RECENT PHOTOS

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

Xavier's NEA Literary Reading Series

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 as well. Our judge for 2004 awards was poet, Mr. Lorenzo Thomas. Lorenzo Thomas, a widely published poet and critic who was born in the Republic of Panama, grew up in New York and was educated in the New York City public schools and Queens College (City University). His works have appeared in many journals including African American Review, Arrowsmith, Blues Unlimited (England), Living Blues, Partisan Review, Ploughshares, and Popular Music and Society, among others. A regular book reviewer for the Houston Chronicle, he has also contributed scholarly articles to the African American Encyclopedia, American Literary Scholarship, Gulliver (Germany) and the Dictionary of Literary Biography. His books include Chances Are Few, The Bathers and Es Gibt Zeugen, collections of poetry, as well as Sing the Sun Up: Creative Writing Ideas from African American Literature. His most recent book is Extraordinary Measures Afrocentric Modernism and 20th Centurry American Poetry (University of Alabama Press, 2000). Currently, Mr. Thomas also serves the University of Houston---Downtown as the Director of the Cultural Enrichment Center where he is a Professor of English.

Xavier Creative Writing Awards:
The Nora V. Pierce Creative Writing Award

Tiara L. Williams's short story "Good's Never Good Enough" is powerful and skillful writing, notable for vivid characterization. As Ms. Williams will be a gradualting senior in the Fall semester, I recommend her for the Nora Pierce Award.

The Truman Capote Literary Trust Awards

Kristina K. Robinson's story "Maybe I'm Violet" is really excellent work. The narrative has the intriguing flavor of a parable and the writer sustains that tone well. Plotting and characterization are also handled with skill. This is a writer who deserves a Truman Capote Literary Award.

Robyn Peebles's selection of poems represents really good work from a talented writer. "American Slumber" is a clever commentary on a materialistic society while "Frozen" is noteworthy for startling imagery. The delightful sensory indulgence of "Learning to Bathe" shows a writer who is developing a fine range of skills. This work also deserves a Truman Capote Literary Award.

National Association of University Women Creative Writing Awards

If there are two prizes sponsored by ther National Association of University Women, my suggestion is that they be awarded to Alexis Gabriel and Judy Dixon. Ms. Dixon's work shows a great deal of originality and she has a marvelouius capacity to surprise the reader. Ms. Gabriel's well-crafted poems impressively demonstrate an excellent control of imagery and sound.

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

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

We are proud that we currently have two of our own graduates who were creative writing minors in M.F.A. programs. They are:
Jonathan Moody at University of Pittsburgh (poetry)
Jamila Smith accepted at Chatham University