This is an in-person program and will take place on the Emerson College campus in Boston.
Creative Writers Workshop is an opportunity for you to develop writing skills in an intensive program.
Creative Writers Workshop is offered as a noncredit or credit program.
Students will attend classes designed to help young writers concentrate on fiction or prose, screenwriting, graphic novel writing, and magazine writing. During the five-week program, students will write, workshop, revise and develop a portfolio of your work. At the completion of the program, students will turn in a portfolio to be reviewed by the Creative Writers Workshop faculty and receive feedback a month after the program ends.
Course Descriptions
Creative Writers Workshop Reading Series
A weekly reading series featuring faculty and students. A brief question and answer session take place at the end of each performance.
Writers Salon
Meet published writers or editors who address related topics such as: publishing, careers in writing, and the literary life.
Creative Writers Workshop Literary Magazines
During the program, you will be encouraged to submit your work to online literary magazines. Imprinted Emerson, The Almond, Cerulean, Paramount Palette, and Being Human: Together Afar are all literary magazines written and produced by members of the Creative Writers Workshop.
Fundamentals Class
Choose a fundamentals class that will focus on the basic language, techniques, and traditions in the chosen genre.
The Art of Fiction
This writing intensive seminar offers writers the opportunity to develop the fundamentals of fiction through workshops and individual instruction that focus on plot, tone, dialogue, and description. Writers will read and discuss published fiction from a variety of genres to learn compelling narrative techniques and the aesthetics of storytelling. Strategies for publication will be emphasized.
The Art of Prose: Fiction and Nonfiction
This writing intensive seminar offers writers the opportunity to develop the fundamentals of fiction, creative nonfiction, and the personal essay through workshops and individual instruction. In fiction, writers will work on plot, tone, dialogue, and description. In creative nonfiction, writers will learn how to turn personal experience into compelling narrative by employing techniques often used in fiction. In the personal essay, writers will practice writing essays that explore the intersection of personal experience and socially relevant topics. Writers will read and discuss published material from each genre. Strategies for publication will be emphasized.
Breakout Sessions
Explore other aspects of writing and publishing by choosing between one of two breakout sessions:
The Graphic Novel: Creating a Visual Story
This seminar focuses on developing and structuring a story to fit the graphic novel form. Through reading graphic novels and writing exercises, students will learn to write an effective script for the graphic storytelling format. No artistic experience is necessary to take this seminar.
Scriptwriting: Creating for Stage and Screen
This writing intensive seminar offers writers the opportunity to learn the structure of both a one-act play and a screenplay. Writers will read scenes from short plays and view excerpts from films to examine the development of character, story arc, and dialogue. Writers will choose to focus on either a one-act or screenplay for their final project.
Elective Classes
Choose an elective course that demonstrates how the fundamentals of writing play out in particular genres.
Introduction to Comedy Writing
This seminar will explore the many aspects of comedy through writing exercises, discussion, and standup. Through viewing standup routines, humor writing, and sketch comedy, writers will generate material and develop their comedic voices. In-class standup performances are required.
Slam Poetry: Form, Voice and Performance
This seminar offers writers the opportunity to learn the basics of writing poetry, including working with rhythm, imagery, diction, and tone. Writers will explore different poetic forms such as blank verse, free verse, and spoken word, while they develop their voices and body language to deliver poems to an audience.
