Jumpstart Your Creative Writing: Exploring Genres

Jump into the world of creative writing! In this survey-style course, each week we'll explore major creative writing genres and methods, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid/cross-genre forms, and some revision basics. Through reading from masters like Lydia Davis, Jamaica Kincaid, James Baldwin, Claudia Rankine, Ray Bradbury, and more, plus generative exercises, discussion, and sharing, we will wander the different avenues of the wonderful world of writing.

Writers will come away with several pages of draft-stage work in different genres and a tool kit of foundational creative writing skills. In order to foster a safe space to explore, writing exercises will focus on the playful generative stage (as opposed to high-level revision) and weekly sharing/feedback will revolve around positive, encouraging ways to grow our work and discover ourselves as writers (as opposed to intensive formal workshopping).

All levels and genres welcome! Beginners will get to know creative writing fundamentals in a safe, supportive space. Seasoned writers will be able to revisit their learning in various genres and generate new work.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!