Welcome!

Welcome to the Creative Writing track in the English Specialization at NOVA. If you are interested in this track, you most likely enjoy reading from a variety of texts in different genres (short stories, poetry, novels, plays, graphic novels, lyrics, etc.) and writing within one of these genres. You also probably engage in discussions about what you’ve read with friends or family and hearing what they think about texts.

What Will I Do in the Creative Writing Track?

The Creative Writing track in the English Specialization invites you to keep following your passion through offering select writing-based courses where “Students will continue to learn the elements and techniques fundamental to the craft of writing poetry, fiction, drama, and/or creative nonfiction” (ENG 211 Course Content Summary). For example, you will study a diverse selection of poets/poetry or and create your own poetry while being offered (and offering to peers) advice and feedback on content, technique, style, etc. You will also have significant opportunities to work on fiction and drama. The exact mix of genres depend, certainly, on the professor, term, and student engagement.

Creative Writing-specific classes at NOVA are considered skills courses—demonstration of genre writing is the primary activity; students should be ready to both read other student work as well as showcase their own writing in progress while taking feedback into significant consideration before final text submission.

What Courses Can I Take?

There are two main courses for Creative Writing specialists in this track, ENG 211 and 212. They prepare “students to the fundamentals of writing imaginatively. Student will write in forms selected from poetry, fiction, drama, essays, and creative nonfiction” (ENG 211 Course Content Summary). In addition, students can expand into additional genre-specific creative writing classes, including

· ENG 215: Creative Writing: Fiction 1

· ENG 216: Creative Writing: Fiction 2

· ENG 217: Creative Writing: Poetry 1

· ENG 218: Creative Writing: Poetry 2

· ENG 219: Creative Writing: Drama

 

What Will I Learn That I Can Take with Me from Creative Writing Courses?

After taking Creative Writing-based courses, you will have meaningful knowledge you learn that you can transfer to other courses at NOVA, as well as English BA and BFA programs at other colleges or universities. After completing any of our creative writing courses, you will be able to:

• Understand and identify the standard terms that describe elements and techniques of creative writing.
• Apply their understanding of basic terms and techniques to their writing and the writing of others.
• Demonstrate an understanding of effective strategies in the writing process, including planning, drafting, revising and polishing of texts.
• Demonstrate effective writing strategies, with special emphasis on techniques in a particular genre.

Contacts:

We look forward to you studying Creative Writing at NOVA!  If you have any questions about the Creative Writing track, please feel free to contact any of the campus LASS Division offices. Administrative staff will pair you with an English advisor who focuses on English specialization students.