Creative Writing Courses

In the Fall of 2007, the Creative Writing Center will offer workshops in both poetry and fiction.

Pre-registration is not allowed for these workshop courses, though it is generally allowed for other courses listed in the Creative Writing section of the Amherst College Catalog, such as English 23 (Composition), European Studies 24 (Poetic Translation) or Theater & Dance 31 (Playwriting).

We require writing samples for admission to the writing workshops. Please read and follow the admissions procedures for each course.

You can search the Five College online catalog for writing classes at other colleges.

Questions? Email Catherine Newman at crnewman@amherst.edu.

Fall 2007

English 21, Writing Poetry I (Daniel Hall)
MWF 10-10:50, Webster 215
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 22, Writing Poetry II (Daniel Hall)
MWF 11-11:50, Webster 215
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 24, Screenwriting (Chris Johnson)  
Th 2-5, Fayerweather 217 (Please note the change in course time.)
[no pre-reg]      

English 26, Fiction Writing I (Alexander Chee)
Th 2-4:40, Webster 215
[no pre-reg; sample required]

Spring 2007

English 24, Screenwriting (Chris Johnson)       
T 2-5         
(no pre-registration)

English 25, Non-Fiction Writing (Robert Towsend)
TTH 11:30-12:50
(no pre-registration; sample required)

English 26, Fiction Writing I (Judith Frank)            
TTH 8:30-9:50           
(no pre-registration; sample required)

English 28, Fiction Writing II  (Alexander Chee)            
TH 2-4:30          
(no pre-registration; sample required)

European Studies 24, Poetic Translation (James Maraniss)
TTH 10-11:20
(limited enrollment; pre-registration allowed)

Theater and Dance 61, Playwriting Studio (Constance Congdon)
M 12-2
(Please contact the department of Theater and Dance for information)

Fall 2006

English 21, Writing Poetry I (Daniel Hall)
MWF 10-10:50
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 22, Writing Poetry II (Daniel Hall)
MWF 11-11:50
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 24, Screenwriting (Chris Johnson)       
Please note that this course has been cancelled.

English 26, Fiction Writing I (Alexander Chee)
T 2-5
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 51, Writing the Novella (S. Grant / J. Frank)
W 1-3:50 (to be taught at Mount Holyoke College)
[pre-reg allowed; permission required]

European Studies 24, Poetic Translation (Catherine Ciepiela)
TTH 10-11:20
[limited enrollment; pre-registration allowed]

Playwriting I Theater and Dance 31. (Constance Congdon)
TTH 11:30-12:50
[pre-registration allowed]
Please contact the Dept of Theater & Dance for more info

Spring 2006

English 21, Writing Poetry I (David Sofield)
[no pre-reg; sample required]
W 2-4:30

English 23, Composition (Helen Von Schmidt)
[pre-registration allowed]
MW 12:30-1:50

English 28, Fiction Writing II (Judith Frank)
[no pre-reg; sample required]
TTH 8:30-9:50

Theater and Dance 61, Playwriting Studio (Constance Congdon)
Please contact the Department of Theater and Dance for more info.
M 12-2

Fall 2005

English 21, Writing Poetry I (Daniel Hall)
MW 2-3:20
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 22, Writing Poetry II (Daniel Hall)
MW 12:30-1:50
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 24, Screenwriting (Chris Johnson)       
TTH 11:30-12:50           
[no pre-registration]

English 26, Fiction Writing I (Sara London)
F 1-3:30
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 27, Writing Criticism (Dan Chiasson)
MW 12:30-1:50
[no pre-reg; sample required]

European Studies 24, Poetic Translation (James Maraniss)
TTH 10-11:20
[limited enrollment; pre-registration allowed]

Playwriting I Theater and Dance 31. (Constance Congdon)
TTH 11:30-12:50
[pre-registration allowed]
Please contact the Dept of Theater & Dance for more info

Spring 2005

ENGL-21-01Writing Poetry I  (David Sofield)
T 2:00-4:40      
(no pre-registration; sample required)

ENGL-23-01 Composition (Helen von Schmidt)            
MW 12:30-1:50           
(pre-registration allowed)

ENGL-24-01 Screenwriting (Chris Johnson)       
TTH 11:30-12:50           
(no pre-registration)

ENGL-26-01 Fiction Writing I (Judith Frank)            
TTH 8:30-9:50           
(no pre-registration; sample required)

ENGL-28-01 Fiction Writing II   (May-lee Chai)            
MW 2:00-3:20           
(no pre-registration; sample required)

Fall 2004

English 21, Writing Poetry I (Daniel Hall)
TTH 11:30-12:50, Webster 215
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 22, Writing Poetry II (Daniel Hall)
TTH 10-11:20, Webster 215
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 26, Fiction Writing I (May-lee Chai)
MW 2-3:20, Chapin 210
[no pre-reg; sample required]

Playwriting I Theater and Dance 31. (Constance Congdon)
[pre-registration allowed]
Please contact the Dept of Theater & Dance for more info

Spring 2004

English 21, Writing Poetry I (Lisa Beskin)
W 2-4:30
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 23, Composition (Helen Von Schmidt)
MW 12:30+

English 25, Non-Fiction Writing (Kim Townsend)
TTh 8:30-9:50
[pre-registration allowed; sample due in English Department by the day of the first class meeting]

English 28, Writing Fiction II (Catherine Newman)
Th 2-4:30
[no pre-registration; sample required]

English 90, Four American Women Poets (Daniel Hall)
MW 12:30+

Please follow the links below for specific course admissions info.

Fall 2003

English 21, Writing Poetry I (Daniel Hall)
MW 2-3:20
(no pre-reg; sample required)

English 22f, Writing Poetry II (Daniel Hall)
MW 12:30-1:50
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 26f: Fiction Writing I (Judith Frank)
TTh 2-3:20
[no pre-reg; sample required]

Writing for the Theater (Constance Congdon)
MW 11-12:50
[pre-registration allowed]
Contact the Dept of Theater & Dance for more info

Playwriting Studio (Constance Congdon)
MW 11-1:50
[pre-registration allowed]
Contact the Dept of Theater & Dance for more info

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Spring 2003

English 21s, Writing Poetry I (David Sofield)
TTH 3:30-5:30
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 23, Composition (Helen Von Schmidt)
MW 12:30+

English 25s, Non-Fiction Writing (Kim Townsend)
TTH 8:30+
[pre-registration allowed; sample due in English Department by the day of the first class meeting]

English 26, Writing Fiction I (Sara London)
TTH 2+
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 28, Writing Fiction II (Sue Miller)
M 2-5
[no pre-registration; bring a writing sample to the first class meeting]

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Fall 2002

English 21, Writing Poetry I (Daniel Hall)
MW 2+ Webster 215
(no pre-reg; sample required)

English 22f, Writing Poetry II (Daniel Hall)
MW 12:30+ Webster 215
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 26f: Fiction Writing I (Roland Merullo)
W 2-4:30 Webster 217
***Note: this is a time change from the schedule***
[no pre-reg; sample required]

Playwriting (Constance Congdon)
[pre-registration allowed]
Contact the Dept of Theater & Dance for more info

Playwriting Studio (Constance Congdon)
[pre-registration allowed]
Contact the Dept of Theater & Dance for more info

Spring 2002

English 21s, Writing Poetry I (David Sofield)
W 2-4:30, SMUDD 205
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 25s, Non-Fiction Writing (Kim Townsend)
TTH 8:30+, WEBST 220
[no pre-registration; sample required]

English 26, Writing Fiction I (Judith Frank)
TTH 2+, CONV 311
[no pre-reg; sample required]

English 28, Writing Fiction II (Claire Messud)
T 2-4:30, WEBST 215
[no pre-registration; bring a writing sample to the first class meeting]

English 93s, Form and Freedom (Daniel Hall)
TTH 2+, SMUDD 202
This course in English prosody will focus on two texts: Fussell's Poetic Meter and Poetic Form and Hartman's Free Verse: An Essay on Prosody.

European Studies 24, Poetic Translation (James Maraniss)
[pre-registration allowed]

Theater and Dance 32, Writing for the Theater (Constance Congdon)
[pre-registration allowed]