This online creative writing course is an introduction to the art of composing fiction and poetry. Students submit independent creative work to the instructor and to their classmates for feedback and read and respond to their classmates' writing. All writings and course materials are shared electronically via website and email. The course is designed to help students write regularly and to enjoy writing. By sharing work in progress, students learn from and support one another and develop critical judgment. They also practice computer and internet skills and become comfortable working online.
This is a limited-enrolment courses for which students may not pre-register. Admission is by permission of the Department based on assessment of writing samples. Submission materials should include either a recently completed short story or non-rhyming poem, a cover letter describing your reasons for wanting to take the course, and your student number, and must be submitted to the Department (englishdept@queensu.ca(link sends e-mail)). Early submission is encouraged. Successful applicants will find the course listed on SOLUS during the pre-registration period.
The online postings of student writing will be the primary texts for this course.
You will need a good dictionary and thesaurus, and you may find a grammar book helpful. The Canadian Poetry Online(link is external) site will be our poetry resource.
Readings
ASO reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts. Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Search-Engine(link is external) to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
COURSE NOTES
Students will obtain their course notes and assignments from the course onQ site beginning the first day of term.
RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOK
- "What If?" Exercises and Stories for Fiction Writers, By: Bernays, Publisher: Pearson Longman.
- The Mind's Eye, by Kevin Clark, Publisher: Pearson Longman.
Note: The online postings of student writing will be the primary texts for this course. You will need a good dictionary and thesaurus, and you may find a grammar book helpful.
Additionally, the Canadian Poetry Online(link is external) site will be our poetry resource.
Assessment
This course is in an online workshop format, and students are expected to contribute each week. Since this is a workshop and feedback is important, students should plan to be online at least twice a week. Participation in at least 80% of the course is mandatory.
- Creative writing workshop participation – 50%
- 5 assignments (10% each) – 50%
- There is no final exam.
**Evaluation Subject to Change**
Note concerning the Creative Writing Workshop: You will post several examples of new, "finished" writing you have done for this course and worked on with care and considerable attention. Writing you submitted to previous workshops or other classes (including high school) is unacceptable. The page distribution will be as follows:
- Either: 2 short stories – 5 pages minimum for each
- Or: 4 poems
- Or: 1 short story and 2 poems
These pieces will be posted on-line and the whole class will respond.
Five Assignments: Five times during the term I will assign you stories to read from your text or poems to read online. You will be expected to write a story or poem of your own along the lines of the work you are reading. These will be seen by me and marked. They are for my eyes only, not for the response of your classmates.
Prerequisites
- Permission required
- A short note describing your reasons for wanting to take the course and either a non-rhyming poem or a short story (prose fiction) - email englishdept@queensu.ca
Additional information
The course is open to students who are 2nd level or above.
