creative writing wiki

Creative Writing 2024

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Wiki page for Academic Jobs in Creative Writing advertised during the 2023-2024 hiring season. This page is for jobs that begin in 2024. Google is taking people to the old locked page! Please spread the word about this page so it is updated! This is the functioning Creative Writing Jobs wiki for 2024.

6/6/24: Page for 2025 is now available: Creative Writing 2024-2025

Last year's page: Creative Writing 2023

Instructions [ ]

Please add jobs in the following format and order them alphabetically by the name of the institution.

Example University. Position Title. Specializations. Deadline. TT/NT. FT/PT. Link to Job ad(s).

TT/NT: Tenure-track or Non-tenure track.

FT/PT: Full-Time or Part-Time

PD: Post-doc

For the sake of user-friendliness, please do not add more detailed content of the job ad on this page. (This is a departure from previous years, when these pages tended to become difficult to navigate. The new guidelines are modeled on more user-friendly Academic Wiki pages serving other disciplines.)

Add updates to the end of each entry as they come in: Additional materials requested, video interview scheduled, campus visit scheduled, offer extended, offer accepted, rejection received.

Please post "Have you heard?" questions below, under Word on the Street .

RECENT ACTIVITY on Creative Writing 2024 Wiki [ ]

73.38.138.121: /* FICTION: Full-Time / Tenure Track Positions: */ - 73.38.138.121 - 2024/12/22 21:42

72.49.182.67 at 00:40, 13 September 2024 - 72.49.182.67 - 2024/09/13 00:40

97.115.196.101: /* POETRY: Full-Time / Tenure Track Positions: */ - 97.115.196.101 - 2024/08/31 01:59

72.49.182.67 at 19:55, 19 August 2024 - 72.49.182.67 - 2024/08/19 19:55

Glrblorg: https://x.com/AlanaSaab/status/1825366968221778041 - Glrblorg - 2024/08/19 05:15

Subscribe to RSS Feed for This Page : http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/Creative_Writing_2024?feed=rss&action=history

WHO GOT THE JOB? [ ]

Fiction: full-time / tenure track positions: [ ].

Berry College: Brigham Young U: Carleton College: Gwen Kirby Case Western Reserve University: Fairfield University: Grinnell College: Bruna Dantas Lobato, Stef Torralba East Carolina University: Hollins U: Hope College: Illinois State U: Kansas City Art Institute: Kennesaw State University: Ohio University: Casey Plett Penn State: Princeton U: Purchase College (SUNY): Lee Cornell Queens College (CUNY): Search canceled. Seton Hall University: Smith College: Allegra Hyde St. Mary's College of California: Stony Brook (SUNY): Alana Saab SUNY Stony Brook: University of Central Florida: U of Chicago: U of of Hawai‘i at Mānoa: Joseph Han U of Iowa: U of St. Thomas: U of Illinois-Chicago: No hire University of Louisiana at Lafayette: University of Victoria: Wayde Compton U of Virginia: Wake Forest U: Ebony Flowers Waldorf University: University of Central Arkansas:

POETRY: Full-Time / Tenure Track Positions: [ ]

Antioch University: Baruch College: Sally Wen Mao Beloit: Tacey Atsitty Bethany College: Binghamton University (SUNY): Colorado College: Emerson College: Porsha Olayiwola Florida Atlantic U: Romeo Oriogun Franklin and Marshall College: Niki Herd Hendrix College: New College of Florida: Joseph Massey New Mexico Highlands U: Oklahoma State U: Stephanie Choi Reed College: Joan Naviyuk Kane School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Texas Tech University: UC Davis: Cindy Ok U of Central Arkansas: U of Cincinnati: Search canceled U of Massachusetts Amherst: Desiree C. Bailey U of North Carolina-Chapel Hill: Carlina Duan U of North Carolina-Pembroke: U of Pittsburgh: U of South Florida: Ajibola Tolase U of Tampa: Victorio Reyes Asili U of Vermont: Aria Aber (with spousal TT hire) U of Virginia: Sumita Chakraborty Wichita State University: Adam Scheffler

NONFICTION: Full-Time / Tenure Track Positions: [ ]

U of Tampa: Auburn U Montgomery: Bowdoin College: Jordan Eisner Centenary College of Louisiana: Colorado State University: Sarah Perry Cornell College: Denison U: Elon University: Search Canceled Florida Atlantic University: Howard University: Santa Clara University: Miah Jeffra Sarah Lawrence College: St. Mary's College of California: SUNY New Paltz: Katherine Blackburn U of Central Oklahoma: U of Chicago: U of Idaho: U of North Carolina-Wilmington: Michael Ramos (internal hire and former BA and MFA student in the program) U of North Dakota:

OPEN GENRE: Full-Time / Tenure Track Positions: [ ]

Catawba College: Natalie Rogers Chapman University: Jean Chen Ho College of Wooster: Davis and Elkins College: Emerson College: Franciscan U of Steubenville: Greenville County School Fine Arts Center: Illinois State U: Le Moyne College: Loyola Marymount U (two positions): Nathan Kweku John Southern New Hampshire U: Texas State U-San Marcos: US Naval Academy-Annapolis: U of British Columbia: U of Georgia: U of Mary Hardin-Baylor: U of Michigan: U of Missouri-Kansas City: Jennifer Maritza McCauley U of South Florida: Weber State U: Winston-Salem State U:

VISITING/LIMITED-TERM POSITIONS: [ ]

Amherst College W-i-R: Brown U Post-MFA/doc: Clemson U W-i-R: Dartmouth Poet-in-Residence at The Frost Place: Aurielle Marie Davidson College McGee Distinguished Professor: Emory U Fiction Fellowship: George Washington U Jenny McKean Moore Writer in Washington: Georgia Tech Brittain Fellowship: Oberlin College VAP: Katie Berta Scripps College VAP: Jesslyn Whittell Sewanee: Jim Whiteside Trinity College A-i-R: Tufts University: US Air Force Academy W-i-R: U of the Bahamas: Helen Klonaris U of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Kenan Visiting Writer: U of North Carolina-Wilmington: Wellesley College: Wesleyan University W-i-R: Wichita State U Distinguished Visiting Poet: Wichita State U Distinguished Visiting Fiction Writer: Wichita State U Visiting Emerging Fiction Writer: Wichita State U Visiting Emerging Poet:

ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS: [ ]

Michigan State U, Assistant Professor in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities and Director for the RCAH Center for Poetry: Toby Altman U of Houston, Associate Director of Creative Writing Program:

FICTION - Full-Time / Tenure-Track Positions [ ]

Angelo State University. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. [Note: PhD required]. Rolling . https://employment.angelo.edu/postings/5423
Berry College. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 10/15/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178520557&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20of%20Creative%20Writing%20%28Tenure%20Track%29 . UPDATE: Video interview scheduled 10/30 Update: Campus Visit Scheduled 11/20.
Brigham Young U. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 9/15/23 . https://hrms.byu.edu/psc/ps/PUBLIC/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Employee&SiteId=70&JobOpeningId=123899&PostingSeq=1&
Carleton College. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 11/1/23 . https://carleton.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CarletonCareers/details/Assistant-Professor-of-English_R-00528-1 UPDATE: Letters of rec requested x2 (11/10/23) UPDATE: Video interview scheduled (11/20/23) Rejection: no longer under consideration (12/6). Campus visits complete 2/8
Case Western Reserve University. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 12/22/23. https://case.edu/academic-careers/assistant-professor-tenure-track-creative-writing-fiction-department-english
Fairfield University. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 11/22/23 . https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178602588 UPDATE: Video interview scheduled ( 12/08 ). Update: Rejection after Zoom interview ( 1/23 ).
Grinnell College. Assistant or Associate Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 11/1/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178528995&Title=English%2C%20Creative%20Writing%2DFiction%20%2D%20Tenure%20Track%2C%20Start%20Fall%202024
East Carolina University. Assistant Professor. Fiction Writing. TT. 11/9/23 . https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/3001334/assistant-professor/ UPDATE: More materials requested (11/28/23) Zoom interview scheduled x 2 (12/01/23); Campus Visit Invitation 12/18/23.
Hollins U. Assistant or Associate. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT or Tenured (?) 9/15/23. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37505429/english-and-creative-writing-tenure-track-assistant-or-associate-professor-new-/ . UPDATE: Video interview scheduled 10/31 ; Campus visit scheduled 11/10
Hope College. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 12/1/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178557220&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20of%20Creative%20Writing%2D%2DFiction UPDATE: Zoom interview scheduled 12/15
Illinois State U. Assistant Professor. Prose Genres. TT. 11/13/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178555637&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20of%20Creative%20Writing%20%28Prose%20Genres%29 Update: Zoom interview scheduled (12/5) Update: Campus visit scheduled (12/26)
Kansas City Art Institute. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction-Liberal Arts. TT. 1/2/24. https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=b8eda22f-d280-4db8-a8b7-bc0ed820ee60&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=468164&lang=en_US&source=CC2 Update: Video interview scheduled (2/5)
Kennesaw State University. Assistant Professor of English (Fiction Writing). TT. 12/2/23 . https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37554576/assistant-professor-of-english-fiction-writing-/ Update: Zoom Interview request (1/23/24).
Ohio University, Assistant or Associate, Creative Writing—Fiction, with secondary expertise in one or more of the following areas: screenwriting, playwriting, storytelling for new media, digital writing, or other narrative medium, TT, 10/23/23 (preferred) https://www.ohiouniversityjobs.com/postings/47481 Update: Zoom interview scheduled (12/4) Update: Campus interview scheduled (12/22)
Pennsylvania State University. Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Fiction). TT. Posted 3/1/24; "Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled." https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178712797 Rejection no interview (4/19/24)
Princeton U. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 10/1/23. https://puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/apply/application.xhtml?listingId=31181 UPDATE: Rejection no interview x3 (11/14/23)
Purchase College (SUNY). Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 12/13/23 https://jobs.purchase.edu/postings/1123 Update ; rec letters requested from Interfolio, Zoom interview scheduled 12/19
Queens College (CUNY). Assistant Professor - English. Fiction. TT (although ad doesn't say specifically?). Open until filled with review on 1/31/2024. https://main.hercjobs.org/jobs/19392249/assistant-professor-english#expand
Seton Hall University. Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Fiction). TT. 1/1/24 . https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178627639
Smith College. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 10/1/23. https://apply.interfolio.com/129824 UPDATE: Zoom Interview request (11/29/23) Rejection no interview (3/12/24)
St. Mary's College of California. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Prose. TT. 10/20/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178546155&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20in%20Fiction%20and%20Nonfiction%20%28full%2Dtime%2C%20tenure%2Dtrack%29 . Update: Zoom Interview scheduled (11/20)
University of Central Florida (UCF). Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Fiction). TT. 12/7/23 . https://ucf.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Orlando-FL-Main-Campus/Assistant-Professor-of-Creative-Writing--Fiction-_R106530 1/11/24: Zoom Interview request.
U of Chicago. Associate Professor. Creative Writing-Prose Genres. Tenured. 9/18/23. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37504159/associate-professor-of-english-and-creative-writing-prose-genres-/ UPDATE: Rejection w/o interview (10/27/23)
U. of of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Assistant Professor of English—Creative Writing (Fiction). TT. 11/15/23 . UPDATE: Request for more materials (11/29/23) , Zoom interview scheduled 12/21 https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37541458/assistant-professor-of-english-creative-writing-fiction-/
U of Iowa. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. 10/1/23. https://jobs.uiowa.edu/faculty/view/74930 UPDATE: Video interview requested (10/30/23); Does anyone know if they've scheduled campus visits yet?; UPDATE: Campus visit scheduled (12/4/23)
U of St. Thomas (MN). Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. 11/1/23. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37522219/tenure-track-assistant-professor-creative-writing-fiction-/ UPDATE: Rejection (1/16/24)
U of Illinois-Chicago. Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. (Note: PhD required.) 11/1/23. https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/6895?c=uic
University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing–Fiction. TT. (Note: PhD required; deadline not specified?) UPDATE: Interview request https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178622766
University of Victoria. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. (Limited Hire: Black Authors) 01/19/24. [1] https://www.uvic.ca/faculty-staff/careers/faculty-and-librarian-postings/current/crea_230_079.php UPDATE: Invitations to Interview (02/19/24) UPDATE: Campus interviews scheduled (03/24/24) UPDATE: Search complete, position filled (07/01/24)
U. of Virginia. Associate or Full Professor - Sydney Blair Memorial Professorship in Creative Writing (fiction). Tenured. 12/1/23 . https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/3013336/associate-or-full-professor-sydney-blair-memorial-professorship-in-creative-writing-fiction-/ UPDATE: Video interview requested (1/31/24) UPDATE: Campus interviews scheduled (2/20/24)
Wake Forest U. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Fiction. TT. (Note: "We seek a fiction writer whose work engages with African American contexts.") 11/1/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178556156&Title=Assistant%20Professor%2C%20Creative%20Writing%20%28Fiction%29
Waldorf University. Assistant Professor. English & Creative Writing (Prose). TT. (Note: "We seek a fiction writer who can teach speculative fiction and both fiction and creative nonfiction workshops"). No date given but applications are being reviewed immediately and will continue until filled. https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=6d21694746ba5187&tk=1hkpnqv66i7kq800&from=serp&vjs=3
University of Central Arkansas Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Fiction + Secondary Genre) (2/5/24) https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178685445&utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic UPDATE: Campus interview scheduled for Mid-March

NON-FICTION - Full-Time / Tenure-Track Positions [ ]

U of Tampa. Assistant Professor. Creative Nonfiction. TT. 11/1/23. https://utampa.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Faculty/details/Assistant-Professor--English-and-Writing_R0007896-1?q=english%20and%20writing UPDATE: Video Interview Scheduled (11/8/23)
Auburn U Montgomery. Assistant Professor. Creative Nonfiction. TT. 10/16/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178533834&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20of%20Creative%20Writing UPDATE: Video Interview Scheduled (11/10/23) UPDATE: Campus Interview Scheduled (11/18/23)
Bowdoin College. Assistant Professor. Creative Nonfiction. TT. 10/1/23. https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7544/assistant-professor-of-english-creative-nonfiction-/?porder=Creative+writing&ix=4#top-pagination UPDATE : Rejection without interview (02/20)
Cornell College. Assistant Professor. Multimedia Writing and Publishing/Creative Nonfiction/Digital Storytelling. TT. 1/1/24. https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/COR1036CORN/JobBoard/30d770d7-3983-4bf1-867a-479db251bad8/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=849be3fc-7087-4701-b65e-e55854a58276
Denison U. Assistant Professor. Creative Nonfiction. TT. 11/1/23. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37504265/assistant-professor-of-english/ UPDATE: Video Interview Scheduled (12/1/23)
Elon University. Assistant Professor of English. Creative Writing/Nonfiction. TT. 11/13/23 . https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/8096/assistant-professor-of-english/ Update: Rejection w/o interview (1/5/24) UPDATE: Campus visit scheduled for Feb. (1/15/23)
Florida Atlantic University. Assistant Professor. Creative Nonfiction. TT. 11/18/23 . https://fau.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FAU/details/Assistant-Professor-in-Creative-Writing--Nonfiction_REQ16849 UPDATE: Additional Materials Requested (11/21/23) UPDATE: Campus visits scheduled (1/10/24) UPDATE: Offer made (2/19/24)
Howard University. Assistant Professor of Creative Writing. Creative Nonfiction. TT. 12/1/23 . https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/8300/assistant-professor-of-creative-writing/
Illinois State U. Assistant Professor. Prose Genres. TT. 11/13/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178555637&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20of%20Creative%20Writing%20%28Prose%20Genres%29
Sarah Lawrence College. Undefined TT. Creative Nonfiction. 9/15/23. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37486201/writing-nonfiction-tenure-track-position/ UPDATE: Video Interview Scheduled (10/17/23)
St. Mary's College of California. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Prose. TT. 10/20/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178546155&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20in%20Fiction%20and%20Nonfiction%20%28full%2Dtime%2C%20tenure%2Dtrack%29
SUNY New Paltz. Assistant Professor of English (Creative Nonfiction). TT. 11/1/2023. -anyone have an update yet? (1/19/24) Video Interview Dec 15 (1/22/24) https://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=178577315
U of Chicago. Associate Professor. Creative Writing-Prose Genres. Tenured. 9/18/23. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37504159/associate-professor-of-english-and-creative-writing-prose-genres-/ UPDATE: rejection received (10/27/23)
U of Idaho. Assistant Professor. Nonfiction. TT. 10/15/23 . https://uidaho.peopleadmin.com/postings/42081?fbclid=IwAR1GXvAfdUCNRFoJuOy6Cet5gWYLrwV3ArkyzK91uByz2YP1SMq-6aBotSM
University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, Nonfiction. TT. 11/20/23 . https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37548413/assistant-professor-of-creative-writing-nonfiction/
U of North Dakota. Assistant Professor. Creative Nonfiction. TT. (Note: PhD required.) 11/1/23. https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7878/assistant-professor-of-english/?porder=Creative+writing&ix=3#top-pagination UPDATE: Request for more materials (11/9/23, 11/14/23) UPDATE: Video interview scheduled (11/28/23 x3) Rejection after video interview (12/19/23) Position Filled (2/24).
Centenary College of Louisiana. Assistant Professor. Creative Nonfiction and/or World Literatures. TT. Rolling Deadline: 12/1/2023. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37550677/assistant-professor-of-english-literature-and-writing/
Colorado State University . Assistant Professor. Creative Nonfiction. TT. 1/12/2024 https://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/136979 UPDATE : Rejection without interview (02/18)
University of Central Oklahoma. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing (Nonfiction). TT. 2/1/2024. UPDATE: Video Interview Scheduled (2/5/2024) https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37573022/assistant-professor-eng/
East Tennessee State University. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing (Nonfiction). TT. 3/15/2024. https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/28021

POETRY - Full-Time / Tenure-Track Positions [ ]

Antioch University. Core Faculty. Poetry. 1/1/24. https://www.antioch.edu/job/core-faculty-in-poetry/ UPDATE: Rejection, no interview, mentioned having >140 applicants (4/3)
Baruch College. Assistant Professor–English (Creative Writing–Poetry). TT. 1/10/24 . https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/3039726/baruch-college-assistant-professor-english-creative-writing-poetry-/ UPDATE: Zoom interview request 1/18; UPDATE: Online campus visit and job talk request 2/5
Bethany College (WV)/Assistant Professor/TT/FT/poetry and composition/closing date 2/1/24 https://www.higheredjobs.com/institution/details.cfm?JobCode=178614733&Title=Faculty%20%2D%20English%20%26%20Composition
Binghamton University (SUNY-Binghamton). Lecturer/Associate Director of CW Program. Creative Writing-Poetry. NTT. 10/27/23. https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7694/lecturer-and-associate-director-of-the-creative-writing-program/? JbeBatchId=1570&porder=Creative+writing&JobAlertId=18897&utm_source=JobAlert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2023-09-07
Colorado College. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. TT. 11/1/23 https://employment.coloradocollege.edu/postings/7405 UPDATE: Rejection email (3/25): "offer was made" to (internal) candidate.
Emerson College. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. TT. 11/8/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178540176&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20in%20Creative%20Writing%20%28Poetry%29 UPDATE: Zoom interview requested (12/5) UPDATE: Job talk scheduled (late January) UPDATE: Rejection, no interview (2/5) x2
Florida Atlantic University. Assistant Professor. Poetry. TT. 11/18/23. https://fau.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FAU/details/Assistant-Professor---Creative-Writing--Poetry_REQ16827 UPDATE: Request for more materials (11/27/23) UPDATE: Zoom interview and rec letters requested (12/15) UPDATE: Campus visits scheduled (1/14) UPDATE: Offer made (2/19/24)
Franklin and Marshall College. Assistant Professor (or Instructor). Creative Writing-Poetry. TT. 11/13/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178527734&Title=Assistant%20Professor%2FInstructor%20of%20English%20%28Creative%20Writing%29 UPDATE: Zoom interview and rec letters requested (12/20) x2
Hendrix College. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry (Secondary Specialization in CNF). TT. 10/16/23. https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7801/assistant-professor-of-english-creative-writing-poetry-w-secondary-field-creative-nonfiction-/?porder=Creative+writing&ix=3#top-pagination UPDATE: campus visit (11/16)
New Mexico Highlands University. Assistant Professor of English -- Poetry. TT. No close date? https://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=178580184 UPDATE: first round interview scheduled mid-May (5/1). UPDATE: finalist interviews scheduled late May-mid June (5/15).
Oklahoma State University. Assistant Professor in Creative Writing–Poetry. TT. 11/22/23. https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/8239/assistant-professor-in-creative-writing-poetry/
Reed College. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. TT. 9/15/23. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37495229/tenure-track-appointment-in-creative-writing-with-a-concentration-in-poetry-/ UPDATE: first round interview scheduled (mid-December)x2. Update (3/18): Rejection, no interview--"position filled."
School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Assistant Professor. Writing-Poetry. TT. 1/8/2024 https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37513552/tenure-track-assistant-professor-position-in-writing/
Texas Tech University. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing--Poetry. TT. 10/16/2023 https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7772/tenure-track-assistant-professor-creative-writing-poetry/?kw=Employer%3a+Texas+Tech+University+English+Department&so=Date#top-pagination UPDATE: Zoom interview and letters requested (11/20/23) Update (12/19): Campus visit scheduled for January
UC Davis. Assistant or Associate Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. TT/Tenured. 11/2/23 . https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37540498/assistant-professor-or-associate-professor UPDATE : zoom interview scheduled
U of Cincinnati. Assistant or Associate Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. TT/Tenured. 9/1/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm? JobCode=178487827&Title=Assistant%20or%20Associate%20Professor%2C%20English%2C%20Poetry Update--11/8, position "canceled"
U of Massachusetts. Associate or Advanced Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. TT. 10/27/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178530104&Title=Tenure%2Dtrack%2C%20Associate%20or%20Advanced%20Assistant%20Professor%20of%20Poetry Update--REJECTION email 11/12; Update (12/4): Zoom interviews scheduled for early January; Update (1/11): Rejection after Zoom call
U of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Walker Percy Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. TT. 10/21/23. https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7932/walker-percy-assistant-professor-in-poetry/?JbeBatchId=1591&porder=Creative+writing&JobAlertId=18897&utm_source=JobAlert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2023-09-28 Update--11/8: Zoom interview scheduled for late November/early December; Update (12/4): Campus visit scheduled for January
U of North Carolina-Pembroke. Assistant Professor English/Creative Writing - Poetry. TT. No close date?? https://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=178579624
U of Pittsburgh. Toi Derricotte Chair (Associate or Full Professor), also Director of Center for African American Poetry and Poetics. Tenured. Creative Writing-Poetry. 11/1/2023. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178541740&Title=Toi%20Derricotte%20Chair%2D%20English%20Dept
U of South Florida. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. 12/11/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178559452&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20%2D%20English UPDATE: zoom interview request (1/2/24); UPDATE: Campus visit schedule for February (1/24/24).
U of Tampa. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing--Poetry. TT. 11/1/23, review begins. https://utampa.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Faculty/details/Assistant-Professor--English-and-Writing_R0007866-1
U of Vermont. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry. TT. 10/1/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178455171&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20in%20Creative%20Writing%20%2D%20Poetry . UPDATE: Zoom interviews scheduled for mid-December (12/4)
U of Virginia. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing-Poetry/ TT. 11/6/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=178561440 UPDATE: Zoom interviews scheduled for mid-January UPDATE: Rejection, no interview (2/5)
Wichita State University. Assistant Professor of Poetry Writing. TT. 1/1/24. https://jobs.wichita.edu/postings/31246 n UPDATE: rejection 1/30/24 UPDATE: Zoom interview scheduled mid-Jan. (1/20/23)
University of Central Arkansas. Assistant Professor of Poetry Writing. TT. (2/5/24) UPDATE: Campus interview scheduled for Mid-March
New College of Florida Poetry. TT (12/19/2023) https://www.governmentjobs.com/jobs/4319760-0/tenure-track-professor-in-creative-writing
Beloit College. TT (3/27/2024) https://www.beloit.edu/live/profiles/7722-tenure-track-assistantassociate-professor-of?fbclid=IwAR1lM0UI2hisyeLH4lRI8uuoShul572UW7VIsjqtYQ48S2Emkl-_Yy3OiLE [2] UPDATE: zoom interviews scheduled for (April 18-20)

OPEN GENRE - Full-Time / Tenure-Track Positions [ ]

Chapman University. Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Fiction, Nonfiction, and/or Poetry). TT. UPDATE 1/19: Video interview requested X2. UPDATE 2/14: rejection (no interview) stating they've extended on-campus visits to three applicants (kind of love this specificity in this otherwise general form rejection) x4. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37575341/assistant-professor-of-creative-writing-tenure-track-fall-2024/
College of Wooster. English Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Fiction and/or Poetry). TT. 1/10/24 . https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/8441/english-tenure-track-assistant-professor-of-creative-writing-fiction-and-or-poetry-/ UPDATE: Video interview requested on 2/6.
Davis and Elkins College. English Faculty. Creative Writing. NTT. 9/25/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178515890&Title=English%20Faculty
Emerson College. Open Rank (Assistant, Associate, Full). Creative Writing. TT/Tenured. 11/1/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178540175&Title=Open%20Rank%20Faculty%20Member%20in%20Creative%20Writing%20%28Multi%2DGenre%29 UPDATE: Video interview requested for mid-December x2. Update 12/20: Request for letters of rec. kinda update, 1/24: form rejection, no interview x2
Franciscan U of Steubenville. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing. TT. 10/15/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178506633&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20of%20English
Greenville County School Fine Arts Center (High School). Creative Writing Faculty (open genre) NT, FT. 3/1/2024. https://gvlprod-lm01.cloud.infor.com:1444/lmghr/CandidateSelfService/lm?dataarea=lmghr&_frommenu=true&context.dataarea=lmghr&context.session.key.JobBoard=EXTERNAL&context.session.key.HROrganization=1000&JobPost=2&JobReq=18804
Illinois State University. Assistant Professor (Prose Genres). English Department. TT. 11/13/23 . https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37535284/assistant-professor-of-creative-writing-prose-genres-
Le Moyne College. Assistant Professor of Creative Writing. "We seek a specialist in fiction or poetry, with the ability to teach a second Creative Writing genre." 11/10/23 . https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37538761/assistant-professor-of-creative-writing/ Update: Rejection w/o interview (2/23/24)
Loyola Marymount U. Assistant Professor (2 Positions). Creative Writing. TT. 10/13/23. https://lmu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Careers/job/Westchester-Campus/Assistant-Professor-of-Creative-Writing_R6685 Update-11/1 request for materials x 2, Update-11/28 FORM REJECTION, 12/3 Zoom Interview scheduled., Update--12/19 FORM REJECTION (was this form rejection after a Zoom interview or after not hearing anything?)
Millikin University. Assistant Professor of English - Creative Writing (Tenure-Track). Open: "prose (fiction, non-fiction, or hybrid forms)." TT. Posted 3/1/24; deadline 4/1/24 . https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37618580/assistant-professor-of-english-creative-writing-tenure-track-/
Mount Royal University. Assistant Professor, Creative Writing. Open: "students who are learning to create as well as read and understand fiction and nonfiction, drama, poetry, and emergent forms of creative expression and production." TT. Posted 3/5/24; deadline 3/31/24 , "or until a suitable candidate is found." https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178717256
North Carolina Central University. Assistant Professor and Endowed Chair in Creative Writing. TT. Open: "Ability to teach a wide variety of Creative Writing courses, including multi-genre Introduction to Creative Writing, Fiction, Nonfiction. Ability to teach Drama Writing and/or Poetry a plus." Posted 2/13/24; "Open Until Filled." https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178694368
Southern New Hampshire University: Assistant Professor of Creative Writing. Mixed genre but requires Fiction MFA or PhD. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178521934 Update-12/3 Zoom Interview. Request for letters of rec and campus visit 1/9.
US Naval Academy, Annapolis: Assistant Professor. Creative Writing. TT. NOTE: PhD required. 10/2/23. https://www.usna.edu/HRO/jobinfo/Tenure-track-English-Creative-AY24.php UPDATE: Request for more materials x2 (11/9/23) UPDATE: Zoom interview scheduled for mid-December x3 (12/4) UPDATE: Rejection from "Initial" Campus Visits but leaving it open in case they want to do another round ( 12/22)
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX: Associate Professor. Director, MFA in Creative Writing Program. TT. NOTE: position starts Spring 2024. 9/15/23. https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/43570 . Position filled.
University of British Columbia. Assistant or Associate Professor in Black Speculative Writing. "Black alternative imaginations and/or futurisms in any genre, including fiction, non-fiction, lyric forms, graphic forms, etc." 12/11/23 . https://www.pw.org/job_listing/assistant_or_associate_professor_in_black_speculative_writing
University of Galway (Ireland). 2 x Lecturer in English (Creative Writing). Permanent half time (0.5FTE). "Nonfiction will be an advantage, but...a capacity to teach across genres will be expected." 03/21/24 https://www.universityofgalway.ie/about-us/jobs/
University of Georgia. Helen S. Lanier Distinguished Professorship. Tenured. No date given. "We are seeking an advanced scholar or practitioner of writing with expertise and experience in teaching in one or more of the following areas: composition and rhetoric, creative writing (fiction or nonfiction), and literary translation." https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37579269/helen-s-lanier-distinguished-professorship/
U of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Assistant/Associate Professor. Creative Writing. (Note: "UMHB seeks faculty who are active Christians"). No date given. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178553038&Title=Assistant%20%2F%20Associate%20Professor%20%20Creative%20Writing
U of Michigan. Lecturer III. FT, NTT. Creative Writing/Literary Publishing/Managing Editor of Michigan Quarterly Review. 10/13/23. https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7612/lecturer-in-creative-writing-literary-publishing/?porder=Creative+writing&ix=2#top-pagination Update: Zoom Interview Scheduled 11/20.
U of Missouri Kansas City. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing. TT. 10/20/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178436609&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20of%20Creative%20Writing%20%2F%20English%20Language%20%26amp%3B%20Literature%20%2F%20Umkc%20School%20of%20Humanities%20%26amp%3B%20Social%20Sciences UPDATE: Rejection 01/23/24
U of South Florida. Assistant Professor. Creative Writing. TT. 12/11/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178559452&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20%2D%20English
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX: Assistant Professor. Creative Writing. TT. 11/6/23 . https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/44053 Update: 1/5 Zoom interview request
Catawba College, Salisbury, NC. Fiction and Non-Fiction. TT. 01/25/2024 . https://www.higheredjobs.com/institution/details.cfm?JobCode=178570173&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20of%20English
Weber State University, Ogden, UT: Assistant Professor. Creative Writing/Screenwriting/Fiction. TT. 12/1/23 . https://jobs.weber.edu/postings/21076 Update: Campus visit scheduled 12/15 (for January); position filled, 2/7/24
Winston-Salem State University. Assistant Professor - EHRA-English. Creative nonfiction and fiction. TT. No date given. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37586583/assistant-professor-ehra-english/
East Tennessee State University. Lecturer. Creative Writing (Open). NT. FT. 3/15/2024. https://jobs.etsu.edu/postings/28015

VISITING/LIMITED-TERM POSITIONS Positions [ ]

Amherst College. Writer in Residence. Creative Writing. 10/1/23. https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7533/writer-in-residence/?porder=Creative+writing&ix=2#top-pagination Update: Zoom interview scheduled 11/3. Campus visits scheduled (early December). Form rejection stating search was "completed," no interview 1/3.
Brandeis University. Lecturer in Creative Writing / Jacob Ziskind Poet-in-Residence. NTT. PT. Posted 4/25/24; deadline: "First consideration will be given to applicants who apply by April 27, 2024." https://brandeis.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Jobs/jobs/details/Lecturer-in-Creative-Writing_R0010135
Brown University. PostMFA/Postdoctoral Fellowship in Critical Classical Studies. Open genre and medium, including translation. Project must bear in the broadest sense upon classicism and/ or the ancient greeks and Romans. Rolling but review begins 1/16/24 . NT 2 year, NO TEACHING. https://apply.interfolio.com/133409 .
University of The Bahamas. Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Nonfiction). 1/31/24. NT 3 year contract renewable to 10 years. https://www.higheredjobs.com/international/details.cfm?JobCode=178612803&Title=Assistant%20Professor%2C%20Creative%20Writing%20%28Nonfiction%29 Update: video interview scheduled 4/11/24, offer extended 7/29/24, offer accepted 8/8/24 , rejection received 8/8/24.
University of Chicago. Assistant Professor of Practice in the Arts - Creative Writing. Fiction. NTT ("initial term of four years, with reappointment possible following review"). Posted 5/11/24; deadline 5/20/24 . https://main.hercjobs.org/jobs/20086216/assistant-professor-of-practice-in-the-arts-creative-writing#expand
Clemson University. Writer-in-Residence. "The genre is open." 1-2 years. 12/8/23 . https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/8341/writer-in-residence/ UPDATE: Letters of rec requested (12/16/23)
College of the Holy Cross. Visiting Full-Time Faculty Position in Fiction Writing. NTT. Posted 3/1/24; deadline 4/8/24 . https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178712751
Columbia University. Lecturer in the Discipline of Writing. NTT. Posted 3/11/24; "Open Until Filled." Open: "fiction, nonfiction poetry, and/or cross-genre." https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178723209
Davidson College. McGee Distinguished Professor (Spring 2025). 11/1/23. https://www.higheredjobs.com/faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=178530664&Title=McGee%20Distinguished%20Professor%20of%20Creative%20Writing
Emory University. Fiction Fellowship 2024-2026. 2 years. 2/15/24 . https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178648834 (4/04/24) Has anyone who made the longlist heard back yet? Not sure if they go straight from longlist to finalists, or if there's a middle step.
George Washington University. Jenny McKean Moore Writer in Washington. Creative Nonfiction. 11/13/23. https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/105882
Georgia Tech. Brittain Fellowship (January 2024). 10/15/23 for optimal consideration. https://wcprogram.lmc.gatech.edu/brittain-fellowship/brittain-fellowship-application-process
Hunter College, MFA Creative Writing Program. Distinguished Lecturer. Creative Nonfiction. NTT. Posted 3/28/24; deadline 4/30/24 . https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/8731/distinguished-lecturer/
University of Iowa. Visiting Assistant Professor. Nonfiction. NTT. Posted 4/21/24; "Review of applications will begin immediately." https://main.hercjobs.org/jobs/20015997/visiting-assistant-professor-non-fiction-writing#expand
Oberlin College & Conservatory. Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, Poetry. 1 year. 2/15/24. https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178656787 Update: Zoom interview scheduled 2/23/24
Oberlin College. Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, Fiction. NTT. Posted 5/7/24; deadline 5/17/24 . https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178782263 Update: Zoom interview scheduled 5/22/24
Ohio University. Visiting Professor, English (Non-tenure track). Open. NTT. Posted 4/28/24; deadline 5/28/24 . https://www.ohiouniversityjobs.com/postings/49670
University of Pittsburgh. Visiting Assistant Professor in Writing (English Department). NTT. Posted 3/17/24; no deadline listed. Open: "multi-genre classes (poetry/fiction/nonfiction)." https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178729787
Scripps College. Visiting Assistant Professor of English (Poetry and Poetics). 11/1/23. https://www.scrippscollege.edu/hr/faculty/visiting-assistant-professor-of-english-beginning-fall-2024 Update: Zoom interview scheduled 12/14 x2. Interviewed 2/23 x2—have you heard anything? 3/25 rejection saying person made offer and accepted x2
University of South Dakota. Visiting Assistant Professor of English/Creative Writing. Poetry. NTT. Posted 4/26/24. Open until filled. https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu/postings/38800 . Interviewed 6/25. Letters Requested 6/27. Offer made 7/3/24.
Trinity College. Artist-in-Residence. Open genre. "Appointment for an initial term of three years with possibility of renewal every five years thereafter." 11/15/23 . https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/8179/artist-in-residence/ 1/29: Personalized Rejection x3
Tufts University. Professor of the Practice of Creative Non-Fiction and Journalism. "Initial two-year contract with a renewable appointment and eligibility for a rolling contract in the sixth year after a review." 12/1/23 . https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178566505 Update: Zoom interview scheduled 1/26
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Kenan Visiting Writer / Lecturer. Fiction. 1 year. 1/10/24 . https://careers.insidehighered.com/job/3025804/lecturer/
University of North Carolina at Wilmington. / 2 FT Lecturers. Creative Writing. 1 year. 3/28/24 https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/31395
United States Air Force Academy. Writer in Residence. Fiction 1 year. 1/15/24 https://www.globaljobs.org/jobs/41151-colorado-springs-united-states-air-force-academy-writer-in-residence
Wellesley College. Visiting Lecturer (1-2). Creative writing: video game writing and TV writing. Until position filled. 1 semester or 1 year. https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/recruiting/wellesley/wellesley-faculty/job/Wellesley-College/Visiting-Lecturer-in-English_R0004681
Wesleyan University. Distinguished Writers in Residence. Open ("writer-scholar, critic, journalist, novelist, poet, playwright, or translator"). 1 year. 1/15/24 . https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178607376 UPDATE: Rejection 02/15/24 x2
Wichita State. Distinguished Visiting Poet for Spring 2024. 9/15/23 https://www.awpwriter.org/careers/job_view/106575/wichita_state_university
Wichita State. Visiting Emerging Fiction Writer for Spring 2024. 9/15/23 https://www.awpwriter.org/careers/job_view/106576/wichita_state_university
Wichita State. Distinguished Visiting Fiction Writer for Spring 2025. 02/15/24 https://www.wichita.edu/academics/fairmount_las/english/creativewriting/writingnowseries.php . Planning to select the writer in April.
Wichita State. Visiting Emerging Poet for Spring 2024. 02/15/24 https://www.wichita.edu/academics/fairmount_las/english/creativewriting/writingnowseries.php

ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS [ ]

Ashland University. Assistant/Associate Professor of English, Director of MFA in Creative Writing - College of Arts and Sciences. NTT. Posted 4/4/24; no deadline listed. https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=178748062
Michigan State University. Director for the RCAH Center for Poetry. TT. "The ideal candidate will be an effective leader […] A teaching load of three courses per year is expected." 11/16/23 . https://joblist.mla.org/job-details/7830/faculty-tenure-stream/
U of Houston. Associate Director, Creative Writing Program. https://jobs.chronicle.com/job/37510032/associate-director-creative-writing-program-sta013043-/ Update 11/6, position filled.

WHO IS USING THIS WIKI? [ ]

under 30: 5

prefer not to state age:

Fiction Writer: 6

Nonfiction Writer: 4

Multi-Genre: 13

Script writer (TV&Film):

Script writer (Theatre):

Search Committee Lurker:

Employment Status

Unemployed and looking for job: 1

Administrative job/Publisher: 1

Employed in other field, wanting to re-enter academia: 1

Employed in other field, just trying to break into academia: 1

Finishing MFA or Ph.D. & going on the market: 9

Have fellowship after MFA or Ph.D. & going on the market:

Working as adjunct/lecturer, looking for TT job: 5

Have visiting gig, looking for TT: 5

Have fixed-term gig, looking for TT: 2

Have visiting gig, looking for another visiting gig (not TT):

Have TT job and looking for new one: 7

Have TT job and on the market because of a spouse/partner:

Had TT job but quit to go on the market because of spouse/partner:

Have TT job and want to keep it but need an offer elsewhere to get a raise:

Tenured and on the market because of a spouse/partner:

Have tenure but looking for new job:

Tenured at undergrad-only institution, looking for job in MFA program:

Tenured, looking for visiting position:

Permanent NTT job, looking for tenured job: 3

Window shopping:

Have "SR" NTT job, looking for tenured job: 1

PhD and MA:

PhD and MS:

PhD and MA (lit, not cw): 6

Phd and Terminal MA:

MFA and ABD: 4

MA and ABD:

MFA, MA, and ABD: 2

MFA, MS, and ABD:

MFA and MS:

MFA only: 10

MFA and MA: 2

PhD and MFA: 10

MFA and MAT: 1

Published articles or stories (Magazine, Anthology, or Journal, etc): 5

No book yet: 4

First book under contract: 2

Two books under contract: 1

First academic book under contract:

First book published: 5

First book forthcoming + multiple edited books published: 2

First book + edited anthologies published:

Edited book under contract:

First book + academic book under contract:

First book + critical book published + edited book under contract:

First book published, second book under contract: 3

First book published, second book in submission:

Second book published: 3

Second book published, third under contract: 2

Multiple books published: 6

Multiple books + edited anthology published: 5

ICYMI: Who previously held the job. In some cases this year (and every year) these job postings are replacing people who have moved on to other institutions. This can be useful knowledge if you want to find out more about the position from the last person who held it. For example:

Grinnell College: Replacing Dean Bakopoulos, who's now a Professor of Film at U-Iowa.

Princeton: Replacing Jhumpa Lahiri, who's now a professor at Barnard. (*And Kirstin Valdez Quade, now Associate Prof at Stanford.)

U of Vermont: Replacing Major Jackson, who moved to Vanderbilt.

U of Pittsburgh: Replacing Dawn Lundy Martin, who moved to Bard.

U of Massachusetts: Replacing Ocean Vuong, who moved to NYU.

Reed College: Replacing Samiya Bashir, who's now director of Lambda Literary.

Denison University: Replacing Melissa Faliveno, who's now at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Franklin & Marshall College: Replacing Meg Day, who's now at NC State.

Bowdoin College: Replacing Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, who's now at UBC.

Colorado College: Replacing Nate Marshall, who's now at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Oklahoma State University: Replacing Janine Joseph, who's moved to Virginia Tech.

Colorado State University: Replacing Jaquira Diaz, who's moved to Columbia University.

Know of other replacements or moves? Add them here.

WORD ON THE STREET [ ]

10/26: Anyone heard anything from the Naval Academy?

I received a request for secondary materials today (11/9/23)

From LMU or from the Naval Academy??

Apologies, from Naval Academy!

11/7: Anyone heard anything from Loyola Marymount? | 11/28: Got the rejection today.

11/13: Anyone hear anything from Bowdoin (CNF) or Florida Atlantic? | 11/28: FAU asked for more materials a week ago

I got an email from Bowdoin asking me to confirm my interest, since the position is Asst. level and I'm currently an Associate.

Bowdoin first round interviews happened in December. Any word on on-campus interviews?

11/14: Anyone hear anything from Princeton?

11/15: Does anyone have any info about Hope College? It seems like this job is posted every year or two. Does it keep going unfilled, or do they have trouble hanging onto people due to the religious aspects of the school? 11/28: curious about this too! 12/31: I was curious as well and did a bit of digging. I found two articles. One: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/02/06/division-investigations-faculty-departures%E2%80%A6-what-going-hope-colleges-music and: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/04/18/hope-college-moves-away-immediate-plan-fire-president To me, these articles point to some instability that would make it difficult to work there (for me, anyway, which is why I didn't apply). I also found student review comments on some websites that said that, although chapel attendance isn't mandatory for students, it is frowned upon and makes students who don't go feel isolated--I would think it would be the same for faculty members? But that's me just speculating based on those student comments.

A: As someone who grew up in the neighborhood, Hope has the reputation for a deeply religious work culture. I would bet a donut that is at least part of why they struggle to keep staff.

11/15: Anyone hear anything from Reed yet besides that email in October outlining timeline?

First round interviews were scheduled for mid-December.

11/19 Received request for more materials from UVM on 10/23. Any word on interviews?

11/20 Any word from Smith?

12/3: Any word from UC Davis?

12/23 seems like Zoom interviews went out/happened but no word on campus visits

12/3: Any word from UMass Amherst (besides the 11/12 rejection)?

12/11: Any word from Le Moyne, Franklin and Marshall, Trinity?

12/13: Anyone apply to UATX? Or hear from them? Review of apps began 11/15.

1/9: Can anyone confirm if Zoom interview requests from USF went out only for the Poetry position or also for Open Genre?

1/10: Any new info from Colorado College, other than the job listing mirroring the bio of the current visiting professor who’s also the partner of a current faculty member?

1/18: Anyone heard anything from CC (poetry)? 1/19: See below about posting matching qualifications/experience of the current visiting poet/partner of current faculty.

1/19 meaning it's likely an internal hire...?

2/15: I reached out to Colorado College's Human Resources department, twice now, 3 weeks ago and 1 week ago, inquiring about the status of the search: no response at all.

2/16....I also have not heard anything from CC....has anyone reached out to anyone involved in the search? i.e. the chair?

3/29: wow! The initial presumption on Colorado College was correct. The VAP is listed on 2024-2025 courses as of today. (Though technically no info on whether as a continuing VAP or in the TT role)

1/24: I have a Q, it's my first time on the market and I've noticed that I've applied to some places where people have gotten both interviews and form rejections. If I haven't gotten the rejection, is this just sloppy responding on their parts? or when doing these searches do schools tend to have some sort of second tier that they keep on the back burner in case all interviews don't go well? Curious if anyone knows. Answer: First, congrats on getting interviews your first round! Hoping you get a good place to work. And, honestly, it's hard to say. Sometimes HR is gumming up the works (I've gotten a form rejection over a year after an interview). Or they don't seem to want to reject anyone until they have the new hire secured—ostensibly hedging their bets? Or, again, HR protocol. But yes indeed could also be sloppy af. Flyouts and no rejection, etc, happens all the time. Takeaway: after a certain amount of time you should feel free to email and ask for an update. (Disclaimer: I have not been on a hiring committee, so take this with a grain of salt.) R2: It's likely just an oversight. Most schools are interviewing 9-20 people for the job, then inviting 3-4 to campus. If you get an interview and don't hear from them, you could be in a reserve pool of semi-finalists in case none of the finalists work out--that's very common. But if you didn't get an interview around when some of the other requests were made (not every school extends all interview requests on the same day, but they're generally pretty close together), your application is likely dead. This might mean that you were very close to being an interviewee and didn't get rejected in the first batch but also weren't advanced, or it could just be an HR glitch--I've seen the other side of these searches and some of the software interfaces are just dreadful.

1/25 - any word on campus visits at Smith, UH-Manoa, or SUNY Purchase?

2/14-Any word on campus visits at Franklin Marshall College? Any word from Binghamton?

2/20-CUNY Baruch Q: did the campus visit go ahead? Last I heard from them they said the process was delayed.

3/08 - Any news from Emerson College? It's been over a month since job talks/campus visits, has anyone heard of an offer being made? Or of people who weren't originally given job talks being flown out?

3/08: Any news from Texas Tech (Costa Rica)?

3/8: Any news from The University of Tampa? Campus visit, notified 3/12

3/13: Any news from Antioch?

3/23: A technical question on the process: When you already hold a TT position but would like to re-enter the market because you're not happy with your current job & town, how do you guys go about collecting reference letters? Do you ask your current colleagues and faculty, or go back to your PhD/MA mentors? Thanks! A: I got one from a colleague at my current job; I was told from folks who have been on hiring committees that it would look good (I went with a trusted friend/colleague, not my Dean or others because I didn't want them to know I was trying to leave). The other letters were from former professors/mentors and one person with whom I went to graduate school with who teaches at a different school--I was also told by people who served on committees that it looks better to have your letters from people at different schools (if you've had the same job for a time). I hope this helps! I should add: I think it helps in the cover letter to write about why you want to leave the current school as related to a positive you find in the school you're applying for; in other words, never say or hint at anything negative about the current place.

3/25: Colorado College sent rejection, noting that "other candidates [who]...more closely matched the College's needs were selected for interviews and an offer was made." Curious to see if the offer was made to the current visiting prof who is a partner of a current full-time faculty. I mean, no problem really--but why make people go through al the hoops of applying, interviewing, traveling, etc., when you want to hire the person already there? If their hands are tied because of policy or law, I get it, but it's dumb. Spare us the waiting and the effort.

4/7: Any news from Oberlin? Invited for virtual campus visit Any updates? the poetry VAP has been offered and accepted

4/11: Any news from Beloit? First round interviews scheduled for Apr 18-20 Any updates?

4/15: Any news from BPI // Paris Review Visiting Assistant Prof. Position?

5/5: Anyone heard from Wichita (for any position)?

5/8: Has anyone heard from Binghamton about the Lecturer/Associate Director of CW position?

Creative writing

Academic discipline concerned with creating literature From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Creative writing is any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional , journalistic , academic , or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or with various traditions of poetry and poetics . Due to the looseness of the definition, it is possible for writing such as feature stories to be considered creative writing, even though it falls under journalism, because the content of features is specifically focused on narrative and character development. Both fictional and non-fictional works fall into this category, including such forms as novels , biographies , short stories , and poems . In the academic setting, creative writing is typically separated into fiction and poetry classes, with a focus on writing in an original style, as opposed to imitating pre-existing genres such as crime or horror . Writing for the screen and stage — screenwriting and playwriting — are often taught separately, but fit under the creative writing category as well.

Creative writing can technically be considered any writing of original composition . In this sense, creative writing is a more contemporary and process-oriented name for what has been traditionally called literature , including the variety of its genres . In her work, Foundations of Creativity , Mary Lee Marksberry references Paul Witty and Lou LaBrant 's Teaching the People's Language to define creative writing. Marksberry notes:

Witty and LaBrant...[say creative writing] is a composition of any type of writing at any time primarily in the service of such needs as the need for keeping records of significant experience, the need for sharing experience with an interested group, and the need for free individual expression which contributes to mental and physical health. [1]

Unlike its academic counterpart of writing classes that teach students to compose work based on the rules of the language , creative writing is believed to focus on students' self-expression. [2] While creative writing as an educational subject is often available at some stages, if not throughout, primary and secondary school ( K–12 ), perhaps the most refined form of creative writing as an educational focus is in universities . [3] [4]

Following a reworking of university education in the post-war era, creative writing has progressively gained prominence in the university setting. [4] In the UK, the first formal creative writing program was established as a Master of Arts degree at the University of East Anglia in 1970 [5] by the novelists Malcolm Bradbury and Angus Wilson . With the beginning of formal creative writing programs:

For the first time in the sad and enchanting history of literature, for the first time in the glorious and dreadful history of the world, the writer was welcome in the academic place. If the mind could be honored there, why not the imagination? [6]

Programs of study

Creative Writing programs are typically available to writers from the high school level all the way through graduate school/university and adult education. Traditionally these programs are associated with the English departments in the respective schools, but this notion has been challenged in recent times as more creative writing programs have spun off into their own department. Creative Writing undergraduate degrees tend to be Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees, but Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees also exist. [7] [8] Some continue to pursue a Master of Arts , Master of Fine Arts , or Master of Studies in Creative Writing. Once rare, Ph.D. programs are becoming more prevalent in the field, as more writers attempt to bridge the gap between academic study and artistic pursuit. [9] [10]

Creative writers often place an emphasis in either fiction or poetry, and it is normal to start with short stories or simple poems. They then make a schedule based on this emphasis including literature classes, education classes and workshop classes to strengthen their skills and techniques. Though they have their own programs of study in the fields of film and theatre , screenwriting and playwriting have become more popular in creative writing programs since creative writing programs attempt to work more closely with film and theatre programs as well as English programs. Creative writing students are encouraged to get involved in extracurricular writing-based activities, such as publishing clubs, school-based literary magazines or newspapers, writing contests, writing colonies or conventions, and extended education classes. [10]

Creative writing is usually taught in a workshop format rather than seminar style. In workshops, students usually submit original work for peer critique. Students also format a writing method through the process of writing and re-writing. Some courses teach the means to exploit or access latent creativity or more technical issues such as editing , structural techniques , genres , random idea generating , or unblocking writer's block . Some noted authors , such as Michael Chabon , Sir Kazuo Ishiguro , Kevin Brockmeier , Ian McEwan , Karl Kirchwey , [11] Dame Rose Tremain and reputed screenwriters, such as David Benioff , Darren Star and Peter Farrelly , have graduated from university creative writing programs.

Many educators find that using creative writing can increase students' academic performance and resilience . The activity of completing small goals consistently rather than unfinished big goals creates pride in one's brain, which exudes dopamine throughout the brain and increases motivation. It has been shown to build resilience in students by documenting and analyzing their experiences, which gives the students a new perspective on an old situation and allows sorting of emotions. It also has been proven to increase a student's level of compassion and create a sense of community among students in what could otherwise be deemed an isolating classroom. [12]

Creative writing influence on international students

Creative writing may have an influence not only on native speaking students but also on international students. [13] Educators who advocate for creative writing say incorporating creative writing classes or exercises has the potential to develop students into better readers, analysts, and writers. [13] These same people say creative writing can have similar effects on international students by acting as a platform for them to share their own heritage, experiences, and values. [13] Scholar Youngjoo Yi conducted a case-study that tested this idea over two years. Yi focused on an international student from Korea and examined how her creative writing class influenced her in-school and out-of-school writing. [14] He concluded that taking the creative writing class ultimately made her a more confident writer not only in English but also in other languages. In addition to that, the projects done in her creative writing class encouraged her to express and connect her Korean heritage with her English writing. [14]

Creative writing influence on composition studies

Argument and research writing is a major focus in the field of composition studies. The focus on academic writing tends to leave little room for creative writing in writing studies. [15] Gregory Stephens suggests that focusing heavily on academic writing prevents students from developing their own unique writing style and voice. [16] When he applied creative writing pedagogy techniques to STEM students at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, he found exercises such as "self-characterization" and storytelling assignments helped his STEM students develop empathy, self-awareness, and a narrative voice. He suggests these are skills that are transferable to real-world situations such as professional settings. [16] By engaging in creative writing exercises/activities, students are able to break free from the "constraints of formal thinking and writing" of academic writing, potentially boosting students’ confidence, creativity, and overall writing skills. [17]

Controversy in academia

Creative writing is considered by some academics (mostly in the US) to be an extension of the English discipline, even though it is taught around the world in many languages. The English discipline is traditionally seen as the critical study of literary forms, not the creation of literary forms. Some academics see creative writing as a challenge to this tradition. In the UK and Australia , as well as increasingly in the US and the rest of the world, creative writing is considered a discipline in its own right, not an offshoot of any other discipline.

To say that the creative has no part in education is to argue that a university is not universal. [18]

Those who support creative writing programs either as part or separate from the English discipline, argue for the academic worth of the creative writing experience. They argue that creative writing hones the students' abilities to clearly express their thoughts and that creative writing entails an in-depth study of literary terms and mechanisms so they can be applied to the writer's work to foster improvement. These critical analysis skills are further used in other literary studies outside the creative writing sphere. Indeed, the process of creative writing, the crafting of a thought-out and original piece, is considered by some to constitute experience in creative problem-solving .

Despite a large number of academic creative writing programs throughout the world, many people argue that creative writing cannot be taught. Essayist Louis Menand explores the issue in an article for the New Yorker in which he quotes Kay Boyle , the director of the creative writing program at San Francisco State University for sixteen years, who said, "all creative-writing programs ought to be abolished by law." [19] Contemporary discussions of creative writing at the university level vary widely; some people value MFA programs and regard them with great respect, whereas many MFA candidates and hopefuls lament their chosen programs' lack of both diversity and genre awareness. [ citation needed ]

The pedagogy of creative writing is also a source of controversy. Critics of MFA and English graduate programs argue that the methods of instruction discriminate against people with disabilities, emphasizing writing practices such as daily writing requirements or location-based writing that students with chronic illness, physical or mental health barriers, and neurodivergent students are unable to access. [20] The selection of texts used in traditional creative writing programs is also being challenged, with critics pointing out that Western literary canon and writing pedagogy is "historically rooted and linked to exclusion and structural racism in creative writing programs." [21]

In the late 1960s, American prisons began implementing creative writing programs due to the prisoner rights movement that stemmed from events such as the Attica Prison riot . [22] The creative writing programs are among many art programs that aim to benefit prisoners during and after their time in prison. Programs such as these provide education, structure, and a creative outlet to encourage rehabilitation. These programs' continuation relies heavily on volunteers and outside financial support from sources such as authors and activist groups. [22]

The Poets Playwrights Essayists Editors and Novelists, known as PEN , were among the most significant contributors to creative writing programs in America. In 1971, PEN established the Prison Writing Committee to implement and advocate for creative writing programs in prisons throughout the U.S. The PEN Writing Committee improved prison libraries , inspired volunteer writers to teach prisoners, persuaded authors to host workshops, and founded an annual literary competition for prisoners. Workshops and classes help prisoners build self-esteem, make healthy social connections, and learn new skills, which can ease prisoner reentry . [22]

Creative writing programs offered in juvenile correction facilities have also proved beneficial. In Alabama, Writing Our Stories began in 1997 as an anti-violence initiative to encourage positive self-expression among incarcerated youths. The program found that the participants gained confidence, the ability to empathize and see their peers in a more positive light, and motivation to want to return to society and live a more productive life. [23]

One California study of prison fine arts programs found art education increased emotional control and decreased disciplinary reports. Participation in creative writing and other art programs result in significant positive outcomes for the inmates' mental health, relationship with their families, and the facility's environment. The study evidenced improved writing skills enhanced one's ability in other academic areas of study, portraying writing as a fundamental tool for building one's intellect. [24] Teaching prisoners creative writing can encourage literacy, teach necessary life skills, and provide prisoners with an outlet to express regret, accountability, responsibility, and a kind of restorative justice. [25]

Point of view
Theme and motif
Autobiography / Memoir
Creative non-fiction (Personal & Journalistic Essays)
Children's books
Flash fiction
Graphic novels / Comics
Short story
Asemic writing
Book report
Clarion Workshop
Collaborative writing
Electronic literature
Expository writing
Fan fiction
Fiction writing
High School for Writing and Communication Arts (in New York City)
Iowa Writers' Workshop
Naked Writing
Show, don't tell
Songwriting
Stream of consciousness (narrative mode)
Writer's block
Writing circle
Writing process
Writing style
Writing Workshop
[1] Marksberry, Mary Lee. Foundation of Creativity. Harper's Series on Teaching. (New York; London: Harper & Row, 1963), 39.
[2] Johnson, Burges and Syracuse University . "Creative Writing", 3.
[4] "The Rise of Creative Writing" . National Association of Writers in Education . Retrieved 2024-05-11 .
[5] "Creative Writing - UEA" . www.uea.ac.uk . Archived from the original on 2014-05-22 . Retrieved 2014-05-14 .
[6] Engle, Paul (1999). "The Writer and the Place". In Dana, Robert (ed.). A Community of Writers: Paul Engle and the Iowa Writers' Workshop . Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. p. 2. ISBN 0-87745-668-2 .
[7] "Creative Writing Major | BA and BFA in Creative Writing" . www.creativewritingedu.org . 2022-10-27 . Retrieved 2024-05-11 .
[8] Richard (2016-02-26). "Should I get a BFA in Creative Writing?" . EveryWriter . Retrieved 2024-05-11 .
[9] "Writing Courses :: National Association of Writers in Education ::" . www.nawe.co.uk . Retrieved 2024-05-11 .
[10] "Choosing a Course :: National Association of Writers in Education ::" . www.nawe.co.uk . Retrieved 2024-05-11 .
[11] John Swansburg (April 29, 2001). "At Yale, Lessons in Writing and in Life" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on 2011-03-31 . Retrieved 2010-10-15 . Karl Kirchwey, who graduated from Yale in 1979, recently became the director of creative writing at Bryn Mawr College, after having run the Unterberg Poetry Center at the 92nd Street Y for over a decade.
[12] "How Creative Writing Can Increase Students' Resilience" .
[13] Anderson, Annesley (2020). Tutors' Column: "Helping Students See Themselves as Writers: Creative Writing Exercises in the Writing Center" . pp. 26–29.
[14] Yi, Youngjoo (2010-03-01). "Adolescent multilingual writers' transitions across in- and out-of-school writing contexts" . Journal of Second Language Writing . 19 (1): 17–32. doi : 10.1016/j.jslw.2009.10.001 . ISSN 1060-3743 .
[15] Geok-Lin Lim, Shirley (2003). "The Strangeness of Creative Writing: An Institutional Query". Duke University Press . 3 (2): 152.
[16] Stephens, Gregory (September 19, 2017). "Transferable skills and travelling theory in creative writing pedagogy". New Writing . 15 : 65–81. doi : 10.1080/14790726.2017.1369128 .
[17] "A House Divided: On the Future of Creative - ProQuest" . www.proquest.com . ProQuest 236933109 . Retrieved 2024-12-10 .
[18] Engle, Paul (1999). "The Writer and the Place". In Dana, Robert (ed.). A Community of Writers: Paul Engle and the Iowa Writers' Workshop . Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. p. 3. ISBN 0-87745-668-2 .
[19] Menand, Louis (June 8, 2009). "Show or Tell - Should Creative Writing be Taught?" . The New Yorker . Archived from the original on August 30, 2009.
[20] Milbrodt, Teresa (2022). "Cripping Pedagogy in the Creative Writing Classroom: A Critical Disability Studies Perspective". In Coffey, Kristin (ed.). A Socially Just Classroom: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Teaching Writing Across the Humanities . Wilmington, DE: Vernon Press. pp. 51–66. ISBN 9781648891755 .
[21] González, Caleb (25 March 2021). "On Writing in Two Languages in the Creative Writing Workshop: Exploring Diverse and Inclusive Workshop Models and Pedagogies" . Journal of Creative Writing Studies . 6 (1). ISSN 2474-2937 . Retrieved 29 February 2024 .
[22] Encyclopedia of prisons & correctional facilities . Bosworth, Mary. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications. 2005. ISBN 0-7619-2731-X . OCLC 56608161 . {{ cite book }} : CS1 maint: others ( link )
[23] "Autobardolatry" , The Program Era , Harvard University Press, pp. 77–126, 2009-08-30, doi : 10.2307/j.ctvjsf59f.5 , ISBN 978-0-674-05424-0 , retrieved 2020-11-06
[24] Lahm, Karen F. (2007-12-04). "Inmate-On-Inmate Assault" . Criminal Justice and Behavior . 35 (1): 120–137. doi : 10.1177/0093854807308730 . ISSN 0093-8548 . S2CID 145434581 .
[25] Appleman, Deborah (2013). "Teaching in the Dark: The Promise and Pedagogy of Creative Writing in Prison" . The English Journal . 102 (4): 24–30. doi : 10.58680/ej201323332 . ISSN 0013-8274 . JSTOR 23365346 .
Brewer, R. L., ed. (2013). 2014 Writer's Market . Cincinnati : Writer's Digest Books . ISBN 9781599638409 .
Cox, M. (2010). A Dictionary of Writers and Their Works . Oxford : Oxford University Press .
Everett, Nick (2005). "Creative Writing and English". The Cambridge Quarterly . 34 (3): 231–242. doi : 10.1093/camqtly/bfi026 .
Fenza, D. (2004). The AWP Official Guide To Writing Programs . Fairfax, Va : Association of Writers & Writing Programs .
McGurl, Mark (2009). The Program Era: Postwar Fiction and the Rise of Creative Writing . Harvard University Press . ISBN 978-0-67-403319-1 .
Mitchell, S (2020). "Writing the Way to Regeneration: How the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop (MPWW) is instilling hope in incarcerated inmates". Corrections Today . 82 (2): 44–47.
Myers, D. G. (2006). The Elephants Teach: Creative Writing since 1880 . Chicago : University of Chicago Press .
Palmer, A. J. (2010). Writing and Imagery - How to Deepen Your Creativity and Improve Your Writing . Aber Books. Republished as Writing and Imagery - How to Avoid Writer's Block (How to Become an Author) . Aber Books. 2013.
Roy, Pinaki (2014). "Reflections on the Art of Producing Travelogues". In Mullick, S. (ed.). Images of Life: Creative and Other Forms of Writing . Kolkata : The Book World. pp. 111–129. ISBN 978-93-81231-03-6 .
Creative Writing Guide - The University of Vermont
Writing in the disciplines: Creative Writing - Kelsey Shields, Writing Center, University of Richmond

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Creative Writing

Creative writing is a massive and inexact field. Telling stories by ways of poetry, short stories, novels, and other media can be complex, intimidating, and extremely difficult to take up. However, it also has so much potential to be rewarding and enjoyable for writers and readers alike. In this Wikibook, we'll go over some of the principles of writing practices, and proceed with advice and tips on how to write best. The goal is to provide as much understanding to writing as possible, and to portray fiction as elegantly as one can possibly put.

The fundamentals explain the subject of creative writing and should apply to all media covered below.

Fundamentals

Introduction
Peer Review
Fiction technique
Publication
Free-Verse Poetry
Short Stories
Plays for the theater
Screenplays (Screenwriting)
Autobiographies
Mini Sagas (Flash Fiction)

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Creative writing

Creative writing is any writing that differs from the standards of professional, journalistic , academic , or technical forms of literature. It is typically distinguished by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes, as well as by a connection to various traditions of poetry and poetics, among other characteristics. Feature stories, for example, which are classified as journalism but have a strong narrative and character development focus, may be considered creative writing because of the vagueness of the definition; however, feature stories are classified as journalism because their content is specifically focused on narrative and character development. This category includes both fictional and nonfictional works, and includes genres such as novels, biographies, short stories, and poetry. In the academic context, creative writing programmes are often divided into fiction and poetry sections, with an emphasis on writing in a unique manner rather than replicating pre-existing genres such as crime or horror. Film and stage writing (screenwriting and play writing ) are frequently taught separately, however they both fall under the umbrella term "creative nonfiction."

Technically speaking, creative writing may be defined as any writing that is a unique work. In this way, writing style is a more modern and process-oriented label for what has historically been referred to as literature, which includes the range of genres that make up the field of literature. Mary Lee Marksberry's book, Foundations of Creativity, draws on Paul Witty and Lou LaBrant's Teaching the People's Language to define creative writing, which she cites in her introduction. Marksberry makes the following observation:

"Creative writing," according to Witty and LaBrant, "is a collection of all types of writing produced at any time with the purpose of meeting such demands as-

The need of preserving detailed records of major experiences
The necessity of sharing experiences with a diverse set of people
The necessity of free individual expression that is beneficial to both mental and physical health.
Communication design

What is Creative Writing?

Written by Scott Wilson

Creative writing is any kind of writing that employs creative literary or poetic techniques in the service of either fiction or non-fiction writing. It involves original composition and expressiveness of the individual author.

Ask ten creative writing professors what creative writing is, and you’ll get eleven different answers. Turn to the dictionary and the definition invokes invention and incorporation of imagination. But what are the limits of imagination? Where does invention begin?

Every sentence in every work ever written began as an act of creation in the mind of the writer.

Creative writing may be most easily defined by what it is not…

Technical writing
Professional or business writing
Scholarly or academic writing

Creative writing is the entire body of the writer’s craft that falls outside the boundaries of the ordinary.

Yet you will find many entries in the canon of those fields that might also be considered creative writing. No one would consign Truman Capote’s groundbreaking In Cold Blood to the sterile cells of mere journalism. But that haunting novel is unquestionably also an important work of investigative reporting.

So, what is creative writing, if a non-fiction novel of a horrific quadruple murder falls into the same scope as a classic of American literature like To Kill a Mockingbird ?

It has to do with style and art. Creative writing goes to the heart of the individual expressiveness of the writer. It breaks the boundaries of the typical. That’s an exercise of artistic skill that can happen in any topic, toward almost any goal. And it’s the heart of what it is to be a writer, no matter what you write about.

Defining creative writing isn’t easy. Rooms full of the best authorities routinely disagree. But what is creative writing , isn’t the most interesting question to ask here. Instead, we would be best served by asking another:

Why Is Creative Writing Important?

Storytellers were plying their craft thousands of years before the written word was invented. The creative spark doesn’t belong to words. It may not even depend on language. It draws instead on a deep part of what it is to be human. Invention, imagination, the urge to create… these are all deep and vital parts of the human experience.

Creative writing is important because it is evocative.

That well of creativity flows forth in many arts and forms of expression. But in creative writing it has found a medium where it can be both preserved and shared. It’s a method of human connection that has no expiration date, no geographical or even cultural limit.

Writers touch the souls of their contemporaries first. But like Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and Lady Murasaki, their reach may also span generations.

Creative Writing Fuels Communication in All Forms of Writing

Although fiction is the first refuge of creative writing, that expressiveness serves the purposes of just about any kind of author.

The goals of most other forms of writing are focused on various kinds of literal communication. A journalist seeks to convey the facts and the context of important news stories. Technical writers need to communicate the details of operating programs and machinery, clearly describing all kinds of minute details with zero ambiguity. Business communications are created with a view toward clarity and concision—helping readers get the main points of the piece quickly and without confusion.

Creative writing can also help to serve these purposes.

Creative writing taps into a different level of communication. While it may, and often does, aspire to other goals like offering clarity and detail, it also goes toward developing emotional connection. The reader will take away more than mere words from a piece of creative writing.

Creative Writing is Important For Making Other Kinds of Writing Compelling

Just as importantly, creative writing entertains. In a story about the importance of algorithmic and high-frequency trading, all kinds of technical details must be absorbed to make sense of the issues. Both technological and economic concepts have to be introduced. In a comprehensive article about the subject, readers from outside the field could be expected to nod off about two pages in.

But put the story in the hands of Michael Lewis, and you get Flash Boys , a New York Times Best Seller.

It’s not important that Flash Boys did well because it was entertaining, however. It’s important because the market trends and activities it described have real impacts on many of the readers. Retirement funds, college savings, family investments… all are affected by the story Flash Boys tells. Today, millions of readers who would never otherwise have understood how their investments were being handled can make an informed assessment… thanks to creative writing.

How To Separate Creative Writing From Less Creative Forms of Writing

In general, it’s safe to say that a piece of writing is creative when it makes use of literary devices such as:

Narrative development
Imagination and invention

In Cold Blood passes this test due to Capote’s use of characterization, plot development, and world-building. It’s considered today to be a pioneering example of the non-fiction novel, a paragon of the creative writing world.

The original crime reports, local newspaper articles, and subsequent court documents detail the same events with the same participants. Yet they are not works of creative writing. The incident is described in dry, straightforward, technical language. The timeline is linear and offered without consideration of pace or drama.

Both Capote and the authors of those other articles and documents set out to inform. But Capote’s goal was also to captivate.

New Journalism Tells the Story of How Creative Writing Has an Important Role in Non-Fiction

Books like Wolfe’s The Right Stuff mixed truth and dramatization, documentation and invention, to tell larger stories about serious events. In dramatizing those stories, New Journalism writers also drew more readers and achieved broader awareness of the stories.

At the same time, long-form New Journalism pieces, deeply researched and documented, were able to report stories in depth in a way that traditional journalism often did not. By invoking plot, characterization, and narrative structures, the New Journalists could keep readers involved in long and complex issues ranging from crime to politics to culture.

New Journalism is important in defining what is creative writing because it is clearly an example of both creative and journalistic writing. It demonstrates the ways that creative writing can serve other forms of writing and other kinds of writers.

Of course, it’s also possible to come at the divide from the other shore. Categories of writing that are clearly creative in nature include:

Novels and novellas
Flash fiction and short stories
Plays and film scripts

These works incorporate elements of storytelling that may not always be present in other forms of writing. A newspaper article will often have a setting, action, and characters; creative writing will offer plot, pacing, and drama in describing the same story.

What is Creative Writing Coursework Like in College Degree Programs?

All university students are exposed to basic coursework in English language and communication skills. These all go to the elementary aspects of writing—the ability to construct a sentence, a paragraph, a paper. They teach grammatical rules and other elements that make a work readable to any reader of the English language.

Even the general education requirements in college programs touch on creative writing, however. Students may be assigned to write essays that explore creative styles and imagination. They’ll be assigned to read novels and stories that are time-tested examples of the finest kinds of creative writing. And they’ll be asked to explore their impressions and feelings, and to exercise their imaginations and analyze the intent of the author.

Creative writing programs go beyond the basics to touch the imagination of the writer.

Creative writing exists just on the other side of those general English and literature courses. Students in creative writing classes will be asked to take the extra step of creating their own stories using the techniques they have learned.

In fact, they may be encouraged to break the same rules that were so laboriously learned in their regular English writing classes. Creative writing works to allow writers to tap into their own imagination and emotion to forge a deeper connection with readers.

Student Workshops Offer an Interactive Way of Learning What Creative Writing Is All About

Creative writing degrees will go much further into developing a sense of what creative writing is. they continue to include many reading assignments. but instructors also introduce concepts such as:.

Genre is the method used to categorize written works. Creative writing programs explore the tropes and expectations that exist for different genres and deconstruct them for better understanding.

Story structure and form

The structure and form of a novel and a short story are very different. Creative writing programs explore different formats and how they impact creative storytelling.

Plot is not a universal feature of creative writing, but a good plot can make or break a creative work. Classes look at the features and composition of plot, and also teach plotting.

Voice, tone, and creative expression all come out of the narration of a piece of creative writing. Creative writing courses explore both the textbook forms of narrative and show how to use it to serve plot and story.

Style and rhythm

One clear feature of creative writing in all genres is that it rests on a sense of rhythm and of styling that other types of writing ignore. Many courses found in creative writing degree programs explore the ways in which writing style serves story and hooks the reader.

In addition to formal classes, students will better learn why creative writing is important and the purposes it serves through workshops. These informal gatherings are designed to foster discussion, to present examples of different types of writing, and to critique and hone individual creative writing skills .

Through that process, creative writing degrees help students better identify what creative writing is and how to use it effectively.

Creativity is Important No Matter What Your Career Goals in Writing May Be

dedicated student at coffee shop studying

Creative writing training allows writers in any genre to develop more complete, more meaningful, and more memorable ways to get a point across. Using the skills and techniques learned in creative writing courses can inject humor, gravity, and other sensations into any piece of writing. And those very techniques can improve concision and clarity.

Figuring out what creative writing is and what it is not, is the first thing you should leave behind in a writing career. The dry definitions of the dictionary or droning English professors are the last place you should look.

Creative writing is the process of engaging your imagination and talent to serve the purpose of whatever piece of writing you are working on. And that’s why creative writing is important.

What Is Creative Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 20 Examples)

Creative writing begins with a blank page and the courage to fill it with the stories only you can tell.

I face this intimidating blank page daily–and I have for the better part of 20+ years.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the ins and outs of creative writing with tons of examples.

What Is Creative Writing (Long Description)?

Creative Writing is the art of using words to express ideas and emotions in imaginative ways. It encompasses various forms including novels, poetry, and plays, focusing on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes.

Bright, colorful creative writer's desk with notebook and typewriter -- What Is Creative Writing

Table of Contents

Let’s expand on that definition a bit.

Creative writing is an art form that transcends traditional literature boundaries.

It includes professional, journalistic, academic, and technical writing. This type of writing emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and literary tropes. It also explores poetry and poetics traditions.

In essence, creative writing lets you express ideas and emotions uniquely and imaginatively.

It’s about the freedom to invent worlds, characters, and stories. These creations evoke a spectrum of emotions in readers.

Creative writing covers fiction, poetry, and everything in between.

It allows writers to express inner thoughts and feelings. Often, it reflects human experiences through a fabricated lens.

Types of Creative Writing

There are many types of creative writing that we need to explain.

Some of the most common types:

Short stories
Screenplays
Flash fiction
Creative Nonfiction

Short Stories (The Brief Escape)

Short stories are like narrative treasures.

They are compact but impactful, telling a full story within a limited word count. These tales often focus on a single character or a crucial moment.

Short stories are known for their brevity.

They deliver emotion and insight in a concise yet powerful package. This format is ideal for exploring diverse genres, themes, and characters. It leaves a lasting impression on readers.

Example: Emma discovers an old photo of her smiling grandmother. It’s a rarity. Through flashbacks, Emma learns about her grandmother’s wartime love story. She comes to understand her grandmother’s resilience and the value of joy.

Novels (The Long Journey)

Novels are extensive explorations of character, plot, and setting.

They span thousands of words, giving writers the space to create entire worlds. Novels can weave complex stories across various themes and timelines.

The length of a novel allows for deep narrative and character development.

Readers get an immersive experience.

Example: Across the Divide tells of two siblings separated in childhood. They grow up in different cultures. Their reunion highlights the strength of family bonds, despite distance and differences.

Poetry (The Soul’s Language)

Poetry expresses ideas and emotions through rhythm, sound, and word beauty.

It distills emotions and thoughts into verses. Poetry often uses metaphors, similes, and figurative language to reach the reader’s heart and mind.

Poetry ranges from structured forms, like sonnets, to free verse.

The latter breaks away from traditional formats for more expressive thought.

Example: Whispers of Dawn is a poem collection capturing morning’s quiet moments. “First Light” personifies dawn as a painter. It brings colors of hope and renewal to the world.

Plays (The Dramatic Dialogue)

Plays are meant for performance. They bring characters and conflicts to life through dialogue and action.

This format uniquely explores human relationships and societal issues.

Playwrights face the challenge of conveying setting, emotion, and plot through dialogue and directions.

Example: Echoes of Tomorrow is set in a dystopian future. Memories can be bought and sold. It follows siblings on a quest to retrieve their stolen memories. They learn the cost of living in a world where the past has a price.

Screenplays (Cinema’s Blueprint)

Screenplays outline narratives for films and TV shows.

They require an understanding of visual storytelling, pacing, and dialogue. Screenplays must fit film production constraints.

Example: The Last Light is a screenplay for a sci-fi film. Humanity’s survivors on a dying Earth seek a new planet. The story focuses on spacecraft Argo’s crew as they face mission challenges and internal dynamics.

Memoirs (The Personal Journey)

Memoirs provide insight into an author’s life, focusing on personal experiences and emotional journeys.

They differ from autobiographies by concentrating on specific themes or events.

Memoirs invite readers into the author’s world.

They share lessons learned and hardships overcome.

Example: Under the Mango Tree is a memoir by Maria Gomez. It shares her childhood memories in rural Colombia. The mango tree in their yard symbolizes home, growth, and nostalgia. Maria reflects on her journey to a new life in America.

Flash Fiction (The Quick Twist)

Flash fiction tells stories in under 1,000 words.

It’s about crafting compelling narratives concisely. Each word in flash fiction must count, often leading to a twist.

This format captures life’s vivid moments, delivering quick, impactful insights.

Example: The Last Message features an astronaut’s final Earth message as her spacecraft drifts away. In 500 words, it explores isolation, hope, and the desire to connect against all odds.

Creative Nonfiction (The Factual Tale)

Creative nonfiction combines factual accuracy with creative storytelling.

This genre covers real events, people, and places with a twist. It uses descriptive language and narrative arcs to make true stories engaging.

Creative nonfiction includes biographies, essays, and travelogues.

Example: Echoes of Everest follows the author’s Mount Everest climb. It mixes factual details with personal reflections and the history of past climbers. The narrative captures the climb’s beauty and challenges, offering an immersive experience.

Fantasy (The World Beyond)

Fantasy transports readers to magical and mythical worlds.

It explores themes like good vs. evil and heroism in unreal settings. Fantasy requires careful world-building to create believable yet fantastic realms.

Example: The Crystal of Azmar tells of a young girl destined to save her world from darkness. She learns she’s the last sorceress in a forgotten lineage. Her journey involves mastering powers, forming alliances, and uncovering ancient kingdom myths.

Science Fiction (The Future Imagined)

Science fiction delves into futuristic and scientific themes.

It questions the impact of advancements on society and individuals.

Science fiction ranges from speculative to hard sci-fi, focusing on plausible futures.

Example: When the Stars Whisper is set in a future where humanity communicates with distant galaxies. It centers on a scientist who finds an alien message. This discovery prompts a deep look at humanity’s universe role and interstellar communication.

Watch this great video that explores the question, “What is creative writing?” and “How to get started?”:

What Are the 5 Cs of Creative Writing?

The 5 Cs of creative writing are fundamental pillars.

They guide writers to produce compelling and impactful work. These principles—Clarity, Coherence, Conciseness, Creativity, and Consistency—help craft stories that engage and entertain.

They also resonate deeply with readers. Let’s explore each of these critical components.

Clarity makes your writing understandable and accessible.

It involves choosing the right words and constructing clear sentences. Your narrative should be easy to follow.

In creative writing, clarity means conveying complex ideas in a digestible and enjoyable way.

Coherence ensures your writing flows logically.

It’s crucial for maintaining the reader’s interest. Characters should develop believably, and plots should progress logically. This makes the narrative feel cohesive.

Conciseness

Conciseness is about expressing ideas succinctly.

It’s being economical with words and avoiding redundancy. This principle helps maintain pace and tension, engaging readers throughout the story.

Creativity is the heart of creative writing.

It allows writers to invent new worlds and create memorable characters. Creativity involves originality and imagination. It’s seeing the world in unique ways and sharing that vision.

Consistency

Consistency maintains a uniform tone, style, and voice.

It means being faithful to the world you’ve created. Characters should act true to their development. This builds trust with readers, making your story immersive and believable.

Is Creative Writing Easy?

Creative writing is both rewarding and challenging.

Crafting stories from your imagination involves more than just words on a page. It requires discipline and a deep understanding of language and narrative structure.

Exploring complex characters and themes is also key.

Refining and revising your work is crucial for developing your voice.

The ease of creative writing varies. Some find the freedom of expression liberating.

Others struggle with writer’s block or plot development challenges. However, practice and feedback make creative writing more fulfilling.

What Does a Creative Writer Do?

A creative writer weaves narratives that entertain, enlighten, and inspire.

Writers explore both the world they create and the emotions they wish to evoke. Their tasks are diverse, involving more than just writing.

Creative writers develop ideas, research, and plan their stories.

They create characters and outline plots with attention to detail. Drafting and revising their work is a significant part of their process. They strive for the 5 Cs of compelling writing.

Writers engage with the literary community, seeking feedback and participating in workshops.

They may navigate the publishing world with agents and editors.

Creative writers are storytellers, craftsmen, and artists. They bring narratives to life, enriching our lives and expanding our imaginations.

How to Get Started With Creative Writing?

Embarking on a creative writing journey can feel like standing at the edge of a vast and mysterious forest.

The path is not always clear, but the adventure is calling.

Here’s how to take your first steps into the world of creative writing:

Find a time of day when your mind is most alert and creative.
Create a comfortable writing space free from distractions.
Use prompts to spark your imagination. They can be as simple as a word, a phrase, or an image.
Try writing for 15-20 minutes on a prompt without editing yourself. Let the ideas flow freely.
Reading is fuel for your writing. Explore various genres and styles.
Pay attention to how your favorite authors construct their sentences, develop characters, and build their worlds.
Don’t pressure yourself to write a novel right away. Begin with short stories or poems.
Small projects can help you hone your skills and boost your confidence.
Look for writing groups in your area or online. These communities offer support, feedback, and motivation.
Participating in workshops or classes can also provide valuable insights into your writing.
Understand that your first draft is just the beginning. Revising your work is where the real magic happens.
Be open to feedback and willing to rework your pieces.
Carry a notebook or digital recorder to jot down ideas, observations, and snippets of conversations.
These notes can be gold mines for future writing projects.

Final Thoughts: What Is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is an invitation to explore the unknown, to give voice to the silenced, and to celebrate the human spirit in all its forms.

Check out these creative writing tools (that I highly recommend):

Plot & Structure

Writing process, inspiration.

IMAGES

9 Creative Writing Examples
What Is Creative Writing? Types, Techniques, and Tips
Berwick Upon Tweed U3A: Creative Writing
What is Creative Writing Method: A Clear Explanation
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Creative Writing 101

COMMENTS

Creative writing - Wikipedia
Creative writing is any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or with various traditions of poetry and poetics.
Creative Writing 2024-2025 | Academic Jobs Wiki | Fandom
Wiki page for Academic Jobs in Creative Writing advertised during the 2024-2025 hiring season. This page is for jobs that begin in 2025. Last year's page: Creative Writing 2023-2024 See also: English Literature 2024-2025 Please add jobs in the following format and order them alphabetically by the name of the institution. Example University. Position Title. Specializations. Deadline. TT/NT. FT ...
Creative Writing 2024 | Academic Jobs Wiki | Fandom
Wiki page for Academic Jobs in Creative Writing advertised during the 2023-2024 hiring season. This page is for jobs that begin in 2024. Google is taking people to the old locked page! Please spread the word about this page so it is updated! This is the functioning Creative Writing Jobs wiki for 2024. 6/6/24: Page for 2025 is now available: Creative Writing 2024-2025 Last year's page: Creative ...
Creative writing - Wikiwand
Creative writing is any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or with various traditions of poetry and poetics. Due to the looseness of the definition, it is possible for writing such as feature stories to ...
Creative Writing - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Aug 25, 2021 · Creative writing is a massive and inexact field. Telling stories by ways of poetry, short stories, novels, and other media can be complex, intimidating, and extremely difficult to take up. However, it also has so much potential to be rewarding and enjoyable for writers and readers alike.
Creative writing - Wikitia
Creative writing is any writing that differs from the standards of professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature.It is typically distinguished by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes, as well as by a connection to various traditions of poetry and poetics, among other characteristics.
UEA Creative Writing Course - Wikipedia
The University of East Anglia's Creative Writing Course was founded by Sir Malcolm Bradbury and Sir Angus Wilson in 1970. The M.A. has been regarded among the most prestigious in the United Kingdom. [1] [2] [3]
What is Creative Writing?
Creative writing programs go beyond the basics to touch the imagination of the writer. Creative writing exists just on the other side of those general English and literature courses. Students in creative writing classes will be asked to take the extra step of creating their own stories using the techniques they have learned.
What Is Creative Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 20 Examples)
What Is Creative Writing (Long Description)? Creative Writing is the art of using words to express ideas and emotions in imaginative ways. It encompasses various forms including novels, poetry, and plays, focusing on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes.
Creative Writing Tutorials - Fandom
Welcome to the Creative Writing Wiki! If you're interested in starting to write, or improving your current writing, check out the multitude of tutorials and tips we have on the wiki. If you're interested in starting to write, or improving your current writing, check out the multitude of tutorials and tips we have on the wiki.

Creative Writing 2024

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What is Creative Writing?

Why Is Creative Writing Important?

Creative Writing Fuels Communication in All Forms of Writing

Creative Writing is Important For Making Other Kinds of Writing Compelling

How To Separate Creative Writing From Less Creative Forms of Writing

What is Creative Writing Coursework Like in College Degree Programs?

Student Workshops Offer an Interactive Way of Learning What Creative Writing Is All About

Story structure and form

Style and rhythm

Creativity is Important No Matter What Your Career Goals in Writing May Be

What Is Creative Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 20 Examples)

What Is Creative Writing (Long Description)?

Types of Creative Writing

Short Stories (The Brief Escape)

Novels (The Long Journey)

Poetry (The Soul’s Language)

Plays (The Dramatic Dialogue)

Screenplays (Cinema’s Blueprint)

Memoirs (The Personal Journey)

Flash Fiction (The Quick Twist)

Creative Nonfiction (The Factual Tale)

Fantasy (The World Beyond)

Science Fiction (The Future Imagined)

What Are the 5 Cs of Creative Writing?

Conciseness

Consistency

Is Creative Writing Easy?

What Does a Creative Writer Do?

How to Get Started With Creative Writing?

Final Thoughts: What Is Creative Writing?

Plot & Structure

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