Creative Writing, Minor

Creative Writing Minors study poetry, fiction and literary nonfiction, but can also select from a broad range of electives, including publishing, playwriting and special topics courses.

Study a broad range of writing techniques in poetry, fiction and narrative nonfiction. Creative Writing Minors must take at least TWO Level One classes from the following three genres: WRT373 (Poetry 1), WRT371 (Fiction I) and/or WRT370 (Creative Nonfiction I), and at least ONE Level Two class from WRT374 (Poetry 2), WRT372 (Fiction 2) and/or WRT375 (Creative Nonfiction II). The English Department has also created a new required CAPSTONE seminar, WRT486, an editing course that requires students to revise work they submitted in previous Central writing minor courses.

Through the creative writing minor and its professors, I have learned to write better, stronger stories, and better developed characters and worlds. I have made myself a home among these classes and return each semester to make sure I have a class that I will genuinely enjoy week in and week out. But most importantly, I have found how good it feels, how happy I am, to be creative. To be seen, to be heard. The professors within the Minor have created an environment where the worst thing you can do is not try, and every person I’ve seen walk into one of those classrooms, walks out at the end a happier, more fulfilled person and writer.

Michael Scherer, Current WRT Minor

If you are not sure which program is best for you, please contact the Writing Minors Program Coordinator, Professor Mary Collins at collinsmae@ccsu.edu. Most of these classes have few prerequisites beyond WRT105/110 (grade C- or higher) and meet either a core requirement for a minor or count as an elective. Many majors besides English have started counting some of the 300-level writing courses as electives so check with your advisor to find out more! No one should graduate from Central without taking a 300-level writing course from our award-winning faculty!

Students in the Creative Writing Minor must take:

At least two of the following Level One courses:

• WRT 370 Creative Nonfiction I
• WRT 371 Fiction I
• WRT 373 Poetry I

At least one of the following Level Two courses:

• WRT 372 Fiction II
• WRT 374 Poetry II
• WRT 375 Creative Nonfiction II

WRT 486 Creative Writing Capstone Seminar

Electives from the following list to make a total of at least 18 credits in the minor:

• ENG 310 Close Reading the Sentence
• ENG 495 Internship
• WRT 370 Creative Nonfiction I
• WRT 371 Fiction I
• WRT 372 Fiction II
• WRT 373 Poetry I 
• WRT 374 Poetry II
• WRT 375 Creative Nonfiction II
• WRT 377 Playwriting
• WRT 378 Creative Writing Special Topics
• WRT 383 Writing for Digital Platforms
• WRT 384 Publishing
• WRT 385 Writing About...
• WRT 494 Creative Writing Independent Study

Total Credit Hours: 18