The creative writing major provides talented writing students an opportunity to enhance their powers of expression through the close reading of literature, the free exchange of ideas, and the production of original works of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Our creative writing students have placed their work in regional and national publications and contests. They have been admitted to prestigious graduate programs such as Hollins, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins, Wichita State University, and others. They go on to law school, they edit magazines, and they work in publishing companies. Some teach in elementary, secondary, or post-secondary schools. Others work for non-profit organizations. All of our graduates have learned to use the written word as a tool to expand their ways of knowing and understanding our world.
When you major in creative writing you declare a genre of emphasis in poetry, fiction or - unusual among college writing majors – creative non-fiction. You will also take a course in Special Topics, which could include screenwriting, novel writing, Sudden Fiction, epic or lyric poetry, or connected short fiction. Your major study will culminate in a Senior Seminar, in which you produce a significant portfolio of writing to present to the English Department faculty for critique.
Creative writers are a special breed of students. Your interests are often eclectic and always innovative. Those diverse interests are well served by intimate classes that meet in workshop settings to enable collective learning. You will be encouraged to publish poetry, fiction, and non-fiction in the student literary magazine, Incunabula, as well as to be part of the two honors societies, Sigma Tau Delta and Alpha Eta Kappa. You will also want to meet fellow student writers outside of class hours to work as a writing group, reading and critiquing each other’s work. You also have the opportunity to evaluate entries for the Salem College National Literary Awards, making you more familiar with elements involved in the literary and publishing worlds. Each semester culminates with a public reading where you may present your work to family, friends, and the College community. A singular advantage to student writers is that you may participate in master classes taught by regionally and nationally recognized writers who are brought to campus each semester by the Center for Women Writers.
You will learn from creative writing faculty members who are passionate about writing and about their students. Professors continually develop strategies to aid you in cultivating an authentic and compelling writing voice. Faculty members are well published and are dedicated to establishing a writing community that nurtures and cultivates your individual talent. They share generously with you and other students, not only their own creative spirit but also the extensive network of literary relationships they have developed over the years.
Writing is a cornerstone of a liberal arts education. Salem’s creative writing major empowers you to develop clarity of thought and expression, to think critically, to offer and accept criticism, and to study writing as craft. You may join other Salem graduates in earning MFAs or law degrees; editing magazines and working for publishing companies; teaching in the classroom; or working in non-profit organizations. You, like all of our graduates, will leave Salem having learned to use the written word as a tool to expand your ways of knowing and understanding our world.
Salem’s Department of English offers both a major and minor in creative writing. The creative writing major/minor offers talented students the opportunity for in-depth study and practice of the craft of imaginative writing. Through close readings, workshop discussions, and rigorous revision, students will be prepared to pursue graduate degrees in writing and/or English or to avail themselves of the many careers that value writing skills and critical thinking.
The creative writing major requires thirteen (13) courses; eight (8) of these are offered in creative writing and four (4) are offered in English. At the end of their studies, students will have earned at least thirty-eight (38) hours in creative writing and English.
Students will begin their studies with any of the 200-level Creative Writing courses. Students are required to take the following 200-level courses: CRWR 215 (Literary Artist as Citizen), CRWR 217 (Introductory Prose Writing Workshop) and CRWR 218 (Introductory Poetry Workshop). Students will take at least one 300-level workshop, choosing from CRWR 313 (Intermediate Fiction) or CRWR 321(Intermediate Poetry); an intensive professionalism and editing course, CRWR 390 (Managing a Literary Award and Editing for Publication); two CRWR electives; CRWR 315 (Art & Act of Revision) and the Senior Seminar in Creative Writing (CRWR 395).
Required Creative Writing Courses (24 hrs)
Select two additional CRWR electives (6-8 hrs)
NOTE: Internships, Independent Studies, Special Topics, or other variable credit courses must be taken for a minimum of three semester hours to be used toward these electives.
Six of the nine creative writing courses (including CRWR 395) must be taken at Salem.
In addition to the above-mentioned required creative writing courses, the creative writing major requires students to complete three courses in English literature and/or literary theory, as well as an English elective, as follows:
One course from Category I–Literature and Language before 1700 (3-4 hrs):
One course from Category II–Literature and language between 1700 and 1900 (3-4 hrs):
One course from Category III–Literature and Language after 1900 (3-4 hrs):
One literature or literary studies elective.
NOTE: Internships, Independent Studies, Special Topics, or other variable credit courses must be taken for a minimum of three semester hours to be used toward these electives.
A minor in creative writing consists of five courses, four in creative writing and one in English literature and/or literary theory, totaling a minimum of fifteen semester hours. At least three of these courses must be taken at Salem.
NOTE: Internships, Independent Studies, Special Topics, or other variable credit courses must be taken for a minimum of three semester hours to be counted toward the minor.
Independent study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Open to students with a 2.0 cumulative average and permission of the chair of the department. Independent study may take the form of readings and/or research, and will include a substantial written project. Independent study may be taken for a total of twelve semester hours but no more than six hours in any term. Prerequisite: Previous study in creative writing and permission of the department.
This course introduces students to the profession of creative work and the ethical work of being a literary artist. Students will learn what it means to be a literary arts citizen, what it means to be an ethical literary artist in the world and how to become a professional literary artist, including the business of marketing and promoting the self as Creative Writer. This course will occasionally be offered as a Service-Learning Course. The course is required for all Creative Writing majors & is recommended to take prior to taking Intermediate-level workshops. (HM)
In this workshop course in writing prose, emphasis is on the craft of writing prose and how that craft contributes to meaning. The original prose of the students will make up the workshops. Workshop sessions will assist students in acquiring the skills necessary to evaluate with care the writing of others as well as their own writing. Course also includes a survey of selected writings by prose writers.
In this workshop course on writing poetry, emphasis is on the craft of poetry and how that craft contributes to meaning. The original poetry of students will make up the workshops. Workshop sessions will assist students in acquiring the skills necessary to evaluate with care the writing of others as well as their own writing. The course also includes a survey of selected writings by traditional and contemporary poets.
Intensive investigation of a genre, topic, or craft issue. The subject matter of the course will be announced prior to the beginning of the course.
This exploratory course will address current trends in creative writing, including but not limited to collaborations with other disciplines, genre literature, translations, and digital archive and research. The course will be reading and writing intensive. Students may take the course a maximum of two times as part of their course of study at Salem College. Offered January Term.
The opportunity to use the knowledge and skills that the creative writing major/minor has learned through coursework in a professional setting. The apprenticeship aspect of the internship implies that the student will increase her knowledge and skills by direct contact with an experienced mentor. Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least a 2.0 cumulative average; no more than one internship can count toward the major; admission only by application.
Advanced independent study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Open to juniors and seniors with a 3.5 G.P.A. in creative writing, subject to the approval of the chair of the department. Honors Independent Study may be taken for a maximum of two courses.
This workshop course in fiction writing builds upon the skills developed in CRWR 217 and addresses the essential strategies for writing and evaluating fiction. Students read, discuss, and analyze contemporary fiction and original fiction written for the class. Writing will focus on short fiction. Substantial original writing and outside reading required. Prerequisite: CRWR 217.
This course will focus on revising creative work that has undergone workshop at both the introductory and intermediate levels in the student’s chosen genre. Students will revise their work, with the understanding that creative revision emphasizes re-vision, re-seeing, re-thinking, re-making, re-envisioning the work. Students will study both the drafts & revised works of published work in order to gain deeper understanding of the differences between editing and revising. At the end of the semester, the students will have a substantial portfolio of polished work that they can send out as part of their graduate school application materials, to literary journals literary/contests, and/or grants/fellowship/retreat opportunities. This course is required for all Creative Writing majors. Prerequisite: CRWR 313 or 321.
This workshop course in creative non-fiction builds upon the skills developed in CRWR 217 and addresses the essential strategies for writing and evaluating creative nonfiction. Students read, discuss, and analyze writings such as essays, biographies, and memoirs, as well as original creative non-fiction written for the class. Substantial original writing and outside reading required. In addition, students will discuss various modes of writing about personal experience and the aesthetic and ethical issues raised by such writing. Writing will focus on biography, essay, memoir, vignette, etc. Prerequisite: CRWR 217.
This workshop course in poetry builds upon the skills developed in CRWR 218 and addresses the essential strategies for writing and evaluating poetry. Students read, discuss, and analyze contemporary poetry and original poetry written for the class. Writing will focus on various forms of poetry. Substantial original writing and outside reading required. Prerequisite: CRWR 218.
This advanced workshop course will put emphasis on a sustained creative writing project. Students will focus on manuscript preparation and should anticipate individual conferences with the professor. Topic will vary each semester and could include advanced poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction. Additional possible topics might include novel writing, screenwriting, or writing for children. Students may take the course for credit more than once if the genre/topic differs or with approval from the professor. Prerequisite: One 300-level creative writing course taken at Salem in the genre of the special topic, or permission of instructor.
This is a two-prong course: (1) Students will serve as preliminary screeners for the International Literary Awards, which is offered annually in fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Students will use editorial criteria to read, evaluate, and discuss entries, and students will be responsible for the preliminary selection process. They will help with the tasks of managing the entries, creating databases for the entries, communicating with entrants, promotion and marketing of the award, and will assist in the announcement of winners. (2) Students will submit creative work in their primary and secondary genre, to be read, evaluated, critiqued, and edited by members of the class. We will pay particular attention to the editorial side of these submissions instead of the drafting and revision side, so students will be expected to enter the course with polished work, ready for submission. Through research we will identify several literary journals, contests, writing retreats/colonies, and grants that are open to emerging writers; students will select journals and contests to submit to, and grants and retreats to potentially apply for. Each student will submit a proposal that includes a list of journals, contests, retreats, etc. that they will send their work to, along with a timeline to do so. Finally, students will learn to draft cover letters, grant proposals, and statements of purpose. Prerequisite: CRWR 217 or 218. May be repeated twice for credit toward the major/minor.
This capstone workshop course is open only to seniors or students who have completed all but one creative writing class and one literature course required for the creative writing major. The course involves intensive writing in the student’s genre of emphasis and will culminate in a substantial portfolio of original work: poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or an appropriate genre as determined by the professor. Students will complete the course with a portfolio of writing that might be used as preparation for graduate study or a career in a related field. The course will conclude with a teaching demonstration.
In this workshop course in writing prose, emphasis is on the craft of writing prose and how that craft contributes to meaning. The original prose of the students will make up the workshops. Workshop sessions will assist students in acquiring the skills necessary to evaluate with care the writing of others as well as their own writing. Course also includes a survey of selected writings by prose writers.
Our majors have interned as Research Assistants, Editorial Assistants, Social Media Coordinators, Writing Consultants, Coaching Assistants, Assistant Editors, Archival Assistants, Event Planning, Content Creators, Book Designers and more. They have interned at a variety of local, regional and national organizations, proving that creative writing majors have both hard & soft skills that are easily transferred into many professional endeavors!
Authoring Action
Blair Publishing Co.
Bookmarks
C & R Press
Cosmogirl
Gryphon House
Jacar Press
Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Horticulture Department
Piedmont Craftsmen
Press 53
Public Library, Forsyth County
Public Library, Randolph County
Furman University
Salem College Library
Salem College Student Center
Salem College Writing Center
Snapdragon: A Journal of Art & Healing
Sojourners Magazine
TheThe Poetry
Weasel Press
White Wolf Publishing
Winston-Salem Journal
Winston Salem Writers
Class of 2017
Major: Creative writing
Class of 2015
Majors: Creative Writing, Literature
Career: Literary grant and not-for-profit consultant, freelance writer/editor
Class of 2017
Majors: English, Creative Writing
Career: Content Production Specialist at Kaplan Early Learning Company
When you major in creative writing you declare a genre of emphasis in poetry, fiction or - unusual among college writing majors – creative non-fiction. You will also take a course in Special Topics, which could include screenwriting, novel writing, Sudden Fiction, epic or lyric poetry, or connected short fiction. Your major study will culminate in a Senior Seminar, in which you produce a significant portfolio of writing to present to the English Department faculty for critique.
Creative writers are a special breed of students. Your interests are often eclectic and always innovative. Those diverse interests are well served by intimate classes that meet in workshop settings to enable collective learning. You will be encouraged to publish poetry, fiction, and non-fiction in the student literary magazine, Incunabula, as well as to be part of the two honors societies, Sigma Tau Delta and Alpha Eta Kappa. You will also want to meet fellow student writers outside of class hours to work as a writing group, reading and critiquing each other’s work. You also have the opportunity to evaluate entries for the Salem College National Literary Awards, making you more familiar with elements involved in the literary and publishing worlds. Each semester culminates with a public reading where you may present your work to family, friends, and the College community. A singular advantage to student writers is that you may participate in master classes taught by regionally and nationally recognized writers who are brought to campus each semester by the Center for Women Writers.
You will learn from creative writing faculty members who are passionate about writing and about their students. Professors continually develop strategies to aid you in cultivating an authentic and compelling writing voice. Faculty members are well published and are dedicated to establishing a writing community that nurtures and cultivates your individual talent. They share generously with you and other students, not only their own creative spirit but also the extensive network of literary relationships they have developed over the years.
Writing is a cornerstone of a liberal arts education. Salem’s creative writing major empowers you to develop clarity of thought and expression, to think critically, to offer and accept criticism, and to study writing as craft. You may join other Salem graduates in earning MFAs or law degrees; editing magazines and working for publishing companies; teaching in the classroom; or working in non-profit organizations. You, like all of our graduates, will leave Salem having learned to use the written word as a tool to expand your ways of knowing and understanding our world.
Salem’s Department of English offers both a major and minor in creative writing. The creative writing major/minor offers talented students the opportunity for in-depth study and practice of the craft of imaginative writing. Through close readings, workshop discussions, and rigorous revision, students will be prepared to pursue graduate degrees in writing and/or English or to avail themselves of the many careers that value writing skills and critical thinking.
The creative writing major requires thirteen (13) courses; eight (8) of these are offered in creative writing and four (4) are offered in English. At the end of their studies, students will have earned at least thirty-eight (38) hours in creative writing and English.
Students will begin their studies with any of the 200-level Creative Writing courses. Students are required to take the following 200-level courses: CRWR 215 (Literary Artist as Citizen), CRWR 217 (Introductory Prose Writing Workshop) and CRWR 218 (Introductory Poetry Workshop). Students will take at least one 300-level workshop, choosing from CRWR 313 (Intermediate Fiction) or CRWR 321(Intermediate Poetry); an intensive professionalism and editing course, CRWR 390 (Managing a Literary Award and Editing for Publication); two CRWR electives; CRWR 315 (Art & Act of Revision) and the Senior Seminar in Creative Writing (CRWR 395).
Required Creative Writing Courses (24 hrs)
Select two additional CRWR electives (6-8 hrs)
NOTE: Internships, Independent Studies, Special Topics, or other variable credit courses must be taken for a minimum of three semester hours to be used toward these electives.
Six of the nine creative writing courses (including CRWR 395) must be taken at Salem.
In addition to the above-mentioned required creative writing courses, the creative writing major requires students to complete three courses in English literature and/or literary theory, as well as an English elective, as follows:
One course from Category I–Literature and Language before 1700 (3-4 hrs):
One course from Category II–Literature and language between 1700 and 1900 (3-4 hrs):
One course from Category III–Literature and Language after 1900 (3-4 hrs):
One literature or literary studies elective.
NOTE: Internships, Independent Studies, Special Topics, or other variable credit courses must be taken for a minimum of three semester hours to be used toward these electives.
A minor in creative writing consists of five courses, four in creative writing and one in English literature and/or literary theory, totaling a minimum of fifteen semester hours. At least three of these courses must be taken at Salem.
NOTE: Internships, Independent Studies, Special Topics, or other variable credit courses must be taken for a minimum of three semester hours to be counted toward the minor.
Independent study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Open to students with a 2.0 cumulative average and permission of the chair of the department. Independent study may take the form of readings and/or research, and will include a substantial written project. Independent study may be taken for a total of twelve semester hours but no more than six hours in any term. Prerequisite: Previous study in creative writing and permission of the department.
This course introduces students to the profession of creative work and the ethical work of being a literary artist. Students will learn what it means to be a literary arts citizen, what it means to be an ethical literary artist in the world and how to become a professional literary artist, including the business of marketing and promoting the self as Creative Writer. This course will occasionally be offered as a Service-Learning Course. The course is required for all Creative Writing majors & is recommended to take prior to taking Intermediate-level workshops. (HM)
In this workshop course in writing prose, emphasis is on the craft of writing prose and how that craft contributes to meaning. The original prose of the students will make up the workshops. Workshop sessions will assist students in acquiring the skills necessary to evaluate with care the writing of others as well as their own writing. Course also includes a survey of selected writings by prose writers.
In this workshop course on writing poetry, emphasis is on the craft of poetry and how that craft contributes to meaning. The original poetry of students will make up the workshops. Workshop sessions will assist students in acquiring the skills necessary to evaluate with care the writing of others as well as their own writing. The course also includes a survey of selected writings by traditional and contemporary poets.
Intensive investigation of a genre, topic, or craft issue. The subject matter of the course will be announced prior to the beginning of the course.
This exploratory course will address current trends in creative writing, including but not limited to collaborations with other disciplines, genre literature, translations, and digital archive and research. The course will be reading and writing intensive. Students may take the course a maximum of two times as part of their course of study at Salem College. Offered January Term.
The opportunity to use the knowledge and skills that the creative writing major/minor has learned through coursework in a professional setting. The apprenticeship aspect of the internship implies that the student will increase her knowledge and skills by direct contact with an experienced mentor. Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least a 2.0 cumulative average; no more than one internship can count toward the major; admission only by application.
Advanced independent study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Open to juniors and seniors with a 3.5 G.P.A. in creative writing, subject to the approval of the chair of the department. Honors Independent Study may be taken for a maximum of two courses.
This workshop course in fiction writing builds upon the skills developed in CRWR 217 and addresses the essential strategies for writing and evaluating fiction. Students read, discuss, and analyze contemporary fiction and original fiction written for the class. Writing will focus on short fiction. Substantial original writing and outside reading required. Prerequisite: CRWR 217.
This course will focus on revising creative work that has undergone workshop at both the introductory and intermediate levels in the student’s chosen genre. Students will revise their work, with the understanding that creative revision emphasizes re-vision, re-seeing, re-thinking, re-making, re-envisioning the work. Students will study both the drafts & revised works of published work in order to gain deeper understanding of the differences between editing and revising. At the end of the semester, the students will have a substantial portfolio of polished work that they can send out as part of their graduate school application materials, to literary journals literary/contests, and/or grants/fellowship/retreat opportunities. This course is required for all Creative Writing majors. Prerequisite: CRWR 313 or 321.
This workshop course in creative non-fiction builds upon the skills developed in CRWR 217 and addresses the essential strategies for writing and evaluating creative nonfiction. Students read, discuss, and analyze writings such as essays, biographies, and memoirs, as well as original creative non-fiction written for the class. Substantial original writing and outside reading required. In addition, students will discuss various modes of writing about personal experience and the aesthetic and ethical issues raised by such writing. Writing will focus on biography, essay, memoir, vignette, etc. Prerequisite: CRWR 217.
This workshop course in poetry builds upon the skills developed in CRWR 218 and addresses the essential strategies for writing and evaluating poetry. Students read, discuss, and analyze contemporary poetry and original poetry written for the class. Writing will focus on various forms of poetry. Substantial original writing and outside reading required. Prerequisite: CRWR 218.
This advanced workshop course will put emphasis on a sustained creative writing project. Students will focus on manuscript preparation and should anticipate individual conferences with the professor. Topic will vary each semester and could include advanced poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction. Additional possible topics might include novel writing, screenwriting, or writing for children. Students may take the course for credit more than once if the genre/topic differs or with approval from the professor. Prerequisite: One 300-level creative writing course taken at Salem in the genre of the special topic, or permission of instructor.
This is a two-prong course: (1) Students will serve as preliminary screeners for the International Literary Awards, which is offered annually in fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Students will use editorial criteria to read, evaluate, and discuss entries, and students will be responsible for the preliminary selection process. They will help with the tasks of managing the entries, creating databases for the entries, communicating with entrants, promotion and marketing of the award, and will assist in the announcement of winners. (2) Students will submit creative work in their primary and secondary genre, to be read, evaluated, critiqued, and edited by members of the class. We will pay particular attention to the editorial side of these submissions instead of the drafting and revision side, so students will be expected to enter the course with polished work, ready for submission. Through research we will identify several literary journals, contests, writing retreats/colonies, and grants that are open to emerging writers; students will select journals and contests to submit to, and grants and retreats to potentially apply for. Each student will submit a proposal that includes a list of journals, contests, retreats, etc. that they will send their work to, along with a timeline to do so. Finally, students will learn to draft cover letters, grant proposals, and statements of purpose. Prerequisite: CRWR 217 or 218. May be repeated twice for credit toward the major/minor.
This capstone workshop course is open only to seniors or students who have completed all but one creative writing class and one literature course required for the creative writing major. The course involves intensive writing in the student’s genre of emphasis and will culminate in a substantial portfolio of original work: poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or an appropriate genre as determined by the professor. Students will complete the course with a portfolio of writing that might be used as preparation for graduate study or a career in a related field. The course will conclude with a teaching demonstration.
In this workshop course in writing prose, emphasis is on the craft of writing prose and how that craft contributes to meaning. The original prose of the students will make up the workshops. Workshop sessions will assist students in acquiring the skills necessary to evaluate with care the writing of others as well as their own writing. Course also includes a survey of selected writings by prose writers.
Class of 2017
Major: Creative writing
Class of 2015
Majors: Creative Writing, Literature
Career: Literary grant and not-for-profit consultant, freelance writer/editor
Class of 2017
Majors: English, Creative Writing
Career: Content Production Specialist at Kaplan Early Learning Company
Our majors have interned as Research Assistants, Editorial Assistants, Social Media Coordinators, Writing Consultants, Coaching Assistants, Assistant Editors, Archival Assistants, Event Planning, Content Creators, Book Designers and more. They have interned at a variety of local, regional and national organizations, proving that creative writing majors have both hard & soft skills that are easily transferred into many professional endeavors!
Authoring Action
Blair Publishing Co.
Bookmarks
C & R Press
Cosmogirl
Gryphon House
Jacar Press
Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Horticulture Department
Piedmont Craftsmen
Press 53
Public Library, Forsyth County
Public Library, Randolph County
Furman University
Salem College Library
Salem College Student Center
Salem College Writing Center
Snapdragon: A Journal of Art & Healing
Sojourners Magazine
TheThe Poetry
Weasel Press
White Wolf Publishing
Winston-Salem Journal
Winston Salem Writers