Creative Writing

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As part of a close-knit community of literary artists,  Saint Mary’s Creative Writing students study the art  and craft of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and drama,  learning how to generate, polish and publish  original work that captures the diversity and  complexity of contemporary life.

Creative Writing students spend  their time developing and  discussing poems, stories,  essays and plays in workshops,  studying classic and  contemporary literature, and  honing the professional skills  and knowledge necessary to  lead a life of letters. 
 

Learning Objectives

TECHNIQUE: Students will identify, analyze, and use the elements of literary craft in various genres. Students will develop a personal style, apply craft techniques that they learn during workshops, and choose from several strategies to revise written work. 

WORKSHOP: Students will identify and learn to use the most effective workshop practices. They will learn how to critique the written work of their peers, both orally and in writing, in constructive and mutually beneficial ways. As students learn to critique written work, they will encounter various perspectives, and learn to appreciate the value of diverse lived realities.

MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES: Students will understand the value of different experiences, especially from traditionally marginalized and underrepresented groups, and of their own voices. Students will learn to understand their positionality in relation to texts and their own creative work.

LITERARY EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE: Students will read, analyze, and evaluate contemporary and other literature, and learn techniques and concepts of literary analysis. While the emphasis will be on studying literature from the perspective of creative writing, this study will also prepare them as readers, writers, critics, editors, and scholars. There will be a particular focus on diversity and a variety of lived realities. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE: Students will learn to evaluate, discuss, and research contemporary literary publishing and editing.

Faculty

Marilyn Abildskov, Professor

Chris Feliciano Arnold, Chair, MFA Director

Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Distinguished Visiting Writer 

Matthew Zapruder, Professor

Programs

• Bachelor of Arts
• Creative Writing, BA

Minor

• Creative Writing Minor

Courses

Lower Division

Upper Division

Creative Writing SSTE Credential Pathway

This major has an integrated Single Subject Teacher Education (SSTE) pathway to prepare future middle and high school classroom teachers. The integrated program of study enables students to graduate with their BAs and a CA teaching credential in 4 years. See Teacher Education  - Major Emphasis/SSTE Pathways for detailed information on credential courses.

Programs

• Creative Writing, BA

• Creative Writing Minor

Courses

• CW 260 - Visiting Writers Series

• CW 496 - Creative Writing Capstone

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