The next reading at XU will be a creative nonfiction reading by Nancy Mcon Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 7 pm at UC 205. For more information click here.
Faculty
- Dr. Biljana D. Obradovic (Poetry, Translation)
- Mr. James Shade (Playwriting, Screenwriting)
- Mr. Mark Whitaker, Director (Fiction)
Program
2010-2012 Catalog (2008-2010 follows)
MINOR IN CREATIVE WRITING
The Creative Writing program is committed to developing 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; (5) create a portfolio of artistic work; and (6) 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, business, and technical and scientific writing.
The minor in Creative Writing consists of eighteen (18) hours. Students completing this minor are required to take:
CRWT 1050 Introduction to Creative Writing
At least two of the following:
CRWT 2050 Poetry Workshop
CRWT 2060 Fiction Workshop
CRWT 2070 Literary Nonfiction Workshop
CRWT 2080 Dramatic Writing
At least one of the following:
CRWT 3060 Special Topics
CRWT 4050 Writing Seminar
CRWT 4060 Creative Thesis
CRWT/ENGL 2141, 2143 Journal Practicum also counts towards the minor.
Students may repeat any course, except CRWT 1050, one time.
A grade of “C” or better must be earned in all courses taken in the minor.
CRWT – CREATIVE WRITING
The Fall (Fa), Spring (Sp), or Summer (Su) semesters indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. Expansive Core Curriculum courses are denoted by EXP. Service Learning courses are denoted by SL.
CRWT 1050. Introduction to Creative Writing. This introductory seminar introduces students to invention techniques and basic terms of the crafts of drama, fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction. Students will produce original work, such as poems and scenes in fiction and script format. They will also learn basic workshop procedures. Successful completion of the course fulfills the university’s core Fine Arts requirement. (3, FaSp)
CRWT 2050. Poetry Workshop. In this seminar, students learn to write and critique 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 Rita Dove, Charles Simic and Michael S. Harper. Prerequisite: CRWT 1050. (3)
CRWT 2060. Fiction Writing. Students explore different fiction writing elements such as character development, narrative point of view, setting, and plot in a focused seminar setting. They begin to develop their skills of writing, revising and criticizing works of short fiction through their own creative endeavors and daily participation in the workshop, where they will develop, or add to, their portfolio of works, while extending their familiarity with works of short fiction writers such as Z.Z. Packer, Raymond Carver, Charles Baxter, and Eudora Welty. Prerequisite: CRWT 1050. (3)
CRWT 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 close readings students also will become familiar with the work of contemporary nonfiction authors such as David Hopes, Alice Walker, and Elie Weisel. Prerequisite: CRWT 1050. (3)
CRWT 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, screenwriters and directors. Prerequisite: CRWT 1050. (3)
CRWT 2141, 2143 (ENGL 2141, 2143). Journal Practicum. Students gain hands-on experience in publishing. No prerequisite. Permission of the instructor required for 3 hours. (1,3, FaSp)
CRWT 3060. Special Topics. These occasional classes are small seminars that allow students and instructors to explore focused areas of specialization within or overlapping the traditional genres. Topics might include “Style and Technique in Third World Writing,” “Autobiography,” “Style and Technique in African American Prose and Poetry,” “Poetry and Performance,” “Narrative Strategies in Novels,” “Science Fiction Writing,” “Poetry Translation,” “Literature and Film,” “Oral History,” “Credible Characterization,” “Biography and Autobiography,” and “Nature Writing.” Prerequisite: 2000-level Creative Writing course. (3)
CRWT 4050. Seminar. Advanced 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 Creative Writing course. (3)
CRWT 4060. Creative Thesis. In this intensive course, the student will assemble a significant portfolio of creative work suitable for submission to a graduate school admissions board or to a publisher. The thesis will be directed by one faculty member and evaluated by a committee including the director and two other faculty members. Enrollment follows the development of a proposal outlining all matters concerning the texts to be studied, the frequency of meetings between student and director, the type of manuscript to be produced, including the names of the faculty members who agree to serve as readers. The proposal must be approved through consultation with the professor directing the thesis prior to the pre-registration period for the semester of study. Prerequisite: completion of 5 CRWT classes, with a minimum 3.5 GPA in those classes. From the relevant genre(s), the student must have completed two sections from the 2000-level and one from the 3000-level courses. (3)
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2008-2010 Catalog
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, Professor, Poet
Expected Readers Spring 2011
Gina Ferrara: Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 7 pm at UC rm. 205
Julie Kane: Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 7pm at UC rm to be determined (see flyer)
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, Paula Closen Buck, Jericho Brown, Kay Murphy, Major Jackosn, Darrel Bourque, 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, used to be $13,000 (but is much less now) 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 and Kay Murphy. 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:
Troy Baham went to Texas to pursue his MFA in Creative Writing Poetry.
Kristina Robinson went to the University of New Orleans, to pursue her MFA in Creative Writing Poetry.
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.
