Curriculum for Writing & Publishing Degree

This course introduces students to the work of writing creatively, encouraging them to become more attentive readers, as preparation for their own growth as writers. We'll survey a range of literary texts, developing a deeper understanding of how creative genres work, what parameters structure them, and how they might be deployed in our own writing. Students will experiment within their own fiction, poetry, and nonfiction writing. The bedrock of our class will be peer review, so students can read and learn from each others' work.

Poetry Workshop 1 will emphasize a close reading of text and discussions on matters of craft in a workshop setting. Students will gain an understanding of form and language by examining a broad range of models, use prompts to develop writing skills, and grapple with various problems inherent to writing so that they can articulate their own voices and concerns. By the culmination of this course, students will produce an origina poetry manuscript and give a public reading.

An exploration of fiction writing for students who have already made some inroads into the genre. Presented as a writing workshop, the class reads and discusses short stories, novels, and essays on the art and craft of fiction writing. Students experiment in short fiction, while becoming discerning readers of canonical and contemporary published fiction, as well as the work of their peers. Coursework will lead up to a final portfolio of at least 40 pages of polished work and a final public reading.

In this course, students survey the ways that writers go about getting at the truth while representing it in creative and compelling ways. As opposed to journalism, which focuses on objectivity and reportage, this course introduces students to creative nonfiction writing, surveying genres like biography, history, memoir, and personal essays. Students will experiment in writing across those genres, in gathering evidence and conducting research that supports the telling of true stories, and in assessing the moves that authors make when they want to convince their audience that something is true and worth hearing about.

This course is an intensive exploration of fiction writing. Presented as a seminar and writing workshop, the class reads and discusses short stories, novels, and essays on the art and craft of fiction writing. Writing three short stories (or the equivalent in chapters of a novel/novella) leads students to integrate theory and practice as they produce work informed by a detailed understanding of such common fictional elements as character, plot, setting, and conflict as well as more advanced concepts that foster finely wrought creative work. Students submit at least one original work for publication.

Transmedia storytelling is conceived in two ways: splintering-where a single story is split into pieces, and extension-where a single story/story world stretches in different directions via various media formats and platforms. Built around investigating both types, students assess works that showcase splintering/extension and through producing their own stories. They gain exposure to media theory and criticism that targets transmedia narrative, experiment with transmedia storytelling software and content platforms, and practice writing and designing content for a variety of media formats.

Reading & Writing: Special Topics is a rotating subject course that offers students the opportunity to read and write deeply across a broad spectrum of artistic, cultural and historic literature in specific genres to be as representative as possible of the world literature canon. Genres covered in each course will vary based on the changing market and student interests.

What does an editor's job involve? This course looks at the role of book editor, from acquiring a manuscript, working with authors to develop voice and make substantial changes, collaborating with design and production on jacket and interior design, and presenting to sales and marketing. Students will learn how book editing skills compare/contrast with other types of editing, including print and online, working with different genres and hearing from industry professionals. Collaborative workshops, peer editing, and peer review.