Creative Writing

DeSales Harrison, Associate Professor of English, Program Director
Emily Barton, Assistant Professor
Chanda Feldman, Assistant Professor
Thomas Hopkins, Visiting Assistant Professor
Lynn Powell, Visiting Assistant Professor and Director, Oberlin WITS (Writers-in-the-Schools)
David Walker, Professor of English

Introduction:

The Creative Writing Program offers rigorous studio training in writing within the context of the liberal arts. Its mission is to foster young writers of diverse aesthetics and backgrounds in the interrelated disciplines of composition, revision, close reading, constructive critique, and building an engaged, supportive community.

Introductory courses acquaint aspiring majors and non-majors with the craft of writing, focusing on the differences and commonalities between multiple genres. Mid-level courses narrow the focus to topics and questions that pertain to genres and forms. Once students have completed the prerequisite courses, they may apply for admission to the major. If accepted, they undertake a series of three intensive upper-level workshops: exacting, low-enrollment courses designed to test and refine the core skills and practices of maturing writers, writers committed to their own development and that of their peers, as well as to nurturing a vibrant, open-minded community of fellow craftspeople. In order to complete the major, students are required to have taken Creative Writing courses in at least two genres, preferably at the 200 level or above. Acknowledging that there is no good writing without good reading, a textual studies requirement cultivates the careful reading and interpretation of literature as central to any vital studio practice.

The major culminates in a substantial, closely-mentored capstone project, undertaken in a seminar setting with other capstone students. Capstone seminars include discussions of how to bring the skills and disciplines honed in the Creative Writing major out into the world after college.

The program has designed its curriculum so that students will have opportunities throughout to engage with other arts at Oberlin, as well as with the broader community, for example, in practica in the local schools.

Major

Major

Summary:

The Creative Writing Major requires ten full courses (40 credit hours), distributed as follows:

1) Any two courses at the 200 level, preferably in different genres of creative writing; i.e. fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or playwriting/screenwriting (8 credits)

2) Any two 300-level CRWR workshops (8 credits)

3) A third 300-level CRWR workshop OR any 300-level cross-listed workshop course (4 credits)

4) 4 Textual Studies courses (16 credits), one of which may be a Practical Studies course, such as CRWR 450: Teaching Imaginative Writing

5) One capstone course, i.e. CRWR 490 (4 credits)

A final provision requires that students take courses at the 200- and 300- level with at least three different instructors.

Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C- or P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.

Application to the Major:

Students may apply to the major in their second or third year once they have, at minimum:

a) satisfactorily completed two 200-level courses, preferably in different genres, or

b) satisfactorily completed one 100-level course and one 200-level course, and are in the process of completing a second 200-level course in good standing, or

c) (for transfer students only) satisfactorily completed one 200-level course and have demonstrated that they have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of another 200-level creative writing course at another institution.

Beginning in the Spring 2019 semester, the program will accept applications to the major at the end of each semester. The application will be rigorous: required elements will include a proposed course of study in the major, a close reading of a work of literature, and a portfolio. Applications will be reviewed by the Creative Writing program committee as a whole.

Students not accepted into the major may still apply to the Creative Writing minor (see below).

Introductory Courses (100-level)

Introductory courses are designed to benefit students intending to major or minor in Creative Writing as well as other students interested in exploring Creative Writing.

Intermediate Courses (200-level)

These courses, called Topics and Forms courses, are for writers seeking to deepen their expertise in a genre. Priority will be given to students planning to major in Creative Writing, but are open to students outside the Program.

Upper-level courses (300-level):

Any student who has completed two 200-level Creative Writing courses or who has completed one 100-level course, one 200-level course, and is in the process of completing a second 200-level course may apply for 300- and 400-level courses. Students accepted into the major will be guaranteed access to sufficient upper-level courses to complete the major.

For CRWR 350 and 351, students who have declared the Concentration in Literary Translation will have the same priority as majors in CRWR and CMPL. Other qualified students for all upper-level courses will be accommodated whenever possible.

Assignments to courses are made by a committee of Creative Writing faculty. In creating course rosters, the committee will consider, along with student preferences, the diversity of the classes and the pedagogical benefits of students working with a variety of instructors.

Details about the timeline for admission, as well as the application forms, are available on the Creative Writing site on Blackboard.

Capstone (CRWR 490):

Majors will complete a capstone project in their senior year and participate in the Capstone Projects Seminar (CRWR 490). Seminars consist of regular peer group meetings and occasional one-on-one conferences with the instructor. Capstone seminars will include discussion of life after college, and the many ways graduates have translated skills developed in the program to both literary and non-literary careers.

Pre-requisites: two completed 300-level workshops.

Textual Studies:

Growing as a writer depends upon growing as a reader. The Textual Studies requirement asks students to deepen their knowledge of the traditions and current practices that shape the genres in which they write. The requirement may be met by courses in literature, narrative, or poetics (generally at the 200-level and above) offered by the departments of English, Comparative Literature, Theater, Africana Studies, the language departments, and Cinema Studies. Textual Studies credit may, in some cases, be considered for courses outside of these departments but within the Arts and Humanities (ARHU) division of the college.

Students in their fourth (and sometimes their third) year may choose to substitute a Practical Studies course for one of the Textual Studies courses. Practical Studies courses may include such courses as CRWR 450: Teaching Imaginative Writing and various other practica.

Students should consult with their advisors when selecting Textual Studies courses.

Minor

Minor:

The minor consists of a minimum of four full courses offered by Creative Writing and one course in Textual and Practical Studies. One of the CRWR courses must be at the 300-level (or above). Courses in which a student has not performed satisfactorily (earning a grade of B- or higher) cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the minor.

Sample Introductory Courses

Sample 200-Level Courses

Sample 300-Level Courses

Sample 400-level courses

Sample Cross-referenced courses

Transfer of Credit

Upon acceptance to the College, transfer students with an interest in Creative Writing should contact the director of Creative Writing to discuss approval of previous coursework. Third-year transfer students will find it almost impossible to complete the major in four semesters and might consider the minor. While credit is normally given for Creative Writing courses taken elsewhere, equivalent credit is almost never given for any of the upper-level workshops. No more than two full courses of transfer credit may be applied toward the Creative Writing Major. Transfer courses may be applied toward the textual studies requirement, the in-program course requirement, or a combination of these.

Winter Term

Please check with Joyce Marshall, the Creative Writing Program Coordinator, for a list of faculty available to sponsor winter term projects.

Contests and Awards

Each spring the Creative Writing Program sponsors the Emma Howell Memorial Poetry Prize. All currently enrolled Oberlin students are encouraged to submit their work. Please check the program website to obtain information on contest rules and deadlines.