Creative Writing program
What is your story?
It is our human instinct to tell stories. Turn on the TV. Post on social media. Have a conversation with a friend. The stories we tell help us understand our identity in the world.
Creative writing is an imaginative and creative process. While creative writers may become book authors, they also enjoy a wide variety of career paths that require skills in creative problem solving, innovation, and communication.
UWL’s Creative Writing Minor is an opportunity to write, publish and join a collaborative and supportive community of writers.
What is creative writing?
Creative writing is a process of creating written works including fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, screen writing, stage writing or play writing. Creative writing starts with the generation of an idea. It continues with composing, revising, and publishing creative pieces.
Careers in creative writing
A minor in creative writing will lend to any career. Students can apply creative problem solving, communication, teamwork, professionalism, and deep exploration skills to any path. Example fields that a creative writing minor will complement are included below. Some students choose to continue their studies with a Master of Fine Arts degree.
Example fields
- Marketing
- Communications
- Editing
- Publishing
- Business administration
- Science
- Medical professions
- Theater arts
- Self-employment
What distinguishes UWL’s Creative Writing Minor?
Classrooms within the minor become supportive and encouraging communities of writers where students learn to give and receive feedback. Students build confidence in their writing and critiquing skills in this collaborative environment while also learning how to effectively work on a team.
Creative writing minors are involved in the publication of two magazines, which provide them with opportunities to gain professional skills related to writing, editing, and publishing. The Catalyst is a web-based publication of original prose, poetry, artwork, photography, videos, music, and more from UWL students, faculty and staff. Steam Ticket is a nationally-distributed journal featuring poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction from writers around the world. UWL student editors decide what is published in Steam Ticket.
William Stobb and Matthew Cashion, the primary instructors in the minor, are both published authors. They provide students with up-to-date information about the publishing industry, including tips and tricks related to finding publishing outlets that are appropriate based on a writer’s genre, skill, and style.
Each semester students have an opportunity to network with a well-known, professional visiting writer. These writers typically visit a class, interact with students and engage in a public reading.
Advisors and faculty in the English Department have helped students connect with writing-related internships. Students can also design their own internships and earn credit through a course offering within the minor.
Students write as part of classes and have multiple opportunities throughout the semester to get constructive feedback from instructors and peers to hone their skill and style.
The minor offers a large selection of courses, so creative writing students can build their own writing education around the specific genres of their choice or create a schedule of eclectic courses.
A creative writing course, English 305, is an excellent opportunity to try out creative writing without committing to the minor. This course also fulfils an upper division general education requirement. Those who enjoy the creative and expressive nature of the course, may want to continue and pursue a minor.
Sample courses
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