Creative Writing Minor

A theoretical and practical introduction to the human phenomenon of storytelling, what stories are, their central role in culture from ancient times to the present day, and how storytellers seek and communicate meaning. Particular attention will be paid to the significance of story in the JudeoChristian tradition and story’s role within the Christian faith. Students will generate numerous story ideas, and with the help of their classmates and the instructor will evaluate those ideas in terms of audience appeal, theme and meaning.

This course builds on student understanding of screen storytelling established in Story, Genre and Structure and Writing and Pitching a Script. Students will develop an original feature-length screen story from multiple ideas through idea evaluation and selection, character creation and development, story structure, treatment, pitch and beat sheet. At the end of the course, students will register their work with the WGA (a $20 fee). Students will consider more advanced screenwriting concepts presented in the text and will apply those principles to their developing stories.

This course serves as an introduction to the art of short story writing, providing students with the opportunity to engage in their own original work with foundational aspects of prose fiction. Class discussions focus on the work of established masters of the short story form, and regular workshop sessions provide opportunities to explore and critique the stories of classmates, and to build a supportive community of writers in the process.

Picking up where Writing Short Fiction I leaves off, this course affords advanced students additional instruction in the demanding art of short story writing. The workshop model continues to serve discussions of original student work, and during other class discussions particular stress is laid on finer aspects of craft and sincere engagement with more recent masters of the form.

Prerequisites: HUMA220

This course affords students the opportunity to engage with the art of poetry as practitioners. By increasing each students’ awareness of musicality, artistic process, aesthetic sensibility, and the impressionistic power of language, this course aims to enable the crafting of lasting pieces of literary art.

This course continues where Writing Poetry leaves off, offering students additional engagement with the art of poetry as practitioners. Readings of well-crafted and thought-provoking poetry will inspire original work, and exercises will prompt additional growth in specific areas--musicality, form, contrast, and line, among others. The quarter will conclude with students assembling a collection of original work.

Prerequisites: HUMA320