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WHIDBEY WRITERS WORKSHOP
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
CATALOGUE, 2007-2009
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
| English 500: The Profession of Writing | 5 credits | ||
| An introduction to and extensive exploration of various aspects of writing as a profession, including such topics as contracts, copyrights, agents, submissions, deadlines, and marketing. Course is taken during Residency periods and is completed over four Residencies. | |||
| English 520A, B, C, D, E: The Craft of Writing | 5 credits | ||
| A. | Form and Technique in Fiction | ||
| Reading and discussion focusing on the theory and practice of fictional forms and techniques. Readings will include theory and fiction and will cover such topics as viewpoint, characters and characterization, style, plot, story, structure, setting, and genre/sub-genre. | |||
| B. | Form and Technique in Poetry | ||
| Reading and discussion focusing on the theory and practice of poetry forms and techniques. Readings will include theory and poetry and will cover such topics as meter, rhyme, line breaks, imagery, diction, genre, and voice. | |||
| C. | Form and Technique in Non-fiction | ||
| Reading and discussion focusing on the theory and practice of non-fiction forms and techniques. Readings will include theory and non-fiction and will include such topics as viewpoint, structure, style and may include such areas as memoir, science, nature/environmental, travel, immersion reporting, history, and literary non-fiction. | |||
| D. | Form and Technique in Writing for Children/Young Adults | ||
| Reading and discussion focusing on the theory and practice of fictional forms and techniques in children's/YA literature. Reading will include fiction and theory and will cover the various genres (magazine stories, concept books, historical nonfiction, for example), as well as formats (board books, picture books, chapter books, novels, graphic novels), story telling devices, vocabulary, point of view and plot and topic considerations. | |||
| E. | Form and Technique in Scripts | ||
| Reading and discussion focusing on the theory and practice of script forms and techniques. Readings will include theory and scripts and will include such topics as scene and act structure, dialogue, characterization, plot, story, and genre, including aspects of stage, screen, television, and radio. Offered as enrollments allow. | |||
| English 550: Directed Reading |
5 credits Repeatable for 15 credits total |
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| The Directed Readings course will focus on a particular genre, period, theme, group of writers or other topic. Paper or papers required. Students may repeat this course up to a maximum of 15 credits. | |||
| English 560: Special Topics |
5 credits Repeatable with permission of Faculty Committee |
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| Not a regularly scheduled course, Special Topics is intended to allow students and faculty to design a course focused on a particular area of study within the fields of writing and literature. A Special Topics course may be offered as an exploratory step in determining whether to add a similar course to the regular curriculum or as a single offering in response to student interest. | |||
| English 580A, B, C, D, E: Graduate Writing Workshop |
5 credits Repeatable to 15 credits total |
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| A. | Fiction | ||
| Group discussion of original student fiction, focusing on both content and technique. Expect to submit one substantial story, chapter, or revision per credit, and to provide substantial feedback to other work submitted to the workshop. Special sections may focus on writing for children. | |||
| B. | Poetry | ||
| Group discussion of original student poetry, focusing on both content and technique. Expect to submit one poem or substantial revision each week, and to provide substantial feedback to other work submitted to the workshop. Special sections may focus on a particular type of poetry such as poetry for children, narrative poetry, etc. | |||
| C. | Non-fiction | ||
| Group discussion of original student non-fiction, focusing on both content and technique. Expect to submit one substantial short piece, chapter, or revision per credit, and to provide substantial feedback to other work submitted to the workshop. May focus on a particular kind of non-fiction such as nature writing, memoir, writing for children, etc. | |||
| D. | Writing for Children/Young Adults | ||
| Group discussion of original student work designed specifically for children/YA, focusing on both content and technique. Expect to submit one substantial prose piece (chapter, short story, or short book for younger children) or several poems per credit, and to provide substantial feedback to other work submitted to the workshop. May focus on a particular kind of children's/YA writing, such as picture books, chapter books, poetry, or other. | |||
| E. | Script | ||
| Group discussion of original student scripts, focusing on both content and technique. Formats may include stage, screen, television, radio. Expect to submit one substantial short script (one-act play, 30-minute television or radio script, etc.), act of a longer script, or revision per credit, and to provide substantial feedback to other work submitted to the workshop. May focus on a particular kind of script such as writing scripts for children or for documentaries. Offered as enrollment allows. | |||
| English 590: Methods of Teaching Creative Writing | 5 credits | ||
| This elective course is recommended for those who hope to teach creative writing classes, whether for credit-granting institutions or in non-credit situations. It is normally taken near the end of the program, so as to build on and apply the skills developed in Workshops, Craft classes, and Directed Reading classes. The course will explore various approaches and attitudes toward the teaching of creative writing, from introductory through advanced levels, in both the traditional classroom and online classes. This course does not replace any of the required courses in the program. | |||
| English 599: Thesis |
15 credits Pre-requisite: Fifteen credits in English 580 |
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| The student will work closely with a single faculty member to develop a polished, publishable book-length manuscript of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, script(s), or children's literature. The thesis manuscript is the culmination of the student's professional development. It may include both revised material originally presented in Workshops and new material. Students will register for 5, 10, or 15 credits in the Thesis course at the beginning of a Fall or Spring term; credit will be awarded when a polished, professional, publishable manuscript is delivered to the supervising faculty member and approved by a three-person committee of the faculty chaired by the supervising faculty member. Often a thesis manuscript requires more than one term for preparation; in such cases, the credit hours will be held open as Continuing until the Thesis manuscript is completed, at which point the 15 credits will be awarded. Student will present a public reading from the Thesis manuscript at the Residency following completion and acceptance of the Thesis manuscript. | |||