Introduction to Creative Writing
WRIT-201

Students will learn the literary components, complexity, and craft of creative writing.

The student will study the literary components, complexity, and craft of creative writing, including how to successfully explicate selected poems, creative nonfiction essays, and short fiction. The student will also learn how to create original works of publishable quality. The course allows students to develop creative writing skills to impact the world for Christ.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify and discuss the major elements and characteristics of contemporary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.
2. Develop and implement strategies for reading and evaluation of published contemporary literary works.
3. Author original writing in three genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.
4. Evaluate, edit, and revise original creative pieces of writing produced within the course.
5. Organize well and work collaboratively with others.
6. Identify trends and opportunities in publishing original writing with a Christian worldview.

Required Resources

The resources below are provided in the course at no cost to the student.

Sellers, Heather. The Practice of Creative Writing: A Guide for Students. 3rd ed. Bedford Books, 2017.

Starkey, David. Creative Writing: Four Genres in Brief. 3rd ed. Bedford Books, 2017.

Disclaimer: The above resources provide information consistent with the latest research regarding the subject area. Liberty University does not necessarily endorse specific personal, religious, philosophical, or political positions found in these resources.

Additional Materials for Learning

1. 1. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
   2. Internet access (broadband recommended)
   3. Blackboard recommended browsers
   4. Microsoft Word

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.

Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread varies in length and specific requirements based on the assignment/s that each module/week.

After completing the assigned readings, the student will write a 300–500-word Short Fiction piece based on the elements of fiction described in the reading. The student will create a draft and submit it to the assigned discussion board for peer feedback. Then, the student will rewrite his/her draft and submit a final draft which incorporates the feedback from his/her classmates.

After completing the assigned readings, the student will write a 500–750-word Creative Nonfiction piece based on the elements of nonfiction described in the reading. The student will create a draft and submit it to the assigned discussion board for peer feedback. Then, the student will rewrite his/her draft and submit a final draft which incorporates the feedback from his/her classmates.

After completing the assigned readings, the student will write 2 original works of poetry based on the elements of poetry described in the reading. The student will create drafts and submit them to the assigned discussion board for peer feedback. Then, the student will rewrite his/her drafts and submit final drafts which incorporates the feedback from his/her classmates.

The student will complete an evaluation concerning the contributions made during the course. The student will evaluate his/her own contribution to his/her classmates’ work, as well as the classmates’ contribution to the student’s own work.

The student will compile the creative writing works he/she completed during the course into a single, final version with a cover page, a table of contents, and the creative writing. The work will be submitted as a PDF file.

Course Assignments, including discussion boards, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
4. Group projects, including group discussion board threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due date outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at [email protected] for accommodations.  Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition.   For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/. Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at [email protected].  Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion board posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion board post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory.

Liberty University comprises a network of students, Alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=19155.

WRIT 201

Textbooks: Sellers, The Practice of Creative Writing: A Guide for Students (2017). Starkey, Creative Writing: Four Genres in Brief (2017).

DB = Discussion Board

NOTE: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.