Creative Writing, B.A.

,
creative writing student in class
a laptop decorated with ClarkU stickers

Why study creative writing at Clark?

  • Professional writers will be your guides you as you as you explore literary works and apply what you learn to develop and refine your own writing.
  • Work one-on-one with faculty in the Creative Writing Capstone course to analyze and contextualize your own creative work.
  • Aspiring playwrights can submit their scripts to the Visual and Performing Arts Department’s biennial New Play Festival, which produces full-length plays written, directed, and performed by Clark undergrads.

Featured Courses

students perform
D&I
CRW 112

Creating Character

This course is a deep dive into creating dynamic characters, building them layer by layer, considering motivation, backstory, conflict, point of view, and voice.

publishing & literary journals: female writing in book with laptop
POP
CRW 215

Publishing & Literary Journals

Students gain experience working at an online literary journal: calls for submission, reading and voting on submissions, editing accepted works, preparing the issue for launch, and working on special-editions.

novels organized in an interconnected way
CRW 206

Writing the Novel

Through careful study of published works, students will unpack the role and function of central elements of a novel and apply these techniques to their own over through weekly writing exercises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a major in creative writing?

At Clark you’ll get more than a great education; you’ll also be prepared for a long, productive career and life of consequence. And once you’ve completed your degree, you can join other Clark alumni who have gone on to work for great organizations and attend some of the best graduate schools in the world.

English majors are excellent communicators and highly adaptable, creative problem-solvers who apply their critical thinking skills to productive effect in a variety of professions. A foundation in creative writing is an asset to those seeking careers in education, digital and print media, marketing and public relations, and psychology.

Is there an honors program or other scholarly opportunity available for creative writing majors?

Our program provides a number of scholarly opportunities, such as participation in Sigma Tau Delta (our national Honors Society), our Capstone in Creative Writing, and our Honors program. We also have connections to a number of internships, such as the London Internship Program, which offers positions in the fields of theater and journalism, in addition to internships with local newspapers and journals, as well as national organizations.