taking an Advanced Workshop as their first course from the Program.

Students take two courses outside of the Creative Writing program, selected in consultation with the DUS, to support the student’s individual interests and thesis project.

BA Thesis & Workshop

Students work on their BA project over four quarters. In Winter Quarter of their fourth year, students enroll in one of the Thesis/Major Projects Workshops in their genre.

Declaring the Major

Creative Writing courses give priority to students who have declared the major with Rachel Galvin, the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). In instances where a class has many more applications than it has spots, priority is determined first by degree program and then by class year.

Students in the major receive priority in Advanced Workshops, Technical Seminars, and Fundamentals Seminars.

There are two steps to declaring a major in Creative Writing:

• Meet with the DUS, Rachel Galvin , to start a major worksheet.
• Confirm program approval with your College Advisor, so the major can be added to your my.uchicago account.

Students who have completed both steps are considered officially declared at the department level and therefore eligible for priority in major courses.

Published April 14, 2023

A Guide to Writing Majors at NYU

Sam Whitley

New York City is one of the best places for aspiring writers! It is overflowing with inspiration for stories, from the tourists merging in Times Square to the unique and fashionable characters hopping on and off the subway. What’s more, as a headquarters for major publishing and media companies, there’s no limit to the opportunities writing students can take advantage of.

English and American Literature and Creative Writing Aren’t the Only Programs for Aspiring Writers!

I’m an aspiring television writer, and when I was researching schools, I found that most of them only offered degrees in English or Creative Writing. While there’s nothing wrong with these programs, I wanted to focus on writing scripts and learning about the entertainment industry in college. Now I’m a junior at NYU studying Dramatic Writing and concentrating in episodic writing!

There’s so many different forms and approaches to writing, and NYU’s major offerings reflect that difference. So whether you like to write poems or plays, you can find a major here that best suits what you! 

Some of the most common majors for aspiring writers include:

English and American Literature

Comparative literature, dramatic literature, dramatic writing.

To help you understand the differences between these majors, here’s an overview of the programs, class structures, and the kinds of writers who would thrive in them!

School: College of Arts and Science

Students studying English will learn how to examine literature written in English. Students will take four English literature classes, where they explore the different contexts of literature from the origins of English to the 21st century. 

Then, English and American Literature majors choose between two tracks: creative writing and literary studies. While creative writing students focus primarily on their own writing, literary studies students analyze the work of other writers. 

Students have more freedom to explore specific topics in literature in their junior and senior years. For example, English and American Literature majors can take classes like 20th-Century African American Literature, Myths and Cultures of the Ancient Celts, and Jane Austen. (Yes, there’s a whole course dedicated to analyzing her work!) 

Class Structure

Most courses are seminar style, which means they are discussion based. So students will read and examine texts for homework. Then they’ll have an open discussion during class time. Students on the creative writing track will have more workshops, where students will discuss each other’s work and how to improve their writing.

Types of Writers: Aspiring Novelists, Essayists, Screenwriters, Poets, and Many More!

Being an English and American Literature major allows for a broad understanding of literature that you can carry with you into any medium as a writer. In addition, you’ll develop analytical skills that can be used in any profession! I know people who have become lawyers, researchers, and professors using their English degree. 

English is for students who love to read and analyze literature. If you love analyzing texts from different cultures and time periods and studying timeless writers, you might like being an English and American Literature major!

In the Department of Comparative Literature , students analyze literature with a more interdisciplinary approach. Comparative literature (comp lit) students examine texts in fields like art history, linguistics, and philosophy from all over the world. 

Like the English and American Literature major, Comp Lit has two tracks: literature and literary and cultural studies. Both tracks study world literature, but students on the literature track focus mostly on literature and linguistics. Some of their classes are taught in languages other than English like Italian or German! Whereas students on the literary and cultural studies track focus on reading world literature that deals with specific topics like religion, history, politics, and cinema studies. Courses include Chinese Literature in Translation, Kafka and His Contexts, and Topics in Italian Culture.

Both tracks are mostly seminar style with few opportunities for workshops. This may mean fewer opportunities, at least in comp lit classes, to practice creative writing skills. But comp lit students strengthen their analytical skills through essays. 

Types of Writers: Aspiring Novelists, Essayists, Critics, and Academics

If you like to read texts written in different languages or discuss literature at the intersection of philosophy, linguistics, cinema studies, and art history, then comp lit may be for you!

The Dramatic Literature major focuses on the literary, historical, and critical aspects of theatre studies. This means students study the history of theatre, playwriting, cinema, and performance.

Dramatic literature (drama lit) students are required to take three history of theatre classes. Then they can pick classes in two areas: practical theatre and cinema. These areas aren’t specified tracks, but they allow students to tailor the major to what they’re interested in. For example, practical theatre classes give students more direct experience with creating for the stage. Cinema classes focus more on film analysis.

Like the Comp Lit and English and American Literature majors, students leave their programs with a global perspective of literature. Drama lit courses include Feminism and Theatre, Fundamentals of Acting I, and Theatre in Asia.

Most drama lit classes are seminar style. But students taking practical theatre classes will have more practice-based courses. Therefore, students will rehearse scenes and experiment on stage!

But seminars aren’t the only style of classes for Drama Lit majors. There are some playwriting workshops for students who want to work on their own plays.

Types of Writers: Aspiring Playwrights and (Theatre or Film) Critics

Drama lit is for students who love theatre and may have some interest in film. If you’re interested in the theory and history of theatre, drama lit may be a good fit for you! It’s also a good fit if you’re an aspiring playwright who is interested in theatre production.

The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute gives students the practical and theoretical skills they’ll need for a career in journalism. 

All journalism students will learn about ethical practices in journalistic writing, conducting research, and reporting. Later, students can pursue one of two tracks: the print/online track or broadcast track. The print/online track is for those who want to focus on writing for print and online media. Whereas the broadcast track is for those who want to focus on reporting and video production for broadcasts.

Journalism courses include Audio Storytelling, Photojournalism, and Minorities in the Media. 

At NYU, journalism students are required to double-major. But, since double-majoring is a program requirement, the curriculum is flexible.

Unlike the other majors previously discussed, the class styles vary here. Some are lecture and seminar style, but most of the courses have a practical approach. Students will come up with their own ideas, interview guests, and write their own stories. What’s more, those on the broadcast track will do the same but shoot and edit their pieces too!

Types of Writers: Aspiring Print or Digital Journalists

Journalism offers a lot of opportunity for students to build a strong portfolio of work and practice writing! If you’re interested in getting direct experience writing articles and segments or getting a well-rounded approach to journalism, the Journalism major may be the right fit for you!

School: Tisch School of the Arts

Dramatic Writing trains students in all areas of dramatic writing, which refers to pieces of writing meant to be acted or performed. All students will take at least one course in playwriting, screenwriting, and episodic writing, then concentrate on one discipline. 

The program’s focus is a mixture of analyzing scripts across all mediums and honing the craft. Courses include Writing for Late Night Television, Shakespeare for Writers, and The Romantic Comedy.

Most dramatic writing courses are workshop and seminar style. Students will work on their own scripts throughout each semester and receive feedback from the professor and their peers.

It’s also important to mention that students aren’t expected to write a full play or film as first-year students! First years won’t write more than 30 pages (unless they feel comfortable doing so). Throughout the years, the page count increases. By senior year, students will feel comfortable giving and receiving feedback, meeting deadlines, and working within the discipline of their choice.

Types of Writers: Aspiring Screenwriters, Playwrights, and TV Writers

The program’s scope is very focused on these three disciplines, so it might not be the best fit for those wanting a broader approach to literature and writing. But, if you’re like me, and you want to improve your script writing and/or find your voice as a dramatic writer, then the Dramatic Writing major may be for you!

Honorable Mentions

Here are some programs that offer writing classes but writing isn’t their main focus:

• Drama (Playwrights Horizons)
• Film and TV
• Cinema Studies
• Collaborative Arts
• Media, Culture, and Communication
• Individualized coursework

There’s No Limit to How You Can Study Writing Here

Even though I’ve discussed whom each program is for, no program is one-size-fits-all. I know people in the Dramatic Writing program who still have a passion for poetry and creative writing. So they pursue a minor in Creative Writing! 

It all boils down to how you want to improve your writing and which program will make you the happiest. If you’ve made it this far, I hope I’ve given you some insight into which major may best suit you.

Sam Whitley (she/her) is a senior studying Dramatic Writing at Tisch School of the Arts with minors in Computer Science and Integrated Design & Media. Whether she’s developing a website or writing a TV pilot, Sam aims to create things that help make life easier for people. Outside of class, she’s rewatching her favorite animated TV shows, hitting the gym, and taking the LIRR home to visit friends and family. Despite her introverted nature, she loves meeting new people while working as an Admissions Ambassador and exploring NYC!

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Emory College of Arts and Sciences Creative Writing Program

Home » The Creative Writing Program » Major in English and Creative Writing

Major in English and Creative Writing

Creative writing workshops.

Creative Writing majors must complete five writing workshops (15-20 credits). Either Honors or one Independent Study can count as one workshop. At least two workshops must be taken in the same genre (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, dramatic writing); students are encouraged to continue study in the same genre as the Intro but this is not a requirement.

NOTE: All majors must take one 200-level introductory workshop in poetry (ENGCW 271W) or fiction (ENGCW 272W). Students at Oxford College may also take ENGCW_OX 270W, the two-genre workshop, or ENGCW_OX 271W or ENGCW_OX 272W. Only one 200-level Creative Writing workshop (270W, 271W, 272W) will be counted towards the major. The other four workshops must be 300-level or above. Majors are welcome to take a second 200-level introductory workshop in another genre, but it is not required and it will not count towards the major.

Literature Requirement (ENG 300-level or above)

Six 300-level English courses (18-24 credits); all six courses must be focused on literary studies :

• At least two courses concentrating mainly on poetry.
• At least two courses concentrating mainly on prose.
• At least two courses in writing of the 19th century or earlier.

Some English literature classes may fulfill a dual requirement (for instance, a class might fulfill both poetry and 19th century or earlier requirements) but even if you complete the prose/poetry/19th century or earlier requirements in four or five classes, you still must take six English literature classes minimum.

Drama that is written in the form of poetry can count toward the poetry requirement. Drama that is written in the form of prose can count for the prose requirement.

Each major's advisor will exercise discretion in allowing credit for these categories since many courses mix poetry, prose, and drama. Students may also substitute one 200-level English course for one 300-level course.

List of previous English courses that meet these requirements can be found HERE .  The Spring 2024 list is  HERE . Subject to change.

  The English Department is still compiling the Fall 2024 list. It will be posted here as soon as it's available.

Additional Information:

Online Declaration of Major

All classes for the Creative Writing major must be taken for a letter grade -- S/U is not allowed for classes taken in fulfillment of the major. The grade of C is the minimum required for a class to count towards the major. Classes with a grade below C will not appear in Degree Tracker towards fulfilling the major.

Two workshops in the same semester:

Majors are typically not allowed to take more than one workshop per semester; non-majors may take only one. Exceptions will be made for Oxford students who plan to study abroad for a semester. Majors who wish to take a second workshop must obtain permission from the Program by emailing  [email protected] . Explain in your email why you need to take two workshops, list the two workshops you intend to take, and include a list of workshops already taken (for each, include the semester, instructor name, and the grade you received).

ENGRD (Writing Program) courses:

ENGRD (Writing Program) courses do NOT count as English literature classes towards the major, with one exception: Professor Daniel Bosch's ENGRD 380 Topics class, Literary Editing and Publishing, offered in Spring 2021. This class counts towards both the prose and poetry requirements for the English literature component of the Creative Writing major.

Post-Freshman Writing Requirement:

Most Creative Writing classes (except freshman seminars) will fulfill the post-freshman writing requirement. If the course number includes the letter "W," then it will fulfill the writing requirement.

Oxford Students:

ENGCW_OX 270W Introduction to Creative Writing or ENGCW_OX 271W Introduction to Poetry Writing or ENGCW_OX 272W Introduction to Fiction Writing taken at Oxford will count towards the Creative Writing major. You may take both but only one will count towards the major. You will still need to take four 300-level Creative Writing workshops at Emory and should plan ahead to take one workshop each semester. The FILM 378 Screenwriting course offered at Oxford does NOT count towards the Creative Writing major. Oxford students should participate in Emory pre-registration and the Creative Writing Program's application process the Spring before they arrive at Emory in order to assure a place in a Fall class. Email [email protected]  BEFORE SPRING BREAK to obtain an application and schedule of Fall classes.

Quick Links

• Students Accepted For Classes
• Information for Freshmen
• Creative Writing Majors Handbook
• Creative Writing Majors FAQ
• Assessment Plan/Goals of the Program

• Utility Menu

• Creative Writing

The vital presence of creative writing in the English Department is reflected by our many distinguished authors who teach our workshops. We offer courses each term in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, and television writing. Our workshops are small, usually no more than twelve students, and offer writers an opportunity to focus intensively on one genre. 

Apply to Creative Writing Workshops

Workshops are open by application to Harvard College undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and students from other institutions eligible for cross registration. Submission guidelines for workshops can be found under individual course listings; please do not query instructors.  Review all departmental rules and application instructions before applying.  

Fall 2024 Application Deadline: 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, April 7, 2024. Spring 2025 Application Deadline: TBD

Please visit our course listings for all the Fall 2024 workshops.

Our online submission manager (link below) will open for Fall 2024 applications on Friday, March 22 , 2024.

Students who have questions about the creative writing workshop application process should contact Case Q. Kerns at [email protected] .

Featured Faculty

Teju Cole  is a novelist, critic, and essayist, and is the first Gore Vidal Professor of the Practice. "Among other works, the boundary-crossing author is known for his debut novel “Open City” (2011), whose early admirers included Harvard professor and New Yorker critic James Wood." 

Faculty Bookshelf

Dream of the unified field by jorie graham (1997).

The Burning Girl by Claire Messud (2017)

Sea Change by Jorie Graham

The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan (2001)

Creative Writing Workshops

English cllw. life writing.

Instructor: Louisa Thomas Tuesday, 9:00-11:45am | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site

How does one tell -- vividly, interestingly -- the story of a life? How do we access a private life, or situate it in a public world? What if the subject is dead, or is famous, or is a dog, or is oneself? How do we ask the right questions in interviews, or know where to begin? This course will examine the art of writing narrative nonfiction about individual lives. We will read and discuss examples of profiles, biographies, and memoir/personal essays, paying special attention to structure, language, and style. We will also read and discuss each other’s work. Students are expected to produce (and to revise) two pieces of longform nonfiction writing. Readings by authors such as Hilton Als, Rachel Aviv, Robert Caro, Hermione Lee, Hua Hsu, and others. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, April 7) Supplemental Application Information:  To apply, please write a letter introducing yourself and explaining your interest in the course. Include a few examples of profiles, nonfiction books, or essays that you admire, along with a sentence or two explaining why. No other writing sample is required.

English CLR. Introduction to Screenwriting: Workshop

Instructor: Musa Syeed Tuesday, 12:00-2:45 pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site

The short film, with its relatively lower costs of production and expanded distribution opportunities, has become one of the most disruptive, innovative modes of storytelling--and is often an emerging filmmaker's first step into a career. This course will introduce students to the basics of short form screenwriting, including narrative theory/structure, character design, and dialogue/voice. In the first quarter of the semester, we will hone dramatic techniques through several craft exercise assignments and in-class writing. In the following weeks, students will write two short screenplays. Throughout the semester, we will be workshopping and doing table reads of student work, discussing screenplays and craft texts, and screening a wide array of short films. The emphasis will be on discovering a sense of personal voice and completing two short screenplays (under 20 pages). Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, April 7)

Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit a brief letter explaining why you're interested to take this class. You may comment on what films/filmmakers inspire you and what kind of subject matter you may be interested to write about. For your writing sample, please submit 3-5 pages of your creative work from any genre (screenwriting, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc.)

English CMCC. Covid, Grief, and Afterimage

Instructor: Melissa Cundieff Wednesday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: Barker 269 Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site In this workshop-based course we will write about our personal lived experiences with loss and grief born from the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as how grief and grieving became a collective experience that is ongoing and persistent, like an afterimage or haunting. As part of our examination, we will consider intersections with other global, historical experiences and depictions of loss, including the murder of George Floyd and the AIDS epidemic. Readings will include essays by Leslie Jamison, Arundhati Roy, Susan Sontag, Eve Tuck and C. Ree, Matt Levin, and Alice Wong, among others. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, August 26) Supplemental Application Information:  Applications for this class should include a 3-5 page (double-spaced if prose, single-spaced if poetry) creating writing sample of any genre (nonfiction, fiction, poetry), or combination of genres. Additionally, I ask that students submit a 250 word reflection on their particular relationship with creative writing and why this course appeals to them. This class is open to students of all writing levels and experience.

English CMFG. Past Selves and Future Ghosts

Instructor: Melissa Cundieff Wednesday, 12:00-2:45 pm | Location: Barker 316 Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site As memoirist and author Melissa Febos puts it: “The narrator is never you, and the sooner we can start thinking of ourselves on the page that way, the better for our work. That character on the page is just this shaving off of the person that was within a very particular context, intermingled with bits of perspective from all the time since — it’s a very specific little cocktail of pieces of the self and memory and art … it’s a very weird thing. And then it’s frozen in the pages.” With each essay and work of nonfiction we produce in this workshop-based class, the character we portray, the narrator we locate, is never stagnant, instead we are developing a persona, wrought from the experience of our vast selves and our vast experiences. To that end, in this course, you will use the tools and stylistic elements of creative nonfiction, namely fragmentation, narrative, scene, point of view, speculation, and research to remix and retell all aspects of your experience and selfhood in a multiplicity of ways. I will ask that you focus on a particular time period or connected events, and through the course of the semester, you will reimagine and reify these events using different modes and techniques as modeled in the published and various works we read. We will also read, in their entireties, Melissa Febos's  Body Work: The Radical Work of Personal Narrative,  as well as Hanif Abdurraqib’s  They   Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us , which will aid our discussions and help us to better understand the difference between persona(s) and the many versions of self that inhabit us. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, August 26) Supplemental Application Information:  Applications for this class should include a 3-5 page (double-spaced if prose, single-spaced if poetry) creating writing sample of any genre (nonfiction, fiction, poetry), or combination of genres. Additionally, I ask that students submit a 250 word reflection on their particular relationship with creative writing and why this course appeals to them. This class is open to students of all writing levels and experience.

English CNFD. Creative Nonfiction

Instructor: Maggie Doherty Tuesday, 12:00-2:45 pm | Location: Sever 205 Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site This course is an overview of the creative nonfiction genre and the many different types of writing that are included within it: memoir, criticism, nature writing, travel writing, and more. Our readings will be both historical and contemporary: writers will include Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, Joan Didion, Audre Lorde, Hilton Als, and Carmen Maria Machado. During the first half of the semester, we will read two pieces closely; we will use our class discussions to analyze how these writers use pacing, character, voice, tone, and structure to tell their stories. Students will complete short, informal writing assignments during this part of the semester, based on the genre of work we’re discussing that week. During the second half of the semester, each student will draft and workshop a longer piece of creative nonfiction in the genre(s) of their choosing, which they will revise by the end of the semester. Students will be expected to provide detailed feedback on the work of their peers. This course is open to writers at all levels; no previous experience in creative writing is required. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, August 26) Supplemental Application Information:  Please write a letter of introduction (1-2 pages) giving a sense of who you are, your writing experience, and your current goals for your writing. You may also include writers or nonfiction works that you admire, as well as any themes or genres you'd like to experiment with in the course. Please also include a 3-5-page writing sample, ideally of some kind of creative writing (nonfiction is preferred, but fiction would also be acceptable). If you don't have a creative sample, you may submit a sample of your academic writing.

English CPY. Fiction Writing: Workshop

Instructor:  Paul Yoon Section 1: Monday, 12:00-2:45 pm | Location: TBD Section 2: Monday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students. Course Site- Section 1 Course Site- Section 2

An introductory workshop where we will learn to read as writers and study all aspects of the craft of fiction writing, including such topics as character, point of view, structure, time, and plot. The first weeks will focus on writing exercises and reading contemporary short fiction. As the semester progresses, the focus of the workshop will shift to creating and discussing your own work at the table. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, April 7)

Supplemental Application Information:  Please submit ONLY a letter to me. I want to know what your favorite work of fiction is and why; and then tell me something you are passionate about and something you want to be better at; and, lastly, tell me why of all classes you want to take this one this semester. Please no writing samples.

English CMMU. Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Using Music

Instructor: Melissa Cundieff Tuesday, 12:00-2:45pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site

In this workshop-based class, students will think deeply about how music is often at the center of their experiences, may it be as a song, an album, an artist, their own relationship with an instrument, etc. This class will entail writing true stories about one's life in which the personal and music orbit and/or entangle each other. This will include some journalism and criticism, but above all it will ask you to describe how and why music matters to your lived life. We will read work by Hayao Miyazaki, Jia Tolentino, Kaveh Akbar, Oliver Sacks, Susan Sontag, Adrian Matejka, among many others, (as well as invite and talk with guest speaker(s)). This class is open to all levels. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, April 7) Supplemental Application Information:  Applications for this class should include a 2-3 page (double-spaced if prose, single-spaced if poetry) creating writing sample of any genre (nonfiction, fiction, poetry), or combination of genres. Additionally, I ask that students submit a 250-word reflection on their particular relationship with creative writing and why this course appeals to them. This class is open to students of all writing levels and experience.

English CNFJ. Narrative Journalism

Instructor:  Darcy Frey Fall 2024: Thursday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students. Course Site Spring 2025: TBD

In this hands-on writing workshop, we will study the art of narrative journalism in many different forms: Profile writing, investigative reportage, magazine features. How can a work of journalism be fashioned to tell a captivating story? How can the writer of nonfiction narratives employ the scene-by-scene construction usually found in fiction? How can facts become the building blocks of literature? Students will work on several short assignments to practice the nuts-and-bolts of reporting, then write a longer magazine feature to be workshopped in class and revised at the end of the term. We will take instruction and inspiration from the published work of literary journalists such as Joan Didion, John McPhee, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, and John Jeremiah Sullivan. This is a workshop-style class intended for undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of experience. No previous experience in English Department courses is required.

Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm ET on Sunday, April 7)

Supplemental Application Information:   Please write a substantive letter of introduction describing who you are as writer at the moment and where you hope to take your writing; what experience you may have had with journalism or narrative nonfiction; what excites you about narrative journalism in particular; and what you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Additionally, please submit 3-5 pages of journalism or narrative nonfiction or, if you have not yet written much nonfiction, an equal number of pages of narrative fiction.

English CNFR. Creative Nonfiction: Workshop

Instructor: Darcy Frey Fall 2024: Wednesday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students. Course Site Spring 2025: TBD

Whether it takes the form of literary journalism, essay, memoir, or environmental writing, creative nonfiction is a powerful genre that allows writers to break free from the constraints commonly associated with nonfiction prose and reach for the breadth of thought and feeling usually accomplished only in fiction: the narration of a vivid story, the probing of a complex character, the argument of an idea, or the evocation of a place. Students will work on several short assignments to hone their mastery of the craft, then write a longer piece that will be workshopped in class and revised at the end of the term. We will take instruction and inspiration from published authors such as Joan Didion, James Baldwin, Ariel Levy, Alexander Chee, and Virginia Woolf. This is a workshop-style class intended for undergraduate and graduate students at all levels of experience. No previous experience in English Department courses is required. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm ET on Sunday, April 7)

Supplemental Application Information:   Please write a substantive letter of introduction describing who you are as writer at the moment and where you hope to take your writing; what experience you may have had with creative/literary nonfiction; what excites you about nonfiction in particular; and what you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Additionally, please submit 3-5 pages of creative/literary nonfiction (essay, memoir, narrative journalism, etc, but NOT academic writing) or, if you have not yet written much nonfiction, an equal number of pages of narrative fiction.

English CNSR. Narrative Science Journalism: Workshop

Instructor:  Michael Pollan Wednesday, 3:00-5:45 pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site

The arc of this writing workshop will follow, step by step, the process of researching and writing a single long piece of science journalism: finding and pitching story ideas; reporting in depth and at length; outlining and structuring your story; choosing a narrative voice and strategy, crafting leads and “overtures,” and forging connections between your story and its larger contexts. As a group, we’ll also work as editors on one another’s ideas and pieces. And since reading good prose is the best way to learn to write it, we’ll be closely reading an exemplary piece of narrative science journalism each week. Students will be expected to complete a draft and a revision of a substantial piece of science journalism by the end of the term.

Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, April 7)

Supplemental Application Information:  To apply, submit a brief sample of your non-academic writing along with a letter explaining your reasons for wanting to take this course and describing your science experience, if any.

English CNYA. Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Young Adult Writing

Instructor:  Melissa Cundieff Thursday, 3:00-5:45pm | Location: TBD Enrollment: Limited to 12 students Course Site

In this workshop-based class, students will consider themes that intersect with the Young Adult genre: gender and sexuality, romantic and platonic relationships and love/heartbreak, family, divorce and parental relationships, disability, neurodivergence, drug use, the evolution/fracturing of childhood innocence, environmentalism, among others. Students will write true stories about their lived lives with these themes as well as intended audience (ages 12-18) specifically in mind. For visual artists, illustrating one’s work/essays is something that I invite but of course do not require. We will read work by Sarah Prager, Robin Ha, ND Stevenson, Laurie Hals Anderson, Dashka Slater,  and Jason Reynolds. Apply via Submittable  (deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, April 7) Supplemental Application Information:  Applications for this class should include a 2-3 page (double-spaced if prose, single-spaced if poetry) creating writing sample of any genre (nonfiction, fiction, poetry), or combination of genres. Additionally, I ask that students submit a 250-word reflection on their particular relationship with creative writing and why this course appeals to them. This class is open to students of all writing levels and experience.

Write an Honors Creative Thesis

Students may apply to write a senior thesis or senior project in creative writing, although only English concentrators can be considered. Students submit applications in early March of their junior year, including first-term juniors who are out of phase. The creative writing faculty considers the proposal, along with the student's overall performance in creative writing and other English courses, and notifies students about its decision in early mid-late March. Those applications are due, this coming year, on TBA . 

Students applying for a creative writing thesis or project must have completed at least one course in creative writing at Harvard before they apply. No student is guaranteed acceptance. It is strongly suggested that students acquaint themselves with the requirements and guidelines well before the thesis application is due. The creative writing director must approve any exceptions to the requirements, which must be made in writing by Monday, February 7, 2022. Since the creative writing thesis and project are part of the English honors program, acceptance to write a creative thesis is conditional upon the student continuing to maintain a 3.40 concentration GPA. If a student’s concentration GPA drops below 3.40 after the spring of the junior year, the student may not be permitted to continue in the honors program.

Joint concentrators may apply to write creative theses, but we suggest students discuss the feasibility of the project well before applications are due. Not all departments are open to joint creative theses.

Students who have questions about the creative writing thesis should contact the program’s Director, Sam Marks .

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• Creative Writing

The English Major: Creative Writing Option

Note!  The requirements below took effect in Summer 2022 .  If you declared your major before then, please see the old requirements .  If you have questions about which version of the major applies to you, please contact HAS .

The Creative Writing Concentration prepares students not only to be more effective communicators and artists, but also creative problem solvers and more nuanced critical thinkers. By situating small, student-oriented writing workshops alongside literary models, Creative Writing classes enhance the broader study of literature and critical theory, helping students gain a greater understanding of the social and cultural forces informing their work. A student completing the program is more able to situate themselves in a larger aesthetic and social context and make more meaningful, informed decisions about their own artistic practice. In addition, through the intense practice of creative writing, students are able to see the world more clearly, in a more nuanced and meaningful manner, and apply these skills to a wide variety of work and life situations.

This page describes the English Major Concentration in Creative Writing. For the major's other option, see English Language, Literature, and Culture ,.

Students enrolled in the Creative Writing Concentration will complete a major consisting of 65 ENGL credits, at least 30 of which must be completed in residence at the University of Washington. A maximum of 20 credits in 200-level courses may count toward the English major, and may be used to fulfill the distribution requirements.

Creative writing students’ coursework is distributed as follows:

• ENGL 202: Introduction to English Language and Literature
• A sequence of creative writing workshops: ENGL 283: Beginning Verse Writing, ENGL 284: Beginning Short Story Writing, ENGL 383: The Craft of Verse, and ENGL 384: The Craft of Prose
• 15 credits in Historical Depth
• 15 credits in Power and Difference
• Two 400-level Creative Writing seminars ( Please see the  400-level Creative Writing workshop registration instruction page  for instructions on registering for these courses)

Please note: Creative writing students do *not* need to complete either ENGL 302 (satisfied by 383 & 384) or the senior capstone (satisfied by two 400-level CW classes), required for the major in Language, Literature, and Culture. All creative writing courses satisfy the Genre, Method, and Language distribution area, so Creative Writing students do not need to complete this area separately.

Applying to Creative Writing:

Applicants to the Creative Writing option must have already declared, or be eligible to declare, the English: Language and Literature major .

Applications for the Creative Writing option are accepted in autumn, winter, and spring quarters only, and should be submitted through this online application form   by the third Friday of the quarter at 4:00pm . Applications to creative writing are not accepted in summer quarter.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the Creative Writing option, you must

• have already declared, or be ready to declare, the English major program ;
• have completed ENGL 202, 283 (beginning verse writing) and ENGL 284 (beginning short story writing) or transfer equivalents.

Application Procedure:

Please submit online ONE complete attachment that includes the items below, by 4:00pm on the third Friday of autumn, winter, or spring quarter (no applications accepted in summer):

1. Undergraduate Creative Writing Option Application (PDF)

RIGHT-click the above link and save it as a PDF to your computer. Fill out the form using Acrobat Reader. Save your changes. Then combine it with the following materials:

Transcripts for all college work completed, both at the UW and elsewhere (these are additional sets of transcripts, separate from the transcripts you will have supplied as part of your application for the major):

• Unofficial UW Transcript : Even if this is your first quarter after transferring to the UW, you should submit an unofficial UW transcript, available through the MyUW system ;
• Complete set of Unofficial transcripts from all schools from which you have transfer credit : We need the information contained in the complete transcript from each transfer school; the transfer summary on a UW unofficial transcript is not sufficient. Photocopies of transcripts are acceptable.

2. A Writing Sample of 3-5 poems and 5-10 pages of fiction (preferably a complete story). Fiction should be double-spaced, with 12pt font (Times New Roman) and 1" margins:

• Review writing sample guidelines and be sure to submit literary fiction and poetry
• Be sure to proofread carefully.

Admission decisions are based primarily on the potential a student exhibits in his or her writing sample - grades and GPAs are usually not at issue. Admission decisions are sent to applicants by e-mail, normally within two weeks of the application deadline.

Completion of the requirements above does not guarantee admission.

Students who are denied admission to the Creative Writing option will continue to be English majors, and may complete the requirements for the literature BA in English. They may apply for the Creative Writing option one additional time, but if they are denied admission then, they must complete the literature major or elect another major in another department.

Distribution Areas:

The majority of English courses are distributed among three overlapping areas: Historical Depth, Power & Difference, and Genre, Method, and Language. Creative Writing students are required to complete 15 credits in two of these areas, Historical Depth and Power & Difference, with the remainder of their coursework focusing on Creative Writing workshops. 

Some courses can count towards both "Historical Depth" or "Power & Difference"; however, each course can ultimately only be used to fulfill one requirement. For example, ENGL 351 is listed under both “Historical Depth” and “Power and Difference" but it will only count in one of those categories in a student's degree progress. The student may choose (and can change their mind, shuffling courses as long as they are enrolled).  Students noticing issues with how these classes are applying to the distribution areas in their degree audit can contact an advisor at   Humanities Academic Services Center  (HAS), A-2-B Padelford Hall  for support. 

Descriptions of each area, along with the courses fulfilling it, are available below. 

Historical Depth:

People have been speaking, reading, and writing in English for more than a thousand years, producing literature that is at once timeless and deeply informed by the time in which it was written. Cultural artifacts from the English-speaking world have shaped, and been shaped by, social movements and historical conditions around the globe, as has the language itself. With this in mind, English majors are required to take 15 credits focused on materials produced before 1945, with at least 5 of those credits focused on materials produced before 1700. Distributing coursework in this way helps students to understand the depth, richness, and variability of English literature, language, and culture across time, and dramatizes how the ways we organize history affect the stories we tell about it. These courses open up past worlds that are in some ways totally alien and in others very similar to our own, revealing that what seems real and true to us can radically alter over time. Entering into these past realities offers a new perspective on the present and develops our capacity to imagine alternative futures.

Historical Depth Courses:

• ENGL 210 Medieval and Early Modern Literature, 400 to 1600
• ENGL 211 Literature, 1500-1800
• ENGL 225 Shakespeare
• ENGL 310 The Bible as Literature
• ENGL 320 English Literature: The Middle Ages
• ENGL 321 Chaucer
• ENGL 322 Medieval & Early Modern Literatures of Encounter (P&D)
• ENGL 323 Shakespeare to 1603
• ENGL 324 Shakespeare after 1603
• ENGL 325 Early Modern English Literature
• ENGL 326 Milton (GML)
• ENGL 351: Writing in the Contact Zone: North America 1492 - 1800 (P&D)
• ENGL 376: Introduction to Middle English Language (HD)
• ENGL 422 Arthurian Legends (GML)
• ENGL 212 Literature, 1700-1900
• ENGL 300: Reading Major Texts (can also count as pre-1700 depending on texts)
• ENGL 303 History of Literary Criticism and Theory I (GML)
• ENGL 312 Jewish Literature: Biblical to Modern (P&D)
• ENGL 314: Transatlantic Literature and Culture (P&D)
• ENGL 315: Literary Modernism (GML)
• ENGL 327 Narratives of Bondage & Freedom (P&D)
• ENGL 328 Eighteenth Century Literature & Culture
• ENGL 329 Rise of the English Novel (GML)
• ENGL 330 English Literature: The Romantic Age
• ENGL 331 Globalization & Nationalism in the Age of Empire (P&D)
• ENGL 332 Nineteenth Century Poetry (GML)
• ENGL 333 Nineteenth Century Novel (GML)
• ENGL 335 English Literature: The Victorian Age
• ENGL 336 English Literature: Early Twentieth Century
• ENGL 337 The Modern Novel (GML)
• ENGL 338 Modern Poetry (GML)
• ENGL 352 Literatures of the United States to 1865 (P&D)
• ENGL 353 American Literature: Later Nineteenth Century
• ENGL 354 American Literature: Early Twentieth Century
• ENGL 373: History of the English Language (GML)
• ENGL 380: Special Topics in History
• ENGL 385: Global Modernism (P&D)

Power and Difference:

Literature, language, and culture have been shaped by and in turn shape systems of power. Such systems include capitalism, colonialism, imperialism, and hierarchies of race, status, caste, sex, gender, and sexuality. Over time, systems of power elevate some voices and stories and marginalize and silence others. English majors are required to take at least 15 credits focused on how systems of power operate in and through literature, language, and culture. These courses explore the evolving relationship of literature, language, and culture to structures of violence and dispossession and center critical perspectives that have been marginalized or silenced. They embrace alternative ways of learning about the past and present, and the impress of the former on the latter. They highlight the complex, sometimes contradictory ways in which literature and culture mediate systems of power. In so doing, Power and Difference courses foster our imagination of more just and equitable futures.

Power and Difference Courses:

• ENGL 207: Introduction to Cultural Studies (GML)
• ENGL 208: Data and Narrative (GML)
• ENGL 256: Introduction to Queer Cultural Studies (DIV) (GML)
• ENGL 257: Introduction to Asian American Literature (DIV)
• ENGL 258: Introduction to African American Literature (DIV)
• ENGL 259: Literature and Social Difference (DIV)
• ENGL 265: Introduction to Environmental Humanities (DIV, GML)
• ENGL 307: Cultural Studies
• ENGL 308: Marxism and Literary Theory
• ENGL 311: Modern Jewish Literature in Translation
• ENGL 312: Jewish Literature: Biblical to Modern (HD)
• ENGL 314: Transatlantic Literature and Culture (HD)
• ENGL 316: Postcolonial Literature and Culture (DIV)
• ENGL 317: Literature of the Americas (DIV)
• ENGL 318: Black Literary Genres (DIV, GML)
• ENGL 319: African Literatures (DIV)
• ENGL 322 Medieval & Early Modern Literatures of Encounter (HD)
• ENGL 327 Narratives of Bondage & Freedom (HD)
• ENGL 331 Globalization & Nationalism in the Age of Empire (HD)
• ENGL 339: Globalization & Contemporary World Literature (GML)
• ENGL 340: Irish Literature (P&D)
• ENGL 349: Science Fiction & Fantasy
• ENGL 351: Writing in the Contact Zone: North America 1492 - 1800 (HD)
• ENGL 352: American Literatures to 1865 (HD)
• ENGL 355: Contemporary American Literature
• ENGL 357: Jewish American Literature and Culture (DIV)
• ENGL 358: African American Literature (DIV)
• ENGL 359: Contemporary American Indian Literature (DIV)
• ENGL 361: American Political Culture After 1865 (DIV)
• ENGL 362: Latino Literary Genres (DIV, GML)
• ENGL 364: Literature & Medicine
• ENGL 365: Literature & Environment (GML, DIV)
• ENGL 366: Literature & Law
• ENGL 367: Gender Studies in Literature (DIV)
• ENGL 368: Women Writers (DIV)
• ENGL 372: World Englishes (DIV) (GML)
• ENGL 379: Special Topics in Power & Difference
• ENGL 385: Global Modernism (HD)
• ENGL 386: Asian American Literature (DIV)
• ENGL 466: Queer and LGBT Literature (DIV)
• ENGL 478: Language and Social Policy (DIV) (GML)
• ENGL 479: Language Variation and Language Policy in North America (DIV, GML)
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English: Creative Writing, AA

Department: English

Room: E-Building, E-103

Phone: (718) 482-5656

[email protected]

The Creative Writing Track of the English major is for students who want to write literature, as well as to read and study it. You’ll experiment to see how far you can push language, and to bring new meaning into the world. You’ll write things that have never yet been written, things that you never knew you could write.

In our program, you’ll write to be read. You’ll get an instant audience in our writing workshops as you work on fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and things less categorizable; and you’ll develop your craft by listening to, reading and talking about the works of your colleagues. You’ll work closely with your professors, all published writers and passionate teachers. In short, you will participate in a community of writers who share your creative spirit.

Our graduates have gone on to publish novels, volumes of poetry, and plays. Because creative writing involves developing the skill of bringing ideas into language; you can also apply these skills, as our graduates have, in many professional settings, such as law, education, and business.

To fulfill your major, along with our writing workshops, you’ll choose from our many English department courses in literary history, criticism and theory. Our program articulates fully with both Queens and York Colleges, so you will be able to transfer as juniors to either school, among the many other options for transfer. We’ll work with you along the way to help you identify the path that works for you.

The Creative Writing program offers you many opportunities to get your work out to a broader public. We publish a literary magazine, The Lit, host a public Creative Writing “Readathon” and provide other venues for sharing your work. The Journalism program, which works closely with Creative Writing, publishes a newspaper, The Bridge. We also hold readings and talks featuring renowned writers, including those from our own faculty.

• Reading novels, short stories, poetry, plays or creative nonfiction by a range of diverse authors?
• Trying your own hand at writing across these genres?
• Sharing your work with others, and submitting your work for publication?
• Becoming part of a literary community by attending events, hearing professional writers read their work, and meeting others working in writing related fields?
• How to read, engage with and respond to challenging creative work by diverse authors across genres, styles, and time periods
• How to draft, complete and revise short stories, poems, plays, and works of creative nonfiction
• How to constructively critique the work of peers
• How to edit and prepare your work for publication

The creative writing major allows students to combine the advanced literature courses that English majors take with a rich variety of workshops in which students learn to write, edit and publish their own creative work. Creative Writing majors have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members who have published widely in prestigious venues, and attend events with and meet working writers. They also have the opportunity to submit their work to our award-winning literary magazine, The Lit, and to gain editorial experience by working on its creation.

Like other English degrees, students with a BA or higher in Creative Writing are often highly desired job candidates in fields including communications, advertising, publishing, education, law, and the non-profit sector. Students who wish to further develop their craft and pursue a career in higher education may consider pursuing a MFA, offered at many CUNY schools, as well as a PhD in English with a Creative Writing concentration.

• Writing tutor
• Internships in publishing
• Middle or High School English or Creative Writing Teacher
• Editorial Assistant
• Development/Fundraising for Non-profit
• Social Media Manager
• Part-time College-level Instructor
• Communications
• College-level Professor
• Upper-level publishing positions
• York College – BA in English/Writing Emphasis
• Queens College – BA in English/Creative Writing
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Screen Rant

Tulsa king season 2's bts changes & allegations explained.

Tulsa King has had some major changes and controversies ahead of season 2, and understanding them is key to knowing how they'll impact the show.

• Showrunner Terence Winter quit Tulsa King after season 1 due to creative differences, but was rehired as a writer for season 2.
• Stallone and an unnamed director faced allegations of creating a toxic work environment on the set of Tulsa King.
• Season 2's creative direction is mostly set, but the future of the show remains uncertain due to the behind-the-scenes controversies.

Production of Tulsa King has been very rocky and controversial, and the changes and allegations that have been made about the show have cast a shadow over season 2. Tulsa King stars Sylvester Stallone as Dwight "The General" Manfredi, and it has become one of Paramount's biggest streaming successes. With Stallone's star power and creator Taylor Sheridan's work behind the camera, Tulsa King has many things going for it.

Tulsa King season 2 has had several promising updates recently. Production now seems to be moving rapidly, and many of Tulsa King 's original cast are returning , with a recent casting choice adding a new element to Tulsa King season 2 that will benefit it. Not every development about Tulsa King has been positive, though, and the show has experienced major changes and had allegations made against it . Those controversies are very serious, and they could negatively impact season 2 and the future of the show.

Tulsa King: 8 Things We Want To Happen In Season 2

Tulsa king's showrunner left after season 1 - and was then re-hired for season 2, he left due to creative differences, and was rehired only as a writer.

Terence Winter, the showrunner for Tulsa King season 1, quit the show after the first season was completed. According to Deadline , Winter had creative differences with executive producer and creator Taylor Sheridan, and since they couldn't agree on the direction the show should take, he stepped down from the role . Sheridan has a famously hands-on approach to his shows that often clashes with other writers on the project. He's even publicly stated that he has problems with writers' rooms in general, and that his writing style often doesn't mix well with outside influences.

Now, though, Winter has been rehired on Tulsa King , though he will only be working as a writer, which should mean there will be less collaboration between him and Sheridan. Winter reportedly returned due to his love for the characters and the story, as well as his positive relationship with star Sylvester Stallone . Tulsa King won't have a showrunner anymore, the position will instead be filled by an executive producer, which somewhat addresses Winter's creative concerns.

Tulsa King Season 2's Set Has Faced Allegations Of Being A Toxic Environment

Stallone and others reportedly made derogatory comments about background actors.

In another piece of controversy, Tulsa King 's casting agency quit the show . The agency, Rose Locke Casting, reportedly quit because Tulsa King and Sylvester Stallone have been accused of creating a toxic work environment. Allegedly, Stallone and an unnamed director made derogatory comments about background actors on the show, insulting their appearances and physical disabilities . Stallone and the director reportedly used comments like " ugly " and " tub of lard " to describe the extras, and Stallone allegedly requested they be replaced with " pretty young girls ," all of which contributed to the claims of a toxic work environment.

What Tulsa King's BTS Changes & Allegations Mean For Season 2

Season 2 should be relatively unchanged, but the future of the series is much more uncertain now.

The behind the scenes changes and allegations surrounding Tulsa King are extremely worrying for the future of the show, but season 2 should be relatively unaffected.

Tulsa King 's writer's situation leaves the story of season 2 uncertain. It's unclear whether Winter's or Sheridan's vision for the story and characters will prevail. Another unknown variable is whether the executive producer charged with taking on the showrunner's responsibilities will take the show in a new direction or defer to a previous plan . After the ending of Tulsa King season 1 , there were several directions the show could have taken. Luckily, Winter's return to the series seems to indicate that he was happy enough with the show's direction to resume writing, which should mean season 2 will still feature the parts of season 1 that worked well.

The allegations that Tulsa King has created a toxic work environment are much more worrying for the future of the show. If the claims made against Stallone and the show are proven true, they could have serious consequences. Most likely, the allegations will create legal troubles and impact how quickly new seasons can be created and how easily new extras can be hired, but in the most extreme scenario, Tulsa King could be canceled by Paramount in response to backlash . Tulsa King has been a major success for Paramount+, but the severity of the claims could cause insurmountable problems.

The behind the scenes changes and allegations surrounding Tulsa King are extremely worrying for the future of the show, but season 2 should be relatively unaffected. Filming is currently underway for Tulsa King season 2, meaning the creative direction the show will take is mostly set. Since season 2 is set for a fall 2024 release, any potential consequences of the alleged toxic environment will likely have a bigger effect on season 3. It's unclear exactly how Tulsa King 's changes and allegations will affect the show in the future, though they do paint a worrying picture.

Source: Deadline

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Tulsa King is a Paramount+ original TV series starring Sylvester Stallone as Dwight "The General" Manfredi. After being released from prison for murder, The General is sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he quickly sets up a new criminal empire. Tulsa King marks Stallone's first leading role in a TV show.