For anyone out there that's interested, this is the pilot Creative Writing Class I'm running this year. I'll post as and when ...

First Week

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

Aims of the class

To enable students to develop their creative writing in the widest sense possible. It is not intended to be an ‘academic’ literary critical class. Instead, the emphasis will be placed much more upon the craft of writing.

The class has to be flexible although – at the same time – structured enough to give a sense of purpose.

While the class will receive credit, the hope is to create a more informal atmosphere than the main English classes to allow students to experiment and take risks with their work without the fear of poor grades.

How the class will be structured:

Each class will meet four times per two-week cycle. The plan is to divide the time accordingly:

• a stimulus class – examples of writing for discussion and analysis
• an exercise class – students to do guided short writing experiments
• a free writing class – students write and develop projects
• a discussion class – students show and talk about their work

Expectations

Each class will put together an anthology of work produced during the semester. Weeks 11 & 12 will be finalizing and collecting work. Week 13 will be for printing.

In addition, students will be expected to:

• read and prepare stimulus materials
• comply with the exercises and to develop their work
• attend all classes and use the ‘free writing’ class
• show and share their work and display consideration for other people’s efforts
• produce FOUR pieces of work (or equivalent) by the end of week 11 to be able to select for the anthology
• obtain and maintain a ‘Writer’s Notebook’ which should be brought to all classes.

The notebook will be a key resource and tool for the class. It will be handed in at the end of week 12 and assessed as part of the overall semester grade for the class.