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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.

Program Faculty

Molly Haile

Affiliated Assistant Professor of Creative Writing
336-721-2600
molly.haile@salem.edu
Main Hall 203-B

Rebecca Davis

Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing
rebecca.davis@salem.edu
  • Department of English and Creative Writing

Helpful Links

  • Creative Writing 4-Year Plan
  • Creative Writing Transfer Guide
Overview

Your Program

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.

Your Experience

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.

Your Faculty

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.

Your Results

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.

Major/Minor

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)

  • CRWR 215. Literary Artist as Citizen (3 hrs)
  • CRWR 217. Introductory Prose Writing Workshop (3 hrs)
  • CRWR 218. Introductory Poetry Workshop (3 hrs)
  • CRWR 313. Intermediate Fiction Workshop or CRWR 321. Intermediate Poetry Workshop (3 hrs each)
  • CRWR 315. Art & Act of Revision (4 hrs)
  • CRWR 390. Managing a Literary Award and Editing for Publication (4 hrs)
  • CRWR 395. Senior Seminar in Creative Writing (4 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):

  • ENGL 208. Early Modern Female Dramatists: Sinners, Saints, and Sapphos (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 231. Writing of and by Women: Survey of English Literature, 1370-1789 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 249. Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Shakespeare (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 348. The Rise of the Female Novelist, 1684-1900 (4 hrs)
  • ENGL 352. Writing as Revolution! Milton and Seventeenth-Century Culture (4 hrs)

One course from Category II–Literature and language between 1700 and 1900 (3-4 hrs):

  • ENGL 231. Writing of and by Women: Survey of English Literature, 1370-1789 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 232. Romantic to Post-Modern: Survey of English Literature, 1789-Present (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 292. First Contact through Civil War: Survey of American Literature before 1870 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 293. The Culture of African-American Literature (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 341. Visions, Violence and Violets: The Romantic Era, 1786-1832 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 346. Conservatism and Crisis: The Victorian Era, 1832-1901 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 348. The Rise of the Female Novelist, 1684-1900 (4 hrs)

One course from Category III–Literature and Language after 1900 (3-4 hrs):

  • ENGL 223. Taboos, Experiments and the Other: Modern Drama (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 232. Romantic to Post-Modern: Survey of English Lit, 1789-Present (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 288. Rooms of Their Own: Women Writers, 1900-Present (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 293. The Culture of African-American Literature (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 294. Frontier, City, Soul: Survey of American Literature after 1870 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 295. Dream and Reality: Literature of the American South (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 298. “Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads”: Engaging Modern American Poetry (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 320. Pilgrims, Questers, and Warriors: American Fiction after 1945 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 325. Modern Writings from Women of the Non-Western World: Global Literature (4 hrs)
  • ENGL 347. “Odd” Literary Couples: American Novel, 1900-1945 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 349. Race, Culture, and Identity in Multi-Ethnic Literature of the US (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 399. A Game of Interpretation: Introduction to Contemporary Literary Theory (3 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.


Creative Writing Minor

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. 

Courses

Creative Writing Courses (CRWR)

CRWR 200. Independent Study in Creative Writing (1-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 215. Literary Artist as Citizen (3 hrs)

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)

CRWR 217. Introductory Prose Writing Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 218. Introductory Poetry Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 220. Special Topics in Creative Writing (1-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 223. Current Trends in Creative Writing (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 270. Internship in Creative Writing (1-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 290. Honors Independent Study in Creative Writing (3-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 313. Intermediate Fiction Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 315. The Art & Act of Revision (4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 319. Intermediate Creative Non-Fiction Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 321. Intermediate Poetry Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 370. Special Topics in Creative Writing (1-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 390. Managing a Literary Award and Editing for Publication (4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 395. Senior Seminar in Creative Writing (4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 217. Introductory Prose Writing Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

Internships

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

Success Stories
I began my journey at Salem later in life than my classmates in the Creative Writing Major. I found it very enriching to view the world through younger eyes through their writing and they, in turn, were supportive of my writing endeavors giving insight I never could have manifested on my own. The classes at Salem are small. This allows for more individual input on your writing from professors and classmates. The skills I obtained at Salem have allowed me to further my craft through freelance writing for both local and national publications. I have also done copywriting for a small firm in Charlotte and various people online. Currently, I have taken a break from freelancing and publishing in literary magazines to focus working on my first novel. Had I not gone to Salem, I would have never had the tools I needed to work from home nor tackle writing a novel. I still keep in touch with some of my classmates as well as a few professors. The Creative Writing curriculum at Salem prepares you for a diverse pool of careers. I recommend the program on a regular basis.
Pat Berryhill

Class of 2017

Major: Creative writing

,
As a creative writing major at Salem College, over arcs of self ingenuity and innovation are pushed to new and exciting spaces. Your awareness and understanding of not only literature, but the social, political and cultural influences your writerly investigations have on them will begin to tap at whatever unlocking potential you seek to explore. Whether through crafting verse or prose, submitting to journals, drafting presentations, or researching critical analysis, the discipline and stimulation upheaved in the program will resonate well past your time at Salem and into your professional curiosities. You will be fortunate enough to know what it means to be surrounded by a supportive community of writers and mentors, and in the early stages of one's career, there is nothing more valuable.
Morgan Christie

Class of 2015

Majors: Creative Writing, Literature

Career: Literary grant and not-for-profit consultant, freelance writer/editor

,
Pursuing my passion for creative writing at Salem is a decision that I’m thankful for every day. As a double major in English and creative writing, I was able to marry my love of literature with my respect for the craft behind the works I was analyzing, in turn becoming a better writer and a more insightful thinker. Salem’s creative writing program is truly one-of-a-kind—I’m not sure where else you’ll find such an intimate and supportive group of peers and professors that truly want to help you hone your skills, perfect your pieces, and find your voice. The creative writing program also opened doors for me beyond the classroom, allowing me to become more involved in shaping Salem’s culture as the editor-in-chief of Incunabula. Now, as a marketing professional, I find the skills I gained as a creative writing major indispensable and I rely on them every day. As a whole, I feel that being a creative writing major has prepared me for even the most unlikely of careers because it helped me develop my voice and strengthen my creative and critical thinking skills. I also can’t stress enough that the friendships and connections I built while in this program are among the strongest I’ve ever had and I still rely on my fellow Salem creative writers for support and, every now and then, a good old fashioned workshopping session.
Kayla Conway, MLIS

Class of 2017

Majors: English, Creative Writing

Career: Content Production Specialist at Kaplan Early Learning Company

  • Overview
  • Major/Minor
  • Courses
  • Internships
  • Resources
  • FAQs
  • Success Stories

Your Program

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.

Your Experience

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.

Your Faculty

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.

Your Results

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)

  • CRWR 215. Literary Artist as Citizen (3 hrs)
  • CRWR 217. Introductory Prose Writing Workshop (3 hrs)
  • CRWR 218. Introductory Poetry Workshop (3 hrs)
  • CRWR 313. Intermediate Fiction Workshop or CRWR 321. Intermediate Poetry Workshop (3 hrs each)
  • CRWR 315. Art & Act of Revision (4 hrs)
  • CRWR 390. Managing a Literary Award and Editing for Publication (4 hrs)
  • CRWR 395. Senior Seminar in Creative Writing (4 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):

  • ENGL 208. Early Modern Female Dramatists: Sinners, Saints, and Sapphos (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 231. Writing of and by Women: Survey of English Literature, 1370-1789 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 249. Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Shakespeare (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 348. The Rise of the Female Novelist, 1684-1900 (4 hrs)
  • ENGL 352. Writing as Revolution! Milton and Seventeenth-Century Culture (4 hrs)

One course from Category II–Literature and language between 1700 and 1900 (3-4 hrs):

  • ENGL 231. Writing of and by Women: Survey of English Literature, 1370-1789 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 232. Romantic to Post-Modern: Survey of English Literature, 1789-Present (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 292. First Contact through Civil War: Survey of American Literature before 1870 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 293. The Culture of African-American Literature (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 341. Visions, Violence and Violets: The Romantic Era, 1786-1832 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 346. Conservatism and Crisis: The Victorian Era, 1832-1901 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 348. The Rise of the Female Novelist, 1684-1900 (4 hrs)

One course from Category III–Literature and Language after 1900 (3-4 hrs):

  • ENGL 223. Taboos, Experiments and the Other: Modern Drama (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 232. Romantic to Post-Modern: Survey of English Lit, 1789-Present (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 288. Rooms of Their Own: Women Writers, 1900-Present (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 293. The Culture of African-American Literature (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 294. Frontier, City, Soul: Survey of American Literature after 1870 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 295. Dream and Reality: Literature of the American South (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 298. “Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads”: Engaging Modern American Poetry (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 320. Pilgrims, Questers, and Warriors: American Fiction after 1945 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 325. Modern Writings from Women of the Non-Western World: Global Literature (4 hrs)
  • ENGL 347. “Odd” Literary Couples: American Novel, 1900-1945 (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 349. Race, Culture, and Identity in Multi-Ethnic Literature of the US (3 hrs)
  • ENGL 399. A Game of Interpretation: Introduction to Contemporary Literary Theory (3 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.


Creative Writing Minor

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. 

Creative Writing Courses (CRWR)

CRWR 200. Independent Study in Creative Writing (1-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 215. Literary Artist as Citizen (3 hrs)

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)

CRWR 217. Introductory Prose Writing Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 218. Introductory Poetry Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 220. Special Topics in Creative Writing (1-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 223. Current Trends in Creative Writing (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 270. Internship in Creative Writing (1-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 290. Honors Independent Study in Creative Writing (3-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 313. Intermediate Fiction Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 315. The Art & Act of Revision (4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 319. Intermediate Creative Non-Fiction Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 321. Intermediate Poetry Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

CRWR 370. Special Topics in Creative Writing (1-4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 390. Managing a Literary Award and Editing for Publication (4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 395. Senior Seminar in Creative Writing (4 hrs)

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.

CRWR 217. Introductory Prose Writing Workshop (3 hrs)

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.

I began my journey at Salem later in life than my classmates in the Creative Writing Major. I found it very enriching to view the world through younger eyes through their writing and they, in turn, were supportive of my writing endeavors giving insight I never could have manifested on my own. The classes at Salem are small. This allows for more individual input on your writing from professors and classmates. The skills I obtained at Salem have allowed me to further my craft through freelance writing for both local and national publications. I have also done copywriting for a small firm in Charlotte and various people online. Currently, I have taken a break from freelancing and publishing in literary magazines to focus working on my first novel. Had I not gone to Salem, I would have never had the tools I needed to work from home nor tackle writing a novel. I still keep in touch with some of my classmates as well as a few professors. The Creative Writing curriculum at Salem prepares you for a diverse pool of careers. I recommend the program on a regular basis.
Pat Berryhill

Class of 2017

Major: Creative writing

,
As a creative writing major at Salem College, over arcs of self ingenuity and innovation are pushed to new and exciting spaces. Your awareness and understanding of not only literature, but the social, political and cultural influences your writerly investigations have on them will begin to tap at whatever unlocking potential you seek to explore. Whether through crafting verse or prose, submitting to journals, drafting presentations, or researching critical analysis, the discipline and stimulation upheaved in the program will resonate well past your time at Salem and into your professional curiosities. You will be fortunate enough to know what it means to be surrounded by a supportive community of writers and mentors, and in the early stages of one's career, there is nothing more valuable.
Morgan Christie

Class of 2015

Majors: Creative Writing, Literature

Career: Literary grant and not-for-profit consultant, freelance writer/editor

,
Pursuing my passion for creative writing at Salem is a decision that I’m thankful for every day. As a double major in English and creative writing, I was able to marry my love of literature with my respect for the craft behind the works I was analyzing, in turn becoming a better writer and a more insightful thinker. Salem’s creative writing program is truly one-of-a-kind—I’m not sure where else you’ll find such an intimate and supportive group of peers and professors that truly want to help you hone your skills, perfect your pieces, and find your voice. The creative writing program also opened doors for me beyond the classroom, allowing me to become more involved in shaping Salem’s culture as the editor-in-chief of Incunabula. Now, as a marketing professional, I find the skills I gained as a creative writing major indispensable and I rely on them every day. As a whole, I feel that being a creative writing major has prepared me for even the most unlikely of careers because it helped me develop my voice and strengthen my creative and critical thinking skills. I also can’t stress enough that the friendships and connections I built while in this program are among the strongest I’ve ever had and I still rely on my fellow Salem creative writers for support and, every now and then, a good old fashioned workshopping session.
Kayla Conway, MLIS

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

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