creative writing ryerson

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Home Experience MLC Courses ENG 230: Creativity, Writing and Everyday Life

Where: Toronto Metropolitan University Instructor: Dr. Irene Gammel Contact: [email protected]

Course Description

“Creativity is a characteristic given to all human beings at birth,” Abraham Maslow wrote, while Sigmund Freud asserted that creativity was rooted in childhood play and pleasure. Through the lens of a variety of writers and thinkers, students will engage with questions regarding the role of creativity in everyday life. Students will examine a broad range of writings about everyday life, including sports writing, writing about food and family, illness and trauma and healing. They will look at the relationship between writing and the visual arts including documentary arts and comics. Students will be able to learn directly from and engage with leading creative writers and practitioners like Indian-American writer Amitava Kumar, President Obama’s favourite novelist; American-Canadian artists’ biographer Molly Peacock, Globe and Mail sports columnist Cathal Kelly, British poet and writer Clare Best, and journalist and author Jan Wong. Through a field trip to the AGO, students will be able to appreciate the role of creativity in decolonizing and rewriting the old colonial stories and power structures. Ultimately, students will be able to bring their own voice to bear on an important international conversation about creativity, writing, and the everyday life.

Download or view the course syllabus (PDF)

Course Goal

In this course students examine a range of texts in relation to theories and practices of creativity to learn, appreciate and deepen humanistic skills in creative (and critical) reading, writing, making, reflecting, as well as discussion and research. Moreover, students network with authors and other practitioners in the field.

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The great war in literature and visual culture.

Amid the unprecedented social change of World War I, women renegotiated their identities by dramatically changing the way they engaged with the arts. But how did they do so? And how did everyday citizens engage with the war?

Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven

Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, considered by many to be the mother of Dada, was a daringly innovative poet and an early creator of junk sculpture. “The Baroness” was best known for her sexually charged, often controversial performances.

Modernism in the World

Recent research has departed from the Euro-centric and national view of Modernism to include approaches and methods studying Modernism across national boundaries and across different art forms to include fashion, dance, performance, technology, and visual culture.

Lucy Maud Montgomery

L.M. Montgomery is perhaps Canada's most important literary export. She was prolific writer of over 500 short stories and poems, and twenty novels, including the beloved Anne of Green Gables.

Canadian Modernism

The works of numerous Canadian authors who lived during the modernist era may well constitute the most central and experimental articulation of Canadian modernism in prose, allowing authors to stage cross-cultural, controversial, and even conflicted identities.

Modernist Biography and Life Writing

Life writing, including autobiographical accounts, diaries, letters and testimonials written or told by women and men whose political, literary or philosophical purposes are central to their lives, has become a standard tool for communication and the dissemination of information.

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Creative Writing

This upper-level course offers students the opportunity both to study models of good writing and to develop their own creative abilities. Class discussions and workshop groups are designed to enhance the student's understanding of the creative process, to stimulate the imagination, and to develop individual abilities. Areas of discussion include style, prosody, conflict, character, dialogue, and revision.

Lauren Kirshner if you can get her. Only portfolio, no exam.

Added by Anonymous on 2014-04-25 12:05:40

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ENG 306 Forms of Creative Writing

This project-based course offers students the opportunity both to study models of good writing and to develop their own creative abilities. Class discussions and workshop groups are designed to enhance the student’s understanding of the creative process, to stimulate the imagination, and to develop individual abilities. Areas of discussion include style, prosody, conflict, character, dialogue, and revision. Available to BAENGLISH students only. Lect: 3 hrs. Prerequisite: ENG 208, Antirequisites: ENG 302, ENG 303, ENG 304 Course Weight: 1.00 Billing Units: 1

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Ryerson’s Publishing Program: Insights and Inspirations from Two of TEC’s Editors

by Ronnie Morris & Samantha Rohrig

Published at 2021-06-02

Ryerson University’s Publishing Program is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! 

Founded in 1990, the Certificate in Publishing is the largest and most successful professional training program for the publishing industry in Canada. Our graduates thrive in book publishing and related industries, and in corporate, non-profit, and government communications. ( Ryerson Publishing )

We wanted to celebrate this milestone by sharing some insights and inspirations from two of the program’s current students who just happen to be members of our TEC editing team.

Ronnie Morris

Tec social media editor, finding a professional path.

For the last few years, I’ve been recovering from an illness; I haven’t been able to work for more than a few hours at a time before I would feel mentally exhausted. Some days are better than others, and certain hours of the day are better than others, but I found I had very little control over exactly which hours those would be. Although I was determined to do something productive during my recovery, the constraints of a lot of programs make it difficult to take courses. They might require application the year before studies begin, for example, or they might have requirements that students physically be on campus and take classes in person.

The publishing program at Ryerson University’s Chang School of Continuing Education, however, allowed me to enroll right away, with the flexibility to complete my coursework online, wherever I happened to be and at any time, day or night. Even better, I could limit the size of the course load I assumed each semester, taking on only as much as I felt comfortable with. Because learning wasn’t conducted in person, moreover, I was able to continue my studies through the pandemic, without the obstacles the lockdown created.

Inspired by the Visual Side of Publishing

Since I began the program, I’ve taken classes in proofreading, copyediting, and indexing, and these courses have all been taught by respected professionals whose work I see in publishing every day. I found they provided a sound basis, teaching me more about the industry and the way it works. One of the most memorable for me, however, was “Visual Skills in Publishing,” taught by Gary and Camilla Blakeley. The course looked at things like the history of photography; image research and editing; typography; and the design of tables, graphs, diagrams, and maps. Even though I have a background in Fine Arts and already felt I had a degree of familiarity with some of the concepts and software used in the course, I found things were actually very different with the pace of technological change. In fact, things had changed so much that I discovered my trusty laptop, which was once top-of-the-line, was incapable of running most of the software for the course. Determined that the age of my hardware wouldn’t stop me from taking part in his course, Gary actually tracked down a loan of an adequate computer from the staff at the Ryerson Library, who shipped it to me since the lockdown prevented me from visiting in person.

Through the course, my eyes were constantly opened to things that I hadn’t considered before because I was approaching the material from a different perspective. I realized, for example, the value of simplicity in visual communication, because so much depends on comprehensibility. One of the most eye-opening aspects of the course was copyright and permissions, since I’ve seen first-hand on social media how regional differences in the law can make the topic so confusing to people; a definitive take on the situation as it stands in Canada has been invaluable.

Looking Forward

While I had considered my life in the arts and my life in publishing to be two separate things, I have come to realize that visual communication is an important element of all aspects of publishing. Although I still have a few more credits left before I’ve earned my certificate, I already feel like a solid foundation has been laid for my career, and I’ve been able to start building on it at my own speed.

Samantha Rohrig

Tec assistant editor.

To say I knew nothing of the world of publishing before starting courses at Ryerson last fall is not the hyperbolic overstatement you might think. I knew reading. I knew academic writing. I knew academic editing, to a degree. I knew nothing, however, of style sheets or proofreaders’ marks, nothing of the “language” of typography or the standard publishing workflow that sees a writing project from beginning to end, from its initial development through to acquisition, editing, design, production, printing, and even sales and marketing—all things (and much more) that I would come to learn over the course of my first two semesters at Ryerson.

When I started in the publishing program in September 2020, the idea of changing gears to pursue a career in editing had already been at the back of my mind for some time, but I had been afraid to take the leap and to give up my graduate studies for a field that, as I’ve said, I really knew nothing about. I didn’t know anyone who had ever worked in publishing in any capacity, and aside from a few basic Google searches about the business and about “ What Editors Actually Do ,” the extent of my knowledge was essentially limited to the various depictions I had seen over the years in film and on television ( Seinfeld ’s Elaine and her many mishaps working as an editor at “Pendant Publishing” immediately comes to mind…).

When the pandemic hit, however, it weirdly felt like the right time to stop spinning my wheels and finally jump in with both feet. This was made possible, of course, by the entirely online format of Ryerson’s publishing program. From what I understand, one could, in years past, take certain publishing courses at Ryerson in person in a traditional classroom setting, but the program as a whole has for some time now been largely designed for the online classroom.

Inspired by What Editors Do

While many academic programs across the country struggled this past year to quickly adapt their programs to our current COVID-19 reality, the Ryerson publishing program appeared to continue on without a hitch. Business as usual. This was the first thing that made the transition into unfamiliar territory a relatively painless experience for me.

The second was quickly realizing that the majority of my peers were coming into the program with academic and working backgrounds as diverse and varied as my own. Sure, there were a few English and creative writing majors, and even one or two people who had gone through the process of publishing a book of their own. But there were also film and theatre majors, classically trained musicians, former government employees, secondary school teachers, artists and photographers, at least one professional chef, and several (former) students of the humanities, like me.

It soon became clear that our instructors—all well-established and experienced professionals in the field—had likewise come to publishing from a variety of backgrounds and had since developed extremely varied and inspiring careers working both in-house at trade and educational publishing firms, and as freelancer editors, book designers, and professional proofreaders.

Even before I really knew “What Editors Actually Do,” it was the general sense I had that editing would afford me the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, constantly introducing me to new authors and genres and topics, that drew me to the field and to the Ryerson publishing program. I shouldn’t have been so surprised to learn that editors themselves (would-be, new, or experienced) would similarly hail from so many diverse and interesting backgrounds.

I shouldn’t have been so initially hesitant to wade out into unfamiliar waters. My experience with the Ryerson publishing program has been nothing but positive so far—from the flexible format and online delivery of the courses to the lively and insightful discussion board conversations with my classmates to the enthusiasm of the instructors and the thoughtful feedback and professional advice they provide.

The courses I have taken so far have made me confident in my position here at TEC working as a copy editor and proofreader for academic publications, and looking ahead to the offerings for Fall 2021, I am excited to expand my professional repertoire by learning about different publishing “niches” I hadn’t thought to consider before—indexing and permissions, for example.  

My only regret is that I didn’t take the plunge sooner.

The Ryerson Publishing Program ’s website offers a full listing of its courses as well as information about a career in publishing, the instructors teaching the courses, and more!

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The Creative Writing minor offers the opportunity to develop expertise in writing fiction, poetry, stage plays, screenplays, nonfiction and other forms of imaginative literature. This cross-disciplinary minor involves a total of eight courses including at least two at the 3000-level or higher.

Career possibilities when combined with a Bachelor's degree

• Arts Sector Worker
• Arts Administration
• Community Development 

Learn more about the Creative Writing minor requirements and current courses offered.

Sample courses

Introduction to writing poetry.

Develop your creative writing with writerly readings and analysis of published contemporary poetry. You will be encouraged to explore a range of styles, as well as experiment, play with, write and rewrite their own work in light of critiques by fellow students, the instructor and the implicit examples found in literature.

Introduction to writing fiction

In this workshop-based course, you will acquire the skills, understanding and practice you need to write, edit, and discuss your own original fiction. The course will result in the completion of an original portfolio which can be used to apply for entry to upper-level courses.

Writing about images

This foundational composition course focuses on writing about images. You will refine their understanding and practice of the structures of writing by responding to and analyzing images.

Technical writing

This course focuses on the principles and techniques of technical writing. Through analysis of selected technical prose and directed writing practice, students will develop competence in the presentation of technical information for a variety of audiences.

Editing: theory and practice

Building on previous literature and writing courses, this course introduces you to the multifaceted, ethical work of the professional editor. It balances theoretical inquiry with practical training in preparing creative and scholarly works for publication. You will acquire skills in copy editing of manuscripts, style-editing, and editorial feedback, and practice intensive self-editing and peer review.

Script writing

This course explores the theory and practice of writing for stage, screen, and live performance. Workshop exercises will focus on developing dramaturgical skills needed for writing dialogue, plotting action, using generic conventions, and developing characters. You will have the opportunity to create your own plays, screenplays, or performance pieces.

Experiential studies in creative writing

This course offers you the opportunity to apply your creative writing skills to an experiential life writing/ fact-based project. You will be partnered with subjects by one of our partner community organizations and conduct a series of interviews as a basis for the creation of an original piece of writing, performance or multi-media work.

Life Writing Project

In 2013, our faculty and students begin working with United Active Living and the Garrison Green Seniors Residence to create the Life Writing Project. During our wonderful partnership, many of the interested seniors at Garrison Green were published several times throughout the series. This unique opportunity brought accomplished creative writing students together with senior citizens in a semester-long series of interviews that culminate in an anthology of published work.

In 2019, the Immigrant Services Calgary reached contacted one of our faculty members to teach "Creative Writing to Seniors" and this presented a new opportunity to design a different approach to the Life Writing Project. 

A Colourful Life: A Collection of Poems and Stories by Immigrant Seniors , was the result. This anthology was a first for Immigrant Services Calgary and launched with great fanfare to a full house of seniors and community members and also, in attendance, was the Honourable Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing with the Government of Alberta. You can check out the story  here.

This project has a curricular tie-in with our capstone course, "Experiential Studies in Creative Writing".

  I feel very much enjoyable in this class. This will help us to connect others. At first, I feel shy but now I feel pleasure. At first I cannot speak English, now I can say something and understand language. I passed my days very pleasure. Every person is friendly to another. Writing class is very much helpful to me. It helps to write something and talking with others. Writing is good exercise of our brain. It helps us to work the brain. Brain is good, our health is good. Creative writing helps us to protect our brain. — Student, Community Initiatives for Immigrant Seniors Program (CISP)

Meet your Creative Writing instructors

Scriptwriting and Story Design (MFA)

Part of  The Creative School

Format:  Full-time

Degree Earned: MFA

This uniquely interdisciplinary program nurtures emerging, storytelling voices in the art of script-based creative writing for stage, screen and cutting-edge media platforms. The final thesis project is a full script for a feature film, a stage play, television or other form of scripted media.

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline from an accredited institution
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) or equivalent of 3.00/4.33 (B)
• Statement of interest
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Example of written creative work
• English language proficiency requirement

More information on  admission requirements . Due to the competitive nature of our programs, it is not possible to offer admission to everyone who applies that meets the minimum entrance requirements for the program. 

Students are encouraged to submit applications prior to the first consideration date to increase their chances of securing  financial support  for their graduate studies. Applications received after the first consideration date will be accepted and reviewed based on spaces remaining in the program.

See  application dates .

For detailed graduate tuition and fees information please visit  Fees by Program .

For information on scholarships, awards and financing your graduate studies visit  Financing Your Studies.

• autobiographical and personal narratives
• collaborative creative processes
• contemporary narrative 
• cultural diversity in the script and story development process
• linear and non-linear story design 
• live- events scripting 
• narrative structures, styles and dramaturgical methodologies
• occupational dynamics of stage and screenwriters
• story iteration across multiple media forms

Graduate Admissions

Admissions information and how to apply

Graduate Studies Admissions Office Phone:  416-979-5150 Email:  [email protected]

Program Contacts

Michal Conford Interim Graduate Program Director Telephone: 416-979-5000  ext. 556879 Email: [email protected]

Elaine Nie Graduate Program Administrator Email:  [email protected]   

Program Profile  (external link) 

Engage your creative voice and tap into industry experts across the media and film industries with an MFA in Scriptwriting and Story Design.

Find curriculum, course descriptions and important dates

Once you’ve made an informed choice about which program(s) you are going to apply to, preparing your application requires careful research and planning.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, we understand that pursuing graduate studies is a significant financial investment. Funding comes from a combination of employment contracts (as a teaching assistant), scholarships, awards and stipends. There are a number of additional funding sources – internal and external – available to graduate students that can increase these funding levels.

As an urban innovation university, Toronto Metropolitan University offers 60+ cutting-edge, career-oriented graduate programs, as well as 125+ research centres, institutes and labs, in a wide range of disciplines. Our close connections with industry, government and community partners provide opportunities to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges and make a difference.

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