WRIT 359 Boot Camp: Creative Writing
This class is a hands-on workshop that explores, explains and discusses all the essential aspects of craft employed in the writing of poetry, short fiction, short memoir and other, less easily-definable works of short creative writing. Character development, point of view, tense, dialogue, chronology, voice, narrative arc, pacing, tension within both scenes and an overall narrative, creative use of language, and all basic literary terms will be covered, with the goal of helping students tell a compelling story no matter the genre.
Prerequisites: Completion of Part 1 of Goal 1.
Special information
4 Undergraduate credits
Effective December 15, 2020 to present
Meets graduation requirements for
Learning outcomes
General
- An understanding of the basic aspects of the three major forms of creative writing, including writing poetry, writing short fiction and writing memoir and creative non-fiction
- Ability to implement the essentials of creative writing craft in works of short creative writing, including voice, tense, point of view, narrative arc, pacing, use of specific details, character development, beginnings and endings, titles and creative use of language and vocabulary
- Ability to draft, critique, edit and revise short works of creative writing into finished or close-to-being-finished works
- Understanding of how aspects of creative writing craft apply to short and long works of creative writing, including picture books, poems, short stories, short memoirs, full-length memoirs, novels, creative non-fiction and collections of essays
- Contribution to a creative writing workshop, which by definition is an intimate, closely-woven community, as evidenced by attendance, focused attention, informed and thoughtful oral and written feedback on peer submissions, absolutely no use of cell phones in class, and prompt submission of all assignments
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum
Goal 6: The Humanities and Fine Arts
- Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
- Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.
- Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
- Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.
- Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.
Spring 2026
| Section | Title | Instructor | books | eservices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Boot Camp: Creative Writing | Nielsen, Suzanne R | Books for WRIT-359-50 Spring 2026 | Course details for WRIT-359-50 Spring 2026 |