best creative writing courses canada

48 Best universities for Creative Writing in Canada

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 246K citations received by 19.8K academic papers made by 48 universities in Canada was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Toronto

For Creative Writing

2. University of British Columbia

3. University of Alberta

4. McGill University

5. York University

6. University of Calgary

7. University of Victoria

8. Simon Fraser University

9. Western University

10. Queen's University

11. University of Ottawa

12. McMaster University

13. University of Waterloo

14. Carleton University

15. University of Montreal

16. University of Manitoba

17. Memorial University of Newfoundland

18. Wilfrid Laurier University

19. Dalhousie University

20. University of Saskatchewan

21. Brock University

22. Ryerson University

23. Concordia University

24. University of Windsor

25. University of Guelph

26. University of Regina

27. Trent University

28. University of Quebec in Montreal

29. Laval University

30. Laurentian University

31. St. Francis Xavier University

32. University of Lethbridge

33. University of New Brunswick

34. University of Winnipeg

35. Lakehead University

36. Mount Saint Vincent University

37. University of Sherbrooke

38. University of Northern British Columbia

39. Saint Mary's University

40. Acadia University

41. University of Prince Edward Island

42. Nipissing University

43. Ontario Tech University

44. Thompson Rivers University

45. Brandon University

46. Mount Royal University

47. MacEwan University

48. Mount Allison University

The best cities to study Creative Writing in Canada based on the number of universities and their ranks are Toronto , Vancouver , Edmonton , and Montreal .

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Major in Creative Writing

"We tell ourselves stories in order to live."

-- Joan Didion

Does your love of literature go beyond scholarship? Are you an aspiring author who wants to add a practical, hands-on component to your university education? Then you've come to the right place: UTSC is the only campus at UofT where you can earn a Major in Creative Writing. Our dedicated faculty take a workshop-based, experiential approach to the study and practice of the literary arts. This means that while you learn how classic and contemporary authors pursue their craft, you also take the exciting first steps towards building your own writing practice.

Our Major program places a particular emphasis on professionalization and how to make your way as a writer in the real world. Our teaching faculty are active and award-winning writers themselves, and the program stream culminates in a practical seminar on "Creative Writing as a Profession." You will also benefit from working each year with a new  Writer-in-Residence , and you will have the opportunity to connect with our close-knit and active creative writing alumni network, including recent graduates who have already had their work published.

As a creative writing student you will be part of a vibrant undergraduate community, and have access to a jam-packed calendar of readings, talks, festivals, and other events (just scan  our Events page  to see what's happened in the past and coming up in the future). You can also participate in C.O.W. (our creative writing club), enter contests, and get published in the UTSC arts journal  Scarborough Fair.

There is no better place to immerse yourself in the literary arts than Toronto, the heart of Canada's publishing industry. Join UTSC's growing community of creative writers, and learn how to make your own literary mark on the world.

Here is a route map for navigating the Creative Writing Major (you can expand the map by right-clicking or option-clicking):

How to Apply to the Major in Creative Writing

Students may apply to the Major in Creative Writing after they have completed  ENGA03H3  and have accumulated a minimum of 4.0 credits. Students typically apply at the end of their first year.

To apply, applicants must complete two steps:

1. Applicants must request entry to the program on ACORN during the application period as outlined below.

2. Applicants must submit a portfolio for adjudication during the application period as outlined below.

The Portfolio:

The portfolio must be 15-20 pages of the applicant’s best writing in poetry, fiction (either short stories or selections from a longer work), and/or creative non-fiction. Portfolios may include work completed in ENGA03H3 and/or work completed prior to admission to UTSC. The portfolio must be accompanied by a brief letter of application (1–2 pages) addressed to the Program Advisor in Creative Writing. The letter should discuss the applicant’s experience as a writer, their future goals in the creative writing program, and a work of literature that has inspired them.

Application Periods:

There are two application periods for the Creative Writing Program, one in March/April for students applying at the end of the Winter session (Round 1), and one in June/July for students applying at the end of the Summer session (Round 2). Students should visit the  Office of the Registrar website  for the exact dates of these periods, and make sure to apply on ACORN and submit their portfolios by the end of these periods. (Please note: Creative Writing is considered a “limited enrolment program.”)

How to Submit Portfolios:

Portfolios and letters should be submitted as one document to  [email protected]  by the end of the chosen application period. (Don’t forget: applicants also need to request entry to the program on ACORN by this deadline.) Students who are not successful in their first attempt are eligible to apply again. These students must submit a new portfolio and letter of application by the deadlines outlined above.

A Note on Creative Writing Course Enrolments:

Creative Writing courses at UTSC are usually workshop-based and capped at 20 students. Enrolment is prioritized for students who have taken the prerequisites and are already enrolled in either the Minor or Major in Creative Writing. That said, there is occasionally room in our courses for students who are not studying creative writing intensively. If you are a non-first year student who is not enrolled in the program but would like to apply for a B-level Creative Writing course, please submit a course-specific portfolio (including your student number). Here are the details and contacts:

-  ENGB60 Creative Writing: Poetry I : Email 5-10 pages of poetry to  [email protected] . Please note if you are applying for the F or S term.

-  ENGB61 Creative Writing: Fiction I : Email 5-10 pages of fiction or other prose writing to  [email protected] .  Please note if you are applying for the F or S term.

-  ENGB63 Creative Writing: Non-Fiction I : Email 5-10 pages of non-fiction, fiction, or other prose writing to  [email protected] .

To start your creative writing journey at UTSC:

If you are a first-year student and/or new to Creative Writing, your first step should be to enrol in  ENGA03H3 Introduction to Creative Writing . This is the prerequisite for entry into the Creative Writing program. Most students take this course in their first year, and then apply for entry to the program once they’ve completed it.

If you have any questions, please email:  [email protected] . We are happy to help and look forward to receiving and reading your work!  

Program Requirements

Students in the Major must complete  7.5 credits  as follows: 

1. 3.0 credits:

ENGA03H3  Introduction to Creative Writing ENGB60H3  Creative Writing: Poetry I ENGB61H3  Creative Writing: Fiction I ENGB63H3  Creative Non-Fiction I ENGD95H3  Creative Writing as a Profession ENGC86H3  Creative Writing: Poetry II or  ENGC87H3  Creative Writing: Fiction II or  ENGC88H3  Creative Non-Fiction II

2. 2.0 credits to be selected from: 

ENGC04H3  Creative Writing: Screenwriting ENGC05H3  Creative Writing: Poetry and New Media ENGC06H3  Creative Writing: Writing for Comics ENGC08H3  Special Topics in Creative Writing I ENGC24H3  Creative Writing: The Art of the Personal Essay ENGC86H3  Creative Writing: Poetry II (if not already counted as a required course) ENGC87H3  Creative Writing: Fiction II (if not already counted as a required course) ENGC88H3  Creative Non-Fiction II (if not already counted as a required course) ENGC89H3  Creative Writing and Performance ENGD22H3  Special Topics in Creative Writing II ENGD26Y3  Independent Studies in Creative Writing: Poetry ENGD27Y3  Independent Studies in Creative Writing: Prose ENGD28Y3  Independent Studies in Creative Writing: Special Topics

3. 2.5 Additional credits in English

Note:  A maximum of 1.0 credit in creative writing courses may be taken at another campus.

For more details on program requirements, visit the   UTSC Calendar . Questions about the program should be directed to Professor Andrew Westoll ( [email protected] ). 

Interested in learning more about how our courses are structured and how you might develop your own path through your Minor in Creative Writing? Visit our  Routes and Threads  page.

H F T L YT I

Student Account

• SFU Continuing Studies

The Writer's Studio: Creative Writing Certificate

Continuing studies, on this page.

Every writer needs the right tools, techniques and support to develop their work. The Writer’s Studio part-time creative writing program is designed for writers who are ready to immerse themselves in a manuscript. You’ll join a supportive community as you master your craft and establish a sustainable writing practice.

Format:  Part-time Completion time:  10 months Locations:  Vancouver, online

Why this program?

Striking a balance between a formal, full-time MFA (master of fine arts) and individual writing courses, the Writer’s Studio offers training in the theory, craft and business of writing. As you work towards your Creative Writing Certificate from SFU, you’ll benefit from:

• One-on-one mentorship from experienced, published authors
• Small workshop groups focused on specific genres
• A high ratio of instructional hours per tuition dollar
• Support in completing your manuscript
• Practice in giving public readings
• SFU alumnus status and benefits upon program completion

Compare us to an MFA

Sep 2024-jun 2025 mentors.

Learn under the guidance of accomplished authors in a range of genres. View previous mentors .

Junie Désil,

Brian Payton, Fiction, Non-Fiction

Stella Harvey, Fiction, Personal Narrative

Saleema Nawaz,

Commercial Fiction

Program details

Vancouver or online

Program completion

10 months To graduate, pass all courses and submit a final portfolio.

Program dates

• Sep 2023–Jun 2024 online
• Jan–Dec 2024 Vancouver/online
• Sep 2024–Jun 2025 online

Learning methods

• Mentor-led group workshops
• Courses (see list below)
• One-on-one mentor consultations
• Mentor readings and talks
• Guest author panels
• Practice in delivering public readings
• Weekly course modules (about 3 hours of course work)
• 2 workshops/month (2.5 hours each)
• 3 mentor meetings (1 hour each)
• Other weekly sessions (3 hours each)

View Jan 2024 program schedule View Sep 2024 program schedule

Required courses:

• Workshops   (TWS301–TWS306)
• The Practice of Writing   (TWS520)
• The Craft of Writing   (TWS530)
• The Business of Writing   (TWS540)

Learning materials

Required textbook:

Chesham, A. and Farina, L. (Eds.)  Resonance: Essays on the Craft and Life of Writing . Anvil Press, 2022. ISBN 978-1-77214-184-9. Available from the publisher or your local bookstore. 

$5,500 $75 program application fee

Scholarships

• Writing Mom Scholarship: $2,000 Open to mothers with children under 18 (scholarship is trans-inclusive)
• Emerging Writer Scholarship: $2,000 Open to all applicants

To be considered, add a second page to your program application letter that explains how the scholarship would help you.

Application info

Applications accepted twice a year:

• May 1–Jun 30 (for Sep start)
• Sep 1–Oct 31 (for Jan start)

Application details

Want to get published?

Get featured in our anthology.

As a Writer’s Studio student, you’ll see your work published in our annual anthology, emerge , which is launched each year at the Vancouver Writers Festival .

View anthology

JOIN SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI

Graduates of the Writer’s Studio have gone on to publish their work and earn recognition in regional and national awards and competitions.

Meet our alumni

Courses and events

Register for courses.

Not ready for a full program? Take individual writing courses, available throughout the year.

Find courses

GET WRITING FEEDBACK

Book a consultation on your manuscript with a member of our writing community.

View options

Upcoming events and workshops

Attend an online info session.

Reserve your spot to explore the program and chat live with program staff.

Sign up for email updates

To stay informed about this program, please fill out the form below.

Yes, sign me up for the creative writing email list.

About our Collection of Personal Information policy.

Student stories

With her debut book for middle-graders, Kim Spencer has authored both a B.C. bestseller and a four-time award winner. Read more

One of the Writer’s Studio’s most active graduates, writer and artist Candie Tanaka remains dedicated to bringing the writing community together. Read more

A horrific childhood might have stopped Joseph Kakwinokanasum from following his dream of becoming a writer. Instead, it fuelled his drive—and inspired his first novel. Read more

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Creative Writing Certificate

Are you motivated to put pen to paper? Do you have an idea or have you started a creative writing draft? If so, this focused, engaging and supportive program may be perfect for you. The program covers many aspects of the creative writer's world from writing development, copy editing, genre writing, time management, publishing, and promotion. The evaluative and interactive format will ensure you receive ample instructor feedback and supportive peer review throughout the program. In the final project course, a portion of your creative work will be evaluated by a published author who will mentor and encourage you in your writing journey.

This online, flexible and interactive program will allow you to learn the theory behind your writing and allow time to receive instructor and peer feedback about what you've written. All courses are taught by published authors, many who have received national and international awards.

To get started in the program you are required to provide a short writing sample. You will receive valuable expert feedback specific to character, setting, dialogue, point of view, and writing mechanics. The writing sample is your opportunity to share what you like to write about and how you write it. See details below under How to apply .

This is one of three writing certificate programs offered online through Continuing Education. The other programs are:

• Professional Writing Certificate specializing in Business and Technical Writing
• Professional Writing Certificate specializing in Marketing and Public Relations

View course timetable

This program is perfect if you...

• Write – or aspire to write – fiction, creative non-fiction or poetry
• Want to transition from or add to corporate or journalistic writing and explore creative writing
• Would like to learn from published authors
• Enjoy online learning in a supportive and interactive environment

What will I get?

Students who complete this program will receive a Professional Certificate .

Graduate: Karen White

Now a graduate of the Creative Writing Certificate, Karen says she finally feels comfortable calling herself a writer.

Watch video

Program details

Course delivery online.

Courses in this program are delivered online . Some courses may be occasionally offered in the classroom at the main campus. Courses are scheduled at convenient times, allowing you to complete the program at a pace that fits your life.

You should plan on studying and working approximately 6 hours per week per course .

Online learning fits into busy schedules by taking the learning experience out of the traditional classroom. Students have online access to instructors, fellow learners, and learning materials.

Before taking your first online course, we recommended taking our free course: Digital Skills for Learning Online

Timeline and planning 200 Hours

All Continuing Education programs are developed with part-time learners in mind. The Creative Writing Certificate is a 200-hour program .

The length of time it takes to complete this program varies by student. If you take one course per term (four courses a year), you will likely complete the program in 12 to 18 months . You will complete the program faster if you take multiple courses per term.

View upcoming courses...

Cost $4,519

The approximate cost to complete the Creative Writing Certificate is $4,519 .

This includes the $130 admission fee.

How to apply

You do not require a degree or diploma to apply for admission to this program. You can take individual courses to start, and apply later.

The admission fee is $130 .

To apply, you must meet the following requirements:

• 18 years of age or older
• Grade 12 diploma (recommended)
• Relevant work experience (recommended)
• If English is not your first language, you must meet the English language proficiency requirements

Programs change from time to time, so we recommend that you apply for admission as early as possible. Once admitted, your requirements to complete the program will not change – even if the program changes. You can be confident that completed and eligible courses will apply to your program.

Writing Assessment and Certificate Admission

When you apply to the Creative Writing Certificate , you are required to submit a creative writing sample. The sample should be a total of 2 – 4 pages, double-spaced. If you wish to submit a poetry sample, an additional sample of prose is requested.

* guidelines for the writing sample here *

Please complete the certificate admission application and upload your creative writing sample using the link below. The non-refundable admission fee is $130.

Credit for prior learning

Prior learning from other post-secondary institutions.

Advanced standing may be granted for equivalent, graded courses completed at other post-secondary institutions. Credit may be granted up to a maximum of 60 hours towards this program.

Transferring credit from other Continuing Education programs

If you have completed requirements for another University of Calgary Continuing Education program, you may be able to transfer some credits to this program. For details, please review the "Credit towards other programs" information in the programs you have completed. To transfer credits, please contact a student advisor .

Maximum advanced standing and transferred credit

The combined total of advanced standing and transferred credits cannot exceed 100 hours for this program.

Credit towards other programs

On completion of this program, you may wish to pursue studies in another.

Upon completing Program Title , up to 100 hours of equivalent courses may be transferred towards the Professional Writing Certificate specializing in Business and Technical Writing and the Professional Writing Certificate specializing in Marketing and Public Relations . The number of hours will vary based on certificate requirements and courses.

If you wish to pursue another program:

• Complete the Application for Admission for your next program
• Contact us to request transfer of the equivalent course credits

The transfer of course credits will not happen without your request.

Scholarships

Each year, scholarships and awards are given to deserving students not only for their academic achievement, but also for community involvement. Award sponsors include both corporate and private donors.

To apply, you must meet eligibility criteria and submission deadlines. Students in this program may be eligible for the following awards:

• Continuing Education Endowment Award
• Continuing Education Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Entrance Awards
• Continuing Education Indigenous Entrance Awards
• Culbert Family Award for Philanthropy

Career connections

How to graduate.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure all requirements for graduation are fulfilled.

See Graduation for details.

International students

This program does not qualify students to apply for an international study permit.

International students who wish to live and work in Canada should consider our International Professional Programs .

Special offer Get a 5% discount

Receive a discount of 5% per course by registering for three or more courses at the same time.

Register online or by calling 403-220-2866 or 1-866-220-4992. Some restrictions may apply (i.e., all courses must take place within the current academic year).

Note: WRI 500 Creative Writing Final Project is not eligible for the discount.

Questions? Please contact us...

Additional details, core courses.

110 Hour(s)

Creative Writing Courses

150 Hour(s)

Optional Courses

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Creative Writing

Why creative writing.

The Power of Storytelling

Humans are natural storytellers; writing is how we discover ourselves, make sense of the world around us, and describe our place and the place of others within it. Each day brings us news of about cultural change, climate crisis, global pandemics, anti-black racism and protests, food insecurity, and so much more. Our professors understand the importance of telling these stories because they know that the written word can save the world, one story at a time.

Writing Starts With You

As you hone the skills needed to become an effective writer, you’ll also discover more about yourself and your personal identity. You will begin to ask questions, such as:

• What do I care about?
• Where is my place in the world?
• Where do I want to go?
• What is most important to me?

What You Will Learn

Think of every great movie, film, book, or play; they all have one thing in common - they started as an idea or script on a page.

In this program, you will learn how to construct stories, build characters, and create emotional connections with your readers that will leave a lasting impression.

You will complete writing assignments and exercises, short creative pieces, and peer critiques across three writing genres, including fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction.

You will build upon this by engaging with our creative writing community through initiatives, such as:

• Gryphons Read - Canadian writers-in-residence
• Walls to Bridges program - Writing stories alongside inmates at correctional facilities

What You Will Do

As a graduate of this program, you will have strong skills in writing, communication, critical analysis, research, social awareness, empathy and imaginative problem-solving, skills that you can apply successfully in careers like journalism, education, brand management, book publishing, copywriting, reporting, and more. 

Students in the Creative Writing program may also be interested in studying English , History , Psychology , Music and Studio Art , other majors .

To see all courses offered in this degree, visit our 2023-2024 Academic Calendar .

Learn How to Tell Your Story

  write to change the world.

You will be inspired to write about big ideas and confront big issues; from social justice to environmental issues; you will unlock the power of words and use your voice to change the future.

  Join World Renowned Creative Writers

Meet our in-house professors:

• Lawrence Hill (The Book of Negroes)
• Catherine Bush (Blaze Island)
• Judith Thompson (Watching Glory Die)

They are nationally and globally recognized creative writers, playwrights, directors, and screenwriters, with decades of experience.

  Develop Your Own Portfolio of Work

Your in-class assignments will help you build expertise in two of your preferred creative writing genres. Use these experiences to complete a polished creative portfolio that you can use for graduate program admission or to start your career.

Hear From A Creative Writing Student

Studying creative writing at the University of Guelph taught me the importance of storytelling, and bearing witness to the stories of others. I learned how to craft my own experiences and present them persuasively, write with intention, and build a world with my words. These are skills I carry with me everywhere I go.

Laila El Mugammar Creative Writing Read Laila's story

Admission Requirements

Explore admission requirements for Canadian, international, transfer, and mature students. Start your journey today!

View Admission Requirements

Scholarships & Bursaries

We offer a wide range of financial aid programs to assist with funding your education at the University of Guelph.

Explore Scholarships & Financial Aid

Tour Our Campus

Through virtual tours, presentations, webinars and in-person tours, get familiar with the University of Guelph campus.

Book a Tour

Have Questions?

Learn more about how to connect, discover, and engage with programs, facilities and life at the University of Guelph.

Request More Info

Talk to a Current Student

Don’t just take it from us – hear from one of our many students on their experiences with Guelph, integrating into U of G life, and much more. Start chatting with students from Canada or international students .

Are you ready to Improve Life?

Creative Writing

Program overview.

These programs are offered in English only. All assignments and examinations must be submitted or written in English.

Join one of the more rigorous and comprehensive creative writing programs of its kind. We offer a comprehensive curriculum for you to hone your writing craft with workshops and seminars in a broad range of genres. You will develop practical abilities in at least three creative writing genres (prose fiction, poetry, screen writing, graphic fiction and creative non-fiction), while acquiring a critical understanding of key concepts and a historical awareness of methodologies, techniques and approaches to literary expression. Through our award-winning faculty and our yearly Writer-in-Residence program, you will gain access to some of the most successful writers in Canada, as well as a diverse and supportive writing community.

Minor in Creative Writing

Opportunity to acquire a solid foundation while following a Specialization or a Major in another discipline.

Must be taken in addition to a main program.

Program structure

Course sequence

Certificate in Creative Writing

Can be taken without a main program.

Microprogram in Creative Writing

Only open to students already enrolled in an undergraduate major or honours program at uOttawa. 

Program Structure

The Department of English

Choose the right program structure for you, more information.

• Typical combinations
• Sample courses

Can be combined with most other programs.

Introduction to Writing Prose Fiction (2303)

Introduction to prose forms and fictional story-telling techniques. Students will read exemplary works and relevant criticism and will compose their own works of short fiction.

Advanced Workshop in Prose Fiction (3303)

This is an advanced workshop for fiction writers of intermediate experience. For the duration of the semester, we will work on in-depth explorations of the various stages in the writing journey. This will entail close reading, writing exercises, workshop and peer review, and revision practice.

Writing with Visuals: An Introduction (2307)

Introduction to forms of creative writing such as graphic fiction, concrete poetry, collage, artists' books and illustrated texts that combine written texts and visual materials. Students will read exemplary works and relevant criticism and will create their own short works.

Advanced Workshop in Comics and Graphic Fiction (3307)

Advanced workshop in graphic fiction and comic book writing. Students will work on both the textual and visual dimensions of this popular art form. The focus will be on creative exercises, peer review, and the development of the student's portfolio.

Writer in Residence

Student for a day program

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Creative Writing Courses in Canada

• Updated on  
• Mar 3, 2023

As the name suggests, creative writing is a style where creativity is at the forefront and the imagination and aesthetic of the writer flow with each written word. Highly artistic individuals with an ability to connect to people through their writing, opt for this unique career path that offers a wide range of specializations. Creative writing goes beyond the bounds of academic and technical writing. It is a medium to express your feelings by jotting them down on the pages and complex subtleties of emotions related to them. The wide range of creative writing courses in Canada allows the aspirant to be well-versed with different composing styles and literary devices and reach great heights in the realm of writing.

Vaccination Rules for International Students Around the World!

This Blog Includes:

Why study creative writing in canada, list of creative writing courses in canada, types of creative writing courses in canada, certificate course, university of calgary, top colleges for creative writing courses in canada, specialisation, eligibility criteria, pre-arrival costs, cost of living (one-year), career scope .

• Canada is an excellent destination for pursuing creative writing programs as its home to big publishing companies like HarperCollins Canada, Penguin Random House Canada, Dundurn Press, and Scholastic Canada.
• The federal government in Canada has reported a tremendous increase in job opportunities in industries like marketing, digital marketing, and content development despite the ongoing COVID- pandemic making creative writing and copywriting an important skill.
• Studying creative writing courses in Canada is also the gateway to getting a post-study work visa and eventually permanent residency in the country. Students who have completed their degrees in Canada can stay back in the country and join the Canadian economic force. 

Explore: Study in Canada without IELTS

• Bachelor of Arts in English literature – Creative Writing
• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
• Bachelor of Arts in Writing
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program
• Master of Art with Creative Writing, Literature, and Language 
• Masters of Art in Creative Writing and English
• Ontario Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy
• Master of Fine Arts in Writing
• Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing 

Bachelor’s degree (3-4 years, full-time)

Students who have a passion for writing and wish to study in Canada, and learn more about the creative industry are highly recommended to pursue this course. This course introduces you to the world of writing that is different from technical writing. The curriculum puts special emphasis on the area of poetry, films, essays, fiction, novels, and other writing genres. The students learn the basic skills required for writing and learn to put their creative tools to use and have a successful career in the field.

Master’s degree (1-2 years, full-time)

Another popular creative writing course in Canada is Masters. A Master’s degree in creative writing is a type of post-graduate degree that students usually aim for after completing their undergraduate degree. This course allows you to delve deeper into the aspects of literature writing by incorporating all the aspects of writing, from grammar and vocabulary to major areas like literary analysis, plot development, etc. After completing this course, the students acquire a deeper insight into the creation of novels, poems, film writing, etc. It offers a wide range of specializations to choose from. These include playwriting, comedy writing, fiction and non-fiction, and many more!

The University of Calgary offers a creative writing certification program in online mode. This creative writing course in Canada is a 200-hour certificate course that allows you to hone your core skills in creative writing. It will provide you with knowledge about various aspects of writing that include editing, and proofreading and help you further in content development in various genres. You receive extensive training and professional mentorship throughout the program which prepares you for becoming a published writer. After the completion of the course, you receive a globally recognized certificate that revamps your resume and opens up more job prospects in the field of creative writing.

• Narrative Essay
• Creative nonfiction 
• Short Story
• Stage and Screenwriting 
• Popular Fiction 
• Poetry and Songwriting
• Fiction Writing

Eligibility criteria to get into creative writing courses in Canada varies depending on the course, university, level of degree, etc., but one of the most important prerequisites is your portfolio. To establish your reputation as a worthy writer, students are recommended to build a portfolio that includes samples of their best works.

Other than your portfolio, to be eligible for admission, you must possess the following:

• You would have to put together a strong portfolio of your works.
• Some colleges might demand a minimal mark of 75% or a B+.
• You must send a SOP or motivational letter outlining your interests and future goals in addition to your IELTS TRF, TOEFL, or Duolingo score (minimum score requirements are 6.5 to 7.5 on each test).
• Your resume or work CV must also be included in the application package.

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Cost of Studying Creative Writing Courses in Canada

When it comes to studying abroad, Canada is comparatively more affordable than other international destinations. Still, there are a lot of expenses that need to be kept in mind while you plan on studying creative writing courses in Canada. The budget should be planned in accordance with the pre-arrival cost and the cost of living after arriving. The following table gives a brief overview of the broad expenses covered through the entire process of applying to study creative writing in Canada.

Explore: Life in Canada for Indians

The career scope for creative writing courses in Canada is vast. Students with experience and determination can find a diverse range of job profiles in creative writing, marketing, publishing, entertainment, and freelancing. Here are some job profiles to explore after creative writing courses:

• Advertising copywriter
• Creative director
• Book Translator
• Magazine journalist
• Digital Copywriter
• Legacy Writer
• Content Developer
• Editorial Assistant
• Web content manager
• Newspaper journalist
• Lexicographer
• Journalist 
• Ghostwriter
• Scriptwriter

University of Windsor. Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Sheridan College. Douglas College. University of New Brunswick.

The colleges in Canada have emerged as one of the top options for pursuing an MFA in creative writing due to their diverse learning programs.

Creative Writing in UK. Creative Writing in USA. Creative Writing in Canada. Creative Writing in Ireland. Creative Writing in Australia.

If you are an individual looking to hone your writing skills and acquire the power to absorb the readers’ attention through your writing, pursuing creative writing courses in Canada is the best path for you! Know about the best-fit university and courses that you can pursue in Canada with the help of our AI Course Finder. Sign up for a free session with our counsellors at Leverage Edu today!

An ardent reader and writer, Gitali loves to create meaningful and well-researched content on studying abroad, scholarships and exploring student life hacks. When she is not busy working, you can find her doodling in the corner or discussing why Seinfeld is the greatest sitcom ever.

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• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Distance) (MFA)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

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Creative Writers are at the heart of our cultural industries. Poets, novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, graphic novelists, magazine writers: they entertain, inform and inspire. For more than 15 years, UBC's Creative Writing program has been educating writers through distance education in a program which complements our long-standing on-campus MFA program.

A studio program with the writing workshop at its heart, the distance MFA focuses on the work created by students as the primary text. Through intensive peer critique and craft discussion, faculty and students work together with the same goal: literary excellence.

The MFA granted to distance students is the same degree as granted to on-campus students, and the same criteria of excellence in multiple genres of study apply.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

UBC's Optional-Residency (Distance) MFA was the first distance education MFA program in Canada and remains the only full MFA which can be taken completely online. It is designed to be uniquely flexible, allowing students across Canada and around the world to study writing at the graduate level while still living in their local communities and fulfilling career and family obligations.

The program is unique globally for its multi-genre approach to writing instruction: students are required to work in multiple genres during the course of the degree. As a fine arts program rather than an English program, students focus on the practice of writing rather than the study of literature. Students may work on a part-time basis, taking up to five years to complete the degree.

My time in the Creative writing grad program at UBC has given me the discipline and focus I need to complete long-form writing pieces and larger poetry projects.

Kwaku Darko-Mensah Jnr.

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

The optional residency MFA (distance) program only has a July intake.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Distance) (MFA)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Options

Graduates of the MFA program have found success in varied fields related to writing and communication. The MFA qualifies graduates for teaching at the university level and many graduates have gone on to teach at colleges and universities in Canada, the United States and overseas as well as holding writing residencies. Many publish books and win literary awards. Others go on to work in publishing, and graduates have become book and magazine editors.

Although the MFA is a terminal degree, some graduates go on to further study in PhD programs in the US, UK and Australia.

The Optional-Residency MFA is particularly well suited to teachers: our teacher-students have been able to gain an advanced degree while continuing their careers.

• Research Supervisors

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Belcourt, Billy-Ray (Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry)
• Hopkinson, Nalo (Creative writing, n.e.c.; Humanities and the arts; Creative Writing: Speculative Ficton, Fantasy, Science Fiction, especially Other Voices)
• Irani, Anosh
• Koncan, Frances
• Leavitt, Sarah (Autobiographical comics; Formal experimentation in comics; Comics pedagogy)
• Lee, Nancy (Fiction; Creative Writing)
• Lyon, Annabel (Novels, stories and news)
• Maillard, Keith (Fiction, poetry)
• Marzano-Lesnevich, Alex (Nonfiction)
• McGowan, Sharon (Planning of film productions from concept to completion)
• Medved, Maureen (Fiction, writing for screen)
• Nicholson, Cecily (Languages and literature; Poetry)
• Ohlin, Alix (Fiction; Screenwriting; Environmental writing)
• Pohl-Weary, Emily (Fiction; Writing for Youth)
• Svendsen, Linda (Script development; Novels, stories and news; Writing for Television; Fiction)
• Taylor, Timothy (fiction and nonfiction)
• Vigna, John (Novels, stories and news; Fiction, Literary Non-Fiction, Creative Writing)

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Same Academic Unit

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Theatre (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Further Information

Specialization.

Creative Writing combines the best of traditional workshop and leading-edge pedagogy. Literary cross-training offers opportunities in a broad range of genres including fiction, poetry, screenplay, podcasting, video game writing and graphic novel.

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Find out how Vancouver enhances your graduate student experience—from the beautiful mountains and city landscapes, to the arts and culture scene, we have it all. Study-life balance at its best!

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Honours Baccalaureate Degree

Honours bachelor of creative writing and publishing.

Hazel McCallion Campus

( Mississauga )

Admission Requirements

• Fees & Financial Aid

Learning Outcomes

• Writer-in-Residence

There's more to the world of writing than you think.

Program overview, prepare for a career in both writing and publishing.

In this unique program, you'll gain experience in a variety of writing genres and media platforms — and be ready for a career in today's publishing industry. You'll graduate with a broad skill set that gives you the opportunity to choose a variety of career paths.

Focus on your interests

This flexible program allows you to focus on your interests and career goals. In addition to core courses in creative writing, publishing and literary studies, your program electives let you tailor your education in these three disciplines. You'll have the opportunity to take courses from Sheridan's arts and business degrees and collaborate with students in other programs.

Connect with communities

Relationships with audiences, writers and the publishing community are integral parts of being an author. In this program, you're encouraged to develop these relationships through internships, connecting with literary communities, editing and publishing literary journals, writing reviews and more. You'll have the chance to make an impact in your community of practice — and community at large.

Learn from expert faculty

With experience in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama and new media, our faculty have collectively written and edited in nearly every genre. Their work includes historical novels, creative non-fiction and criticism, sci-fi, comedy, children's lit and beyond. You'll benefit from their expertise — and gain a solid foundation for your writing or publishing career.

Our faculty are successful industry professionals who have, to date:

• Authored 17 books, with more in progress
• Authored more than 220 shorter works, published in national and international journals, literary magazines and anthologies
• Authored 56 journalistic articles and counting
• Edited 123 books, with more in progress
• Been shortlisted for 35 writing awards
• Won four awards for writing and 13 awards for editing
• Had seven plays produced

Be a part of Sheridan's emerging literary culture

As a student in this program, you'll be part of Sheridan's emerging literary culture. Events like Sheridan Reads bring together students, faculty and staff, community groups, libraries and public service organizations to discuss and celebrate the works of local and international writers (most recently Lawrence Hill and Thomas King).

Other initiatives such as the 905 Road Show: Creativity Cabaret, using the power of narrative to forge connections between individuals and communities, have also helped bring creative writers to Sheridan — and foster a culture of literary appreciation on campus.

Sheridan has been granted a consent by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to offer this degree for a seven-year term starting October 18, 2022 and subject to renewal thereafter. Application to the Ministry for renewal of the consent is a prescribed and cyclical requirement for degree programs at all Ontario Colleges. Sheridan will ensure that all students admitted to the Honours Bachelor of Creative Writing and Publishing program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame. Credentials earned during the period of consent remain valid, even if Ministry consent to offer the program is withdrawn in the future. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (e.g. acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies, or other educational institutions).

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Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

Designation

4180 Duke of York Boulevard,  Mississauga

Helpful links

Program Summary

Degree Entrance Scholarship Available

Once you’ve applied for admission to this program, we’ll automatically consider you for this award.

Creative, innovative learning is at the core of all Sheridan’s courses. Here are the courses you’ll take in this program.

Total credits: 15

And one of the following courses:

Plus one of the following:

And one of the following:

Internship/Placement

Program Electives may include courses such as:*

• Intermediate Creative Writing Workshop – Drama
• Intermediate Creative Writing Workshop – Fiction
• Intermediate Creative Writing Workshop – Poetry
• Intermediate Creative Writing Workshop – Creative Non-Fiction
• Reviewing Culture
• Interactive Fiction
• Emergent Issues in Writing (Managing Literary Celebrity)
• Emergent Issues in Publishing (The Prize Economy)
• Writing for Children
• Principles of Creative Writing Pedagogy

Literature Electives may include courses such as:*

• Introduction to Popular Literature
• Understanding Narrative
• Gender and Sexuality in Literature
• The Twenty-First Century Novel
• Children’s Literature: A Primer
• Adaptation: From Text to Film
• Life Writing: Personal Narrative and the Construction of Self
• Censorship and Literature: Critical Approaches
• American Road Narratives
• Topics in Eco-Criticism

*Please note that not all courses will be available every semester.

Courses subject to change.

Current students should refer to their ⁠ Academic Requirements in myStudentCentre to track their academic progress and outstanding course requirements.

Find course details for electives:

• Degree Breadth Elective Courses

Program Eligibility

Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, including these required courses:

• English, Grade 12 ENG4U, or EWC4U (Writer’s Craft) with a minimum grade of 70%
• Five other Grade 12 credits at U or M level
• Minimum 65% overall average
• Two semesters of postsecondary education, including required courses, with a minimum of 65% overall average.

Applicant Selection

Eligible applicants are selected on the basis of previous academic achievement (the average of their six highest senior-level credits, including required courses).

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for this program may be advised individually regarding other related programs.

English Language Proficiency

All applicants whose first language is not English must meet Sheridan’s English proficiency requirements .

Sheridan Degree Entrance Scholarship

Sheridan is pleased to provide an Entrance Scholarship to select applicants in this degree program. View Sheridan Degree Entrance Scholarship details for eligibility criteria and more.

Career Opportunities

Here are some jobs you might find:

• Copy/Substantive/Acquisitions Editor
• Marketing/Sales Rep
• Literary Agent

Degree Completion

Advanced entry challenge exams, get credit for what you know.

Sheridan recognizes and appreciates that advanced learning doesn’t always require standard classroom instruction, and that opportunities to advance skills and learn new technologies are everywhere.

If you have significant knowledge and experience in programming, web development, database and/or networking, you may choose to complete Advanced Entry Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (AEPLAR) Challenge Exams for academic credit towards your Sheridan Computer Systems Technology advanced diploma.

How do Challenge Exams work?

AEPLAR Challenge Exams are administered by and through the Sheridan College Assessment Centre or through an approved Test Centre. There are fees to write each exam (an Assessment Centre fee and a Challenge Exam fee).

Your completed Challenge Exam(s) will be evaluated to determine whether you’re eligible for credit in one or more courses within the identified program streams.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) and Advanced Standing credits are subject to Sheridan’s policies and procedures. Learn more about Sheridan’s Credit Transfer policies and procedures .

I have previous postsecondary education. Should I write a Challenge Exam?

No. Challenge Exams are designed for applicants with knowledge and experience gained outside of formal education. If you have previous postsecondary education, we encourage you to apply for Advanced Standing instead — you may be eligible to apply your previously earned credits towards your new program at Sheridan .

What subjects can I complete Challenge Exams for?

Challenge Exams for applicants to the Computer Systems Technology – Software Development and Network Engineering program are designed to test skills in specific knowledge streams within this program:

• Programming – Introductory
• Programming – .NET
• Programming – Advanced Java
• Web Development
• Operating Systems
• Software Design
• Mobile App Development – Android
• Mobile App Development – iOS
• Game Development – UNITY

You can also choose to complete Challenge Exams for specific individual courses within the Computer Systems Technology program.

Complete a free self-assessment test to help you determine whether Challenge Exams are a good option for you.

How do I apply to complete a Challenge Exam?

Step 1: make sure you meet the program admission requirements.

You must meet the program admission requirements to be eligible for admission and PLAR.

Step 2: Complete a free self-assessment

Complete a free self-assessment test for each knowledge stream you wish to challenge. This will help you determine whether your current skills will enable you to succeed in the Challenge Exam(s).

Step 3: Apply to Sheridan's Computer Systems Technology advanced diploma program

Apply to the Computer Systems Technology – Software Development and Network Engineering program .

To be eligible to complete Challenge Exams for this program, you must select "Advanced Entry" as the level of the program on your application.

Step 4: Follow the instructions to complete your Challenge Exam(s)

Once Sheridan receives your application, we’ll send you an email with instructions on how to register and pay for your Challenge Exam(s). Follow those instructions.

Once you’ve completed your Challenge Exam(s), subject matter experts in Sheridan’s Faculty of Applied Science and Technology will evaluate them within 10 business days. The Faculty will forward your results to the Office of the Registrar, and any approved credit transfers will be posted in your Credit Transfer centre. Exam feedback will not be provided.

Step 5: Accept your offer of admission and pay your program fees

If you receive an offer of admission to Sheridan, please follow the instructions to confirm your offer and pay your fees by the due dates indicated in order to reserve your spot in the program.

We wish you success in this process and look forward to seeing you at Sheridan!

Program Fees

Fees shown here are estimates only. Fees are in Canadian dollars and include tuition, health insurance and ancillary charges.

The fees shown here are for the 2024–2025 academic year, and are subject to change. The fees displayed are for the first two (2) academic semesters of study at Sheridan unless otherwise noted; fees for subsequent semesters are not reflected on this website.

Fees for Canadian students

Fees for international students, financial aid & awards.

Your education is a big investment, and we're here to help! Keep an eye on our Financial Aid & Awards page for regular updates, and check out these important links:

• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
• Scholarships, awards and bursaries
• Work Study Assistance Program

International Entrance Scholarship

All new international students* beginning their full-time postsecondary studies (Year 1, Semester 1) in Spring 2024, Fall 2024 or Winter 2025 semesters will receive an entrance scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.

*ESL and programs with tuition reduction are excluded

Sheridan is pleased to provide an entrance scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to select applicants in this degree program. A minimum GPA of 75% is required in order to be considered. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. View Sheridan Degree Entrance Scholarship details for additional eligibility criteria and more.

• Produce creative writing in at least three genres and forms drawn from the areas of poetry, fiction, drama, creative non-fiction, children's literature, graphic novels, film and review.
• Apply specialized knowledge in a specific genre and medium.
• Evaluate your own work and that of others with a view to providing and receiving peer criticism for the purposes of revision.
• Interpret texts critically and analytically from a range of literary, cultural and historical traditions and precedents.
• Compile a professional manuscript ready for publication in select genres.
• Apply knowledge and skills specific to the (self-)publishing industry, including editing and the editorial process, production, formatting, design, marketing and supply chain management.
• Model a professional attitude with a willingness to collaborate and to listen and respond to constructive criticism.
• Implement the appropriate technological, applied and creative problem-solving tools to create and publish your own works.
• Foster and support a literary community by developing a presence in emergent media and across a variety of platforms.
• Articulate how socially constructed views and identities contribute to the production of diverse voices in yourself and other writers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Labs & technology, financial planning certification, professional sales certificate, program transition, earn your masters degree, transfer opportunities, clinical placements, articulation agreements, educational philosophy.

Sheridan's Honours Bachelor of Interior Design curriculum and its delivery are designed to address current social issues pertinent to the design industry. This enables students to broaden their understanding of their place within the world.

Fundamental to the vision of the program is the balance of creative and conceptual thinking with the technical and business aspects of the profession. Courses follow a logical sequence with the degree of difficulty building vertically from first year to fourth year.

The various streams provide a range of design problems building in size and scope, from simple to complex in various design sectors. The curriculum builds on fundamental introductions that ensures a strong foundation for students to apply additional more complex learning and skills developed later in the program.

Studio projects are designed to mimic professional practice and require applied theory, creativity and strong technical knowledge. Curriculum is also connected horizontally across each semester to help support the learning in courses happening simultaneously. This demonstrates the inter-connected knowledge and skills required to practice in the industry.

The program provides many opportunities that expose students to practicing professionals and professional practice. Industry leaders and representatives from professional associations like ARIDO and IDC are invited into the classroom as jurors and guest speakers throughout the four years. The internship also provides professional design work experience for students before they enter their final year of study.

The curriculum is student-centric and designed to equip students with the skills that are required for entry-level design positions and advanced study. Manual skills such as drafting, drawing and model making are developed alongside digital skills using current software. Students are also well-versed in the applicable building codes and regulations required to practice in Ontario. Students are exposed to valuable research skills and encouraged to continue their learning past graduation.

Program goals

Sheridan's Honours Bachelor of Interior Design program aspires to:

• Develop confident, creative and critical thinkers that can solve a variety of problems thoughtfully, improving the quality of the built environment and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public.
• Equip students with the tools to think independently and ethically to ensure technically, environmentally, and socially responsible decision-making.
• Deliver current and relevant curriculum that incorporates equity, diversity and inclusion. This encourages students to create spaces that foster inclusivity and look at design from various perspectives within diverse communities, involving numerous stakeholders.
• Inform students regarding the various facets of the profession, engaging them with designers and industry affiliates.
• Encourage continuous professional and personal growth, instilling a desire to contribute to the profession and society at large. The program encourages students to become active participants in the design community, become members of their local Association, write their NCIDQ exams, give back to the community and become progressive leaders in the profession.
• Prepare graduates for entry-level design positions, equipped with the required knowledge and skills for employment in the diverse design industry, ensuring they possess the body of knowledge necessary to respond to social and environmental issues, while designing interior spaces that are technically proficient, code-compliant, conceptually strong, sustainable and all-inclusive.
• Provide enhanced opportunities for students to pursue post-graduate studies, employment, research and/or further their academic studies and/or credentials.

Pathways from Athletic Therapy and Kinesiology

If you've graduated from a health-science degree other than athletic therapy or kinesiology, your application will be assessed on an individual basis.

Get your Osteopathy degree in less time

If you're a graduate of Sheridan's Athletic Therapy or Kinesiology degree program, you may be eligible to start in the second year of this program after completing three bridging courses.

This bridging program will be available in Spring/Summer 2024.

How to apply: Submit an application using the program code PBHSB .

Bridging courses (Spring/Summer Semester)

• OSTP 17927D: The Science of Osteopathy (3 credits)
• OSTP 14859: Theoretical Pathways to Osteopathy (5 credits)
• OSTP 16333: Practical Pathways to Osteopathy (1 credit)

Course exceptions

After successfully completing the assigned bridging courses, you'll be admitted into Year 2 (Semester 3) of our Osteopathy degree. In order to earn your Osteopathy degree, you'll need to complete all courses in the remaining three years of the program , with the following exceptions.

You will additionally take:

• Year 2: OSTP 11271D: Clinical Methodology (3 credits)
• Year 2: SCIE 22437D: Human Physiology for Allied Health (2 credits)
• Year 3: SCIE 31116D: Pathophysiology for Allied Health (3 credits)

You will not need to take:*

• SCIE 26661D: Pathophysiology 1 (3 credits)
• OSTP 24645D: Structure & Function 2 – Lower Cervicals, Thorax & Upper Extremity (3 credits)
• OSTP 22482D: Applied Clinical Practice 2 (1 credit)
• FLPL 21839D: Internship Prep (1 credit)
• SCIE 39622D: Pathophysiology 2 – Systemic Interactions (3 credits)
• RESE 37626D: Statistical Methods in Health Sciences (3 credits)
• RESE 42279D: Applied Research Methods for Health Sciences (3 credits)
• BUSM 44956D: Business Entrepreneurship for Clinical Practitioners (3 credits)
• 6 Degree Breadth Electives (3 credits each)

*Athletic Therapy graduates are also exempt from the following course:

• OSTP 20782D: Clinical Experience 2 (0.5 credits)

Program Mission

Our mission is to utilize harmonious, comprehensive and specialized training to empower our learners with the knowledge, skills and attitude required to demonstrate the Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacy Technicians at Entry to Practice.

Program Vision

Our vision is to graduate highly-skilled life-long learners who uphold professional integrity and promote quality and safety in practice.

Critical Performance Statement

Upon graduation, students in Sheridan’s Pharmacy Technician diploma program will have demonstrated the ability to pursue the career of pharmacy technician and to practice safely in a community or hospital while adhering to the scope of practice for pharmacy technicians.

Field Placements

Writer-in-residence program.

Each year, Sheridan’s Honours Bachelor of Creative Writing & Publishing (CW&P) program hosts a Writer-in-Residence. The 8-month residency is awarded to a writer who embodies the distinctiveness and dynamism of the & in our program name.

In addition to working on at least one specific writing project of their own during their tenure, the Writer-in-Residence is responsible for creative leadership, mentoring and public outreach in the area of creative writing and/or publishing.

How our Writer-in-Residence supports Sheridan students

Students in our CW&P program benefit from the work and mentorship of our Writer-in-Residence, who:

• shares their expertise and experience as a creative professional and working writer;
• performs public readings from their recently published work and/or current work-in-progress;
• organizes public lectures and/or workshops; and
• works with faculty to augment existing curriculum in the area of creative writing, publishing and/or creativity.

2023–24 Writer-in-Residence

Award-winning fiction writer, playwright and poet Kate Cayley is joining Sheridan as the 2023–24 CW&P Writer-in-Residence.

Cayley has published two short story collections and three collections of poetry, and her plays have been performed in Canada, the U.S. and the UK. She has won the Trillium Book Award, an O. Henry Prize and the Mitchell Prize for Poetry, and been a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction, the Firecracker Award for Fiction, the ReLit Award for both fiction and poetry, and the K.M. Hunter Award for Fiction.

Her writing has appeared in such literary publications as Brick , Electric Literature , Joyland , Best Canadian Poetry and Best Canadian Stories , and she has been a writer-in-residence at McMaster University and the Toronto Public Library.

"Kate’s diverse work plumbs meaning, strangeness and beauty from the spaces we inhabit, even in our domestic lives, while tackling some of the big philosophical questions we all face," says Dr. Genevieve Amaral, Associate Dean, School of Humanities and Creativity. "Our Sheridan community welcomes her capacious intellect, limpid style and wonderful mentorship with full hearts, open ears, and pens, paper and keyboards at the ready!"

From ideas to impact: a masterclass in applied creativity and innovation

Are you a business lead who's looking to level up your company's culture of creativity and entrepreneurship?

Sheridan offers FREE, one-hour masterclasses on topics such as:

• Creative Strategies for an EDI-driven World
• The Science of Creativity and Innovation
• Intra- and Entrepreneurial Thinking, and
• Creative Team Leadership

These masterclasses will catalyze your climate of innovation and give your team an exclusive look into Sheridan’s one-of-a-kind graduate certificate in Applied Creativity and Innovation.*

Register your team for a FREE online one-hour masterclass!

*Advance further with our Applied Creativity and Innovation graduate certificate

Our new graduate certificate in Applied Creativity and Innovation is a great professional development (PD) opportunity for many company teams. The program teaches complex problem-solving, creativity, innovation and negotiation skills — competencies that make companies  more resilient and adaptable as they face the unique challenges presented by the future of work.

Why this program is a great choice for PD:

• Flexible hours — your employees can complete their graduate certificate online, at their own pace.
• Relevant coursework – they can choose electives that are most applicable to their position at your company.
• Award-winning faculty – they’ll learn from instructors who are on the cutting-edge of creativity and innovation research.
• Practicum project – they’ll work alongside our team of experts to resolve an issue that your business is facing today — whether it’s how to leverage artificial intelligence technology, advance your sustainability efforts, update your marketing strategies, address supply chain inefficiencies or another challenge.

Apprenticeship Exemption Test

The Apprenticeship Exemption Test (AET) provides a chance for students who are learning a skilled trade to bypass in-class studies.

In most cases, you need to score 70% or higher to pass the AET. If you score lower than 70%, you'll need to wait three months before you can try again (with some exceptions for certain exams).

Apprenticeship Exemption Tests are administered at the Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga, through Sheridan's Assessment Centre.

Learn more about the AET, including eligibility criteria, available tests and how to register.

Sheridan is a Ministry-approved Apprenticeship Exemption Test centre, authorized through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development (MLITSD), for both apprentices and non-apprentices.

Program availability

Full-time 4 years Program code: PBCWP

Featured stories

News release, sheridan welcomes kate cayley as 2023-24 writer-in-residence.

Connected through story: Sheridan's 'Everybody's Got a Story' project

Sheridan’s Tamara Thompson launched a literary press

The power of story and the ampersand: Creative Writing & Publishing students share their inspirations and successes

In an increasingly digital world dominated by quick-hitting news, social media scrolls and click-bait content, Brianna Wodabek still marvels at the persistent powers of storytelling

Bringing poetic licence into the classroom

On the night that Cherie Dimaline received a 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award for her young adult novel The Marrow...

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Find your fit and choose with confidence. Choosing the right education is a big decision. At Sheridan we’re committed to providing you with the learning, support and services you need to achieve your goals and reach your full potential. Take a look around, and please connect with us if you have any questions!

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Creative and Professional Writing Courses

CPW Home  |  Program  |  Faculty  |  Courses  |  Declaring your English major

Here is a sampling of some of the Creative and Professional Writing courses that you can take. The descriptions below are taken from selected course syllabi, so course specifics may vary somewhat from term to term. For a complete list of courses offered by the Department of English Language and Literature, see our  Course List . For a list of courses being offered in the current academic year, see  This Year's Courses .

Genres of Creative Writing ENGL 210C

Genres of Business Communication ENGL 210F

Technical Editing ENGL 210J

Speech Writing ENGL 309E

Topics in Creative Writing ENGL 332

This course offers an in-depth exploration of a selected topic in creative writing. The topic for a particular term will vary depending on the instructor, and may focus on a selected genre or form, a specific approach to writing or creative method, or other aspect of creative writing. See This Year's Courses or check with the instructor for the specific term about the topic.

Creative Writing 1 ENGL 335

Creative Writing 2 ENGL 336

Information Design ENGL 392A

Writing for the Media ENGL 408A

The Discourse of Advertising ENGL 408B

• Creative Writing Programs
• Opportunities
• Prospective Students
• MFA Program Options
• Optional Summer Residency
• How to Write a Novel
• Writing for Video Games
• Communications Support
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Indigenous Engagement
• Prize for Best New Fiction
• Job Opportunities

Note: this course tool only shows summer 2024 courses at the moment. As part of a UBC software transition, we will not be able to display course descriptions until fall 2024. However, we are providing PDF documents for our undergraduate and graduate courses for download.

CREATIVE WRITING

Introduction to Creative Writing

CRWR 200 2023 S Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in multiple genres of writing, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenplay, stageplay, graphic forms, lyric forms, children's literature, and writing for new media. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

BROWN-EVANS, TAYLOR

CRWR 200 2023 W Credits: 3

BROWN-EVANS, TAYLOR | HUSSAIN, TARIQ | TATER, MALLORY

This course is designed for students looking to develop their writing skills through an exploration of a variety of creative genres. Using a combination of lectures, active writing exercises, and in-depth assignments, students will be given the chance to explore a variety of topics and concepts designed to elevate their craft including constructing story arcs, handling structure, character development, image-building, point of view and creating effective dialogue. Genres to be explored include fiction, creative nonfiction (including memoir, personal essay, profile), poetry, songwriting, screenwriting, and playwriting. This course is an inspiring and fun introduction to the world of creative writing and is sure to get your creative juices flowing. This class is an in-person class, although classes are recorded and may be attended asynchronously.

This course is designed for students looking to develop their creative writing skills through an exploration of a variety of creative writing genres including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, songwriting, screenwriting and more. Students will have the chance to explore a variety of topics and concepts designed to elevate their craft such as constructing story arcs, character development, image building, managing dialogue. This course will consist of video lectures and online modules with weekly writing exercises. Students will also engage in readings and some longer length writing assignments (in genres of their choosing) all of which will contribute to a regular writing practice and an end-of-term portfolio of work they can be proud of. Students will be able to complete the requirements for this course asynchronously. There will also be some synchronous activities such as peer-to-peer sharing “draft days,” discussion groups, etc. and though attendance is encouraged for these sessions, students will not be graded on their participation in these events. Note that students are required to submit new work only for this course. CRWR 200 is an inspiring and fun introduction to the world of creative writing and is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

This course is designed for students looking to develop their creative writing skills through an exploration of a variety of creative writing genres including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, songwriting, screenwriting and more. Students will have the chance to explore a variety of topics and concepts designed to elevate their craft such as constructing story arcs, character development, image building, managing dialogue. Students will engage in readings, weekly writing exercises, and some longer length writing assignments (in genres of their choosing) in order to maintain a regular writing practice. By the end of the course, students will have amassed a solid body of creative work—a portfolio!—that they can be proud of with work they can continue to revise and draw inspiration from after the term ends. This course will take place in real time and consist of weekly face-to-face lectures, which students are required to attend. Note that students are also required to submit new work only for this course. CRWR 200 is an inspiring and fun introduction to the world of creative writing and is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

This course is designed for students looking to develop their creative writing skills through an exploration of a variety of creative writing genres including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, songwriting, screenwriting and more. Students will have the chance to explore a variety of topics and concepts designed to elevate their craft such as constructing story arcs, character development, image building, managing dialogue. This course will consist of video lectures and online modules with weekly writing exercises. Students will also engage in readings and some longer length writing assignments (in genres of their choosing) all of which will contribute to a regular writing practice and an end of term portfolio of work they can be proud of. Students will be able to complete the requirements for this course asynchronously. There will also be some synchronous activities such as peer-to-peer sharing “draft days,” discussion groups, etc. and though attendance is encouraged for these sessions, students will not be graded on their participation in these events. Note that students are required to submit new work only for this course. CRWR 200 is an inspiring and fun introduction to the world of creative writing and is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

This course is composed to help students hone in on a variety of techniques and practices as we explore multiple genres of writing, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenplay, stageplay, graphic forms, lyric forms, children's literature, and writing for new media. Come and find your voice by playing with various craft elements and to experience instrumental published work in contemporary forms and genres through lectures, readings, writing assignments and guided discussions.

CRWR 200 2024 S Credits: 3

Introduction to Writing Poetry

CRWR 201 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in the writing of poetry, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of poetry. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

TATE, BRONWEN | WARRENER, SHERYDA

In poetry, the chaos and disorder of living are made meaningful by the shaping powers of language and the imagination. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of contemporary poets including Ocean Vuong, Ada Limón, and Jericho Brown, you will write many poems and explore the capacity of language to name the world, sing us back to our senses, say what matters, and imagine other possibilities. Together, we’ll discover how to invite wildness and surprise onto the page. We’ll also investigate the radical possibilities of revision, give and receive written feedback on work-in-progress, and cultivate a shared craft vocabulary of diction, syntax, image, line, metaphor, echo, pivot, and rhythm to help you make more conscious choices in your writing. To support flexible learning, this is a blended course with asynchronous videos, readings, and exercises supported by weekly synchronous lectures and collaborations.

This course offers an accessible introduction to the process of poem-making. You will practice forms of poetic attention, experiment with craft skills and techniques foundational to the genre, and explore the sensory details of everyday life: memory, experience, feeling, and imagination. In order to write about the world, you will engage with it through intentional and focused exploration. This process will require both self-discovery and discovery of subject matter outside the self. This course blends synchronous and asynchronous content. Weekly modules of pre-recorded videos and readings allow you to move through key concepts at your own pace. In addition to reviewing online materials, you will be required to attend class, engage with assigned readings, and participate in discussions and workshops. You will utilize in-class writing exercises and prompts to spark ideas for content. For your final assignment, you will revise and assemble a collection of five poems demonstrating your technical skills and singular sensibility. Together, we will strive toward artistry, and come to a richer understanding of the possibilities of poetry.

Introduction to Writing for Children and Young Adults

CRWR 203 2023 W Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in creating, developing and writing for children and young adults. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

We’ll delve into the breadth of forms encompassed by children’s literature, as well as a diversity of genres and topics. We’ll examine the unique pace and structure of books for different age and reading levels. We’ll learn to build memorable characters, then send those characters on fast-paced quests and adventures. Coursework includes three major writing assignments, a mock Instagram novel review, and frequent short writing exercises. Regular attendance is required. Our goals in this class are to learn about the growth of contemporary children’s writing, to become better writers ourselves, and to embrace a spirit of childlike wonder, exploration, and fun.

Introduction to Writing Creative Nonfiction

CRWR 205 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in the writing of creative nonfiction, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of creative nonfiction. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

CATRON, MANDY

Welcome to Introduction to Creative Nonfiction!

This term we will focus on both the craft and the ethics of creative nonfiction writing and consider some of the big questions that continue to shape the genre:

• What exactly is creative nonfiction and what distinguishes it from other genres?
• How does an obligation to the truth shape the ways we tell stories and write sentences?
• Why might a reader care about an individual writer’s experiences and ideas?
• Where does the personal intersect with the political, the ideological, or the profound?
• How can we find authority and curiosity in our own knowledge and experiences?

We will spend our semester taking risks, trying out new skills, and sharing your work and ideas in a warm and welcoming environment. This is a hybrid course and students are expected to participate both online and in person.

Introduction to Writing for the Screen

CRWR 206 2023 W Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in creating, developing, and writing a screenplay. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

MCGOWAN, SHARON | GRAEFE, SARA

It all starts with the script. Every screenwriter has a unique creative process, but shares tools from a common toolbox.

In this course we will screen and discuss excerpts from a variety of films, analyzing the essentials that make a great screen story. You will explore these fundamentals in weekly writing exercises and script assignments, applying techniques of visual storytelling and screenplay formatting, as well as the key elements of dramatic film structure, character development and dialogue. You will also learn how to pitch a script idea, a skill that is essential to succeed in the highly collaborative practice of filmmaking.

The structure of this course is online and asynchronous, with modules and exercises posted on Canvas for completion each week.  There is also an optional one-hour Zoom drop-in session each week with bonus materials and a chance to ask questions and discuss the weekly assignments.

Your coursework will include completing weekly writing assignments (worth 15% of your final grade), writing a 4-page silent screenplay (25%), writing a 10-page screenplay with dialogue (35%), creating a written pitch for your dialogue screenplay (15%), and completing an open-book quiz on screenplay formatting (10%).

Please note that while we will discuss and screen a few feature-length films and excerpts of television series in this course, the majority of the coursework and course content will focus on short films. This is because short films are an excellent form in which to learn and apply fundamentals quickly. Short films are also one of the main starting points for building a career in screenwriting.

In this hyper-connected digital age, we consume stories at an unprecedented rate, on screens large and small.  A great film or TV show or Netflix series will make us laugh or cry and stay with us for forever. In this hands-on class, we’ll take a look behind the scenes to uncover where the magic of film begins – with the art and craft of narrative screenwriting. As the saying goes in Hollywood, “it all starts with the script.” We will screen and discuss excerpts from a variety of films, analyzing the essentials that make a great screen story. You’ll explore these fundamentals through class writing exercises and script assignments, applying techniques of visual storytelling and screenplay formatting, as well as the key elements of dramatic film structure, character development and dialogue. You will also learn and practice how to pitch a script idea, a vital skill for surviving and thriving in the collaborative film industry. You will write two original scripts – a 3-4 page silent screenplay and an 8-10 page screenplay with dialogue.

This is a blended course, meaning half your learning will take place face-to-face in the classroom, and the other half online in a text- and video-based, modular format on Canvas.

Introduction to Writing for Graphic Forms

CRWR 208 2023 W Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in creating, developing, and writing the graphic novel, manga, and other forms of illustrated writing. The ability to draw is not required. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

In this course, we will explore writing for comics and graphic novels through a combination of discussions, lectures, guest speakers, online content, low-stakes exercises and creative writing assignments. This course is a blended learning course, which means it is conducted partially through self-directed engagement with online content, and partially through lectures and discussion. You'll find a variety of readings and videos and exercises online each week to prepare for a weekly lecture and hands-on creation and discussion. By the end of the course, you will hopefully have gained a broad understanding of the form as well as the skills to create your own well-crafted comics, from inception to publication.

Introduction to Writing Fiction

CRWR 209 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of the writing of fiction, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of fiction. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

This introductory undergraduate course is held 100% online and is designed for those interested in the art and craft of fiction writing. We’ll focus on the creative impulse and generative process while exploring and practicing the foundational elements of fiction writing, including, character development, scene design, dialogue and subtext, prose style, the fundamentals of story structure, and the importance of emotional and psychological authenticity. We’ll experiment, take risks, and expand our creative practice each week through a variety of online activities, including pre-recorded video lectures, writing exercises, assigned readings, and discussion. Through an examination of craft, writing practice, creative inquiry, and close reading, we will bridge the gap between creative intention and execution on the page and do our best to create something meaningful and beautiful. We’ll be rigorous in our study and analysis of our efforts and invest ourselves in the efforts of our peers. The course is offered online asynchronously with a weekly synchronous Zoom session focused on generative exercises, advanced craft exploration, and discussion of course concepts with the Instructor, Teaching Assistants and fellow students.

Introduction to Writing for the New Media

CRWR 213 2023 S Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in writing for new media, including podcasting, blogging, and writing for websites, games, and online environments. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

CHAN, CRYSTAL

CRWR 213 2023 W Credits: 3

OSWORTH, AUSTEN | MOSS, JENNIFER

What makes media “new?” How have older media come to influence the bleeding edge? This course focuses on memes, pitching publications (and making your own), Twine games, artificial intelligence and, most importantly, how to explore and learn with confidence and conscientiousness when the media landscape is constantly evolving.

This section will be taught by A.E. Osworth .

CRWR 213 2024 S Credits: 3

CLARK, RAYMOND

Introduction to Creative Writing with an Indigenous Focus

CRWR 220 2023 W Credits: 3

Covers three genres from fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, radio drama, radio feature, or stageplay.

BELCOURT, BILLY-RAY

In this course, students will engage with a range of literary works by contemporary Indigenous writers as well as with supplementary critical/theoretical texts. The goal is to introduce students to the aesthetic, political, and social concerns operative in the Indigenous literary landscape. We will acquire the language to ethically and rigorously engage with the material and the larger context of colonialism in which we in North America live and study. To be clear, the aim is not to produce “Indigenous writing” (unless, of course, a student is Indigenous), but rather to write from the social locations in which students exist about topics such as race, history, identity, geography, power, and structural oppression.

Introduction to Writing for Comedic Forms

CRWR 230 2023 W Credits: 3

An examination of and practice in creative writing in comedic forms, including stand-up, sketch, film, new media, and text. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

DEL BUCCHIA, DINA

This course will be taught both synchronously and asynchronously. Video lectures and slides (with relevant questions and writing prompts) will be recorded and posted to Canvas in the Modules. Students will not be penalized for their inability to attend synchronous sessions. The course materials in Canvas will need to be completed by the due dates indicated and before the start of the weekly synchronous session.

Comedy has the ability to bring levity to the difficult things in life. In this course we will study humour writing across various forms, styles and genres, including: joke-writing; stand-up and sketch comedy; comic prose and verse; television; film; stage; and new media. Lectures and discussions will be complemented by writing prompts, group work, readings, and engaging with media relevant to all areas of comedic forms covered. A major learning objective for this course is to develop a greater understanding of comic structures and style, as well as exploring issues of comedy and free speech, and comedy as social commentary. Students will have the opportunity to not only write their own comedic pieces, but to consider the power of jokes and how humour can affect an audience.

Intermediate Writing Poetry

CRWR 301 2023 W Credits: 3

The writing of poetry in various forms using a combination of workshopping and online modules. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

WARRENER, SHERYDA

This course is part workshop, part exploration of writing in established, evolving, and invented poetic forms. You will direct language through the apertures and frames of the sonnet, prose poems, ghazal, haibun, ode, elegy, villanelle, zuihitsu, and more. You’ll explore the variations and innovations formal constraints make possible, and then return to free verse with newly-acquired technical chops and a dynamic, renewed energy. This course blends synchronous and asynchronous content. A weekly compilation of videos and craft essays feature insights from contemporary poets as they take you through advanced modes and techniques. You’ll be required to attend in-person classes, engage with assigned readings, and participate in discussions, presentations, and workshops. For your final assignment, you will revise and assemble poems into a collection that demonstrates your technical skill and formal imagination. We will strive toward artistry, and come to a richer understanding of what poetic form makes possible.

Writing for Podcast

CRWR 302 2023 W Credits: 3

Exploration of and practice in writing for podcast.

SAMMARCO, PIETRO

Intermediate Writing for Children and Young Adults

CRWR 303 2023 W Credits: 3

The writing of work for children and young adults in various forms using a combination of workshopping and online modules. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

In this class, students briefly explore a variety of forms in children’s literature before delving more deeply into the creativity and adventure of middle-grade and young-adult novels. By refining an idea, developing that idea into an outline, and writing several major scenes, students will experience some of the thought processes involved in creating a novel. Along the way, they’ll practice two major components of the writing life: individual creative work and collaborative critique. This is a hybrid class, involving weekly online lectures as well as in-person seminars. Attendance at the seminars is required. Throughout the course, students will explore the ways children’s literature can spark young readers’ imaginations and change the ways they see the world.

Intermediate Writing of Creative Nonfiction

CRWR 305 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in the writing of creative non-fiction, covering four of the more basic forms of this genre: memoir, profile, commentary, and exposition. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

In its pursuit of truth, Creative Nonfiction has the capacity to help us connect with our wisest, most honest, most humane selves. In trying to say what is true, we are forced to become curious and attentive, to question our own assumptions and biases, and to create space to locate our own beliefs and sense of wonder.

Welcome to Intermediate Writing of Creative Nonfiction! This course builds on the concepts covered in Introduction to Creative Nonfiction (CRWR 205) with more emphasis on writing as a practice and process. We’ll talk about how to create a sustainable writing practice and how to think about ourselves as writers. We’ll confront some of the myths around the writing life and we’ll consider how, when approached with sincerity and rigor, one might discover something fundamentally redemptive in writing creative nonfiction. My hope is that you’ll come to think of writing as a practice, as a way of thinking, and as a powerful tool for making meaning of your experiences and the world around you.

Intermediate Writing for the Screen

CRWR 306 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of and practice in writing for the screen, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of screenwriting. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

KINCH, MARTIN

CRWR 306 (Intermediate Writing for the Screen) is a blended course combining online teaching and in-class workshop/seminars. Each week consists of online instruction, screenings and assignments, and seminar/workshops led by our Teaching Assistants. Our primary objective is to explore the processes, craft, and techniques of screenwriting and create original work for the screen. Online, students will find a variety of videos addressing specific writing challenges, (What makes a great film idea? …How do you create memorable characters?”) short lectures on aspects of technique, illustrative and inspiring film clips from the history of the movies, and other resources addressing theoretical and practical aspects of screenwriting

The workshop/seminar sessions are focused on the wider discussion of weekly online material, writing exercises, and the creation of original work. Film being a collaborative art, attention will also be given to ways in which we analyze and critique our peers’ work and creatively participate in workshop script development.

Intermediate Writing for the Stage

CRWR 307 2023 W Credits: 3

An exploration of practice in the writing of the one-act stage play, focusing on how a writer employs the technical elements of the craft of this genre. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

IRANI, ANOSH

This intermediate course focuses on the techniques of crafting stage plays and fiction podcasts.

You will engage in dramatic writing assignments focusing on, but not limited to, character, scene development, dialogue, and theatricality. You will also look specifically at techniques that will help you create a dramatic fiction podcast.

Instruction will be provided in person.  We will combine interactive lectures with in-class writing exercises and readings/viewings.

You will write a one-act play for the stage and a short dramatic fiction podcast.

Intermediate Writing for Graphic Forms

CRWR 308 2023 W Credits: 3

The writing of graphica (comics, manga and graphic novels), using a combination of workshopping and online modules. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

Picking up where 208 leaves off, students will be guided through the production process of creating comics, with the goal of creating a finished self-published graphic work by the end of the term. Through a combination of workshop, discussion, lecture and online content, we look at graphic storytelling, character design, world-building, panel composition, page layout, thumbnails, pencils, inking and digital design with a focus on refining student work and creating polished and professional finished products. The class meets weekly for in-person sessions with a focus on creating and building student work.

Intermediate Writing Fiction

CRWR 309 2023 W Credits: 3

TATER, MALLORY | OSWORTH, AUSTEN

In CRWR 309, students will work to sharpen their already unique writing voices and further develop a sustainable writing practice. This course will help students more consciously understand their creative choices and narrative approaches through engaging in fiction readings, writing exercises, collaborative learning and discussion.

Students in this class will focus on scaffolded assignments to deepen understanding of craft fundamentals such as characters, scenes, settings and voice. A variety of feedback modalities will be covered with an emphasis on giving and receiving feedback gracefully, and choosing what to focus on in revision.

This course will be taught by A.E. Osworth .

Video Game Writing and Narrative

CRWR 310 2023 W Credits: 3

Narrative design and writing for video games.

An exploration of narrative design and writing for video games. Manuscript submission not required for admission.

Intermediate Writing for Lyric Forms

CRWR 311 2023 W Credits: 3

Techniques of and practice in writing for lyric forms, including song lyrics, lyrical narratives, and libretti. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

HUSSAIN, TARIQ

In this course, students will examine aspects of lyrical craft such as the use of rhyme, repetition, point of view, structure, balance and other elements. We will explore personal songwriting, writing in a non-autobiographical style, protest songs, the comic lyric and more. Students will engage in readings and listenings (song samples, podcasts, etc.) and will have ample opportunities to flex their creative muscles through weekly writing exercises and longer songwriting assignments. Students should be prepared to submit audio recordings with their assignments which can be created using phones and/or recording programs like Audacity or GarageBand. Further guidance on recording software will be offered in class and proficiency on an instrument is not a prerequisite. This course will take place in real time and will consist of weekly face-to-face lectures which students are required to attend. Note that students are expected to submit new work only for this class. Once completed, students of all levels will have participated in a rigorous and regular writing practice and will have amassed a solid body of creative work—a portfolio!—that they can be proud of with work they can continue to revise and draw inspiration from well after the term ends.

Interactive Storytelling

CRWR 312 2023 W Credits: 3

Origin, theory and practice of interactive story forms. Exploring structural links between interactive theatre, gaming, and extended (virtual, mixed, and augmented) reality.

OSWORTH, AUSTEN

Colloquially called “Infinite Fiction,” this course engages with fiction as a verb rather than a noun or adjective. We will explore controversial or commonly held beliefs using radical collaborative storytelling to examine massive concepts from varying vantage points in worlds where the consequences are imaginary: by using tabletop role-playing games “read” against academic theory. Students will also create one piece of interactive fiction using Twine over the course of the semester.

Intermediate Writing for Television

CRWR 316 2023 W Credits: 3

Elements of episodic and serialized comedic and dramatic television writing with writing practice applied to primary formats and genres.

MCMAHON, MICHELE

This course is designed for students who are interested in exploring the art and craft of screenwriting for television.  Over the course of the term you will learn how to transform your half-hour television idea (comedy or drama) into a series pitch document, then a pilot script outline, and finally the first act of a pilot script.

We are experiencing a new Golden Age of television with hundreds of shows to watch across multiple platforms.  There are more diverse stories being created than ever before and it’s an exciting time to tell your story.  A television show is the culmination of a writer’s unique vision and it all begins with their script.  While we will cover a variety of formats and genres showcased in today’s exciting television landscape we will focus on the fundamentals of television writing: structure, plot, character development, dialogue and narrative arcs for an episode and an entire season.

We will explore comedic and dramatic television in a variety of ways.  We will screen and discuss television shows, read television scripts, and analyse the essentials in what makes a script great.  We will also read current online articles, specific readings from texts, listen to podcasts and experiment with in-class writing assignments.  As television is a collaborative business, students will engage with the instructor, teaching assistants and other students as much as possible.

Please note that while we will discuss and screen the first act of a few hour-long dramatic television series, the majority of the coursework and course content will focus on half-hour television. Half-hours are an excellent form in which to learn and apply fundamentals quickly and are a growing trend on cable and streaming platforms.

Writing Genre Fiction

CRWR 319 2023 W Credits: 3

Exploration and practice in writing major genres of genre fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, romance, crime, horror, and historical fiction.

HOPKINSON, NALO

The vast majority of fiction written and read in North America falls into the broad categories of popular or commercial fiction. This course will focus on introducing students to four major genres: fantasy; science fiction; historical fiction; and young adult (that last being more of an age category than a genre). To write successfully in any of these genres requires an understanding of the development and conventions of each of them, as well as an understanding of the implicit agreement between writer and reader that exists in genre fiction writing. Genre conventions serve, like the many forms of poetry, as both limitations to and spurs to creativity, as well as wayposts to the reader that signify (usually) what to expect. Students will read texts and related materials in each genre, and practice writing in at least two of the four.

Intermediate Comedic Forms

CRWR 330 2023 W Credits: 3

Contemporary and historical comedic writing in a variety of forms. Emphasis on critical analysis and creative writing of comedic works, and changes in the comedic landscape. Recommended: CRWR 200

In this course, we take the craft of comedy seriously through experimentation, discussion and the analysis of comedic media. We play with comedic writing to develop comedic voice, and explore storytelling through a variety of forms, from comedic fiction to non-fiction, to sketches and stand up. Students will work to use comedic tools, like escalation, repetition and tone, and play with comedic elements, like irony, incongruity and surprise, to create new works that spark laughter while they tell a story. As well, through comedic collaboration, and workshops that focus on constructive and informed feedback and discussion, students will be able to work on a variety of projects that will challenge their concept of comedic writing as an art form.

This course will be taught by Dina Del Bucchia .

Intermediate Poetry Workshop - INTRMD POETRY

CRWR 351P 2023 W Credits: 3

An intermediate level workshop class in writing poetry. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

In this class, I invite you to explore content that is meaningful to you in the form of a poetic cycle, series, suite, or sequence. Designed to foreground practices of attention and inquiry-based research, this class provides the time, encouragement, compassion, rigour, and flexibility necessary in order for you to feel both well supported and challenged in the process of poem-making. You’ll be required to attend class, engage with assigned readings, and participate in discussions, presentations, field trips, and workshops. Pre-writing and generative writing activities, as well as a self-directed research assignment, will lead to the composition of a unified collection of poems. My hope is that you will leave this class with a renewed sense of your own creative process, and a community of writerly support.

Intermediate Children and Young Adult Writing Workshop - INTRMD CHLDRN

CRWR 353Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An intermediate level workshop class in writing for children and young adults. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

POHL-WEARY, EMILY

This section of 353 focuses on middle-grade (MG) and young adult (YA) fiction, age categories that tend to be adventurous, playful, unpretentious, and reflect the critical issues of our time. We’ll explore the weird and wonderful world of writing for young readers, the changing industry, how the age of your readers impacts your writing style, and developing our writerly voices. We will put into practice the tools learned in CRWR 203 and 303, but focus more on workshopping and incorporating feedback. Major assignments include weekly feedback on other people’s writing, two pieces of new fiction (10 pages each, double-spaced, 12pt font), a short piece of experimental writing (5 pages, double-spaced, 12pt font), and a brief presentation on a contemporary MG or YA novel.

Intermediate Screenplay Workshop - INTRMD SCRNPLAY

CRWR 356Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An intermediate level workshop class in writing for the screen. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

Screenwriting is a craft. Creative Writing 356A (Intermediate Screenwriting) is a workshop on mastering the techniques of the craft and writing original short film scripts that you can produce. Our emphasis will be on the creation of character-driven stories that can be imaginatively told with an economy of production demands. We will also focus on visual storytelling, flexible structure, and effective dialogue. Over the course of the term, you will develop a short film screenplay, proceeding through the logline/pitch, to the outline, the first and revised drafts. At each stage, you will read and provide feedback to your fellow students’ work and participate in an in-class and online workshop discussion.

There will also be writing exercises accompanied by short talks exploring various aspects of craft.

Intermediate Fiction Workshop - INTRMD FICTION

CRWR 359P 2023 W Credits: 3

An intermediate level workshop class in writing of fiction. Manuscript submission is not required for admission.

TATER, MALLORY

The goal of CRWR 359 is to put into practice, through considered creative choices, the craft-based skills students learned in CRWR 209 and CRWR 309 (prerequisites). The discussions, exercises, collaborative learning activities and individual writing assignments in this course will help you bring greater intention to your writing process and to artfully engage in the act of revision.

CRWR 359Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Writing Poetry I - WRITING POETRY I

CRWR 401P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of poetry.

NICHOLSON, CECILY

Intimations of Place

This course will provide a hands-on approach to the study and practice of poetry as we explore ways to engage the individual poem as well as the collection of poetry in book form. Intervals of the course will be devoted to experiencing and discussing selected works related to intimations of place. Through works by Jordan Abel, Gwendolyn Brooks, Renee Gladman, Lee Maracle, Fred Wah, Rita Wong and more, we will consider site specificity, scenic narrative and setting, interrelations in ecology, geological time, and the construct of landscape, as well as the poem itself as a place that can enact geography, nation, refuge, and belonging. Students will develop a shared vocabulary as we deepen our understanding of poetic technique and expression and expand our awareness of imagery, figurative language, perspective, and positionality in poetry. Through regular prompt and exercise our reading practice will align with written assignments as we learn to experiment within a range of formal strategies.

CRWR 401Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Words Sound

This course will provide a hands-on approach to the study and practice of poetry as we explore ways to engage the individual poem as well as the collection of poetry in book form. In a discussion on the “poetics of renewal” Lillian Allen notes that “the poetic line glides, skips, is stubborn sometimes, it shouts, dances, whispers, and asserts itself as beings do in the world. We know that words are not just words as our voice is not just lines on paper.” Taking up the active and variable presence of words, we will consider elements of voice, cadence, metre, and a range of sound devices in poetry. Our readings will include works from Lillian Allen, Christie Lee Charles, e.e. cummings, Cathy Park Hong, Kaie Kellough and more. Students will develop a shared vocabulary as we deepen our understanding of poetic technique and expression and expand our awareness of diction, structure, and tone as it relates to poetry. Through regular prompt and exercise our reading practice will align with written assignments as we learn to experiment within a range of formal strategies.

Writing for New Media I - WRT NEW MEDIA 1

CRWR 402Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing for new media. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

MOSS, JENNIFER

Take your podcasting dreams to the next level with this hands-on and applied course focussing on the finer points of audio storytelling. Encompassing aspects of scripted, and non-scripted podcasting, narrative, fiction, documentary, and more, this course will help you lean into the audio medium to deliver work that is compelling and engaging. At the same time, you’ll get practical ideas for how to identify and grow your audience and promote your show.

Writing for Children and Young Adults I - CHILD & YOUNG I

CRWR 403P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for Children and Young Adults.

During this course, we’ll explore picture books, middle-grade novels, young-adult novels, and more. Students will participate in lively discussions about the craft and techniques of writing for children and young adults, with a particular emphasis on character and voice — elements necessary to catch the attention of the world’s most fickle reading audience. Workshop participants will give thoughtful feedback on work by fellow students, and will submit two original stories or novel excerpts as well as a final revision. Throughout, we’ll examine ways we can imbue our writing with fun, humour, and hope.

Writing Creative Nonfiction I - CREATIV NONFIC I

CRWR 405P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing creative nonfiction, focused on some of the more popular forms of creative nonfiction: autobiography, rhetoric (commentary), literary journalism, and the personal essay.

This semester we’ll immerse ourselves in the many techniques of Creative Nonfiction: everything from research and reporting to structure and style. In the first half of the term we will develop our craft through reading, discussion and frequent writing exercises. Then we’ll spend the second half of term sharing and polishing work in writer-centered workshops.

You can expect to finish the semester with a deeper understanding of the craft of creative nonfiction, a body of new work, a sharper skill set for revising your own writing, and a polished piece of short-form creative nonfiction.

CRWR 405Q 2023 W Credits: 3

MARZANO-LESNEVICH, ALEX

To Essay is to Try

This course provides an overview of one of the most elastic and exciting literary forms, the essay, often colloquially thought of as the working-through or trying out of an idea. We will read a wide range of both traditional and experimental essays, including those that are narrative, lyric, personal, fractured, and persuasive, and that use an array of subjects as their starting point. Together we will arrive at understandings of voice, tone, characterization, structure, and pacing. Students will have weekly ungraded writing assignments that will build to the workshopping of one short essay and one long.

Writing for the Screen I - WRT FOR SCREEN I

CRWR 406P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for the screen.

This advanced screenwriting workshop will support students as they transform their initial story idea into a pitch, then an outline and finally 25-30 pages of a feature-length screenplay (with the option of submitting two short films with the equivalent number of pages).

While this course will focus on workshopping your writing assignments, your creative process will be supported by in-class presentations on the craft of screenwriting including: structure, plot, character development, dialogue, scenes and visual language.  There will also be substantial resources online including: current industry articles, specific readings from texts, podcasts, video clips, as well as sample screenplays from many genres.

Grades will primarily be based on your written work (70%) comprised of your revised screenplay which will be submitted in a final student portfolio at the end of the term.  You will be expected to have made substantial rewrites to the creative submitted in earlier workshops. You will also be graded on your attendance and participation (30%). Your participation includes your verbal contribution in-class and written feedback after each workshop.  As you write your screenplay your thoughtful reflections on the scripts of other students will build your own screenwriting and story editing skills.  The goal of this workshop is to creatively engage with others and to ask questions with a compassionate inquiry that supports each writer’s vision.

CRWR 406Q 2023 W Credits: 3

MEDVED, MAUREEN | MCGOWAN, SHARON

Students in this advanced screenwriting workshop will write one or two short screenplays (depending on length and number of rewrites) or an outline for a feature-length film and a draft of the first act of that film. The goal is to help each student reach their full potential in their work.

We loosely follow an industry model, so all projects, whatever length, begin with a short pitch.  The class then workshops an outline for all scripts before moving to a draft, or more detailed outline in the case of a feature length screenplay.

In class we will review and discuss aspects of story, plot, dialogue, character, theme and many more elements of the screenplay form.  We will also discuss the process of connecting with the film industry and getting a screenplay produced.

We will workshop two pieces a week, sometimes three, if they are short.  There is a minimum page count of 30 pages for workshopping in the course that must be submitted by set deadlines. Rewrites will be counted as 1 page for 2 pages of re-written material but rewrites must be substantial to be counted (at least 50% of the material on the page must be reworked).

Students will be required to review and submit written notes by set deadlines on all pieces being workshopped as well as participate in discussions of the work during class time.

Grading will be based 70% on the screenwriting work students submit and 30% on their written notes and participation in discussions of other students’ work.

Writing of Drama for the Stage I - STAGE DRAMA I

CRWR 407P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing of drama for the stage. Studio work is required, and some plays may be given a live stage production in Brave New Play Rites (adjudication process involved).

KONCAN, FRANCES

CRWR 407Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Writing for Graphic Forms I - GRAPHIC FORMS 1

CRWR 408P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of graphic novel, manga, and other forms of illustrated writing. The ability to draw is not required.

LEAVITT, SARAH

What are comics and how do they work? How do you make a good comic? In this class we’ll examine the building blocks of comics (text and image combinations, panel and page composition, and more) and practice the skills needed to create clear, compelling, memorable comics. By the end of the term, you’ll be a more insightful comics reader and a more skillful comics maker. No drawing skills or experience required, but we will be drawing in this class, for both exercises and assignments. Please note: this course emphasizes readings, assignments and in-class exercises; there are only a few workshops.

Students at all levels of skill and experience have produced excellent comics in this class, and many have continued to make comics after completing the course. Others find that the skills learned in comics class help them with their work in other forms. Students who plan to write comics scripts for others to draw will gain insights into the writing process from the experience of drawing.

Writing Fiction I - WRITING FIC I

CRWR 409P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of fiction.

MAILLARD, KEITH | OSWORTH, AUSTEN | IRANI, ANOSH

The purpose of this workshop is to help students write excellent fiction. Many workshops move toward final draft too quickly and encourage feedback that is largely editorial. We, however, will explore the writing of fiction anywhere on a spectrum from the earliest exploratory stages to polished final drafts. Editorial feedback is not appropriate for story ideas in their earliest stages when they are often incoherent, vague, and fragile; students will be encouraged to resubmit these early drafts until they begin to cohere. As stories move closer to completion, higher degrees of editorial feedback become appropriate. Students should expect to submit written material at least three times during the term, and they will be required to bring one of their stories to polished final draft or close to it. The social environment in this workshop should be warm, friendly, supportive, and cooperative. Students who like courses with fixed and unvarying syllabi so that they will know exactly what they will be doing in any class throughout the term should seriously consider not taking this course. The syllabus is variable and will change in response to student needs and interests.

This class, colloquially called “The Airing of Grievances,” explores writing from a place of righteous anger and using fiction to explore, expand and resist everything from the minor inconvenience to the systemic injustice. Students will depart from standard ways of discussing craft to create their own craft rubric for the semester. Workshop components will all use a Radical Praise method.

This is a workshop in the writing of short fiction designed to help students develop as both writers and critical thinkers. Each week we will discuss students’ written work as well as the craft and techniques of literary fiction. In addition, assigned readings will be posted on Canvas.  This is required reading for class discussion. During the term, students will be expected to turn in a short story for workshop, plus a rewrite of the story.  Over the duration of the course, we will examine a wide range of story elements, including—but not limited to— character, dialogue, structure, plotting and so on.  The course will also guide students through the process of rewriting their work.  Overall, this workshop aims to give students the opportunity to express themselves creatively, hone their voice, and gain a deeper understanding of their own work.

CRWR 409Q 2023 W Credits: 3

MAILLARD, KEITH

Video Game Writing - VDEO GM WRT

CRWR 410Q 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class on writing for video games. Restricted to Creative Writing majors.

A workshop class in writing for video games and interactive fiction. Students will create short games using Twine or similar software; the ability to program is not required. In addition to the workshop, this course includes a reading list of indie games and a small in-class presentation.

Writing for Lyric Forms I - LYRIC FORMS 1

CRWR 411P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class exploring the words that accompany music in varied forms including pop, art, musical theatre, and opera.

In this class students will explore the craft of songwriting through a variety of methods from participating in creative exercises to personal practice. Students will be challenged to look deeply at the work of professionals through readings, close listenings, podcasts, and to go deep within their own work as well. Students will create, share and discuss their songs with the goal of helping each other create more effective writing through the workshopping process and will be encouraged to take risks while still holding true to their artistic vision. Audio recordings are expected for submissions along with lyric sheets however technical knowledge of recording software or proficiency on an instrument—though an asset—are not required. This course will take place in real time, face-to-face in a weekly two-hour session which students are required to attend. Participation and discussion as well as maintaining an environment of support and mutual respect is key to the success of this course as students will be participating in a genre that is more performative in nature than some others, and perhaps extra challenging if students haven’t tried it before. This should not be seen as a deterrent for anyone who’s new to songwriting, however, but rather as an invitation to try something fun, exciting, and challenging.

Workshop in Literary Translation I - WK LIT TRANS I

CRWR 415Q 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in literary translation. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

TATE, BRONWEN

In this workshop course, we’ll explore the many artistic choices involved in literary translation—involving sound, syntax, temporality, idiom, metaphor, literary context, social register, and so on—and consider what’s at stake in each. Guided by student interest and experience, we’ll explore translation challenges presented by particular linguistic and cultural contexts and specific genres. We’ll also discuss ethical questions raised by English as a language of empire that has become a global language, examine literary forms and movements that have traveled through translation, investigate the capacity and limits of machine translation, and consider our relationships to languages we use, languages we’ve learned, and heritage languages we may have lost. Students will translate and co-translate, experiment and play, research translation networks, and identify their principles and values as translators.

Prerequisite: Proficiency in a language other than English. (Proficiency here is understood as the ability to engage with the specific texture and structure of a language, not “mastery” or “fluency.”)

Note for MFA Students: While this course is taught at the undergraduate level, graduate students are reminded that they may enroll in six credits of undergraduate coursework with permission from the instructor and the graduate chair.

Writing for Television I - WRT TELEVISION 1

CRWR 416P 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for television.

SVENDSEN, LINDA

The purpose of the workshop is to create your own original half-hour TV series concept and pilot script, via three modules with peer and instructor reviewed assignments: TV series concept, pilot beat sheet (brief outline), and draft pilot script.  Concurrently, your peer review reflections and contributions in the writers’ room group/s build your TV writing and editing prowess. Essentially, while you create and write a brand-new TV series, you also act and serve as story editor on other series. While the class is not prescriptive, per se, the mission of a writer’s room is to creatively and speculatively engage, to bring your years of TV-series chops to the table, to brainstorm, to ask “what if?” while always supporting the creator/writer’s vision.

The course is front-loaded with dramaturgical grids and rubrics for each assignment, readings on structure and the industry, as well as sample pilot scripts as available. The course concludes with excerpted pilot table reads with a peer cast.

Participation:  critically thoughtful and constructive written feedback prior to the workshop discussion, collaboration with an in-class TV partner or group, as well as attendance contribute considerably to the grading component.

CRWR 416Q 2023 W Credits: 3

The course is front-loaded with dramaturgical grids and rubrics for each assignment, readings on structure and the industry, as well as sample pilot scripts as available. The course concludes with excerpted pilot table reads by a peer cast.

Participation:  thoughtful written feedback prior to the workshop discussion, collaboration with an in-class TV partner or group, as well as attendance contribute considerably to the grading component.

Writing Speculative Fiction - WRT SPEC FIC

CRWR 419Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Workshop-based class focused on writing speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, and horror; emphasis on reading various genres and peer feedback. Restricted to Creative Writing majors.

Indigenous Writing - INDIGENOUS WRTNG

CRWR 420P 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced study of contemporary Indigenous writing in North America across genres focusing on the production of critical and creative writing about coloniality, race, history, and identity.

This course is an investigation of trends and debates in contemporary Indigenous writing in Canada and the United States. We will study the ways Indigenous writers approach subjects such as history, colonialism, trauma, politics, identity, ethics, representation, and power; students will explore these subjects and reflect on how they relate to their own writing practices through a range of critical and creative modes and across genres.

Experimental Forms - EXPRMTL FORMS

CRWR 423S 2024 S Credits: 3

Interdisciplinary perspectives on non-traditional forms of writing. Emphasis on combinations of poetry with prose, extra-literary structures, and visuals. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Climate Writing - CLIMATE WRITING

CRWR 425Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Workshop-based class focused on writing related to climate change and environmental issues; emphasis on reading various genres and peer feedback. Restricted to Creative Writing majors. A maximum of 6 credits is permitted between CRWR 425 and 525.

OHLIN, ALIX

Stories about climate surround us, personal and global, near and far. From wildfires and mudslides in BC to climate-based migration and displacement, the reality of anthropogenic climate change is everywhere. This is a workshop class focused on creative writing about this encompassing reality. As we engage in our creative practice, we will ask: what stories do people tell about climate, and what are the stakes of those stories? What does it mean to write about, from, and of the places we live? How can artistic expression, narrative, and language itself render the complex realities of climate change—and explore the possibilities for justice, resilience, and alternative futures?

Throughout the course, we will develop our understanding of climate through reading, discussion and writing exercises. We’ll also spend a significant amount of class time sharing, discussing, and revising our own creative work. Students will be expected to read, respond, and engage in examples of writing in a range of genres (poetry, nonfiction, fiction), culminating in a final portfolio and reflective essay, and to provide thoughtful, constructive responses to the work of their peers in the class.

Preparation for a Career in Writing

CRWR 430 2023 W Credits: 3

Credit will be granted for only one of CRWR 430 or CRWR 530.

Writing is a career as well as a calling, and this course bridges the gap between the two. We’ll delve into traditional and self-publishing models, pitches and queries, collaboration with editors and agents, contracts, grants, marketing, interview techniques, and more. Throughout, we’ll hear from guests who are working in the industry, we’ll prepare our own professional materials, and we’ll build a supportive community of collaborators and mentors. This course offers practical know-how for entrepreneurship, and you’ll leave understanding more about how to sustain your own unique creative practice… while still paying your rent.

Advanced Comedic Forms

CRWR 431 2023 W Credits: 3

A workshop class exploring comedic writing in varied forms including film and television, prose and poetry, non-fiction, and new media. This course is restricted to students in the CRWR BFA program.

In this course students will learn the fundamentals of comedic forms as well as comedic tools that can be used by writers to make their work, regardless of genre, engaging, clear and hilarious. Through lectures on craft, discussions and close readings and viewings of comedic works students will be able to experiment and explore what comedy is, and the serious mechanics of humour writing at work. By the end of this course students will be able to analyze, using the language of comedy, why a work is funny, and identify the tools successfully used to create compelling comedy. The focus will be on generating comedic work, thinking deeply about comedy as an art form and practice, and creative inquiry through analysis and discussion. There will be an emphasis on asking questions about our own work, why comedy is the right choice for a piece of writing, and how to delve deep into a project designed to produce laughter.

Interdisciplinary Projects - INTRDIS PROJECTS

CRWR 440O 2023 S Credits: 3

Group projects and workshops with students majoring in other creative arts.

CRWR 440R 2024 S Credits: 3

Writing Poetry II - WRITING POETRY 2

CRWR 451P 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing poetry. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

This course focuses on modes of poetic inquiry: ways of sustaining poetic work across projects and a life in the context of a broader socio-political world. We will study how poets (1) carry out process-based, situational, and durational works and (2) account for their poetic labor through both poems and other forms of writing. By the term’s end, students will have produced a substantial amount of poems toward a larger project.

Writing for Children and Young Adults II - CHILD & YOUNG 2

CRWR 453P 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing for children and young adults. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Writing the Young Adult (YA) Novel is a new course that builds on skills learned in 403 (Writing for Children and YA) and 409 (Fiction). We will develop the tools essential for completing longer manuscripts while foregrounding the teen audience’s reading levels and life experiences. The class will involve workshops, reading discussions, and hands-on exercises aimed at outlining, plotting, pacing, character development, setting realization, deeper themes, and dramatic tension. Major assignments include preparing regular feedback on other people’s writing, discussing readings and craft topics, a midterm portfolio and a final portfolio.

CRWR 453Q 2023 W Credits: 3

SCOTT, JORDAN

A workshop class that discusses theoretical underpinnings of picture books and early chapter books and incorporates generative exercises based on elements of craft. Emphasis is placed on editing, critical reading, manuscript development, and tons of fun. Students will workshop two picture book and / or early chapter book manuscripts and are expected to provide rigorous and supportive feedback.

Writing of Drama for the Stage II - DRAM FOR STAGE 2

CRWR 457P 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing drama for the stage. Studio work is required. Assumes a greater level of experience in writing drama for the stage than CRWR 407.

CRWR 457Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Writing for Graphic Forms II - WRIT GRAPHIC 2

CRWR 458Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing for graphic forms. The ability to draw is not required. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Students in CRWR 458 will use their strong foundational skills in comics as a launch pad for a glorious flight into experimentation. Exercises and assignments will offer opportunities to explore a wide range of approaches to comics-making, including poetic, abstract and wordless comics. Students will also dive deep into their creative process, discovering and developing their own taste and style, as well as a way of working that’s productive and sustainable. This course will require consistent independent work in between classes, with weekly homework including readings and exercises. Please note: the emphasis is on readings, assignments and in-class exercises; there are only a few workshops.

Writing Fiction II - WRIT FICTION 2

CRWR 459Q 2023 W Credits: 3

An advanced workshop class in writing fiction. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

ARMSTRONG, THEODORA

This advanced 3-credit fiction class will meet in person once a week to explore the novel/novella form. Expanding on the fundamental story-telling skills developed in 409, this class will give students the opportunity to work for an entire term on their own large-scale fiction project. Students will learn how to create solid groundwork for a book-length work by developing their skills in outlining, research, and worldbuilding. Through craft discussions and exercises, we will examine key elements of the novel, such as writing a captivating first chapter, establishing and escalating conflict, and layering image patterns and motifs, as well as deepening skills in crafting a narrative voice and creating compelling characters. Students will share several chapters from their book-in-progress with the opportunity to workshop in full class or small group sessions, as well as one-on-one with the instructor. Students taking this course should be motivated, self-directed writers with some vision of their project in mind before they begin the term. Bring your big story ideas and come to this class ready to explore, create, and collaborate with generosity.

Advanced Writing of Poetry I - ADV POETRY I

CRWR 501O 2023 S Credits: 3

MUSGRAVE, SUSAN | TATER, MALLORY

CRWR 501P 2023 W Credits: 3

TATE, BRONWEN | MUSGRAVE, SUSAN | WARRENER, SHERYDA

Don’t Write Alone: Crafting Poetry in Conversation

This course offers a deep exploration of what it means to approach writing as always after, in conversation, in relation. We’ll begin by reflecting on the many sources of influence and inspiration—chosen and imposed, joyful and fraught—that we bring to the shared space of the class. Each student will then choose a poet and a poetic element for a sustained apprenticeship experience. Over the weeks of the term, students will invite others into their process by designing an introduction, writing prompt, and questions for conversation emerging out of their apprenticeship. We will write a lot, read new work out loud, discuss process and practice, and occasionally pause for group critique. Throughout the course, we’ll explore the possibilities of new technologies (like the wiki) and old technologies (like the commonplace book) for organizing information, distilling insight, and sparking inspiration as we read and write together.

My aim is to help those who have grown up in fear and/or love of poetry attain a new perspective: "What they say "there are no words for" — that's what poetry is for.” Through a combination of workshopping, online craft lectures, writing exercises, and essays for discussion we will examine techniques and approaches to some central elements of the poet’s craft—the music of the line; rhyme and repetition; abstractions (for and against); voice or presence; imagery, metaphor and simile, the stanza, the title, revision, and, of course, getting published.

“Poetry is all that is worth remembering in life.” - William Hazlitt

In this course, you will experiment with assembling longer poems from a series or sequence of smaller parts. Together, we’ll ask: How do individual poems speak to one another across a collection? Where might longer poems come from, and what capacities and resources make them possible? This inquiry will begin as an exploration of your own collections (facts, objects, memories), accompanied by close readings of contemporary poets working in sequential modes. We will re-imagine the workshop as an atelier, where writing emerges from rigorous experimentation and through the process of artistic inquiry. You’ll be required to attend class, engage with assigned readings, and participate in discussions, self-directed field trips, presentations, and workshops. The pre-writing and generative writing activities, as well as your individual creative research, will lead naturally to a cycle, series, suite, or sequence of poems unified by subject, mode, and form.

CRWR 501Q 2023 W Credits: 3

NICHOLSON, CECILY | MUSGRAVE, SUSAN

This course centres on revision as an integral aspect of the writing process. Students engaged in a poetry practice are invited to advance current work in the company of other poets, coalescing existing poems and opening the work to further contemplation. What constitutes a body of work? What elements or methods generate cohesion in your poems? What do you look for when editing poetry? And, how do you know a work-in-progress is complete? Students can expect to collaborate and dialogue as we explore multiple writing and revision techniques, drawing on new possibilities and forming fresh iterations of previous work. Alongside our written practice we will read and compare successive poetry projects from writers such as Larissa Lai, Tanya Lukin Linklater, Chris Nealon, and M. NourbeSe Philip. Following a process of revision, research, and rewriting, our final project will be a chapbook-length collection formed from a suite, series, or lengthening of previously written poems.

POETIC FORMS for the innocent, the eager, and the reluctant.

There is so much more to form than the traditional rhyming couplet, which seems to be heavily featured by budding poets who haven’t read contemporary poetry. In this course, we will look at diverse poetic forms from around the world, from the Abecedarian and ae freislighe (Irish form) to the Zejel, a form invented by a ninth century Hispano-Muslim poet, as well as the more established poetic forms (like sestinas and ghazals) and newer invented forms such as the Duplex, Golden Shovels and Blitz and Fibs.

A confession: poetic forms have long intimidated me. But learning about them, as I have allowed myself to do over the years, has, I admit, opened my   mind to the infinite possibilities. By the end of this course I hope you will feel more confident of your craft, more flexible and alert to formal choices and (among other things) to the powers of repetition and variation, to the frictions and complicities of sentence and line.

CRWR 501S 2024 S Credits: 3

MUSGRAVE, SUSAN

Advanced Writing for New Media I - ADVWR NEWMEDIA I

CRWR 502S 2024 S Credits: 3

Advanced Writing for Children I - ADV WRIT CHILD I

CRWR 503P 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced writing for Children and Young Adults, with an emphasis on picture books and early chapter books. The course focuses on genre-specific and critical readings as well as weekly writing exercises. Students are expected to complete two picture book manuscripts and one early chapter book. Peer feedback and revision are core principles of this course. Emphasis on narrative, poetry, sound, visual language, and the thrill of being a kid again.  

Advanced Writing for Children and Young Adults, with an emphasis on picture books and early chapter books. The course focuses on genre-specific and critical readings as well as weekly writing exercises. Students are expected to complete two picture book manuscripts and one early chapter book. Peer feedback and revision are core principles of this course. Emphasis on narrative, poetry, sound, visual language, and the thrill of being a kid again.  

CRWR 503Q 2023 W Credits: 3

KYI, TANYA | SCOTT, JORDAN

Prepare to embrace curiosity and wonder. This course is an interactive journey through the world of children’s literature, from picture books to young adult novels. We’ll explore narrative devices, character development, and wordplay through weekly activities and in-depth assignments. Workshop participants will give thoughtful feedback on writing by fellow students, and will submit a work or excerpt for young children as well as one for tweens or teens, along with a final revision. Students will leave the class with a broad understanding of the purpose and possibilities of contemporary writing for children.

An advanced workshop class in writing for children. This course relies on multiple manuscript submissions with a focus on editing and revision. As our schedule will focus on group critique, this course will be most useful for students who already have a general understanding of the genre conventions and craft vocabulary of picture books and early chapter books. Students are permitted to bring in material they have already started.

CRWR 503S 2024 S Credits: 3

Advanced Writing of Creative Non-Fiction I - ADV CRTV N-FIC I

CRWR 505O 2023 S Credits: 3

TAYLOR, TIMOTHY

CRWR 505P 2023 W Credits: 3

MARZANO-LESNEVICH, ALEX | CATRON, MANDY

The Fractured, the Lyric, the Imaginary

This course examines the relationship between form and content in contemporary creative nonfiction. What possibilities might transcending genre conventions via formal experimentation, rupture, or imagined scenes offer for creating work that is, counterintuitively, more deeply true or nonfictional? We’ll consider a wide range of essays and excerpts from longer work and together derive principles of productive rupture. Students will have weekly ungraded writing assignments that will build to the workshopping of one short work and one long. These may be stand-alone pieces or excerpts from an ongoing larger project.

In this course, we will focus on Creative Nonfiction as a practice for looking more deeply at ourselves and more widely at the world around us. In our pursuit of the truth, we get to ask big questions. And, in attempting to answer them, we are forced to become more curious and attentive, to examine our own assumptions and biases, and to create space to imagine new ways of being in the world.

This semester, we'll spend the first half of the term on a series of CNF writing experiments--in memory, research, immersion, and reflection--imagining each as a mode of inquiry into self and the world. In the second half of the term, we'll turn our experiments into essays, sharing our work in structured peer workshops.

This course will be offered on Canvas in a fully asynchronous format. It welcomes those who are new to creative nonfiction as well as experienced CNF writers.

CRWR 505Q 2023 W Credits: 3

CATRON, MANDY | MARZANO-LESNEVICH, ALEX

Memoir Beyond the ‘Me’

This course considers the contemporary memoir and personal essay as sites of storytelling. How is the story of a person always also the story of a place, a time, and sociopolitical forces beyond the individual? We will read a wide variety of published work, with an eye to examining how writers evoked effects simultaneously intimate and large. Students should expect to turn in ungraded assignments weekly and to write one shorter work and one long. These may be stand-alone pieces or excerpts from an ongoing larger project.

Advanced Writing of Drama for Screen I - ADV DRAM SCRN I

CRWR 506O 2023 S Credits: 3

GRAEFE, SARA

CRWR 506P 2023 W Credits: 3

HOPKINS, ALLAN

Instructor: Zac Hug

Every movie you have ever loved started as a feeling inside someone’s heart, and the expression of that feeling involves a good deal of emotional work. Movies also involve a good deal of what’s called “story math.” In this online graduate workshop, we blend the former with the latter. With a focus on beginning, middle, and end, we’ll take a look at finding an idea that can sustain a feature length story, and break down the mechanics of three act, five act, and nine act structure ( psst , they’re all similar). We’ll talk about how early humans used story to create fire, we’ll watch a few movies, and we’ll write an entire film treatment. We’ll then move on to the key scenes of a feature-length film project (90-120 minutes) and prepare each other to finish the script. More importantly, we’ll ask some questions about your voice as a writer and use it to how to create a visual story on the page. We’ll figure out how to do all of that without relying on flashbacks. Original stories, please. (No adaptations, as that goes beyond the scope of the course.)

CRWR 506Q 2023 W Credits: 3

MEDVED, MAUREEN | GRAEFE, SARA

In this advanced, online screenwriting workshop, we focus specifically on writing for film. We will explore techniques for creating, developing and writing a long-form screenplay (a.k.a. feature film, 90-120 minutes), from initial pitch to treatment to early pages of script. Original stories only please; no adaptations, as this goes beyond the scope of the course. We will also screen movies and examine screenwriting structure, formatting, craft and business skills.

Filmmaking is a collaborative art involving other creatives, where the script serves as the blueprint for the finished film. In this course, you will be exploring and uncovering your own unique voice and sensibility as a screenwriter while also learning about North American film industry rules and conventions. You will complete this course with a sense of where your work fits in the marketplace, and with a set of professional skills to help you survive and thrive as a writer in this collaborative industry.

CRWR 506S 2024 S Credits: 3

Advanced Writing of Drama for the Stage I - ADV DRMA STG I

CRWR 507P 2023 W Credits: 3

CRWR 507Q 2023 W Credits: 3

KONCAN, FRANCES | ROY, ANUSREE

Advanced Writing for Graphic Forms I - ADV GRAPHC FRM I

CRWR 508P 2023 W Credits: 3

Note : This is an Opt Res course, but it is open to on-campus students as well, as it is the only offering of 508. All Opt Res courses run online asynchronously over a 27-hour period.

Advanced Writing of Fiction I - ADV WRT FICTN I

CRWR 509N 2023 S Credits: 3

LYON, ANNABEL

CRWR 509O 2023 S Credits: 3

CRWR 509P 2023 W Credits: 3

MAILLARD, KEITH | RAMADAN, AHMAD | MEDVED, MAUREEN | OHLIN, ALIX

For each class I will send students a Zoom link.

The purpose of this workshop is to help students write excellent fiction. Many workshops move toward final draft too quickly and encourage feedback that is largely editorial. We, however, will explore the writing of fiction anywhere on a spectrum from the earliest exploratory stages to polished final drafts. Editorial feedback is not appropriate for story ideas in their earliest stages when they are often incoherent, vague, and fragile; students will be encouraged to resubmit these early drafts until they begin to cohere. As stories move closer to completion, higher degrees of editorial feedback become appropriate. Students should expect to submit written material at least three times during the term, and they will be required to bring one of their stories to polished final draft or close to it. The social environment in this workshop should be warm, friendly, supportive, and cooperative. Students who like courses with fixed and unvarying syllabi so that they will know exactly what they will be doing in any class throughout the term should seriously consider not taking this course. The syllabus is variable and will change in response to students needs and interests.

Times Before / Times to Come

This course will examine fiction set in times other than our own. For the first half of the semester, we’ll focus on historical fiction; for the second half of the semester, we’ll focus on writing the future. This will not be a traditional workshop. Instead, we’ll focus on close reading, craft analysis, generative prompts, and in-class assignments. By the end of term, you will have written first drafts of two short stories, one in each of these two modes (past and future), and you’ll also provide a substantive revision of one of these two drafts.

Some of the craft topics we’ll address include approaches to incorporating research, ethical considerations, voice, and how fictions from both times before and times to come essentially speak to our present.

Readings will include short stories by Andrea Barrett, P. Djèlí Clark, Ted Chiang, and jaye simpson.

Dream, make, destroy, discuss, and learn the magic of fiction writing.

This is a workshop for graduate writers of any combination of short and long fiction - short stories, micro or flash fiction, poetry/fiction/other hybrid, or chapters from a novel or novella.

The course will be mainly asynchronous with a weekly 27-hour workshop on Canvas. The rest of the week, you will produce your own fiction, read the scheduled writing of your cohort, and actively work through the weekly craft threads. We will explore fiction techniques as well as approaches to narrative and the process of writing (including revision) and examine subjects such as appropriation and literary citizenship. Excellent works of fiction and craft essays will be our texts, and we will discuss these in the context of our work in class. You will be asked to write your own tiny craft essay during this course and share it with your cohort. Students may be invited to attend Zoom sessions both in a group and one-on-one.

You are welcome to explore any form of fiction with the exception of formula or genre writing – romance, science fiction, crime, mystery – unless you spin the genre and make it new. The goal is to understand how to identify the strengths and challenges of your own work, so that you can return to your writing again and again with skill and confidence.

Repeat customers are welcome.

In this class, we’ll come together as a community to read, write, explore, dream, and play with short stories. The class will include substantial conversations about craft and assigned readings—both fiction and essays about writing. Among the many things we’re likely to discuss are: structure, point of view, techniques to develop and deepen characterization; the establishment and maintenance of narrative and stylistic urgency; the engines of form and language; and how meaning can be made from images and other tools. The first half of the semester will be focused on generating new work, experimenting, establishing a shared craft vocabulary, and building trust. The second half of the semester will move into workshop discussions of a complete short story draft. The semester’s work will culminate in a final portfolio and reflective essay. Overall, this workshop aims to push students to take risks with their work, to hone their ambitions, and to develop a sophisticated understanding of the myriad possibilities of fiction.

CRWR 509Q 2023 W Credits: 3

OSWORTH, AUSTEN | MAILLARD, KEITH | OHLIN, ALIX

This graduate-level class will focus on weekly writing that adds up to a larger work and is perfect for those writing in longer forms (novellas or novels). This process-oriented course emphasizes self-analysis, experiments in both form and generation techniques, and integration of feedback into revision. All workshop components will use a Radical Praise model.

Note: this course will be taught ONLINE by Keith Maillard.

CRWR 509S 2024 S Credits: 3

Advanced Writing for Lyric Forms I - ADV LYRIC FORM I

CRWR 511Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced Writing for Television I - ADV WRIT TV I

CRWR 514P 2023 W Credits: 3

The purpose of the workshop is to create your own original one-hour TV series concept and pilot script, via three modules with peer and instructor reviewed assignments: series concept, pilot beat sheet (brief outline), and draft pilot script. Concurrently, your peer review reflections and contributions in the writers’ room group/s will build your TV writing and story editing skills. Essentially, while you create and write a brand-new TV series, you also act and serve as story editor on other series. While the class is not prescriptive, per se, the mission of a writer’s room is to creatively and speculatively engage, to bring your years of TV-series chops to the table, to brainstorm, to ask “what if?” while always supporting the creator/writer’s vision.

The course is front-loaded with dramaturgical grids, rubrics for each assignment, readings on structure and the industry, as well as sample pilot scripts. The course concludes with excerpted pilot table reads by a peer cast.

Participation: critically thoughtful and constructive written feedback prior to the workshop discussion, collaboration with an in-class TV partner and/or small group, as well as your attendance contribute considerably to the grading component.

This advanced workshop takes a strong look at creating serialized television: from idea to development to outline to draft. Using a combination of lecture, workshop, television writer’s room methodology, and quite a bit of writing time - students will create the world of their TV shows on three levels: series, season, and finally, a pilot that students will generate over the fall and winter terms. Term One will focus on the development and outline stage of television writing, while Term Two will focus on a first draft of a pilot episode and a hybrid pitch/bible document. Students will also screen various television shows and scenes that illustrate character development, projecting future story, tying theme to a plot, and the ins and outs of a solid act out.   Please note that this course will be taught in Canvas.

This course will be taught by Zac Hug .

CRWR 514Q 2023 W Credits: 3

The purpose of the workshop is to create your own original half-hour TV series concept and pilot script, via three modules with peer and instructor reviewed assignments: series concept, pilot beat sheet (brief outline), and draft pilot script. Concurrently, your peer review reflections and contributions in the writers’ room group/s will build your TV writing and story editing skills. Essentially, while you create and write a brand-new TV series, you also act and serve as story editor on other series. While the class is not prescriptive, per se, the mission of a writer’s room is to creatively and speculatively engage, to bring your years of TV-series chops to the table, to brainstorm, to ask “what if?” while always supporting the creator/writer’s vision.

The course is front-loaded with dramaturgical grids, rubrics for each assignment, readings on structure and the industry, as well as sample half-hour pilot scripts. The course concludes with excerpted pilot table reads by a peer cast.

CRWR 519Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced writing of speculative fiction, including fantasy, science fiction, magical realism, horror, folk tales, and weird stories. Emphasis on reading examples from the subgenres and peer feedback.

CRWR 521P 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced study of contemporary Indigenous writing in North America across genres focusing on the production of critical and creative writing about coloniality, race, history, and identity. A maximum of 6 credits is permitted from CRWR 420, CRWR 521.

This course is an investigation of trends and debates in contemporary Indigenous writing in Canada and the United States. We will study the ways Indigenous writers approach subjects such as history, colonialism, trauma, politics, identity, ethics, representation, and power; students will explore these subjects and reflect on how they relate to their own writing practices through a range of critical and creative modes and across genres.

Thinking and Writing Through Art - THNK WRTE ART

CRWR 523R 2024 S Credits: 3

Interdisciplinary perspectives on non-traditional forms of writing. Emphasis on poets working at the intersection of writing and art practices and rigorous experimentation in hybrid works.

CRWR 525P 2023 W Credits: 3

Advanced workshop-based class focused on writing related to climate change and environmental issues; emphasis on reading various genres and peer feedback. Restricted to graduate students in the MFA Program in Creative Writing. A maximum of 6 credits is permitted between CRWR 425 and 525.

We’ll consider these questions through reading, discussion, and creative work. Students will produce climate-focused writing in several genres (poetry, nonfiction, fiction), culminating in a final portfolio and reflective essay. Students will be expected to read and write widely; to conduct research into climate issues and create artistic work related to that research; and to provide thoughtful, constructive responses to the work of their peers in the class.

CRWR 530 2023 W Credits: 3

KYI, TANYA | TATER, MALLORY

As writers, our creativity isn’t limited to the page. It takes that same creativity and resilience to grow a sustainable writing career. CRWR 530 will teach students the basics of book publishing, marketing, and promotion and prepare students. Students will learn how to pitch their work to literary publications as well as to develop a professional writing practice outside of class deadlines. The course will contain lectures and support on grant applications, publications and will feature online discussions through Canvas with an emphasis on the importance of community and self-care. As students complete each assignment, they will hone the skills necessary to handle the business side of their writing career.

Teaching Creative Writing - TEACH CR WRIT

CRWR 550Q 2023 W Credits: 3

In this hands-on course, students will design, try out, and reflect on assignments and lesson plans for a prospective creative writing class. Drawing on perspectives from writers, teachers, and education scholars including Mathew Salesses, Liz Lerman, Paisley Rekdal, Carol Dweck, Felicia Rose Chavez, and James Lang, we’ll think together about how to teach each part of the writing process. We will explore strategies for inclusive teaching and weigh the benefits of various workshop structures, and as well digging into thorny issues like how to handle challenging classroom dynamics and how to grade creative work.

Throughout the course, we’ll keep the student experience at the heart of our inquiry, and consider how our teaching goals and methods might vary depending on different formats (small workshop or large lecture, in-person or online) and contexts (university, public library, private workshop, prison, or community center). Students will support one another in developing a teaching persona and practice informed by scholarship on teaching and learning and enriched by individual experiences, strengths, and commitments. The course will be held asynchronously via Canvas with a few optional synchronous small-group sessions and will be assessed on a Credit/No Credit basis.

This course is open to on-campus and optional-residency students; 6 spaces have been reserved for each program for the initial enrolment window, after which slots can be allocated to students in either stream upon request. This course is not open to first-year MFA students in order to prioritize those closer to the end of their degree.

Advanced Writing for Graphic Forms II - ADV GRAPHC FRMII

CRWR 558Q 2023 W Credits: 3

Over the course of the term, students will develop a solid foundation for a book-length project, including a proposal, outline, script, thumbnail sketches and finished chapters. In addition to creating these items, students will develop collaborative and supportive working relationships within the class, meet and interview professional cartoonists, and closely study and analyze book-length comics. Students will also build skills for sustaining, developing and refining their creative practice in the long term. Please note: While this course offers many opportunities to connect and engage with fellow students, the emphasis is on readings, exercises, and assignments that support your independent progress on your project. There are only a few workshops.

Notes : This is an on-campus course, but is open to opt-res students as well, as it is the only offering of 558. The class will be delivered synchronously online for two hours each week.

Prerequisite: CRWR 508 or permission of instructor

Advanced Special Projects in Creative Writing - ADV PROJCTS CRWR

CRWR 570N 2023 S Credits: 3

CRWR 570Q 2023 W Credits: 3

This is a grad level CNF workshop with a twist: it’s for CRWR MFA’s as well as physics students from UBC’s Quantum Matter Institute. We’re going to be working on the skills to produce popular, persuasive science writing, such as might appear in Scientific American, National Geographic, Discovery, Nature, or any one of many similar publications. There is a big market for this kind of writing. And as with students in my regular 505 CNF course, I would anticipate publication opportunities for many of you.

What will these articles be about?

Quantum stuff! It’s a wild and crazy field, let me tell you. And one of the most exciting aspects of this course is that YOU will have access to researchers at QMI. I’ve been working with QMI for about a year on another project. And I’ve spoken with researchers doing a range of mind boggling things, like developing quantum computers that use photons as bits, manufacturing super-strong materials only a single atom thick, and working with some of the most out-of-this-world equipment you can imagine, like microscopes that map the surface of individual atoms, and refrigerators that can cool things down to less than 10 microKelvin. That’s a few hundredths of a degree above Absolute Zero folks. And that is, well, VERY COOL. Pick an area of research that fascinates you. Interview some people and think about why this research might just possibly change the entire WORLD. There’s your article.

Why should I consider this course?

 In addition to the cool factor, consider that we’ve never needed persuasive and truthful writing about science more than we do today. There’s a lot of skepticism out there, much of it the product of ignorance, prejudice, and political manipulation. Writers can contribute to positive change by writing persuasively about science. Researchers can contribute similarly by being able to talk persuasively about their work.

Directed Reading - DIRECTED READING

CRWR 590A 2023 W Credits: 3

CRWR 599 2023 W Credits: 6

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26 Universities in Canada offering Creative Writing degrees and courses

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University of Guelph

THE World Ranking: 401

Langara College

University of new brunswick.

THE World Ranking: 601

OCAD University

University of Windsor

THE World Ranking: 501

Western University (Ontario)

THE World Ranking: 201

York University

THE World Ranking: 351

Capilano University

Trent University

Memorial University of Newfoundland

University of Regina

THE World Ranking: 801

University of Victoria

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The Best Creative Writing Courses in Canada

This article provides detailed information about the best creative writing courses in Canada.

As the name suggests, creative writing expresses your thoughts, emotions, feelings, and ideas in an imaginative, innovative, and creative way. It goes beyond the limits of typical literary genres where the reader is left with only facts and information.

Due to its unique educational system, Canada is one of the most popular destinations for students looking to study abroad.

Creative writing courses in Canada have been in existence for a long time. More recently, there has been an increase in the popularity of creative writing among people, especially, young ones.

To know more about creative writing courses in Canada keep on reading this article!

Creative Writing Courses in Canada - Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for enrolling in creative writing courses in Canada vary by course, university, education level, etc., but one of the essential requirements is your portfolio.

To cement their reputation as worthy writer, students are encouraged to create a sample portfolio of their best work.

Other than your portfolio, to be eligible for admission, you must possess the following:

• A bachelor’s degree, diploma(high school), or advanced diploma in English or other relevant fields.
• Students have to submit scores of English Language Proficiency tests like- IELTS (minimum score of 6.5-7.5), and TOEFL (minimum score of 90)
• Students may be required to submit a writing piece along with a personal essay, statement of purpose, and recommendation letters.

Top 9 Creative Writing Courses in Canada:

• Bachelor of Arts in English literature – Creative Writing
• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
• Bachelor of Arts in Writing
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program
• Master of Art with Creative Writing, Literature, and Language 
• Masters of Art in Creative Writing and English
• Ontario Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy
• Master of Fine Arts in Writing
• Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing 

About top 5 Courses in Canada for Creative Writing:

Bachelor of arts in creative writing (major), by concordia university in  montreal, quebec, canada:.

As a creative writing student, you will develop your craft with the assistance of published authors and other students, learning how to approach literature from the viewpoint of a writer.

its faculty members are active researchers who contribute to the field. Among the other available creative writing programs in Canada, picking this one to enroll in might be the best move.

Duration: 4 years

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing by the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Students from all over the world enroll in the course because of its highly regarded international ranking and multi-genre writing curriculum.

The faculty members are well-known active writers. This course is among the best in Canada for creative writing, so you won't regret taking it.

Duration: 2 years

Master of Arts in English (Creative Writing) by the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada

The department is home to outstanding practitioners and educators in each of the major genres of creative writing, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and playwriting.

To make it simple for you to use your imagination when writing stories, they have knowledgeable instructors who will go over each subject in detail with you.

Duration: 20 months

Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing (Minor), by the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada

By selecting this as one of your creative writing courses in Canada, you'll have the chance to take advantage of some wonderful opportunities that otherwise might not have been possible.

This course covers everything from poetry, novels, and films to blogs, games, and journalism.

Diploma in Writing and Publishing by Okanagan College in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

You should think about attending this renowned institution to study creative writing. This course combines technical skills in graphic design, typography, coding and book publishing with English language learning, creative writing, editing and communication theory.

This makes the course one of the sought-after creative writing courses in Canada.

Creative Writing Course in Canada: Types

Bachelor’s degree (3-4 years, full time).

It is strongly advised that students must take this course if they have a passion for writing, want to study in Canada, and want to learn more about the creative sector.

Poetry, movies, essays, fiction, novels, and other writing genres are all given special attention in the curriculum.

The students learn the fundamental abilities needed for writing as well as how to use their creativity and have a prosperous career in the field.

Master’s Degree (1-2 years, Full Time)

A Master’s in Creative Writing is a type of postgraduate degree that students typically pursue after completing their undergraduate studies.

This course enables you to delve into aspects of literature writing by covering all aspects of writing from grammar and vocabulary to key areas such as literary analysis, plot development, etc.

After completing this course, students gain a deeper knowledge of creating novels, poems, films, etc.

Certificate Course, University of Calgary

The University of Calgary offers a creative writing certification program in online mode. This creative writing course in Canada is a 200-hour certificate course that allows you to hone your core skills in creative writing.

After the completion of the course, you receive a globally recognized certificate that revamps your resume and opens up more job prospects in the field of creative writing.

Top 5 Colleges for Creative Writing in Canada: Undergraduate Level 

• Trent University        Bachelor of Art in English Literature- Creative Writing   INR 60,00,000
• OCAD University       Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing     INR 70,00,000
• Concordia University   Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing    INR 50,00,000
• University of Victoria      Bachelor of  Arts in Writing       INR 60,00,000
• The University of New Brunswick     Bachelor of Arts in English - Creative Writing  INR 50,00,000

Top 8 Colleges for Creative Writing in Canada : Postgraduate Level

• University of British Columbia     Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing     INR 10,00,000-11,00,000
• University of British Columbia    Master in Fine Arts        INR 5,42,045
• The University of British Columbia    Film Production and Creative Writing INR 5,42,045
• University of Victoria    Masters of Fine Arts in writing   INR 6,00,000-7,00,000
• Humber College   PG Certificate in Professional Writing and Communications 

INR 9,42,500

• University of Toronto     Masters of Art in English- creative writing INR 20,00,000-25,00,000
• Concordia University Masters of Art in English- creative writing INR 25,00,000

Cost of Living in Canada: 1-year

Tuition fees  - Depends on the university 

Accommodation - INR 5-7 lakhs

Food and beverages - INR 2,00,000 approx.

Travel expenses- INR 50,000-60,000

Books and study material-INR 50,000-1,00,000

Personal expenses- INR 1,00,000 approx.

Creative Writing Course in Canada: Pre-Arrival Cost 

English Proficiency Test  - IELTS/TOEFL (one-time) - INR 14,000

Application fees- INR 6,000-10,000

Visa fees (one time)- INR 12,000 approx.

Purchase of GIC (one time)- INR 5,50,000

Airfare - INR 1,00,000 approx.

Study permit- INR 8000

Health insurance (one year) - INR 50,000

Creative Writing Course in Canada: Job Prospects

The career opportunities for creative writing courses in Canada are vast. Students with experience and determination can find various job profiles in creative writing, marketing, publishing, entertainment, and freelance.

Here are some job prospects for creative writing:

• Advertising copywriter
• Creative director
• Book Translator
• Magazine journalist
• Digital copywriter
• Legacy Writer
• Content Developer
• Editorial assistant
• Web content manager
• Newspaper journalist
• Lexicographer
• Journalist 
• Ghostwriter
• Scriptwriter

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With Canada's extensive selection of creative writing programs, aspirants can master various literary techniques and composing idioms and soar to new heights in the field of writing.

In this article, we tried to cover everything related to the best creative writing courses in Canada. We hope you like this article.

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