creative writing class calgary

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Graduate Creative Writing

Our Creative Writing program attracts national and international acclaim. UCalgary faculty and students actively enhance the local and national arts communities.

Join us and be part of the journey!

Want to take creative writing at the graduate level?

We offer an MA  or PhD  in English with a Creative Writing thesis or dissertation option. You'll be required to fulfill the same requirements as other graduate students. The program offers a unique mixing of literature courses and writing workshops.

MA with creative thesis

How it works.

Apply to submit a substantial work of poetry or fiction as a creative project for the MA thesis in English.

Note: You'll need department permission for a creative MA. We can't guarantee permission to pursue a creative writing project, even if:

You're admitted to an MA in English, and/or

You've completed creative writing classes at UCalgary or another university.

Even if you're not accepted, we encourage you to continue writing and applying to creative writing graduate courses.

Application components

1. portfolio, submit a substantial portfolio of previous work during your graduate program application.

This may include:

published work

five to eight short poems or one to two short stories

chapters of a novel

or a combination of poetry and prose).

2. Critical approach

Outline your critical awareness of the approach you expect to take..

• Present a critical discussion of the proposed work
• Call attention to elements like: 
• themes, verse-forms, groups of poems, experimental or traditional approaches, etc.
• Present a critical discussion of possible approaches to:
• characterization, theme, point of view, narrative stance, experimental or traditional approaches.

Final product: Thesis

Your thesis must contain an introduction or afterword, normally of 20–30 pages, showing some critical awareness of the approach taken.

Average length

• Poetry project : About 50 pages. 
• Fiction project: About 150 pages.

English prof spreads awareness about migrant challenges through poetry

PhD with creative dissertation

You may be permitted to submit a substantial book-length manuscript of poetry or fiction for the PhD thesis in English.

However, this is a highly competitive option with an expected high standard for your project.

While we would expect you to have writing and publishing experience, it will not guarantee admission to the doctoral program, or approval of a creative dissertation project.

Submit a portfolio of writing and published works during your graduate program application.

Your dissertation essay must show extensive critical awareness of the approach you expect to take. Expect, as part of your studies, to do research within the genre.

Final product: Dissertation

When you present your dissertation for examination, it must be previously unpublished. It must also be accompanied by a critical essay showing a sophisticated critical and/or theoretical awareness of your approach.

Expectations

Quantity and quality cannot be equated but you must present a substantial body of work.

As with the dissertation for a critical Ph.D., it should be original and publishable.

Creative Writing faculty

View profile

Clara A.B. Joseph

Clem Martini

Suzette Mayr

L. Rain Prud'homme-Cranford

Uchechukwu Umezurike

Aritha Van Herk

View profile  

Anna Veprinska

Joshua Whitehead

Expand your writing career.

Master of Arts (MA), thesis-based

Thesis-based programs require that you pursue independent and original research culminating in a thesis. You will work under the supervision of a faculty member whose expertise matches your research area.

Master of Arts (MA), course-based

In a course-based program, all degree requirements are fulfilled by completing courses. These may include courses that involve a project, such as a major research paper or group project.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Department of English offers a PhD degree with one specialization, Literature in English. The Creative Writing option is available within this specialization.

Ready to apply?

Have you made your final decision and you're ready to apply?

What you'll need

The Faculty of Graduate Studies has detailed instructions about the application process.

Read admission steps and requirements

Do you have everything?

You are responsible for ensuring your application is complete and all documents are received by the deadline. 

Graduate supervisor

The Department of English does not require you to confirm a supervisor prior to admission.

Begin your application

First  create an eID . You must have one to access the online application.

Once you begin, remember to click 'Save & Continue' often to ensure your application is saved.

Online application

Graduate program contacts

Contact us for any questions you may have about the programs we offer in the Department of English.

Graduate Program Advisor

Ask me about graduate program advising

Lori Somner

[email protected]

Associate Head (Graduate Program)

Ask me about graduate degree requirements

Morgan Vanek

[email protected]

Creative Writing Coordinator

Ask me about the Creative Writing Program

[email protected]

WRI 140 - Creative Writing Exploration

Course description.

Give voice to your inner story teller. Examine various genres including fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and drama through discussion, writing exercises and close reading of published work. Receive instructor and peer feedback consistent with your level of experience and comfort. The focus will be on generating ideas and learning the basics of the creative writing process.

Course Details

Broad learning outcome:.

Upon successful completion of Creative Writing Explorations, you will be able to trust the importance of what you write on the page. This initial affirmation as a writer is critical to your learning the craft in any of its forms. You will be able to identify the conventions of genre and how to mould them for your creation.

Supporting Learning Outcome Statements

By completion of this course, successful student will be able to: 

• Produce a personal portfolio of creative writing and other potential items for future work 
• Apply knowledge and skills to write a good story, poem or personal essay 
• Experiment and take risks with genre 
• Participate in a supportive writing community 
• Apply good self-editing practice and listening skills for changing and building your creative writing

Applies Towards the Following Program(s)

• Creative Writing Certificate : Core Courses

WRI 140 - 040

Ce 5% bundle discount, vivian hansen, mfa.

Nancy Pagh's  Write Moves: A Creative Writing Guide & Anthology , published by Broadview (ISBN: 978-1-55481-226-4). 

Visit the UCalgary Bookstore at www.calgarybookstore.ca .

This course uses Desire2Learn (D2L), an online learning management system. The instructor will post your course outline and other materials in D2L. For more information about D2L, please visit our Online Learning Resources .

Unless notified, all online courses are available at 9 am MT the day before the start date. Students who register on (or after) the start date will receive access within one day of registration.

Students who are unfamiliar with online learning are recommended to take our free Digital Skills for Learning Online course.

Unless otherwise stated, notice of withdrawal or transfer from a course must be received at least seven calendar days prior to the start date of the course.

WRI 140 - 039

Roderick moody-corbett, wri 140 - 042, wri 140 - 041.

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Session Time-Out

Online asynchronous, instructor-led, with no scheduled live videoconferencing.

Your course will be delivered using Desire2Learn (D2L), the University of Calgary learning management system. Unlike correspondence or self-paced courses, asynchronous courses are instructor-led and require regular student participation throughout. There are learning activities and assignments included in each D2L course that would fall under instruction.

For more information about online learning, see our Online Learning Resources .

Receive a 5% discount for registering in three or more certificate courses at the same time. The three courses must be from the same certificate program.

During checkout, be sure to select the 'Apply a discount' option next to each eligible course. Choose '5% Bundle Discount' from the menu.

This discount applies to courses within the following certificate programs: Adult Learning, Teaching Second Languages, Writing, and Visual Design.

Vivian’s publications include three full-length books of poetry and several chapbooks. Leylines of My Flesh chronicles the experiences of Danish Canadians in western Canada. A Bitter Mood of Clouds records the life and times of Arne Petersen, who received sex reassignment in Denmark in 1953. A Tincture of Sunlight is the story about Old Man, a WWII veteran, biologist and life commentator. Vivian has published recent essays in Coming Here, Being Here (ed: Don Mulcahy, Guernica Editions 2016), and in Waiting (University of Alberta Press 2018). She has a short piece in the Calgary Public Library Dispenser Series (2019) “Where We Surfaced.” A chapbook “Design Charette For Blakiston Park” has just been released by Loft 112.

Vivian teaches poetry and memoir, and fiction, and won the 2017 Teaching Award with the University of Calgary, in Continuing and Professional Education. She has worked as a story coach in the Alexandra Writers Centre Author Development Program, and the Borderlines Writers Circle. She has also mentored poets through the Writers Guild of Alberta Mentorship program. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing with the University of British Columbia.

Rod Moody-Corbett holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Calgary, where he has taught as a sessional instructor since 2014. His fiction and criticism have appeared in magazines and journals across North America and the UK. His first novel,  Hides , is forthcoming with Breakwater Books in 2024. He is the recipient of the 2022 Howard O'Hagan Award for Short Story and serves a contributing editor for  Canadian Notes and Queries . 

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