The Creative Writing major at Western New England University will combine your passion for writing and love of literature to help you hone your writing technique and critical thinking skills to that of a literary professional. You will have training in the art of writing within the context of aesthetics, the literary tradition, and a broad liberal arts education. The major offers a rigorous apprenticeship in creative writing, which will develop your understanding of literary forms and tropes, and providing the appropriate background in literary and intellectual history. Creative writing is an age-old tradition for self-expression and social commentary. By learning the difference between imitation and innovation by studying the works of great writers and literary techniques, you will increase your imaginative capacity and have the ability to tell stories that endure. Though a solitary art, much of the writing process involves work shopping and collaborating with other writers to obtain constructive feedback and response. Creative writing encompasses many genres and forms of artistic expression and truly captures the ideas and emotions to motivate our actions.
You will study the two most important paths in creative writing: reading good writing, and writing your own work. Literary surveys in British and American Literature provide a knowledge base for the tradition to which you will contribute. Writing workshops will help you learn the craft and collaborate with other students to create quality works. These workshops highlight the genres of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Careers for Creative Writing majors are found in the arts, in the expanding fields of journalism, and in the business world. Graduates will be well suited for careers in all fields of writing, publishing, editing, advertising, technical writing, public relations, as well as graduate study. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts online publications and services will grow in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with Web or multimedia experience. Many graduates have gone on to nationally-recognized MFA programs, including Sarah Lawrence College in New York, Temple University in Philadelphia, and the University of San Francisco. Several have studied in our own MFA in Creative Writing program. Others have gone on to graduate programs in Professional Writing, Law, and Public Relations at institutions including Carnegie Mellon University, Emerson College, and Michigan State University.
