A list of courses fulfilling the Texts and Contexts requirement can be seen on the core curriculum page . Texts and Contexts courses have the TC attribute.
Creative Writing electives are courses with the CVW attribute .
Literature electives are any course of three or more credits with the ENGL subject code or ENGL attribute code , with the following exceptions: ENGL 1102 Composition II , ENGL 2000 Texts and Contexts , ENGL 3003 Introduction to Professional Writing , and courses with the CVW , PPWF or PPWD attributes.
Because some Literature electives will double count as both Historical Distribution and Race and Social Justice courses, concentrators may end up being able to take more than one additional Literature elective course.
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
One Texts and Contexts course | 3 | |
One Literary Theories course | 4 | |
Literary Theories | 4 | |
or | Literary Theories | |
Four Creative Writing electives | 16 | |
Four Literature electives | 16 | |
One Creative Writing Capstone course | 4 | |
Creative Writing Capstone |
Courses in which a student receives a grade of D or F will not count toward the concentration. Courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis cannot be counted towards the English Major with Creative Writing Concentration requirements.
Concentrators may count English electives taken to meet the following core requirements toward the concentration: Advanced Literature Core, ICC, EP3, Values/EP4, American Pluralism, and Global Studies.
All concentrators are required to take Literary Theories ( ENGL 3000 or COLI 3000 ). This course is usually taken during a student's junior year, but sophomores may also enroll. Literary Theories introduces students to debates in literary and critical theory. The goal of these courses is to reflect on reading strategies, textual practices, and language itself. Students will engage with a range of critical, theoretical, and social issues shaping the field of literary studies today.
Three courses that have been designated by the English department as Creative Writing courses are required for the concentration (four for the class of 2025 and earlier). These courses have the CVW attribute code and are included in departmental course listings. Advanced students may, with permission, also take graduate-level creative writing courses. These courses have the CVWG attribute code and are included in departmental course listings.
At least two of the courses that students take for the concentration must cover literature from a historical period before 1850. The goal of the Historical Distribution requirement is to encourage students to learn about a diverse range of historical periods and literary forms. Historical Distribution courses have the ENHD attribute code and are included in departmental course listings.
Concentrators are required to take one course with the Race and Social Justice designation. These courses will introduce students to literatures from minority, ethnic, diasporic, postcolonial, colonial, and/or global traditions. They also aim to examine issues of race through the lenses of ethics, social justice, respect for human dignity, and the sustainability of the world in which we live. These courses have the ENRJ attribute code and are included in departmental course listings.
ENGL 4705 Creative Writing Capstone will introduce graduating students to the realities of the writer's life, which necessarily involves not just individual work but also affiliation, cooperation, and community. In the capstone course, students will create and revise portfolios that comprise their creative, scholarly, and extracurricular work during their four years at Fordham. Additionally, students will work collaboratively to put together a public exhibition of a creative writing project.
The major in English with a creative writing concentration is available at Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, and Fordham's School of Professional and Continuing Studies at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center.
Fordham College at Rose Hill students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum .
Fordham College at Lincoln Center students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum .
Professional and Continuing Studies students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the PCS Core Curriculum and any additional electives that may be required to earn a minimum of 124 credits.
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A place to discuss all things English Majoresque, from favorite novels to lack of jobs and being made fun of by STEM majors. Non-majors also welcome.
What is an English creative writing major like? Is there as much reading as an English literature major? Is it difficult?
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The diverse field of Creative Writing studies involves the writing of prose, poetry, and drama for the page, screen, and stage. At UNC Charlotte, the Creative Writing Concentration offers studies in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Faculty seek to familiarize aspiring writers with the techniques and theories of poetics and prose while helping them delve more deeply into their chosen genre. Integral to a creative writer’s experience at UNC Charlotte is the studio workshop, where students draft and share work and critique their peers’ writing. Also important are issues of craft, the literary history of a writer’s genre, the culture of publishing (book, magazine, and online), and sustained independent work toward a long-form capstone project.
Creative Writing faculty at UNC Charlotte have achieved national distinction with award-winning books and work published in The Southern Review , Kenyon Review , Missouri Review , Esquire, Denver Quarterly, McSweeney’s, Glimmer Train, Colorado Review, Gettysburg Review, New Stories from the South , and many others. They have won awards such as the Editor’s Choice at New Issues Poetry & Prose; the Poets & Writers Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award in Fiction; the Raz/Shumaker Prairie Schooner Book Prize; a variety of artist residences; and fellowships from the North Carolina Arts Council and elsewhere. Faculty hold MFAs or PhDs from Purdue University, the University of Denver, and Vanderbilt University.
Students completing the MA Concentration in Creative Writing will be well-prepared for MFA and Ph.D. programs in the field. Undergraduate and MA students from Charlotte have been accepted with funding to a number of graduate programs, including at Columbia University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, University of Colorado at Boulder, UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro, NC State, and New Mexico State University.
Click here for information about 1. guidance regarding MFA programs; and 2. the capstone experience in creative writing, including descriptions of the project and thesis options, as well as samples of prospectuses, help with critical introductions to creative work, and other helpful materials.
College Info
Finding a dedicated creative writing program at a school you're excited about can be a real challenge, and that's even before you start worrying about getting in. Nonetheless, there are some great options. In order to help you find the best school for you, this list rounds up some of the best colleges for creative writing in the United States .
You should never take college rankings as absolute truth —not even the very official-seeming US News ones. Instead, use these kinds of lists as a jumping-off place for your own exploration of colleges. Pay attention not just to what the rankings are but to how the rankings are determined.
To help with that, I'll explain how I came up with this highly unscientific list of great creative writing colleges. I started by narrowing my search down to schools that offered a specific creative writing major. (If you don't see a school you were expecting, it's likely because they only have a minor.)
In ranking the schools, I considered five major criteria:
Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of schools! The exact numbering is always arguable, so look at it as a general trend from absolutely amazing to still super great, rather than fixating on why one school is ranked #3 and another is ranked #4.
Northwestern's undergrad creative writing program boasts acclaimed professors and an unparalleled track record of turning out successful writers (including Divergent author Veronica Roth and short-story writer Karen Russell).
Outside the classroom, you can work on the student-run literary journal, intern at a publication in nearby Chicago, or submit to the Department of English's yearly writing competition . The university is also home to a top journalism program , so if you want to try your hand at nonfiction as well, you'll have plenty of opportunities to do so.
Like Northwestern, Columbia is home to both a world-class creative writing program and a top journalism school (plus one of the best English departments in the country), so you have a wide range of writing-related course options. Columbia also benefits from its location in New York City, which is bursting at the seams with publishing houses, literary journals, and talented authors.
The University of Iowa's big draw is the infrastructure of its graduate Writers' Workshop, which is often considered the best MFA program in the country.
As an English and Creative Writing major here, you'll take classes from great young writers and established professors alike, and get to choose from a wide range of topics. This major provides transferable skills important for a liberal arts major with a creative focus. You'll also have access to the university's impressive literary community, including frequent readings, writing prizes and scholarships, and the acclaimed literary journal The Iowa Review .
Emory is renowned for its dedicated undergrad creative writing program , which draws the very best visiting scholars and writers. Students here have the chance to attend intimate question-and-answer sessions with award-winning authors, study a range of genres, compete for writing awards and scholarships, and work closely with an adviser to complete an honors project.
A small liberal arts school in Ohio, Oberlin offers very different advantages than the schools above do. You'll have fewer opportunities to pursue writing in the surrounding city, but the quality of the teachers and the range of courses might make up for that. Moreover, it boasts just as impressive alumni, including actress and writer Lena Dunham.
Hamilton is another small college, located in upstate New York. It's known for giving students the freedom to pursue their interests and the support to help them explore topics in real depth, both inside and outside the classroom. Hamilton's creative writing program takes full advantage with small classes and lots of opportunities to intern and publish; it also has one of the best writing centers in the country.
Brown's Literary Arts program offers one of the top MFAs in the US as well as an undergraduate major . For the major, you must take four creative writing workshops and six reading-intensive courses, which span an array of departments and topics, from music and literature to Middle East studies and Egyptology.
Washington University has an excellent creative writing MFA program, lots of super specific class options, and a number of scholarships specifically earmarked for creative writing students. This school’s undergraduate English program also offers a concentration in creative writing that allows students to specialize in a specific genre: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. If you’re interested in exploring your potential in a specific writing genre, Washington University could be a great pick for you.
MIT might not be a school you generally associate with writing, but it actually has an excellent program that offers courses in digital media and science writing, as well as creative writing, and provides plenty of guidance on how graduates can navigate the tricky job market.
Not to mention the school is located in Cambridge, a haven for book lovers and writers of all kinds. Though it probably isn’t a good fit for students who hate science, MIT is a great place for aspiring writers who want to build writing skills that are marketable in a wide range of industries.
University of Michigan is one of the best state universities in the country and has a top-notch MFA program. This school’s undergrad creative writing sub-concentration requires students to submit applications for admittance to advanced creative writing courses. These applications give students crucial practice in both building a writing portfolio and articulating their interest in creative writing to an audience who will evaluate their work. If you're looking to attend a big school with a great creative writing major, this is a fantastic choice.
Johns Hopkins is another school that's known more for engineering than it is for writing, but, like MIT, it has a dedicated writing program. As a major here, you must take not only courses in prose, poetry, and literature, but also classes on topics such as philosophy and history.
Colorado College is a small liberal arts school known for its block plan , which allows students to focus on one class per three-and-a-half-week block. The creative writing track of the English major includes a sequence of four writing workshops and also requires students to attend every reading of the Visiting Writers Series.
I didn't include NYU in the main list because it doesn't have a dedicated creative writing major, but it's a great school for aspiring writers nonetheless, offering one of the most impressive creative writing faculties in the country and all the benefits of a Manhattan location.
Just because Northwestern is a great school for creative writing doesn't mean you should set your heart on going there. (The football fans are completely terrifying, for one thing.) So where should you go then?
Here are some questions to ask yourself when looking at creative writing programs to help you determine the best school for you:
Look at the course offerings and see whether they interest you. While you can't predict exactly what classes you'll love, you want to avoid a mismatch where what you want to study and what the program offers are completely different. For example, if you want to write sonnets but the school focuses more on teaching fiction, it probably won't be a great fit for you.
Also, don't forget to look at the English courses and creative writing workshops! In most programs, you'll be taking a lot of these, too.
I touched on this idea in the criteria section, but it's important enough that I want to reiterate it here. Some of the best writing experience you can get is found outside the classroom, so see what kind of writing-related extracurriculars a school has before committing to it.
Great options include getting involved with the campus newspaper, working on the school's literary journal, or interning at the university press.
Who are the professors? What kind of work have they published? Check teacher ratings on Rate My Professors (but make sure to read the actual reviews—and always take them with a grain of salt).
If you're looking at a big school, there's a good chance that a lot of your teachers will be graduate students. But that's not necessarily a bad thing: a lot of the best teachers I had in college were graduate students. Just take into consideration what kind of graduate program the school has. If there's a great creative writing MFA program, then the graduate students are likely to be better writers and more engaged teachers.
If you have a sense of what you want to do after you graduate, see if any alumni of the program are pursuing that type of career. The stronger the alumni network is, the more connections you'll have when it comes time to get a job.
Don't pick a school for which you like the creative writing program but dread everything else about it. Most of your time will be spent doing other things, whether hanging out in the dorms, exploring off campus, or fulfilling general education requirements.
Many schools require you to apply to the creative writing major, so make doubly sure you'll be happy with your choice even if you aren't accepted to the program.
Are you sure a creative writing major is the right fit for you? Read our post on the pros and cons of the major to help you decide what path to take in college.
For more general advice about choosing a college, check out our complete guide to finding the right school for you. Some major factors to consider include deciding whether you're interested in a small college or a big university , an in-state or out-of-state institution , and a public or private school .
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Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.
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Major in english.
The program presupposes the completion of the general education requirement in the Humanities (or its equivalent), in which basic training is provided in the methods, problems, and disciplines of humanistic study. Because literary study itself attends to language and is enriched by some knowledge of other cultural expressions, the major in English requires students to extend their work in a language other than English beyond the level required of all College students.
The Department of English requires a total of thirteen courses: eleven courses in the Department of English and two language courses or their equivalent, as well as a Cluster Statement to be submitted by the end of the third week of Spring Quarter of a student’s third year. By Spring Quarter of their third year, all students are required to meet with with the Student Affairs Administrator to complete the English Requirements Worksheet . Additional forms can be found on the Resources and Department Forms page.
* The total of thirteen required courses must include eleven courses in the Department of English and two language courses.
NOTE: Some courses satisfy several genre and period requirements. For details about the requirements met by specific courses, students should consult the Student Affairs Administrator or the Director of Undergraduate Studies. As of Autumn 2013, the following course combinations may be taken to satisfy the language requirement:
Students majoring in English must receive quality grades (not P/F) in all 13 courses taken to meet the requirements of the program. Non-majors may take English courses for P/F grading with consent of instructor.
The purpose of the concentration statement is to help students organize and give coherence to their individual program of study. Students will design a concentration of at least five courses that share a conceptual focus. By the end of the third week in Spring Quarter of their junior year, students submit a one-to-two page statement to their faculty Departmental Advisor and the Student Affairs Administrator outlining their interests in and describing how at least five completed and/or proposed future courses coheres as a cluster. Up to two of the five courses in the cluster can be courses offered outside of the Department of English.
Students should devise an individual course of study that falls within one of the following four broad cluster categories: 1) Literary and Critical Theory; 2) Form/Genre/Medium; 3) Literature in History; 4) Literature and Culture(s). For more information on the cluster and a list of example program topics, please contact the Student Affairs Administrator.
Students are encouraged to declare an intention to major in English to their College Advisers as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the second year of study. After declaring the major, students should first meet with the Student Affairs Assistant in English who will direct them to a faculty advisor and help students fill out the English Requirement Worksheet. After this, students should meet with their faculty advisor at least twice a year in year three, and once in year four, to discuss their academic interests, progress in the major, and long-term career goals. The Student Affairs Assistant and Director of Undergraduate Studies are also available to assist students. Students should meet with the Student Affairs Administrator early in their final quarter to be sure they have fulfilled all requirements.
A maximum of three courses outside the Department of English may count toward the total number of courses required by the major. The student must submit a petition for course approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies before taking courses outside the department for credit toward the major. Such courses may be selected from related areas in the University (history, philosophy, religious studies, social sciences, etc.), or they may be taken from a study abroad program. Up to four English courses that originate in Creative Writing (CRWR) may be counted toward the elective requirement without a petition.
Transfer credits for courses taken at another institution are subject to approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Transferred courses do not contribute to the student's University of Chicago grade point average for the purpose of computing an overall GPA, Dean's List, or honors. NOTE: The Office of the Dean of Students in the College must approve the transfer of all courses taken at institutions other than those in which students are enrolled as part of a University sponsored study abroad program. For details, visit Examination Credit and Transfer Credit .
Per College requirements, more than half of the requirements for a major or minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers.
It is college policy that students pursuing double majors may double-count four courses maximum towards both majors. Students who double major in Creative Writing and English typically double-count courses to fulfill the Creative Writing major's four literature requirements: 1 literary genre course (in a primary genre), 1 literary theory course, 1 pre-20th-century literature course, and 1 general elective. The two research background electives required for the Creative Writing major can also be English classes, as long as the student observes the shared four-course maximum. Beyond the maximum, students may continue counting Creative Writing courses towards the English major, so long as the course is only counted towards the English major and not Creative Writing. Students who are pursuing only the English Language and Literature major may count up to four CRWR courses towards the major in English as electives without a petition. However, when students are pursuing a double major in English Language and Literature and Creative Writing, they must observe the shared four-course maximum, so any eligible CRWR courses beyond this cap must be counted towards English only .
Undergraduate students who are not majoring in English may enter a minor program in English and Creative Writing. These students should declare their intention to enter the minor program by the end of Spring Quarter of their third year. Students choose courses in consultation with the Program Manager in Creative Writing and must submit a minor program consent form to their College Adviser in order to declare the minor. Students completing this minor must follow all relevant admission procedures described in the Creative Writing website. Courses in the minor may not be double counted with the student's major(s) or with other minors and may not be counted toward general education requirements. Courses in the minor must be taken for quality letter grades, and all of the requirements for the minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers. Here are the requirements for the minor program:
For a more detailed breakdown of requirements, please visit Creative Writing's page .
There is no minor solely in English. The Minor in English and Creative Writing for Non-English Majors is the only minor available through the Department of English.
Upon prior approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies, undergraduate reading courses (ENGL 29700 Reading Course & ENGL 29900 Independent BA Paper Preparation) may be used to fulfill requirements for the major if they are taken for a quality grade (not P/F) and include a final paper assignment. No student may use more than two reading courses in the major, and only one of those may be an Independent BA Paper Preparation course. Critical BA writers who wish to register for the senior project preparation course (ENGL 29900 Independent BA Paper Preparation) must arrange for appropriate faculty supervision and obtain the permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. ENGL 29900 Independent BA Paper Preparation counts as an English elective but not as one of the courses fulfilling distribution requirements for the major.
NOTE: Reading courses are special research opportunities that must be justified by the quality of the proposed plan of study; they also depend upon the availability of faculty supervision. No student can expect a reading course to be arranged automatically. For alternative approaches to preparing a BA paper, see the section on honors work.
Students who wish to be considered for departmental honors must complete a BA Project. However, completion of a BA Project does not guarantee a recommendation for departmental honors. For honors candidacy, a student must have at least a 3.25 grade point average overall and a 3.6 GPA in the major (grades received for transfer credit courses are not included into this calculation).
To be eligible for honors, a student's BA project must be judged to be of the highest quality by the graduate student preceptor, faculty advisor, and Director of Undergraduate Studies. Honors recommendations are made to the Master of the Humanities Collegiate Division by the department and it is the Master of the Humanities Collegiate Division who makes the final decision.
While English lit is a great major if you want to pursue graduate school and can be marketable when paired with internship experience, employers will probably be more receptive to a professional writing degree. Regardless, internships are key to getting jobs after college. It really depends on what you want to study. 3.
For example, being an editor or working for a publishing company. Creative writing degree can teach you specifically about novel writing, which is cool, but that alone probably isn't worth the degree due to lack of job prospects. Unless you want to teach. Even then English degree is probably more practical.
An English Lit degree will build the analysis and writing skills that those jobs will require. Creative Writing will help you understand why certain choices were made. IMO English Lit is much more beneficial. Focus on learning to write and speak concisely. I wrote/debated circles around the full-time film students in the film classes that I ...
Hey! So, I'm about to start applying to colleges, and my top two choices are SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Purchase (leaning a little towards New Paltz, as the surrounding town is really quirky and one of my good friends is a student there). Both these schools have creative writing-at Purchase it's its own program, while New Paltz has it as a concentration under their English major, as well as a ...
An English bachelor's degree focuses on both writing and literary studies. In this major, learners study various types of writing, such as creative, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, digital and ...
English is about reading, analyzing, and writing critically, creatively, and coherently about the meaning of a text, while Creative Writing is about crafting a text that generates meaning in a creative and original way. I do believe people underestimate an English degree. You don't just read and write essays on books written by dead people.
English majors work in fields like journalism, PR, fundraising and entertainment, and study creative writing, critical theory and literary history, among other topics. Becoming an English Major ...
If you possess strong writing skills and are somewhat of an autodidact (a person who is self-taught), then you may not need a degree in creative writing. For some such people, a degree is completely unnecessary. On the other hand, if your writing is weak or if you need guidance and would appreciate the help of instructors and peers, maybe you ...
Those who choose to study English will be focused more on the study of existing literature. They will learn to analyze, interpret, and understand a variety of different types of writings. Those who choose to pursue a Creative Writing degree will be focused more on the generation of new literature. They will still read and study existing works ...
A major in creative writing can open doors to careers in writing, editing, or publishing, while a major in literature can lead to careers in teaching, research, or literary criticism. Lastly, the importance of experiential learning cannot be overlooked. Both creative writing and literature programs offer opportunities for hands-on experience ...
Creative writing majors offer a unique opportunity to focus on the craft of writing, but they aren't right for everyone. If the following statements apply to you, a creative writing major could be a great fit: You love to read and write. You take criticism well and don't mind other people reading your work. You want to pursue writing outside of ...
There are two ways you can go with the major- the more practice-based route (choose screen writing and screen production courses) or the more theoretical route (take the other courses). I went with the latter and its been great. The faculty all love what they do and most students are similarly engaged. Film Studies itself is a very interesting ...
Editor. Median Annual Salary: $73,080. Minimum Required Education: Bachelor's degree in communications or English, along with demonstrable writing and editing experience; master's degree often ...
Students studying English will learn how to examine literature written in English. Students will take four English literature classes, where they explore the different contexts of literature from the origins of English to the 21st century. Then, English and American Literature majors choose between two tracks: creative writing and literary studies.
On average, a minor takes up approximately 15-18 credits and usually helps fill up elective space in your degree. Don't fill yours with writing classes. Some minors I would recommend to someone majoring in creative writing are education, business (specifically marketing, if available), journalism, and communications.
English degree holders don't make enough money. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of bachelor's in English holders is $51,000 — that's 33% higher than the median annual salary across all occupations in the country, which amounts to $34,248.45.
Creative Writing Specialization Contact. John Hennessy. Senior Lecturer II. Email: [email protected] . Office: E465 South College. View Profile. The Letter of Specialization in Creative Writing leads students through a sequence of introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses. All creative writing courses invite students to work in ...
Students can apply for admission to the English major with a creative writing concentration in the fall semester of their sophomore or junior year. Applicants will submit a cover letter (1,000 words maximum) and a writing sample (prose, poetry, or any mixture of genres - 1,500 words maximum), to be reviewed by a panel of creative writing ...
satyrpuppy. •. Creative writing requires just as much reading, the difference is a lot of what you'll be reading is short fiction as well as craft pieces in addition to standard literature. I've found the readings in my creative writing classes more challenging on the whole compared to my literature classes because you're reading for meaning ...
M.A. in English: Creative Writing. The diverse field of Creative Writing studies involves the writing of prose, poetry, and drama for the page, screen, and stage. At UNC Charlotte, the Creative Writing Concentration offers studies in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Faculty seek to familiarize aspiring writers with the techniques and ...
The creative writing track of the English major includes a sequence of four writing workshops and also requires students to attend every reading of the Visiting Writers Series. Bonus School: New York University. I didn't include NYU in the main list because it doesn't have a dedicated creative writing major, ...
It is college policy that students pursuing double majors may double-count four courses maximum towards both majors. Students who double major in Creative Writing and English typically double-count courses to fulfill the Creative Writing major's four literature requirements: 1 literary genre course (in a primary genre), 1 literary theory course ...
Often used interchangeably, content writing and creative writing have similarities but are different. A non-writer may not recognize the differences between the two styles of writing. However, when you approach a professional writer, they will know precisely the nuances that make creative and content writing different.
If anyone is considering stepping into the world of writing, read on. The debate about creative writing vs content writing is ongoing, and you need to know the basics before you choose which kind of writing is better for you.
Creative writing is the art of creating stories that communicate ideas. It can involve any form of expression, including poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Creative writing can help you explore your thoughts and feelings, connect with others, and share your unique perspective. It can also allow you to create something new or improve upon something old. In short, it is the art of engaging in creative thinking.
The following are some critical characteristics of creative writing:
1. It is an individual process, unlike scientific or journalistic research. There is no one defined way to write creatively; every writer has their unique style and approach.
2. Creative writers often explore unusual topics and ideas, creating relatively unstructured texts compared to traditional forms such as essays or reports. This flexibility allows them the creative freedom to communicate their ideas in an innovative way that cannot be done with a more conventional format.
3. Creative writers often use metaphors and other literary devices to convey complex ideas. Thus, they can communicate their ideas in a way that is easily understood and enjoyable to read.
4. The creative writing process uses creative imagination, which often leads to surprising and unexpected results. This element of surprise can add interest and excitement to the reader's experience, leading them to want to read more.
The key elements of creative writing are imagination, memory, and reflection. These three factors work together to help writers develop stories and characters that are interesting, entertaining, and suspenseful. Writers also use these same tools to explore ideas and express their views on life, making creative writing an often personal process.
Creative writing focuses on creating new ideas, whereas content writing focuses on distributing and promoting existing ideas. There is a clear-cut difference between creative writing and content writing. But that does not mean that creative writing is not a part of content writing.
Content writers and copywriters need to be able to think creatively to come up with interesting, engaging content that will keep readers interested. They must be able to write in various styles, including creative writing, so readers will find their writing enjoyable and informative. Thus, creativity is an integral element of the field of content writing.
Steeped in creativity and imagination, creative writing tends to be associated with many types and genres. Creative writing works can be classified into fiction or non-fiction.
Here is a list of five types of creative writing commonly known to all, followed by examples for each type of writing.
Narrative storytelling is an approach to creative writing that emphasizes telling a story through events, characters, and settings. The term "narrative storytelling" has been used differently over the years. Generally, it refers to writing that employs a narrative structure—a sequence of events leading from the beginning to the end and character developments—to tell a story.
Example of narrative storytelling
Lamb to the Slaughter is a story penned by Roald Dahl in the narrative storytelling format. The story follows the protagonist, Mary, a housewife known for her loving nature. But one evening, as she welcomes her husband home, things take a different turn, and readers are enticed by the twist in the storytelling filled with thrill and horror. Do read the story to know more about what happened to Mary.
Poetry is a form of creative writing that uses metrical and rhyming patterns to create images or feelings. Poetry can be any length but typically remains shorter than standard prose. Poets use different techniques and rhythmical devices to evoke emotion in their readers, including metaphor, alliteration, imagery, and abecedarian rhyme.
Example of poetry
The Red Wheelbarrow is an eight-line poem by William Carlos Williams reflecting the importance of simple things in life that are often taken for granted. It artistically tries to capture the red wheelbarrow, the raindrops, and the white chicks, all essential components of a farmyard/agricultural activity.
Is the poem talking about the reliability of the wheelbarrow for farm activities? Or is it hinting at the chickens' significance? It depends on how you interpret the poem.
Screenwriting is one of the forms of creative writing that typically involves the development of a story, film, or television script. As with all forms of writing, screenwriting requires an acute sense of observation and storytelling ability.
Example of screenwriting
Eric Roth's screenplay for Forrest Gump is the best example of creative writing. How he has adapted the novel creatively to give birth to a movie that has won millions of hearts over the years displays the true power of artistic expression.
Essays are formal pieces of creative writing that typically examine a subject in depth. They can be informative or entertaining, but they usually aim to provide readers with new information or insights.
Example of essay
Here is a snippet from an essay written by a student on her very first local diner visit. It is creatively and descriptively written to ensure that readers are engaged, and their emotions get invoked. The description of the diner in the essay allows the reader to visualize it without visiting it.
Memoirs or bibliographies, as pieces of creative writing, are personal experiences that someone has written down; they often have a unique perspective and can tell stories in ways other types of writing cannot. This makes memoirs an interesting and effective means of conveying information or ideas.
Example of Memoir/Bibliography
Maya Angelou's memoir, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings , is an excellent example of a creatively written memoir. It illustrates some fantastic life lessons. It follows the life story of Angelou to show how literature and strong character can help overcome trauma and racism.
The above types and examples of creative writing must have clarified why there is a difference between creative writing and content writing. Now let us move on to content writing and its examples to understand the differences better.
Content writing is creating high-quality, engaging content for a website, social media, or blog. The content writing process involves creating written material that informs and engages the target audience. Content writers are involved in developing original pieces, rewriting existing content, or sourcing and curating information from other sources.
Ideally, the content created would be shareable and influential enough to attract readers (and potential customers) regularly and consistently. The primary purpose of content writing is digital marketing and branding.
Content writers target search engine optimization to create content that boosts business sales and encourages networking between individuals.
Some common skills required for successful content writing are:
The process of content writing works in the following manner:
1. Planning: Outlining topics and ideas for a piece, researching for information, and determining the audience.
2. Writing: Using effective grammar and vocabulary to create coherent, readable, and quality content.
3. Editing & Proofreading: Checking for mistakes before publishing
4. Promotion: Developing marketing strategies to promote your content
Content writing skills and strategy are essential to creating content for social media posts, blogs, ebooks, websites, etc. Below are a few real-life examples of popular types of content writing pieces found on the internet.
1. Blogpost example
Zoom's blog post is an ideal example of content writing because it showcases its features to specific audience. It offers information to readers about the features and tips for using Zoom for office parties and gatherings during the holiday season.
2. Social media post example
The brand-Incogmeato has leveraged Twitter's polling feature in this tweet. It has a graphic added to it to grab attention. The social media content is witty, encouraging dialogue and discussion among the audience.
3. Ebook example
Content Marketing Institute's ‘Content Marketing Survival Guide’ is a great example of content writing. It is informative and provides data related to around 12 social media sites. It also contains tips and tricks to create an effective social media marketing and content strategy.
4. Website content example
The screenshot is from Cupcakes and Cashmere, a website associated with lifestyle and fashion. Emily Schuman is the founder of this website. The content on this particular webpage provides a sneak peek into the founder's life in the most exciting yet simplistic manner.
Now that you know the basics of creative and content writing, it is time to move on to the key differences between the two.
1. Different purposes
One of the primary differences between creative writing and content writing is related to the specific purpose of writing. Creative writing is used to explore the inner thoughts, emotions, and experiences of the author. Conversely, content writing communicates ideas or information that can help people achieve their goals.
2. Different styles of writing
Another difference revealed by the debate on creative writing vs content writing is that both have different writing styles. Creative writing tends to be more poetic and lyrical, while content writing is more straightforward and persuasive.
3. Tone of voice
There is no definitive tone of voice for creative writing, as the style and approach to writing will vary depending on the author's personal preferences. However, the tone of a creative writing piece can convey action or excitement, rely on vivid imagery, employ intriguing metaphors, and inject humor where appropriate.
In contrast, in content writing, the tone of voice should be respectful and objective. While it's important to evoke the reader's emotions compellingly, the content is written impartially, ensuring readers can share it with a wider audience.
4. Fiction and non-fiction
Creative writing is typically associated with fiction, but sometimes some creative writers produce non-fiction works as well. Content writing, in comparison, is mostly non-fiction, and content writers only get the scope to write fiction if there is a marketing or brand requirement.
5. Word usage
You can use the same word in creative writing multiple times, even in one line. You have the authority and freedom to express yourself however you want. But when it comes to content writing, using a variety of words is especially important to grab readers’ attention. You must ensure that keywords are used but not excessively. Synonymizing is an essential element of content writing.
6. Process of writing
Creative writing resembles an art form. This means that creative writers typically take their time to produce and organize their work. The creative writing process allows the writer to devise a writing style and convey their ideas in whatever form they want.
Content writing must be done within a specific set of parameters decided by the client. The content cannot take any shape desired by the writer and must present facts and information as the client dictates. The writer also has to be mindful of SEO guidelines.
Although the points of difference between creative writing and content writing are quite clear now, understanding the similarities between the two forms is also essential. We will mention the similarities here so that your knowledge regarding the creative writing vs content writing debate is complete.
Both writing styles require the writer to come up with ideas, develop them into sentences, and then string those sentences together into cohesive and comprehensive pieces. They also need to be able to think critically about their work and make sure that it is readable to a large audience.
Whether you publish content pieces or promote creative writing, your writing must be of high quality to be successful. Your writing must also be error-free and formatted correctly if you want people to trust your authority and credibility.
We have successfully demonstrated that there is a difference between creative writing and content writing. While one has to be used creatively, the other has to be deployed strategically. Both styles have benefits that can be leveraged to write powerful and effective content.
Nowadays, content writers are using creative techniques to produce better content. On the other hand, creative writers are optimizing their content pieces and making them SEO-friendly to gain traction.
Also, content writing differs from copywriting. Read this blog, ‘ Copywriting vs Content Writing: What are the Differences & Similarities? ’ to know more.
Yes, AI writing can help you in developing creative content. It can recommend topics and angles to explore, scan through existing content for inspiration, and even offer corrections or refinements to your writing style.
Do you wish to use AI to write creative content? Use Scalenut. This AI-powered SEO and content marketing platform can help your website rank scale up with free SEO tools that ensure your creativity never gets blocked.
Scalenut is among the 14 best AI writing assistants to help you scale your content marketing . So what are you waiting for? Sign up now.
Priya Jamba is a Content Marketer at Scalenut. She loves marketing technologies and believes that with the right combination of tools and creativity, every organization can build sustainable brands. She is on a mission to help marketing teams across the globe produce tangible results from their marketing campaigns. Currently, she is working along with the Product team to enhance the AI content quality through prompt engineering.
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While English lit is a great major if you want to pursue graduate school and can be marketable when paired with internship experience, employers will probably be more receptive to a professional writing degree. Regardless, internships are key to getting jobs after college. It really depends on what you want to study. 3.
Film character and plot is much different from a book. An English Lit degree will build the analysis and writing skills that those jobs will require. Creative Writing will help you understand why certain choices were made. IMO English Lit is much more beneficial. Focus on learning to write and speak concisely.
Professionally, one advantage of the English Literature degree might be that it could open more doors for a Ph.D. program if that's what you want to go for. As far as learning goes, a Creative Writing program will have a lot more opportunities to study literary analysis than English Literature will have creative writing classes/workshops.
Bottom line: A Bachelor's of English and a Bachelor's of Creative Writing are like two different sides of the same coin. By pursuing either of these degrees, you will gain a skillset of interpreting, analyzing, and writing literature. The main difference is whether your ambition lies in the academic pursuit of studying literature or the ...
Let's Get Into It. Abi Wurdeman. January 29, 2024. In my day—by which I mean the early 2000s—a creative writing degree was considered one of the less practical academic pursuits, only a little more reasonable than a philosophy degree and a theatre arts degree (which, incidentally, is what I have). These days, we have a bit more ...
Editor. Median Annual Salary: $73,080. Minimum Required Education: Bachelor's degree in communications or English, along with demonstrable writing and editing experience; master's degree often ...
BA Creative Writing. As a BA (Hons) Creative Writing student, you'll explore the English language and different forms of writing, all under the guidance of professional writers and academics. As well as reading a variety of literature, you'll be encouraged to be hands-on and experiment with different forms of writing yourself; whether that ...
WritingPrompts ( /r/writingprompts ): With over 13.3 million subscribers, this subreddit—which was featured in our 101 Best Websites for Writers roundup in 2019—is the place to flex your creative writing muscles. Find years worth of prompts, respond to the latest ones and get feedback on your work from eager readers.
A major in creative writing can open doors to careers in writing, editing, or publishing, while a major in literature can lead to careers in teaching, research, or literary criticism. Lastly, the importance of experiential learning cannot be overlooked. Both creative writing and literature programs offer opportunities for hands-on experience ...
3. r/nanowrimo. Members: 32,592. This subreddit is a fan-organized version of the official NaNoWriMo organization, where an entire community supports each other in writing a brand new novel with a minimum of 50,000 words in only 30 days. It's a great community for keeping yourself on track with your writing goals.
Here is a small sampling: Louisa May Alcott, Maya Angelou, Jane Austen, William Blake, Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, Edgar Allen Poe, Beatrix Potter, and JD Salinger. So you obviously do not need a creative writing degree in order to succeed. After all, some of the greatest writers in ...
There are two ways you can go with the major- the more practice-based route (choose screen writing and screen production courses) or the more theoretical route (take the other courses). I went with the latter and its been great. The faculty all love what they do and most students are similarly engaged. Film Studies itself is a very interesting ...
Creative writing is an art form that transcends traditional literature boundaries. It includes professional, journalistic, academic, and technical writing. This type of writing emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and literary tropes. It also explores poetry and poetics traditions.
Postsecondary Creative Writing Teacher. Median Annual Salary: $74,280. Minimum Required Education: Ph.D. or another doctoral degree; master's degree may be accepted at some schools and community ...
Think creative writing is different from writing a research paper? You might be surprised! Check out these creative writing tips and see what we mean.
One kind of writing—academic writing—is rigid and procedural. It's purposed purely to convey knowledge, data, and information. It's orderly, organized, and follows a formula. It's necessary. It can be dull. Anyone can master it. Everyone should master it. The other kind of writing—creative writing—is inspired and artistic.
3. Photo by Kon Karampelas on Unsplash. Reddit is like the rest of the internet: a lot of it's terrible, but when it's great, it's great. There's a subreddit for every type of person, and writers are no exception. If you're one of the millions of writers out there who're still struggling to get a foot in the door, here are some of ...
Creative writing courses involve writing original poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, etc, and "workshopping" those creations with your peers. There's assigned reading in creative writing courses, but the focus is more on craft than interpretation (rather than WHAT the writer is saying, they focus on HOW the writer is saying it).
15 of the Most Creative Writing Prompts from Reddit. JRNL Blog • Jan 21, 2018. Creative writing is a fantastic way to escape reality for a moment and let your imagination run wild. I find it difficult to know where to start with a fun story and that's when I use a writing prompt to ignite my flow. There's a writing prompt sub-group on ...
Description: Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Enforced requisites: satisfaction of Entry-Level Writing requirement, English Composition 3. Not open for credit to students with credit for course 20. Designed to introduce fundamentals of creative writing and writing workshop experience.
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A Creative Writing major is definitely not necessary for writing. For that matter, neither is Lit. Both my degrees are in English Lit, and that... If creative writing is your passion, then make sure writing creatively is how you are spending your time. In that case, I would opt for the...
Creative writing works can be classified into fiction or non-fiction. Here is a list of five types of creative writing commonly known to all, followed by examples for each type of writing. 1. Narrative storytelling. Narrative storytelling is an approach to creative writing that emphasizes telling a story through events, characters, and settings.