Creative Writing
The Blank Page Is a Field of Infinite PossibilityWhether you've never penned a poem or you're halfway through your third novel, our Creative Writing program will provide you with the supportive community, the knowledge of craft, and the inspiration to find and to refine your voice, tell your story, and learn to exercise the untapped power of your imagination.
Our Program
Our passionate and experienced instructors, all writers themselves, will guide you as you embark on your own journey to parts as yet unknown.
We offer a three-course sequence (ENGL 161, 162, 163), taught concurrently. First-time students, regardless of previous experience as writers, should enroll in 161. Our classes are offered day and evening and during the summer.
Beginners will write poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, while advanced students may choose to focus their work on a particular genre or a particular project, such as a chapbook, a memoir, or a novella. All students will participate in a writer's workshop, perform regular exercises to get the ink flowing and practice elements of craft, and develop skills in reading published work as writers.
Our Community
The Creative Writing faculty and students are sponsoring ways for student writers to come together, to hear, and to be heard:
- Submit your work to be considered for The Writers' Ruckus, a curated celebration of student and faculty writers, once each semester in Building 10.
- Consider submitting your work for publication in Labyrinth, CSM's literary magazine.
- Come read at one of the Creative Writing Club's open mics, once or even twice, each semester.
- Join the Creative Writing Club to find your people!
- All 3 creative writing classes (161, 162 and 163) are CSU and UC transferable.
- Each 3 unit course meets CSU General Education Requirements in Area C1 or C2.
- Each 3 unit course meets AA and AS degree requirement Area E2.
- Each 3 unit course counts toward your AA/AST total units needed.
- CSM offers an English AA and AAT, and these classes count toward that degree and are part of Group B major requirements.
- They are offered day and evening.
- We anticipate awarding Creative Writing Certificates as early as Spring of 2020.
Creative Writing Classes
Visit Webschedule to view current classes.
