Creative Writing Courses
Spring 2024
PLEASE NOTE: THESE LISTINGS MAY BE INCOMPLETE AND/OR INCORRECT. PLEASE USE WORKDAY TO SEARCH FOR COURSES.
ENGL-114 Narratives of Migration and Transformation
Kirun Kapur (Section 01)
ENGL-221 Writing Poetry I
Amy Dryansky (Section 01)
ENGL-223 Writing Autofiction
Meghana Mysore (Section 01)
ENGL-224 Creative Nonfiction
Victor W. Yang (Section 01)
ENGL-226 Fiction Writing I
Dennis J. Sweeney (Section 01)
ENGL-229 The Fictions of Race
Victor W. Yang (Section 01)
ENGL-324 Writing Poetry II–Poetry in Translation
Kirun Kapur (Section 01)
ENGL-326 Fiction Writing II—Moving Beyond Plot
Thirii M. Myint (Section 01)
ENGL-352 Reading Land, Writing Waters
Lisa Brooks (Section 01)
ENGL-388 Screenwriting
Eric Sanders (Section 01)
THDA-272 Writing the Full-Length Play
SEVAN Tavoukdjian (Section 01)
Spring 2022
In the spring of 2022, the Creative Writing Center will offer workshops in poetry, fiction, translation, and playwriting.
Questions? Email Catherine Newman at crnewman@amherst.edu. And check out our strategies for registering for workshops.
Previously. . .
Fall 2021
Previously: Spring 2021
Previously: Fall 2020
previously:
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 18 students. If Overenrolled: The instructor will seek to achieve representative equity (majors, class years, gender, background, etc.).
Requisite: Previous experience in composition in one or more of the central media, or consent of the instructors. Limited to 16 students. If Overenrolled: Priority given first to majors in theater and dance, music, and English, then to others with experience in these media.
Limited to 18 students. If Overenrolled: Preference given to senior, junior, and second-year English majors.
If Overenrolled: Priority given to Theater and Dance, Film and Media Studies, Art & Art History, English, and Music majors from the 5 Colleges.
Kirun Kapur(Section 01)
Limited to 12 students. If Overenrolled: The instructor will seek to achieve representative equity (majors, class years, gender, background, etc.).
It is normally supposed that something always gets lost in translation; I cling, obstinately, to the notion that something can also be gained.― Salman Rushdie
What can we learn about the craft of poetry through the practice of translation? How can engaging with poetry in another language (even in translation) transform our own thinking and writing? This class will explore these questions by reading and translating poetry from around the world and across the centuries. Readings from Homer, Sappho, Catullus, Montale, Ghalib, Mir and a variety of contemporary Arab poets will be augmented with a mix of essays on the practical and theoretical aspects of translation. Students will experiment with a variety of translation-inspired writing exercises and design a final translation project of their choice. There is no language requirement.
Kirun Kapur's email is kkapur97@amherst.edu
Limited to 18 students. If Overenrolled: Priority given to THDA and SWAG majors.
Requisite: ENGL 226 Fiction Writing I. Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students. If Overenrolled: The instructor will seek to achieve representative equity (majors, class years, gender, background, etc.).
Wendy Woodson
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 12 students. If Overenrolled: Priority given first to majors in theater and dance, music, and English, then to others with experience in these media.
Requisite: Students should have some background in music performance, chords, or writing. Limited to 12 students. If Overenrolled: Preference will be given to first-years, sophomores, and music majors.
Previously: Fall 2019
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students. Fall semester. Writer-in-Residence Lee.
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students.
If Overenrolled: The instructor will seek to achieve representative equity (majors, class years, gender, background, etc.).
Requisite: two years of college-level study of the chosen language. Limited to 15 students.
If Overenrolled: Students will be dropped randomly to attain limit.
Requisite: ENGL 221 Writing Poetry I. Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 12 students.
If Overenrolled: The instructor will seek to achieve representative equity (majors, class years, gender, background, etc.).
Previously: Spring 2019
Requisite: ENGL 221, Writing Poetry I. Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 12 students. Preregistration is not allowed. Admission instructions here.
Open to juniors and seniors. Limited to 16 students.
Requisite: ENGL 226, Fiction Writing I. Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students. Preregistration is not allowed. Admission instructions here.
Previously: Fall 2018
ENGL-222 Playwriting I
Karinne Keithley Syers (Section 01)
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students. Not open to first-year students.
ENGL-226 Fiction Writing I
Judith E. Frank (Section 01)
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students. Preregistration is not allowed. Admission instructions here.
Previously: Spring 2018
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students. Not open to first-year students.
Previously: Fall 2017
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students. If Overenrolled: Preference to theater and dance majors. Decisions made after the first class.
Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 15 students. Admission instructions here.
Requisite: two years of college-level study of the chosen language. Limited to 15 students.
Previously: Spring 2017
Previously: Fall 2016
Enrollment limited to 15; not open to first-year students; if overenrolled, enrollment will be decided after the first class.
Requisite: two years of college-level study of the chosen language.
Previously:
Previously: Fall 2015
ENGL-221 Writing Poetry I
ENGL-226 Fiction Writing I
ENGL-388 Screenwriting
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Preference will be given to English and FAMS majors. Admission with consent of the instructor. Limited to 12 students. Please complete the questionnaire to be considered for admission.