Program

The Creative Writing program is committed to encouraging creative written expression. Through writing-intensive seminars and workshops, Creative Writing minors (1) develop their creative thinking and writing ability; (2) gain a greater sensitivity to language; (3) learn to offer and respond to constructive criticism; (4) learn to read literature in terms of craft and method; and (5) become familiar with contemporary authors.

These skills will serve students whether they pursue graduate school or careers immediately after graduation. Depending upon the student's major, the graduating Creative Writing minor's options may include pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing or a Doctorate in English, either of which would qualify them for careers in college teaching. Other career directions may include education, writing literature, magazine writing, publishing, journalism, languages, communications, and business.

The minor in Creative Writing consists of eighteen (18) hours. Students completing this minor are required to take:

WRIT 1050 Introduction to Creative Writing

At least two of the following:

WRIT 2050 Poetry Workshop
WRIT 2060 Fiction Workshop
WRIT 2070 Literary Nonfiction Workshop
WRIT 2080 Dramatic Writing

At least one of the following:

WRIT 3060 Special Topics
WRIT 4050 Writing Seminar
WRIT 4060 Creative Thesis

WRIT/ENGL 2141, 2143 Journal Practicum also counts towards the minor.

Students may repeat any course, except WRIT 1050, one time.

A grade of “C” or better must be earned in all courses taken in the minor.

Courses Offerred

WRITING (WRIT)

1050. Introduction to Creative Writing - This course introduces students to invention techniques, and components of fiction, poetry, and literary non-fiction. It will also teach workshop procedures. (3)

2050. Poetry Workshop - In this course, students learn to write different forms of poetry and will learn a variety of poetic elements such as image, metaphor, rhythm, rhyme and alliteration. Through readings, students will become familiar with the work of contemporary poets such as Lucille Clifton, Tess Gallagher, and C. K. Williams. Prerequisite: WRIT 1050. (3)

2060. Fiction Writing - Students explore different fiction writing elements such as character development, narrative point of view, setting, and plot. They begin to develop their skills at writing, revising and criticizing works of short fiction through their own creative endeavors and daily participation in the workshop. They will begin to develop, or add to their portfolio of works, while extending their familiarity with works of short fiction writers such as Raymond Carver and John Edgar Wideman, Alice Walker, and Eudora Welty. Prerequisite: WRIT 1050. (3)

2070. Nonfiction Writing - Students will study and practice writing different forms of literary nonfiction. The course will cover description, scene, summary, point of view, characterization, dialogue and other techniques. Through readings students also will become familiar with the work of contemporary essayists such as James Baldwin, Alice Walker, and Elie Weisel. Prerequisite: WRIT 1050. (3)

2080. Dramatic Writing - Dramatic Writing teaches the basics of play and screen writing including dramatic structure, character study, scene and sequence structure, techniques of visual narration, dialogue, adaptation, and language of film. Students will become familiar with contemporary playwrights, screen writers and directors. Prerequisite: WRIT 1050. (3)

3060. Special Topics - Topics might include “Style and Technique in Third World Writing,” “Autobiography,”, “Style and Technique in African American Prose and Poetry,” “Poetry and Performance,” “Novel Writing,” “Science Fiction Writing,” “Poetry Translation,” “Literature and Film,” “Oral History,” “Reported Truth vs Literary Truth,” “Biography and Autobiography,” “Letters and Letter-Writing,” and “Nature Writing.” Prerequisite: 2000-level Writing course. (3)

4050. Seminar - Seminars will include intensive reading, creative writing and discussion. The course will also entail practice and studies of the form, craft and theory of various genres. Possible topics include, “Women's Poetics – Ancient to Contemporary,” “Multicultural Poetics,” “Problems of Adaptation,” “Poetry, Personae, and Author,” “Literature and Translation,” and “Political Poetry.” Prerequisite: 2000-level Writing course. (3)

4060. Creative Thesis - Students will propose a special project which will accumulate into a body of creative work suitable for a portfolio for graduate school applications and in some instances for submission to a publisher. Projects might include writing a collection of poems, stories, or essays. Or a student might work on a novel, family history, play, or screenplay. The student may create a diverse body of work. Work will be evaluated by a committee of faculty members, including a chair responsible for directing the student's writing endeavors. Prerequisite: 2000-level Writing course and approval of a thesis director and committee. (3)

Activities

Reading Series

Director: Dr. Biljana D. Obradovic, Associate Professor, Poet

Readers Spring 2009

Paula Closen Buck, February 5, 2009 at 7pm at University Center Rm. 205 C
Lincoln Bicentennial Reading, February 12, 2009 at 7pm at University Center Room 205C

Past Visiting Writers

Xavier University's Literary Reading Series has included: Biljana D. Obradovic, Patricia A. Ward, Michele Pichon, Gregory Donovan, Reginald McKnight, Nikky Finney, Jerry McGuire, Toi Derricotte, Gloria Wade-Gayles, Niyi Osundare, Joel Dailey, Allison Joseph, Xiaobin Yang, Michael Harper, Philip Dacey, Mark Whitaker, Maxine Cassin, Terrance Hayes, Lupenga Mphande, Leo Luke Marcello, Patrice Melnick, Christopher Chambers, Richard Collins, John Gery, Amiri Baraka, Bruce Weigl, Ethelbert Miller, Hilda Raz, Agymah Kwadwo Kamau, Henry taylor, Marcia Southwick, Lenard Duane Moore, Mona Lisa Saloy, and many others as well as Calalloo (Creative Writing Outreach to HBCUs on campus visit with writers, 20 students participated in the workshops).

Students

Xavier Student Awards

Our program offers several awards each semester which are monetary, but students who enter these contests may be published in our student magazine, New Voices.

The Nora V. Pierce Creative Writing Award

The Truman Capote Literary Trust Awards

The Truman Capote Literary Trust has been the program’s major benefactor for over a decade, providing two annual scholarships, currently of $13,000, to continuing Xavier students. Scholarship winners are chosen on the merit of manuscripts, by a judge who is a professional creative writer and who has no affiliation with Xavier University. Past judges have included Toi Derricote, Percival Everette, John Gery, Mona Lisa Saloy, Lorenzo Thomas. The Trust also supports the graduate writing programs at The University of Iowa, Stanford University, The University of Alabama, and Rutgers University.

Two National Association of University Women Creative Writing Awards

All manuscripts are forwarded to New Voices for consideration for inclusion in next year's issue of New Voices.

Xavier Creative Writing Student Graduates Now in Creative Writing M.F.A. and Ph.D Programs

We are proud that several of our graduates went form our creative writing minor to M.F.A. and Ph.D. programs. They are:

Miranda Bradford went to Hollands for an MFA.

Danielle Littlefield went to Sarah Lawrence for an MFA.

Jonathan Moody went to the University of Pittsburgh for an MFA(poetry).

Jamila Smith recevied an MFA in Children's and Adolescent Literature at Chatham University, and is now doing a Ph.D.