Creative Writing Courses | University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver

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Introduction to Creative Writing

CRWR 200

hussain-tariq

2026 SummerCredits: 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.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
S01		Online	Lecture			Hussain, Tariq		Public Notes This online section of CRWR 200 will be asynchronous with recorded weekly lectures and optional days for peer-to-peer sharing under TA supervision. TA office hours available by appointment.

Introduction to Creative Writing

CRWR 200

brown-evans-taylor tater-mallory hug-zac hussain-tariq

2026 Winter Term 1/2Credits: 3

Sections (6)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Details Data
006	2	In-Person	Lecture	T, Th	15:30 - 17:00	Brown-evans, Taylor	Public Notes The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.
004	2	In-Person	Lecture	T, Th	11:00 - 12:30	Tater, Mallory	Public Notes The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.
003	1	In-Person	Lecture	Th	14:00 - 15:30	Hug, Zac	Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	T, Th	12:30 - 14:00	Brown-evans, Taylor	Public Notes The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.
005	1	Online	Lecture			Hussain, Tariq	Public Notes This online section of CRWR 200 will be asynchronous with recorded weekly lectures and optional in-person time for TA Q&A and office hours. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Course description: This course is designed for students looking to develop their creative writing skills through an exploration of a variety of 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 and more. 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 all the requirements for this course asynchronously. Intro to Creative Writing is an inspiring and fun class geared to help you get your creative juices flowing and find fruitful channels for creative expression. Hope you can join us!
002	2	Online	Lecture			Hussain, Tariq	Public Notes This online section of CRWR 200 will be asynchronous with recorded weekly lectures and optional days for peer-to-peer sharing under TA supervision. TA office hours available by appointment. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.

Introduction to Writing Poetry

CRWR 201

nicholson-cecily warrener-sheryda

2026 Winter Term 1/2Credits: 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.

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	T	12:30 - 14:00	Nicholson, Cecily		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Course description: This course offers an accessible, process-based introduction to writing poetry. Across the semester, you will develop a poetic attentiveness to the sensory and concrete details of memory, experience, feeling, observation, and the imagination. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of contemporary poets, poems will emerge from close reading, experimentation with technical prompts, and with a dedicated writing practice. We will develop a shared vocabulary related to sound, diction, syntax, image, line, metaphor, rhythm, form, and performance as we assemble the scaffolding for making conscious and effective choices in your writing. This course blends synchronous and asynchronous content. In addition to reviewing online materials and engaging weekly modules, you will be required to attend class, engage with assigned readings, and to participate in regular discussions. In-class writing exercises and prompts will help generate and develop ideas for content. For your final assignment, you will write, revise, and assemble a collection of poems demonstrating your technical skills and singular perspective.
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	F	09:30 - 11:00	Warrener, Sheryda		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. Course description: Welcome to CRWR 201: Introduction to the Practice of Poetry. This course will enrich your practice of noticing—that is, what you are drawn to, what you are moved by, how you think, how you create—through play and experimentation. This slow looking practice becomes a generative tool for creativity, illuminating the vivid and sensory particulars of your life that make your poems come alive. In addition to looking closely, experimenting wildly, and reading deeply, you’ll make poetic contributions beyond the classroom by attending local readings and participating in site-specific generative acts. The in-person learning experience is supported by pre-recorded videos of foundational techniques, which allows you to move through key concepts at your own pace. You’ll leave with a strong collection of poems that only you could write, and a more flexible, dynamic poetic practice.

Introduction to Writing for Children and Young Adults

CRWR 203

kyi-tanya

2026 Winter Term 1/2Credits: 3

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

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	T, Th	12:30 - 14:00	Kyi, Tanya		Public Notes The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Course description: In this interactive lecture class, we’ll explore the breadth of children’s literature forms, genres, and topics. We’ll examine the unique pace and structure of books for different ages 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 creative version of a novel review, and frequent in-class 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 curiosity.
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	T, Th	12:30 - 14:00	Kyi, Tanya		Public Notes The waitlist will be removed on January 4, 2027. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Course description: In this interactive lecture class, we’ll explore the breadth of children’s literature forms, genres, and topics. We’ll examine the unique pace and structure of books for different ages 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 creative version of a novel review, and frequent in-class 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 curiosity.

Introduction to Writing Creative Nonfiction

CRWR 205

catron-mandy

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 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.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	W	12:30 - 14:00	Catron, Mandy		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.

Introduction to Writing for the Screen

CRWR 206

graefe-sara hug-zac

2026 Winter Term 1/2Credits: 3

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

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	W	12:30 - 14:00	Graefe, Sara		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	F	14:00 - 15:30	Hug, Zac		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.

Introduction to Writing for Graphic Forms

CRWR 208

brown-evans-taylor

2026 Winter Term 1/2Credits: 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.

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	T	15:30 - 17:00	Brown-evans, Taylor		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	Th	09:30 - 11:00	Brown-evans, Taylor		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.

Introduction to Writing Fiction

CRWR 209

vigna-john

2026 SummerCredits: 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.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
S01		Online	Lecture	T, Th	11:00 - 13:00	Vigna, John

Introduction to Writing Fiction

CRWR 209

vigna-john

2026 Winter Term 1/2Credits: 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.

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	T	11:00 - 12:30	Vigna, John		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Course description: This introductory undergraduate course is blended (50% in-person & 50% online: our class will meet once a week in-person) and is designed for those interested in the art and craft of fiction. We’ll focus on the creative impulse, generative process and revision principles while exploring the foundational elements of fiction writing, including character development, scene design, dialogue and subtext, prose style, world building, the fundamentals of story structure, the importance of emotional and psychological authenticity, and how to revise your own work. 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. We’ll experiment, take risks, and expand our creative practice each week through a variety of in-class and online activities, including live and pre-recorded video lectures, generative writing exercises, advanced craft exploration, and discussion of course concepts with the Instructor, Teaching Assistants and fellow students. (Prerequisite: none)
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	T	11:00 - 12:30	Vigna, John		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Course description: This introductory undergraduate course is blended (50% in-person & 50% online: our class will meet once a week in-person) and is designed for those interested in the art and craft of fiction. We’ll focus on the creative impulse, generative process and revision principles while exploring the foundational elements of fiction writing, including character development, scene design, dialogue and subtext, prose style, world building, the fundamentals of story structure, the importance of emotional and psychological authenticity, and how to revise your own work. 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. We’ll experiment, take risks, and expand our creative practice each week through a variety of in-class and online activities, including live and pre-recorded video lectures, generative writing exercises, advanced craft exploration, and discussion of course concepts with the Instructor, Teaching Assistants and fellow students. (Prerequisite: none)

Introduction to Video Game Writing

CRWR 210

clark-raymond

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

A practical, project-based class for the creation of indie-scale, story-driven video games.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	W	17:00 - 18:30	Clark, Raymond		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Course description: An introductory course looking at writing and narrative design for video games across a range of genres. No programming experience is required. This is a new course that correspond to the previous version of CRWR 310. Students who completed CRWR 310 prior to Summer 2026 will not receive credit for CRWR 210.

Introduction to Writing for the New Media

CRWR 213

moss-jennifer osworth-austen

2026 Winter Term 1/2Credits: 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.

Sections (3)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Details Data
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	Th	14:00 - 15:30	Moss, Jennifer	Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	Th	14:00 - 15:30	Osworth, Austen	Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register.
CAP	1	In-Person	Lecture	Th	15:30 - 17:00	Moss, Jennifer	Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. This course is a part of the Coordinated Arts Program (CAP), Media Studies stream. Students must register for both Term 1 and Term 2 courses in CAP. Follow the prompts to register for all stream seminars (1), lectures (2), and tutorials (1) each term. For step-by-step instructions go to: https://cap.arts.ubc.ca/program/registration/ If you encounter any issues with registering into CAP, or if the course is full, please contact us at support.fyip@ubc.ca .Ne

Introduction to Creative Writing with an Indigenous Focus

CRWR 220

belcourt-billy-ray

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

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

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	W	12:00 - 14:00	Belcourt, Billy-ray		Public Notes All seats are prioritized for Arts students only. This is an approved course section for satisfying the Faculty of Arts’ Ways of Knowing - Place and Power requirement. You can visit https://www.arts.ubc.ca/degree-planning/degree-requirements/bachelor-of-arts/ for details of the requirement and the full list of approved Place and Power course sections offered for 26W. Seats are restricted to Arts students. Non-Arts students should not add themselves to the waitlist and will be removed by the department. The waitlist will be removed on January 4, 2027. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Course description: 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

del-bucchia-dina

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 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.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	W	17:00 - 18:30	Del Bucchia, Dina		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online.

Intermediate Writing Poetry

CRWR 301

warrener-sheryda

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

The writing of poetry in various forms using a combination of workshopping and online modules. Manuscript submission not required for admission. Prerequisite: CRWR 201.

Sections (4)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
002	2	In-Person	Lecture			Warrener, Sheryda		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. Students must also register for CRWR 301 L1, LS2, or LS3, the lecture-seminar portion of this course. The waitlist will be removed on September 4, 2026. After that point, students should regularly monitor the course section for available seats and self-register. Curse description: Welcome to CRWR 301: Making & Breaking Form. 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’re 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

moss-jennifer

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Exploration of and practice in writing for podcast.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	Th	11:00 - 14:00	Moss, Jennifer		Public Notes This course has a prerequisite of CRWR_V 213 - Introduction to Writing for the New Media

Intermediate Writing for Children and Young Adults

CRWR 303

kyi-tanya

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

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. Prerequisite: CRWR 203.

Sections (3)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
002	2	In-Person	Lecture			Kyi, Tanya		Public Notes Course description: In this class, students 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 for young readers. 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 discover the ways children’s literature can spark readers’ imaginations and change the ways young people see the world.

Intermediate Writing of Creative Nonfiction

CRWR 305

catron-mandy

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

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. Prerequisite: CRWR 205.

Sections (4)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture			Catron, Mandy		Public Notes Students must also register for CRWR 305 LS1, LS2 or LS3, the lecture-seminar portion of this course.

Intermediate Writing for the Screen

CRWR 306

hug-zac

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

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. Prerequisite: CRWR 206.

Sections (4)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
002	2	In-Person	Lecture			Hug, Zac		Public Notes Students must also register for CRWR 306 LS1, LS2 or FPR, the lecture-seminar portion of this course.

Intermediate Writing for the Stage

CRWR 307

irani-anosh

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

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. Prerequisite: CRWR 200.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	T	11:00 - 14:00	Irani, Anosh		Public Notes Course description: This intermediate course focuses on the techniques of crafting stage plays and 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 audio podcast (oral storytelling) with a focus on telling personal stories. Instruction will be provided in person. We will combine interactive lectures with in-class writing exercises and readings/viewings. You will write the first 10 pages of a full-length play. In addition, you will submit one original scene (specific parameters will be given) and record an audio podcast (oral storytelling). Lectures will NOT be recorded for students who cannot attend class in person. No audio/visual recordings without explicit instructor consent. Students with accessibility needs are invited to get in touch.

Intermediate Writing for Graphic Forms

CRWR 308

brown-evans-taylor

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

The writing of graphica (comics, manga and graphic novels), using a combination of workshopping and online modules. Manuscript submission not required for admission. Prerequisite: CRWR 208.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	F	12:00 - 14:00	Brown-evans, Taylor

Intermediate Writing Fiction

CRWR 309

tater-mallory

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

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. Prerequisite: CRWR 209.

Sections (6)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
002	2	In-Person	Lecture			Tater, Mallory		Public Notes Students must also register for CRWR 309 LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4 or LS5, the lecture-seminar portion of this course.

Intermediate Video Game Writing

CRWR 310

clark-raymond

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

Narrative design and writing for video games. Prerequisite: CRWR_V 210.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
002	2	In-Person	Lecture	W	17:00 - 20:00	Clark, Raymond		Public Notes Course description: A project-driven course on writing for video games at the indie level. This course will involve multiple group projects and a light degree of coding, the necessary skills for which will be taught in class. This is a new, more advanced course than the previous version of CRWR 310. Students who completed CRWR 310 prior to Summer 2026 may complete this new version of CRWR 310 and receive credits for it.

Intermediate Writing for Lyric Forms

CRWR 311

hussain-tariq

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

Techniques of and practice in writing for lyric forms, including song lyrics, lyrical narratives, and libretti. Manuscript submission is not required for admission. Prerequisite: CRWR_V 200.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	T	12:30 - 15:30	Hussain, Tariq		Public Notes Course description: 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, active listening (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, GarageBand, etc. Further guidance on recording will be provided. Recording proficiency or skills on an instrument are certainly not required for enrolment. This course consists of a weekly in-person lecture along with in-class discussions which are sure to be fun and inspiring. Classes will also be recorded and posted to Canvas through lecture capture. Together we’ll have fun exploring songs and you will leave with a portfolio you can be proud of full of work you can revise, polish and draw inspiration from as you continue on your songwriting journey.

Interactive Storytelling

CRWR 312

clark-raymond

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

Origin, theory and practice of interactive story forms. Exploring structural links between interactive theatre, gaming, and extended (virtual, mixed, and augmented) reality. Prerequisite: One of CRWR 213 or B.M.S. student with 3rd year standing or higher.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	Th	17:00 - 20:00	Clark, Raymond

Intermediate Writing for Television

CRWR 316

svendsen-linda

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

Elements of episodic and serialized comedic and dramatic television writing with writing practice applied to primary formats and genres. Prerequisite: CRWR 206.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Lecture	W	12:30 - 14:00	Svendsen, Linda		Public Notes This is a blended learning course where 50% of the course takes place in-class and 50% online. Course description: This hybrid course explores the development of your original half-hour TV series through three assignments: concept/pitch (dramedy, sit-com, procedural), pilot beat sheet, and the scripted Teaser/Act One of the pilot. The Wed in-person class involves screenings (pilots from Abbott Elementary, The Bear), “writers’ room” peer review, discussion, and collaboration. On Canvas, our asynchronous online activities (with a Monday 9 pm deadline) include engagement with craft: three-act structures (Netflix vs. all the others!), ABC stories, act-outs/cliffhangers, seasonal arc, world builds, as well as protagonist/antagonist/supporting characters, ghosts/backstory, scene-making, dialogue, screen formatting, and more. Along the way, we’ll take a field trip to a one-hour series pilot and explore the state of the industry with a guest. (Prerequisite: CRWR 206)

Intermediate Poetry Workshop - Intermediate Poetry Workshop

CRWR 351B

warrener-sheryda

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An intermediate level workshop class in writing poetry. Manuscript submission is not required for admission. Prerequisite: CRWR 301.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	T	10:00 - 12:00	Warrener, Sheryda		Public Notes Course description: Welcome to CRWR 351: The Poetry Atelier! 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. This inquiry will begin as an exploration of our own collections (facts, objects, memories), accompanied by close readings of contemporary poets working in sequential modes. You’re required to attend class, engage with assigned readings, give informal presentations, and participate in conversations and workshops. Sharing experiences of this poetic process on a regular basis will reinforce your commitment to an expansive creative practice. Pre-writing and generative writing activities, as well as a self-directed creative assignment, will lead to the composition of a unified suite, series, or sequence of poems, a robust poetic practice, and a sense of literary fellowship and community.

Intermediate Children and Young Adult Writing Workshop - Intermediate Children and Young Adult Writing Workshop

CRWR 353B

pohl-weary-emily

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An intermediate level workshop class in writing for children and young adults. Manuscript submission is not required for admission. Prerequisite: CRWR 303.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	W	10:00 - 12:00	Pohl-weary, Emily

Intermediate Graphic Forms Workshop - Intermediate Graphic Forms Workshop

CRWR 358C

brown-evans-taylor

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An intermediate level workshop class in writing for graphic forms. The ability to draw is not required. Manuscript submission is not required for admission. Prerequisite: CRWR 308.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	Th	12:00 - 14:00	Brown-evans, Taylor

Intermediate Fiction Workshop - Intermediate Fiction Workshop

CRWR 359C

tater-mallory

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An intermediate level workshop class in writing of fiction. Manuscript submission is not required for admission. Prerequisite: CRWR 309.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	W	10:00 - 12:00	Tater, Mallory

Writing Poetry I - Writing Poetry I

CRWR 401A

nicholson-cecily

2026 SummerCredits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of poetry. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
A_S02		In-Person	Workshop	M, T, W, Th, F	13:00 - 16:00	Nicholson, Cecily		Public Notes This course is part of the Summer Residency, please contact crwr.undergrad@ubc.ca to enroll. Course description: Approaching the study of sound and poetry through an interdisciplinary lens, CRWR 401 engages corresponding text, event, and voices, relevant to the fields of poetry and sound studies. This course will introduce students to a range of poetry, sound art, and listening practices. And we will engage material from poets with noted relations to aurality and sound. As we question how we transcribe/translate our multi-sensory experiences of sound through different forms, we will take time each day to listen together to recordings, readings, and to the sounds of this place of study. We will consider what listening does, collectively creating scenarios and event scores that de-centre our listening habits while we explore related written forms. Every class will include generative prompts, free writes, and dialogue as students craft new poems. This course's procedural work lends itself to a final project that will include both a written and oral (or audible) component.

Writing Poetry I - Writing Poetry I

CRWR 401B

musgrave-susan

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of poetry. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	Online	Workshop	Th	12:00 - 14:00	Musgrave, Susan		Public Notes This course is delivered online synchronously

Writing Poetry I - Writing Poetry I

CRWR 401C

tate-bronwen

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of poetry. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	T	14:00 - 16:00	Tate, Bronwen		Public Notes Course description: Pattern and Surprise: Exploring Echoes, Leaps, and Turns in Poetry A poem lives in the intersection of pattern and surprise, in the satisfying echo and the astonishing twist. In this introduction to poetry writing, we’ll explore how poems move on the page—from past to present, from self to world, from concrete to abstract, from argument to sound—and how they move us. Drawing on curated constellations of powerful poems, students will experiment with how pattern and surprise can be built through diction, syntax, metaphor, repetition, image, and line. In addition to deepening their capacity for play and experimentation, students will hone skills in how to give and receive generative feedback on work in progress. This course is designed to be useful and approachable for students trying poetry for the first time as well as for students with previous poetry experience. Get ready to read and write a lot!

Writing for Children and Young Adults I - Writing for Children and Young Adults I

CRWR 403B

scott-jordan

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for Children and Young Adults. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	Online	Workshop	Th	14:00 - 16:00	Scott, Jordan		Public Notes This course is delivered online synchronously

Writing Creative Nonfiction I - Writing Creative Nonfiction I

CRWR 405B

catron-mandy

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing creative nonfiction, which may include forms such as autobiography, rhetoric, literary journalism, and the personal essay. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	T	10:00 - 12:00	Catron, Mandy

Writing Creative Nonfiction I - Writing Creative Nonfiction I

CRWR 405C

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing creative nonfiction, which may include forms such as autobiography, rhetoric, literary journalism, and the personal essay. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	W	14:00 - 16:00			Public Notes Instructor TBD

Writing for the Screen I - Writing for the Screen I

CRWR 406B

medved-maureen

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for the screen. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	Online	Workshop	W	10:00 - 12:00	Medved, Maureen		Public Notes This course is delivered online synchronously

Writing for the Screen I - Writing for the Screen I

CRWR 406C

graefe-sara

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for the screen. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	T	10:00 - 12:00	Graefe, Sara

Writing of Drama for the Stage I - Writing of Drama for the Stage I

CRWR 407B

graefe-sara

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 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). Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	T	12:00 - 14:00	Graefe, Sara

Writing for Graphic Forms I - Writing for Graphic Forms I

CRWR 408B

leavitt-sarah

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

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

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	F	12:00 - 14:00	Leavitt, Sarah

Writing Fiction I - Writing Fiction I

CRWR 409B

irani-anosh osworth-austen

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of fiction. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	T	16:00 - 18:00	Irani, Anosh		Public Notes Course description: This is a workshop in the writing of fiction designed to help students develop as both writers and critical thinkers. We will discuss students’ written work as well as the craft and techniques of literary fiction. In addition to required reading (available via LOCR), additional readings/viewings may 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, and a reflective essay on the craft of writing. 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. Lectures will NOT be recorded for students who cannot attend class in person.
B_003	1	In-Person	Workshop	Th	10:00 - 12:00	Osworth, Austen

Writing Fiction I - Writing Fiction I

CRWR 409C

osworth-austen

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

A workshop class in the writing of fiction. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	Th	10:00 - 12:00	Osworth, Austen

Video Game Writing - Video Game Writing

CRWR 410C

clark-raymond

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

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

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	F	12:00 - 14:00	Clark, Raymond		Public Notes Course description: A workshop class on writing for video games. This course will focus on developing interactive narratives using Twine and Ren'py, both individually and as part of a development team. Restricted to Creative Writing majors.

Writing for Television I - Writing for Television I

CRWR 416C

svendsen-linda

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

A workshop class in writing for television. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	F	12:00 - 14:00	Svendsen, Linda		Public Notes Course description: This in-person course supports the creation of an original half-hour series pilot script. Over the term, you develop a series concept, pilot beat sheet, and then the first draft. Concurrently, your participation in the hands-on development of a number of other original TV series hones both your writing and story editing skills. The course intersects with scripts (The Bear, Fleabag, Abbott Elementary, and others), character, world builds, dramaturgical grids, structural templates, formatting, dialogue, and seasonal arcs. Term concludes with partial table reads. Participation: watch/read and discuss assigned screenings, thoughtful and constructive written feedback, and dynamic collaboration with in-class peers.

Writing for Television I - Writing for Television I

CRWR 416Z

svendsen-linda

2026 SummerCredits: 3

A workshop class in writing for television. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
Z_S01		In-Person	Workshop	T, Th	13:00 - 15:00	Svendsen, Linda

Writing Speculative Fiction - Writing Speculative Fiction

CRWR 419B

pohl-weary-emily

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 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 Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	Online	Workshop	T	12:00 - 14:00	Pohl-weary, Emily		Public Notes This course is delivered online synchronously

Writing Speculative Fiction - Writing Speculative Fiction

CRWR 419C

hopkinson-nalo

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	T	12:00 - 14:00	Hopkinson, Nalo

Indigenous Writing - Indigenous Writing

CRWR 420B

belcourt-billy-ray

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 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. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	F	10:00 - 12:00	Belcourt, Billy-ray		Public Notes Course description: 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, coloniality, trauma, politics, identity, the ethics of representation, and power; students will reflect on how these subjects shape their own writing lives and explore them through a range of critical and creative modes.

Climate Writing - Climate Writing

CRWR 425B

ohlin-alix

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

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

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	W	12:00 - 14:00	Ohlin, Alix		Public Notes Course description: This is a multi-genre workshop class in which we’ll investigate how to write about the past, present, and future relationship we have with our climate. From nature poetry to place-based creative nonfiction to speculative fiction, we’ll develop and deepen our understanding of climate issues. Through reading, discussion, and writing exercises, we’ll explore climate writing as a space for memory, imagination and resilience. Students will be expected to engage in a wide range of climate writing, 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

kyi-tanya

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Pass/Fail. Credit will be granted for only one of CRWR 430 or CRWR 530. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
001	1	In-Person	Workshop	W	14:00 - 16:00	Kyi, Tanya		Public Notes Course description: 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.

Writing Poetry II - Writing Poetry II

CRWR 451B

belcourt-billy-ray

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An advanced workshop class in writing poetry. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing. Prerequisite: CRWR 401.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	T	14:00 - 16:00	Belcourt, Billy-ray		Public Notes Course description: Concepts, Contexts, Constraints This class offers an advanced study of the ways poets draw on concepts, contexts (literary, political, historical), and constraint to generate poetic work. We will read poems across forms as well as critical/craft essays to ready us for thoughtful and generous discussion. Assignments will include a class presentation, a short analysis paper, workshop and peer review, and a final portfolio submission.

Writing for Children and Young Adults II - Writing for Children and Young Adults II

CRWR 453C

scott-jordan

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An advanced workshop class in writing for children and young adults. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing. Prerequisite: CRWR 403.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	Online	Workshop	F	14:00 - 16:00	Scott, Jordan		Public Notes This course is delivered online synchronously

Writing Creative Nonfiction II - Writing Creative Nonfiction II

CRWR 455C

hussain-tariq

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An advanced workshop class focusing on memoir, biography, rhetoric, literary journalism, the personal essay, and some hybrid forms of creative nonfiction. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing. Prerequisite: CRWR_V 405.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	W	12:00 - 14:00	Hussain, Tariq		Public Notes Writing about music There’s an expression that you’ve probably heard before that goes: Writing about music is like dancing about architecture. In other words, it’s impossible to write about music because music is an art form so deeply connected to the heart and all our inexpressible emotions. Well, in this course we’re going to debunk that and actually try and write about music. In order to do so, we’ll discuss and explore various types of music writing from personal essays to profiles to record reviews. Through analysis and discussion and finally through practice, we will strive to uncover the craft strategies and techniques around writing about the so-called impossible—music. In this class you’ll have a chance to consider what music means to you. What was the first album you bought? What was the first concert you went to? What connections were sparked through bonding over music? We’ll explore songwriting and recording and we’ll do some listening too in order to get closer to an understanding of what makes music such a powerful force in our lives. This once-a-week 2 hour workshop course will involve sharing of work and rigorous yet respectful conversation and discussion. And if there’s time, we might even do a little dancing about architecture.

Writing of Drama for the Stage II - Writing of Drama for the Stage II

CRWR 457C

koncan-frances

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

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. Prerequisite: Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	T	14:00 - 16:00	Koncan, Frances		Public Notes Course description: In this playwriting workshop we will continue to explore the fundamentals of playwriting with a focus on the dramaturgical and rehearsal process of new play development. Through generative writing exercises, reading and watching plays, and script workshops expanding in scope to include introductions to techniques and practices in acting, directing, and design, students will workshop and revise the plays created in CRWR 407 in preparation for readings at BNPR. By the end of this course, students will have gained the experience of bringing a script to life from page to stage by working with actors and directors and having their plays performed in front of a live audience. Students will also gain hands-on experience participating in BNPR in a variety of possible roles including actor, director, stage management, and front-of-house. Students will also generate a new 10-minute play, or 10-minutes of new material for a current play-in-progress. Note: students who did not take CRWR 407 in Term 1 must prepare a 10-minute play on or before the first day of class and must ensure they follow any BNPR festival due dates and requirements.

Writing for Graphic Forms II - Writing for Graphic Forms II

CRWR 458C

leavitt-sarah

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An advanced workshop class in writing for graphic forms. The ability to draw is not required. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing. Prerequisite: CRWR 408.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	Th	12:00 - 14:00	Leavitt, Sarah

Writing Fiction II - Writing Fiction II

CRWR 459C

osworth-austen

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3Pre-requisite

An advanced workshop class in writing fiction. Restricted to Majors in Creative Writing. Prerequisite: CRWR 409.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	W	14:00 - 16:00	Osworth, Austen		Public Notes Course description: Re/Vision The true work of writing is in the revision; this class explores different types of revision by iterating on drafts completed in 409: Writing Fiction I. Students will read craft essays that focus on revision and attempt at least two revision processes on extant short stories or novel excerpts. Students will present their revision process to the class.

Advanced Writing of Poetry I - Advanced Writing of Poetry I

CRWR 501A

musgrave-susan

2026 SummerCredits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
A_D02		Online	Workshop			Musgrave, Susan		Public Notes This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing of Poetry I - Advanced Writing of Poetry I

CRWR 501B

nicholson-cecily tate-bronwen

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	T	10:00 - 12:00	Nicholson, Cecily		Public Notes Course description: This course engages forms of research with a specific focus on documentary poetics. Also referred to as “research-based” or “docupoetry” and connected to the idea of “found poetry,” this practice draws on primary source material to form new work. No prior experience with research methods is required. We will read from, and adjacent to, poets such as Mark Nowak, m. nourbeSe philip, Solmaz Sharif, and Layli Long Soldier, who engage a range of sources such as legal reports, photo and video collections, public and family archives, scientific and ethnographic research, journalism, technical writing, folklore, and more. How is the document transposed into the poem? What is the relationship between a documentary and lyrical subject? Can documentary poetry subvert the colonial or imperial power of the formal record? What are the limits to representation, memory, and the very definition of “document”? Students can expect to collaborate and engage in research as we write new poems, consider our own documentary impulses, and study how poetics can bring history into dialogue with the present.
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop			Tate, Bronwen		Public Notes 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 or formal question 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, share new work, discuss process and practice, and occasionally pause for group critique. Throughout the course, we’ll explore the possibilities of new and old technologies (from shared documents to handwritten commonplace book) for organizing information, distilling insight, and sparking inspiration as we read and write together. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing of Poetry I - Advanced Writing of Poetry I

CRWR 501C

warrener-sheryda musgrave-susan

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	W	12:00 - 14:00	Warrener, Sheryda		Public Notes Welcome to CRWR 501: Poet, Persona, Speaker, Self: Experiments in Constructing a Lyric “I”. In this generative poetry seminar, we will strive to come to a richer understanding of the possibilities of the first person. What do we mean when we refer to the speaker of a poem? What craft elements and aesthetic decisions add up to conjure, as Dao Strom writes, “that immaterial substance we call voice?” We will read poets that write from the perspective of flowers and storms, as well as poets who collapse the space between speaker and author to express an autobiographical self. Each week, you’ll experiment with approaches to the lyric I and consider the different ways in which a speaker may be created and inhabited. You’re required to attend and participate in class, generate one poem a week, respond to assigned readings, and contribute to conversations. For your final portfolio, you’ll submit two independent sequences or a combination that features your singular sensibility, and your fluency with multiple speakers, registers, and intimacies.
C_D02	2	Online	Workshop			Musgrave, Susan		Public Notes 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. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing for New Media I - Advanced Writing for New Media I

CRWR 502B

clark-raymond

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	T	14:00 - 16:00	Clark, Raymond		Public Notes This iteration of CRWR 502 focuses on Video Game Writing

Advanced Writing for New Media I - Advanced Writing for New Media I

CRWR 502C

moss-jennifer

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	Th	10:00 - 12:00	Moss, Jennifer		Public Notes This iteration of CRWR 502 focuses on Podcasting

Advanced Writing for Children I - Advanced Writing for Children I

CRWR 503B

scott-jordan kyi-tanya

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	Online	Workshop	F	14:00 - 16:00	Scott, Jordan		Public Notes This course is delivered online synchronously
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop			Kyi, Tanya		Public Notes 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, workshops, and writing exercises. Assignments include a manuscript designed for young children as well as one for tweens or teens, along with a short exploratory piece and a final revision. Students will leave the class with a broad understanding of the purpose and possibilities of contemporary writing for children, as well as a better understanding of the links between curiosity, creativity, and play. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing for Children I - Advanced Writing for Children I

CRWR 503C

pohl-weary-emily scott-jordan

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	Online	Workshop	Th	14:00 - 16:00	Pohl-weary, Emily		Public Notes Middle-grade (MG) and young adult (YA) novels are the focus of this section of 503. They tend to be adventurous, playful, unpretentious, and reflect the critical issues of our time. Recently, authors have cracked open the rules about what’s allowed in YA and MG by tackling ground-breaking subject matter, such as entrenched racism, sexual assault, social inequities, and gender binaries. Great examples combine strong characters, a unique narrative voice, tight plotting, and dramatic tension. Together, we’ll explore the weird and wonderful world of writing for tweens and teens, the changing industry, audience expectations, subgenres, and advanced writing techniques. Students will read a wide range of published work, try generative exercises, write two new manuscripts, give and receive feedback, do a presentation on a specific craft issue, and participate in craft discussions. Note: This section is taught on Zoom with readings and additional discussions on Canvas. This course is delivered online synchronously, Thurs. 2-4PM
C_D02	2	Online	Workshop			Scott, Jordan		Public Notes This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Thursday 9am - Friday 12pm PST)

Advanced Writing of Creative Non-Fiction I - Advanced Writing of Creative Non-Fiction I

CRWR 505B

marzano-lesnevich-alex

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (3)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Details Data
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	F	12:00 - 14:00	Marzano-lesnevich, Alex	Public Notes 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.
B_003	1	In-Person	Workshop	F	12:00 - 14:00		Public Notes Instructor TBD
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop			Marzano-lesnevich, Alex	Public Notes Memoir Beyond the ‘Me’ This online 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, but must be new work. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Thursday 9am - Friday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing of Creative Non-Fiction I - Advanced Writing of Creative Non-Fiction I

CRWR 505C

2026 Winter TermCredits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_D02	2	Online	Workshop					Public Notes This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst) Instructor TBD

Advanced Writing of Drama for Screen I - Advanced Writing of Drama for Screen I

CRWR 506B

graefe-sara

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	Th	10:00 - 12:00	Graefe, Sara
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop					Public Notes This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Thursday 9am - Friday 12pm pst) Instructor TBD

Advanced Writing of Drama for Screen I - Advanced Writing of Drama for Screen I

CRWR 506C

graefe-sara hug-zac

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	F	10:00 - 12:00	Graefe, Sara		Public Notes In this advanced 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 (Act One). 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 class, you will explore and uncover your own unique voice and sensibility as a screenwriter while also learning about North American film industry rules and conventions. You will complete the 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.
C_D02	2	Online	Workshop			Hug, Zac		Public Notes This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Wednesday 9am - Thursday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing of Drama for the Stage I - Advanced Writing of Drama for the Stage I

CRWR 507B

koncan-frances

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	W	12:00 - 14:00	Koncan, Frances		Public Notes This advanced playwriting workshop will focus on the "play" in playwriting. We will explore story, plot, dialogue, character development, theme, and the many other elements involved in the stage play form through generative writing exercises, theatrical explorations, reading and watching plays, and in-class script workshops. While this class is first and foremost a creative writing workshop, we will be approaching the craft of playwriting not only as a written genre but as an active, dynamic, and mutable part of the collaborative process of theatre creation - from page to stage. By the end of this course, students will have written two 10-minute plays, one which can be submitted for a reading in the annual Bryan Wade Brave New Play Rites Festival (BNPR) in Term 2. Please note that students who wish to participate in BNPR must be registered in CRWR 557Y in Term 2.

Advanced Writing of Drama for the Stage I - Advanced Writing of Drama for the Stage I

CRWR 507C

irani-anosh

2026 Winter TermCredits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_D02	2	Online	Workshop			Irani, Anosh		Public Notes This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst). Course description: This is an advanced, online, asynchronous workshop in the writing of plays designed to help students develop as both playwrights and critical thinkers. The word “wright” means “a person who makes or builds things.” We will learn how to build plays. Writing is architecture. Therefore, we will examine the craft and techniques of playwriting. We will also study full-length plays; additional readings/viewings may be posted on Canvas. This is required reading/viewing for class discussion. During the term, students will be expected to turn in the first 12 pages of an original full-length play (no musicals, no solo shows, and a maximum of 3 characters in the entire play), an outline of the full play, an opening two-page monologue of a solo show, and an analysis of two scenes from stage and/or film/TV (provided by the instructor) to help study the anatomy of a scene. In addition, students will be required to participate in discussions, wherein they shall critique the work of their peers and analyze the assigned readings from a craft perspective. Over the duration of the course, we will examine a wide range of playwriting elements, including—but not limited to— character, dialogue, conflict, structure, theme, plot, and so on. Overall, this workshop aims to give students the opportunity to express themselves creatively, hone their craft, and gain a deeper understanding of their own work. Online (synchronous) sessions, if included, will be optional and will be recorded with the permission of the class.

Advanced Writing for Graphic Forms I - Advanced Writing for Graphic Forms I

CRWR 508B

leavitt-sarah

2026 Winter TermCredits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop			Leavitt, Sarah		Public Notes 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. 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. Please note: Students who have taken this course previously will have the option to modify assignments they have already completed, with approval of the instructor. All assignments must be done by hand on paper; no digital artmaking. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing for Graphic Forms I - Advanced Writing for Graphic Forms I

CRWR 508C

leavitt-sarah

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	T	10:00 - 12:00	Leavitt, Sarah		Public Notes 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. 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. Please note: Students who have taken this course previously will have the option to modify assignments they have already completed, with approval of the instructor. All assignments must be done by hand on paper; no digital artmaking.

Advanced Writing of Fiction I - Advanced Writing of Fiction I

CRWR 509B

osworth-austen vigna-john lee-nancy medved-maureen

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (4)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Details Data
B_003	1	In-Person	Workshop	W	14:00 - 16:00	Osworth, Austen	Public Notes Extreme First Drafting (Club 30k) This version of 509 is primarily focused on first drafting long work (either a novel or a collection of short stories). The primary learning activity in this class is writing 3,000 new words per week for a total of at least 30,000 words over the course of the semester. Students will learn how they best draft and will deploy a radical praise method on early work to maintain momentum.
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	Th	14:00 - 16:00	Vigna, John	Public Notes Revision Strategies, Techniques, and Practice. This 3-credit in-person grad fiction course will focus on deep revision (process, technique and practice) and will accommodate all forms of adult fiction writing. Our weekly discussions will consist of process-based work including close readings, craft and technique, various aspects of macro- and micro-revision writing and the sustained writing life. We’ll focus on structure, point of view, character, prose style, voice, image patterns, transitions, place and setting, compression, facility of exposition, scene vs summary, dialogue, best and worst use of description, beginnings and endings, use and misuse of backstory, flashbacks and dreams. But the main focus will be on clarifying and deepening the integrity of one’s own work with an emphasis on asking more profound questions of your practice and work to get at the story you are working toward; to deepen and layer it with sophistication and complexity, and to create something that aspires to be meaningful and beautiful.
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop			Lee, Nancy	Public Notes In this online workshop, we’ll explore a variety of approaches to writing fiction for an adult audience – methods, processes, tools and tactics to help us write with intention and authenticity. We’ll deepen our understanding of complex characters and emotional and psychological realism through prompts, experiments, and craft techniques, delve into the endless possibilities of story form and structure, and nurture narrative voice and prose style through careful attention to language. The course will include readings and models, as well as an online Craft Lab with supplementary materials. Every few weeks, we’ll schedule an interactive Zoom session to enable real-time group discussion, address topics and craft questions specific to student work, and answer your burning questions about fiction writing and publishing. Writers can expect to generate new work in low-stakes assignments and to submit either one or two completed stories during the term. Our final weeks will consist of a structured and guided workshop focused on the writer’s intentions and concerns. A high level of weekly engagement is expected and reflected in the grading rubric. This course is asynchronous with flexible participation options for the real-time Zoom sessions. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Wednesday 9am - Thursday 12pm pst)
B_D03	1	Online	Workshop			Medved, Maureen	Public Notes This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Thursday 9am - Friday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing of Fiction I - Advanced Writing of Fiction I

CRWR 509C

osworth-austen lyon-annabel irani-anosh

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (3)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Details Data
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	W	10:00 - 12:00	Osworth, Austen	Public Notes Slow and Steady Revision This version of 509 is primarily focused on revising long work (either a novel or a collection of short stories). The primary learning activity in this class is attempting at least three revision methods on previously written long work and presenting that revision to the class for analysis. This class is most useful to students with extant drafts.
C_004	2	In-Person	Workshop	W	10:00 - 12:00	Lyon, Annabel
C_D02	2	Online	Workshop			Irani, Anosh	Public Notes This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Thursday 9am - Friday 12pm pst). Course description: This is an advanced, online, asynchronous workshop on the writing of short fiction designed to help students develop as both writers and critical thinkers. 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 workshopping, 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 voices, and gain a deeper understanding of their own work.

Advanced Writing for Lyric Forms I - Advanced Writing for Lyric Forms I

CRWR 511B

hussain-tariq

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	W	16:00 - 18:00	Hussain, Tariq		Public Notes With the rise in popularity of musicals both on stage and on screen, it feels like the perfect time to have a class focussed on the art of writing for musicals. Here, students will explore craft through creative exercises, discussions, and generating their own songs. Together, we will examine material from popular works like Wicked and Hamilton in active-listening sessions and deconstruct them in order to gain a deeper understanding of form and structure. We will consider how to effectively manage characters, storytelling and how un-sung text can work in conjunction with sung material. There will be readings, close listenings, podcasts and much group discussion. All of this will help equip students with tools to start writing their own songs to share.The goal of the workshop process is not critical assessment necessarily, nor is it perfection or finality, but rather exploration, helping each other grow and move forward. Students will be encouraged to take risks, share, discuss, refine and celebrate song. 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-person in a weekly two-hour session. Attendance and participation as well as maintaining an environment of support and mutual respect are key to success in this course as students will be participating in a genre that is more performative in nature than some others. This should not be seen as a deterrent for anyone new to songwriting, but rather as an invitation to try something fun, exciting, and gravity defying.

Advanced Writing for Television I - Advanced Writing for Television I

CRWR 514B

svendsen-linda hug-zac

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 3

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	F	12:00 - 14:00	Svendsen, Linda		Public Notes This in-person course supports the creation of an original one-hour series pilot script. Over the term, you develop a series concept, pilot beat sheet, and then the first draft. Concurrently, your participation in the hands-on development of a number of other original TV series hones both your writing and story editing skills. The course intersects with scripts (Allegiance, Queen’s Gambit, White Lotus, and others), dramaturgical grids, boilerplates on structure, formatting, dialogue, seasonal arc, character and world builds. Term concludes with partial table reads. Participation: watch/read and discuss assigned screenings, thoughtful and constructive written feedback, and dynamic collaboration with in-class peers.
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop			Hug, Zac		Public Notes This advanced workshop takes a look at creating serialized television. While we explore the methods used by writers’ rooms to craft story structure, we’ll fire up a “script-line” of an original pilot episode. Using a combination of lectures, workshops, and quite a bit of writing time - students will create the world of their TV shows on three levels: from series and season to the building blocks of a pilot, down to individual scenes. Students will also screen various television shows and scenes that illustrate character development, future stories, themes within plot, and the ins and outs of a solid act break. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst)

Advanced Writing for Television I - Advanced Writing for Television I

CRWR 514C

svendsen-linda lee-nancy

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	T	14:00 - 16:00	Svendsen, Linda		Public Notes This in-person course supports the creation of an original half-hour series pilot script. Over the term, you develop a series concept, pilot beat sheet, and then the first draft. Concurrently, your participation in the hands-on development of a number of other original TV series hones both your writing and story editing skills. The course intersects with scripts (The Bear, Fleabag, Abbott Elementary, and others), dramaturgical grids, boilerplates on structure, formatting, dialogue, seasonal arc, character and world builds. Term concludes with partial table reads. Participation: watch/read and discuss assigned screenings, thoughtful and constructive written feedback, and dynamic collaboration with in-class peers.
C_D02	2	Online	Workshop			Lee, Nancy		Public Notes Since the late 1990s television has given us some of the most inventive and influential examples of long-form storytelling. In this online workshop, we’ll read and discuss successful pilot scripts, watch episode examples, and navigate the demands of each writer’s particular TV genre and storytelling goals, including pilot and series structure, scene design, complex dimensional characters, dialogue and subtext and compelling scene description. We’ll examine more advanced structural tools: turning points, misdirection, the call back, etc., and approach television writing as a distinct practice, one that encourages collaboration and openness to possibilities. Every few weeks, we’ll schedule an interactive Zoom session to enable real-time group discussion, help writers with their project development, and answer craft questions that have arisen. Writers can expect to create their own half-hour or one-hour TV series concept, write a pilot outline and partial bible, and begin their pilot scripts. Writers will also participate in a writers’ room workshop where they’ll work as story editor for other projects. A high level of weekly engagement is expected and reflected in the grading rubric. This course is asynchronous with flexible participation options for the real-time Zoom sessions. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Wednesday 9am - Thursday 12pm pst)

Writing Speculative Fiction - Writing Speculative Fiction

CRWR 519B

hopkinson-nalo french-whitney

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 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.

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	Th	12:00 - 14:00	Hopkinson, Nalo
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop			French, Whitney		Public Notes This advanced creative writing course engages students to self-examine their particular investment in writing speculative fictions, including but not exclusive to science fiction, fantasy, horror, alternative history, and utopian and dystopian literature. With emphasis on creative process, the class will investigate the full scope of speculative fiction as a genre and how to effectively use literary techniques such as symbolism, narrative and dramatic irony, allegory and worldbuilding in our work. comfort zones. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Thursday 9am - Friday 12pm pst)

Writing Speculative Fiction - Writing Speculative Fiction

CRWR 519C

french-whitney pohl-weary-emily

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 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.

Sections (2)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	T	12:00 - 14:00	French, Whitney		Public Notes This advanced creative writing course engages students to self-examine their particular investment in writing speculative fictions, including but not exclusive to science fiction, fantasy, horror, alternative history, and utopian and dystopian literature. With emphasis on creative process, the class will investigate the full scope of speculative fiction as a genre and how to effectively use literary techniques such as symbolism, narrative and dramatic irony, allegory and worldbuilding in our work. comfort zones.
C_D02	2	Online	Workshop			Pohl-weary, Emily		Public Notes Thurs./Fri.; Asynchronous online Science fiction, ghost stories, fractured folk tales, futurism, dystopia, urban fantasy, slipstream, magical realism, surrealism, horror, weird tales… speculative literature has many names, and each genre has its own history and aesthetics. Some of the most exciting authors run giggling through several genres within a single story. Literatures of the imaginary have historically employed complex and rigorous techniques to call into question perception, provide alternate realities, imagine futures, rewrite patriarchal/colonial histories, and disrupt narrative expectations. In CRWR 519, students read and discuss samples of published work in many genres, consider craft topics related to the genres, do weekly writing exercises, and write/workshop three new manuscripts in different genres. Note: This section is taught asynchronously. Classes take place entirely on Canvas. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Thursday 9am - Friday 12pm pst)

Indigenous Writing - Indigenous Writing

CRWR 521B

belcourt-billy-ray

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 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.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	F	10:00 - 12:00	Belcourt, Billy-ray		Public Notes 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, coloniality, trauma, politics, identity, the ethics of representation, and power; students will reflect on how these subjects shape their own writing lives and explore them through a range of critical and creative modes.

Thinking and Writing Through Art - Thinking and Writing Through Art

CRWR 523B

warrener-sheryda

2026 Winter Term 1Credits: 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.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_001	1	In-Person	Workshop	W	10:00 - 12:00	Warrener, Sheryda		Public Notes Welcome to CRWR 523: Experiments in Hybrid Forms! This course is a space for you to test, play, subvert, transgress, delight in, and otherwise reimagine writing free from categories of genre. Under the influence of encounters with contemporary hybrid works, you’ll experiment with form as a dynamic, imaginative element. You’ll compose visual-textual and genre-bending mashups; borrow extra-literary structures such as paper planes, fortune tellers, maps, diagrams, horoscopes, and scores; and, invent your own forms with analog media and multi-sensory materials. This is a generative space where writing emerges naturally from experimentation, conversation, and acts of creative research. At the end of the term you’ll exhibit a hybrid gesture—a collection of disparate pieces or a unified sequence—and leave with a strong, flexible interdisciplinary creative practice. This iteration of CRWR 523 focuses on hybrid poetic forms: prose poems, poem-essays, visual-textual mash-ups, and poetry that borrows non-literary structures.

Thinking and Writing Through Art - Thinking and Writing Through Art

CRWR 523Z

warrener-sheryda

2026 SummerCredits: 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.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
Z_S01		In-Person	Workshop	T	11:00 - 14:00	Warrener, Sheryda

Climate Writing - Climate Writing

CRWR 525C

ohlin-alix

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 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 M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing. A maximum of 6 credits is permitted between CRWR_V 425 and 525.

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	W	14:00 - 16:00	Ohlin, Alix		Public Notes This is a workshop class focused on the encompassing reality of climate change. 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? We’ll consider these questions through reading, discussion, and creative work. Major assignments will include a place-based personal essay and a short story, 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.

Preparation for a Career in Writing

CRWR 530

kyi-tanya

2026 Winter TermCredits: 3

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

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
D02	2	Online	Workshop			Kyi, Tanya		Public Notes Welcome to the intersection of art and capitalism! Pitches, queries, contracts, grant applications, social media strategies, job interviews, literary events, and more — this class will prepare you for the diverse responsibilities you’ll juggle as a professional writer. Whether you’re working on a graphic novel or a TV script, you’ll find the course material useful. You’ll learn to make contacts with industry professionals, market your skills without selling your soul, and — most importantly — build a community to sustain you throughout your creative career. Assignments involve preparing practical, professional materials that you’ll use in the future. You’ll leave this course feeling much more confident in your ability to thrive as an artist in a changing and challenging world. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Tuesday 9am - Wednesday 12pm pst) 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 MFAs in order to prioritize students closer to the end of their degree. This course is open to CRWR students in their second year and beyond.

Teaching Creative Writing - Teaching Creative Writing

CRWR 550B

tate-bronwen

2026 Winter TermCredits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
B_D01	1	Online	Workshop			Tate, Bronwen		Public Notes In this hands-on course, students will design, try out, and reflect on syllabus structures, 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, Felicia Rose Chavez, and John Bean, 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 the rise of generative AI, 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 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 MFAs in order to prioritize students closer to the end of their degree. This section is asynchronous over a 27-hour window (Thursday 9am - Friday 12pm pst) This course is open to CRWR students in their second year and beyond

Advanced Writing of Drama for the Stage II - Advanced Writing of Drama for the Stage II

CRWR 557C

koncan-frances

2026 Winter Term 2Credits: 3

Sections (1)

Section	Term	Delivery Mode	Format	Day(s)	Time(s)	Instructor(s)	Syllabus	Details Data	Details
C_002	2	In-Person	Workshop	F	10:00 - 12:00	Koncan, Frances		Public Notes In this advanced playwriting workshop we will continue to explore the fundamentals of playwriting with a focus on the dramaturgical and rehearsal process of new play development. Through generative writing exercises, reading and watching plays, and script workshops expanding in scope to include introductions to techniques and practices in acting, directing, and design, students will workshop and revise the plays created in CRWR 507 in preparation for readings at BNPR. By the end of this course, students will have gained the experience of bringing a script to life from page to stage by working with actors and directors and having their plays performed in front of a live audience. Students will also gain hands-on experience participating in BNPR in a variety of possible roles including actor, director, stage management, and front-of-house. Students will also generate a new 10-minute play, or 10-minutes of new material for a current play-in-progress. Note: This course requires students to have previously completed CRWR 507. Students who took CRWR 507 in a previous year must prepare a 10-minute play on or before the first day of class and must ensure they follow any BNPR festival due dates and requirements.

Courses

Introduction to Creative Writing

CRWR 200

Public Notes

Introduction to Creative Writing

CRWR 200

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Introduction to Writing Poetry

CRWR 201

Public Notes

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Introduction to Writing for Children and Young Adults

CRWR 203

Public Notes

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Introduction to Writing Creative Nonfiction

CRWR 205

Public Notes

Introduction to Writing for the Screen

CRWR 206

Public Notes

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Introduction to Writing for Graphic Forms

CRWR 208

Public Notes

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Introduction to Writing Fiction

CRWR 209

Introduction to Writing Fiction

CRWR 209

Public Notes

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Introduction to Video Game Writing

CRWR 210

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Introduction to Writing for the New Media

CRWR 213

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Introduction to Creative Writing with an Indigenous Focus

CRWR 220

Public Notes

Introduction to Writing for Comedic Forms

CRWR 230

Public Notes

Intermediate Writing Poetry

CRWR 301

Public Notes

Writing for Podcast

CRWR 302

Public Notes

Intermediate Writing for Children and Young Adults

CRWR 303

Public Notes

Intermediate Writing of Creative Nonfiction

CRWR 305

Public Notes

Intermediate Writing for the Screen

CRWR 306

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Intermediate Writing for the Stage

CRWR 307

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Intermediate Writing for Graphic Forms

CRWR 308

Intermediate Writing Fiction

CRWR 309

Public Notes

Intermediate Video Game Writing

CRWR 310

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Intermediate Writing for Lyric Forms

CRWR 311

Public Notes