English and Creative Writing
Join a powerful community of creative writers and thinkers. In Emory's English and Creative Writing program, you will study both art and craft of writing , alongside some of the nation’s most talented students and acclaimed faculty in one of the nation's leading creative writing programs.
Build your skills from idea to draft to revision—as you explore areas including fiction, nonfiction, dramatic writing, and poetry.
Graduates from the English and Creative Writing program g o on to highly competitive writing and PhD programs as well as to many other fields of study, including medicine, business, and law.
Recent graduates are working at Forbes Travel Guide, CNN Digital, Penguin Random House, Modern Luxury, Challenge Foundation , and William Morris Endeavor .
Notable alumni include:
- Lauren M. Gunderson, named the country’s most produced playwright in 2017
- Brian Tolleson, the founding partner of communications and brand strategy firms Lexicon and Bark Bark
- Lauren Giles, corporate lawyer and Alston & Bird partner
- Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter Kristian Bush of Sugarland
Examples of Classes
Introduction to poetry writing.
Experience the profound connection between reading poetry and writing it. Generate new work while helping one another through discussions examining the writer’s intentions, ideas, phrases, and images.
Intermediate Playwriting
Experience the creative process first-hand from inspiration through character development to dramatic action and dialogue in this collaborative course co-taught by a playwright and a theater artist .
Georgia Civil Rights Cold Case
A historical and journalistic exploration of the Jim Crow South through the prism of unsolved or unpunished civil rights-era murders in Georgia. This course was the foundation for WABE’s Peabody Award-winning podcast, “Buried Truths.” Taught by Pulitzer and Peabody-award winner professor Dr. Hank Klibanoff.
Research in Creative Writing
Bringing characters to life through research
Creative writing and theater studies students’ research supports Playwriting Fellow Jiréh Breon Holder’s professional stage production.
“I know I was meant to be at Emory. Coming here, I felt I had access to words I hadn't been able to find before. It has been integral for me to see who I am as a writer by developing as a student and researcher first.”
Essentials of Creative Writing Course
Grow your skills as a writer
Get your pen (or laptop keys) moving in this fast-paced introduction to creative writing. Through weekly lectures, readings, and opportunities to share your work in a supportive environment, you will begin to hone your craft, learning tips for how to create compelling characters, snappy dialogue, and satisfying story structures. Whether your dream is to write the Great American Novel or to capture true stories from your own life, this course will help you write the kinds of narratives that will keep your reader fascinated from the first word to the last.
View Enrollment Details
The following types of students will benefit from this program:
- Working professionals looking to bolster their writing skills
- Aspiring authors eager to become published
- Hobbyists seeking to hone their craft
Program objectives
After successfully completing this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of professional writing techniques spanning all aspects of the writing process
- Utilize the practical knowledge of how to grow their platform, evaluate the commercial potential of their work, and move toward publishing
- Create a tangible testament to their academic achievement in the field
Course Outline
Lesson 1: Essentials of Narrative Lesson 2: Essentials of Point of View Lesson 3: Essentials of Character Lesson 4: Essentials of Dialogue Lesson 5: Essentials of Showing and Telling Lesson 6: Essentials of Structure (Plot)
Book for the course
- The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing
Course Schedule
| Type | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online (Instructor-led) | Sep 18, 2024 to Oct 23, 2024 | 6:30PM - 8:30PM | Zoom |
Essentials of Creative Writing Course Information
Contact Hours 12 hours
Course Fee(s) Tuition non-credit - $425.00
Certificate
Newsletter on current events, relevant topics, and updates on our courses and certificates
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Writers' Resources
Emory continuing education (ece).
ECE offers a Creative Writing Certificate, and many take classes in order to meet other writers and find networking opportunities. ECE is the noncredit division of Emory University and is not affiliated with the Emory Creative Writing Program.
Their mission is to enrich the lives and enhance the careers of non-traditional students by providing excellence in education, advancing Emory's commitment to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge.
MFA for All
MFA for All was born from American Short Fiction’s desire to create a space where MFA-quality instruction is widely accessible to writers no matter their age, background, location, or financial situation. MFA for All is not a degree-granting program—it is a community-rich online educational experience led by top-notch faculty, free of the significant hurdles of time, expense, and geography that MFAs demand.
Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP)
AWP - Information about writing programs, careers, residencies, contests, and conferences.
Poets & Writers
Founded in 1970, Poets & Writers is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization serving creative writers.
Mission: To foster the professional development of poets and writers, to promote communication throughout the literary community, and to help create an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible public.
Publishers Marketplace
Publishers Marketplace - Professional databases, tools, news, and analysis for agents, editors, publishers, writers, and industry members.
Reedsy is changing the way books are published by giving authors and publishers access to talented professionals, powerful tools, and free educational content.
Georgia Writers Association (GWA)
GWA is a nonprofit specializing in writing workshops and conferences to provide resources and connections throughout the writing community in Georgia.
Atlanta Writers Club (AWC)
AWC teaches the craft and business of writing, supports the local literary community, and encourages more reading by the public. Hosts the Atlanta Writers Conference, Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference, writing contests, and writing and critique groups.
Decatur Book Festival (DBF)
Presented by Emory University, DBF is one of the largest independent book festivals in the country. Book signings, author readings, poetry slams, writing workshops, and more.
English and Creative Writing Major
| Degree Awarded | BA |
|---|---|
| Hours To Complete | 38 - 44 |
| Courses Required | 11 |
| Department Contact |
Requirements
In the Creative Writing Program at Emory students study both art and craft: the literary traditions in which they write and the elements of craft in poetry, fiction, playwriting, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction. The program fosters their development as writers, through an emphasis on reading as a writer, generating material, and revision. Academic requirements of the English/creative writing major are eleven courses (thirty-eight to forty-four credits) beyond the introductory courses in English required by Emory College (English 101, 181, or Literature 110). Five of those eleven courses (fifteen to twenty credits) are to be creative writing workshops and the other six (eighteen to twenty-four credits) are to be advanced-level English classes in literature and criticism (i.e., 300 and 400 level). Students must take at least two 300-level literature courses in prose, two in poetry, and two in nineteenth-century writing or earlier. Majors may also substitute one 200-level English literature course for one 300-level course. At least two writing workshops must be in the same writing genre (fiction, poetry, etc.). This framework provides enough flexibility so that English/creative writing majors may work out individual programs of study in consultation with their advisers. In addition to the creative writing courses listed below, English/creative writing majors are also eligible for work in the Internship Program (see ENG 496R), independent study (see ENGCW 397R), and creative writing honors (see ENGCW 495R). Please note that internship hours do not count toward the major. The Creative Writing Program also sponsors a reading series in which nationally prominent authors are invited to campus to read from their latest works and to meet with students.
Prerequisites
Official talk with Creative Writing faculty advisor about the major
COMMENTS
Writing and Storytelling at Emory. Loading Upcoming Events. Upcoming Events. View All Items. Featured News. An American Marriage makes the list of NYT 100 best books of the 21st century. As voted on by 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other book lovers — with a little help from the staff of The New York Times Book Review.
Six 300-level English courses (18-24 credits); all six courses must be focused on literary studies: At least two courses concentrating mainly on poetry. At least two courses concentrating mainly on prose. At least two courses in writing of the 19th century or earlier.
Learn and refine your writing skills in various genres and formats with Emory Continuing Education. Explore courses in screenwriting, narrative, poetry, humor, memoir, and more, and earn a customizable Creative Writing Certificate.
Join a powerful community of creative writers and thinkers. In Emory's English and Creative Writing program, you will study both art and craft of writing, alongside some of the nation’s most talented students and acclaimed faculty in one of the nation's leading creative writing programs.
A certificate program for aspiring writers. Best-selling novels, blockbuster movies and award-winning poems all start with an idea…but the crucial next step of creating words to convey and express those ideas can be daunting.
In the Creative Writing Program at Emory students study both art and craft: the literary traditions in which they write and the elements of craft in poetry, fiction, playwriting, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction.
Program Requirements. All majors must take one 200-level introductory workshop in fiction or poetry. Students who have completed the 200-level requirement may move into any Intermediate workshop. Creative Writing majors may take only ONE 200-level course as part of the major.
Through weekly lectures, readings, and opportunities to share your work in a supportive environment, you will begin to hone your craft, learning tips for how to create compelling characters, snappy dialogue, and satisfying story structures.
ECE offers a Creative Writing Certificate, and many take classes in order to meet other writers and find networking opportunities. ECE is the noncredit division of Emory University and is not affiliated with the Emory Creative Writing Program.
In the Creative Writing Program at Emory students study both art and craft: the literary traditions in which they write and the elements of craft in poetry, fiction, playwriting, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction.