Creative Writing
The Creative Writing major at Western New England University will combine your passion for writing and love of literature to help you hone your writing technique and critical thinking skills to that of a literary professional. You will have training in the art of writing within the context of aesthetics, the literary tradition, and a broad liberal arts education. The major offers a rigorous “apprenticeship” in creative writing, which will develop your understanding of literary forms and tropes, and providing the appropriate background in literary and intellectual history.
Why Choose Creative Writing?
Creative writing is an age-old tradition for self-expression and social commentary. By learning the difference between imitation and innovation by studying the works of great writers and literary techniques, you will increase your imaginative capacity and have the ability to tell stories that endure. Though a solitary art, much of the writing process involves workshopping and collaborating with other writers to obtain constructive feedback and response. Creative writing encompasses many genres and forms of artistic expression and truly captures the ideas and emotions to motivate our actions.
What Will You Study?
You will study the two most important paths in creative writing: reading good writing and writing your own work. Literary surveys in British and American Literature provide a knowledge base for the tradition to which you will contribute. Writing workshops will help you learn the craft and collaborate with other students to create quality works. These workshops highlight the genres of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction.
Career Opportunities
Careers for Creative Writing majors are found in the arts, in the expanding fields of journalism, and in the business world. Graduates will be well suited for careers in all fields of writing, publishing, editing, advertising, technical writing, public relations, as well as graduate study. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts online publications and services will grow in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with Web or multimedia experience. Many graduates have gone on to nationally-recognized MFA programs, including Sarah Lawrence College in New York, Temple University in Philadelphia, and the University of San Francisco. Several have studied in our own MFA in Creative Writing program. Others have gone on to graduate programs in Professional Writing, Law, and Public Relations at institutions including Carnegie Mellon University, Emerson College, and Michigan State University.
Clubs & Organizations
Creative Writing students may have interests in: Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society , Tutoring at the Writing Center , The Review of Art and Literature (literary magazine) , The Westerner (the University newspaper) , and The Cupola (yearbook) . Many of our students also participate in varsity and intramural sports, special interest groups, media and arts clubs, and student government.
Faculty
Our faculty will guide you on the creative journey to finding and projecting your voice. Not only will they teach you the foundation of literature and writing, but they will also guide you as you learn the process of writing creative personal works. The full-time faculty represents a broad range of writing and literary expertise; they are published poets, critics, and nonfiction writers with years of experience in fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and poetry.
Unique Learning Opportunities
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Internships and Field Work
As a Creative Writing student, you'll gain professional skills and experience through internships and writing prospects. These experiential learning opportunities will allow you to take a test drive of your future career in a practical setting. You'll have access to a network of more than 1,000 internship sites where you'll learn from the best. Creative Writing majors have interned with literary agents representing The Seymour Agency, the leading online publication for female entrepreneurs Lioness Magazine, and various small businesses where they have managed web content and social media.
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Study Abroad: Become a Global Citizen
Today’s workforce needs professionals who see the big picture. The College of Arts and Sciences will help you to become a student of world cultures and histories as they relate to your studies while making valuable contributions in your explorations. Whether you participate in a faculty-led summer seminar course or spend a semester at an international university, the experience will broaden your horizons and help you compete in the global landscape.
Study Abroad
