ENG 313: Types of Creative Writing
In-person, T Th 9:00-10:15am
This course will focus on developing craft techniques in creative nonfiction and fiction. We will approach reading, writing, and workshopping with a sense of curiosity. What feelings does a piece provoke in you? What story do you really want to tell, and how? Over the course of the semester we will read and discuss the creative works of various authors as well as compose our own and workshop them with our peers. We will also read essays on craft and practice various storytelling techniques through free writes, prompts, and guided exercises. We will play and take risks; we will reflect and revise.
An important part of our work over the semester will be to cultivate our classroom writing community through discussions and workshopping. This means that you will be sharing your work with your peers, and offering your own feedback on their work as well. Throughout the semester, we will practice offering constructive and respectful feedback together. Although we often think about writing as a solitary endeavor, it is truly a collaborative engagement. With that in mind, we will also think deeply about the communities we write for and about, and our relationships and responsibilities to them.
Texts
Assigned readings will be provided as pdfs or linked to online.
Assignments
- Short Reading Responses on assigned texts
- Short Writing Experiments based on craft prompts
- Workshop Pieces (students will expand on and revise their favorite Experiments into longer pieces for workshop)
- Workshop memos for peers
- Workshop reflections + Revision plans
- Final Creative Portfolio + a Craft Reflection