I think we all in this subreddit understand that English majors often have different areas of emphasis and different skill sets. For me, it’s literary analysis (English major with an emphasis is literature). I will end up in a creative writing class for my last semester in undergrad, and I’m honestly pretty nervous about it because I don’t consider myself very creative. I strongly prefer analytical writing, which is where I do well. I finished last semester (fall 25’) with a 4.0, so I’m wondering…what should I expect? How do I prepare?
quick note I did hear that “good creative writing classes make you a much better analytical writer. You start to understand why stories work, not just how to explain that they do”
They vary, but for the most part you read texts in different genres and analyze their parts as a class. Your writing assignments will be related to the text y'all are reading at the time, and then you workshop your pieces with your classmates.
The big assignment is usually a final portfolio.
Final portfolio?? Yikes. I hope that’s not the case. I’m just taking it to complement an upper division course that works with my schedule. By what you are describing, it doesn’t seem too bad. I have a slight interest in creative writing but my worries are I will not be good at it. Thanks for your insight. I really was just curious how these classes work as opposed to just reading work and analyzing it, taking exams on the material.
I mean, the final portfolio is usually just revised and more polished versions of the various assignments you produced and workshopped throughout the semester. Not as scary as it sounds. You'll be fine. You might even learn something new about yourself. Enjoy the experience that comes with the challenge.
I see. Thanks for your response! I will go in with an open mind.
Assuming this is an intro level class, you will "workshop" your peers' work, and they will workshop yours. What does this look like? Well, usually a writer who is having their work workshopped (a rotation will be established early in the semester) will submit their work in advance of the next class, you will analyze it beforehand through in-text notes, and then you will discuss their work as a group the next class. Most intro level classes cover fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Typically, your professor will require outside readings from modern and contemporary writers.
Your background in literary analysis should serve you well when workshopping, as well as any historical knowledge of literature you can offer.
At semester's end, you will probably submit a portfolio of some sort that will comprise most of your grade.
Creative writing professors usually don't grade individual pieces. They grade how much effort you put into the portfolio. As long as you put forth a good effort, it's hard to do poorly in a creative writing class.
It’s upper division.
The format shouldn't change much, if at all. Most cw classes follow the same format, though some only meet once a week. When I was in grad school, we followed the same format I did in undergrad. CW is all about repetition, like most arts fields, though single genre workshops follow multigenre workshops.
In the classes I took, students submitted work that the class discussed. Occasionally, the teacher gave suggested assignments. It can be awful if you don't like the other students' work because you have to make tactful suggestions. It's also bad if you don't like your own work or feel self-conscious about it.
You have a high GPA, which you seem to care about, and don't appear to be interested in creative writing. As a person who has been a journalist and had another career that required analytical writing, I don't think creative writing is similar. You may want to take another analytical writing course or take this one pass/fail.
My university is terrible. It’s the only class that works with my schedule and other class courses. I’m only taking it because I’ve heard great things about the professor. It’s is a seminar class and not a lecture. By what you are describing, it seems like the class will be arranged in group work.
Creative writing classes are always taught in small groups.
Collaboration with a group isn't automatically "group work." I mean this in a genuine and not snarky way: you are overthinking this class.
I'm a grad student with a lit emphasis and I took my first fiction writing course only a year ago. I was very open-minded with it and found my strengths in lit analysis to be extremely helpful. I wrote fiction in a way I didn't know I was capable of, and one of the stories I wrote during that time is now published as of this month.
Being open to the experience and trying something new is key to your situation.
Lots of worshops. All the classes I’ve taken grade on participation. Just make sure you put in effort and participate fully and if you’re nervous about your background, communicate that in authors notes or to your professor
Have fun with it!