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CRW2001 Creative Writing

Writing - TCC OER Subject Guide: OER starting points

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This guide compiles starting points for OER and freely available resources for English and Writing  courses and topics. This OER subject guide was created for TCC faculty and staff and reflects TCC courses and curriculum. The purpose of this guide is to help faculty and staff more easily find and review OER in their areas so that they can make decisions about quality, accuracy, relevancy, and potential use.

OER starting points for writing, by course area/theme and material type

General writing handbooks.

• Curriculum & online lab resources
• Anthologies & essays

Pre-college writing

Rhetoric and composition.

• Resources for ELA & multilingual students

Technical writing

Writing about literature, bible as literature, environmental literature/writing, health care writing, culturally responsive and inclusive pedagogy, textbooks, courses, and readers:.

• Writing, Reading, and College Success: A First-Year Composition Course for All Learners (OER textbook) Athena Kashyap & Erika Dyquisto, City College of San Francisco, 2020. Funded by an ASCCC grant. "The goal for this textbook was to revise and adapt the open educational resource (OER) textbook, Writing for Success [...] We succeeded in meeting our goal by adding additional scaffolding for developmental and ESL learners to help them with reading, writing, and college success skills; materials for learning in multiple modalities; teacher resources; and expanded materials about the reading and writing process. This in-depth revision allowed us to combine pre-collegiate level English instruction along with first year composition materials." Organized into 12 chapters, including a grammar chapter. Integrates checklists and exercises throughout. Online, PDF, print book files, and LMS course formats. CC BY-SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• About Writing: A Guide (revised edition) Revised 2016 textbook edition created by Oregon community college instructor. Beginning writing text includes the basics of composition, grammar, citing, and research -- broken down into easy-to-tackle sections. Includes a "Multilingual Writers and ESL Challenges" section. Available formats include web, e-pub, PDF, and MOBI. Licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license (Creative Commons - Attribution).
• A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing (OER textbook) OER textbook created by Cleveland State University professors, 2017. Organized into 12 chapters plus appendices. Many chapters include a "Deeper Reading" section. Online, EPUB, and digital PDF formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - Share Alike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand. more... less... Suggested by TCC instructor Sabine Endicott
• (Re)Writing Communities and Identities - Sixth Edition (OER textbook) Phillip Marzluf, et al., Kansas State University, 2021, last updated 2024. "Enables college-level students to develop their ability to compose various informative and expressive genres, including analyses, reflections, summaries, syntheses, and informative reports. While students raise their consciousness about their writing process and audience-based informative strategies, they also familiarize themselves with important social and cultural issues related to the theme of 'identities and communities.'" Organized into 7 chapters, including a handbook. PDF format. CC BY-NC (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Pocket Style Guide (OER guide) Frost & Samra et al., Kellogg Community College, 2020, via LibreTexts platform. "This is by no means a complete reference for every English question you might encounter in your life; however, it is a collection of common issues and areas of concern that professors across all disciplines address." Organized into 5 main sections: Etiquette Issues, Writing, Grammar and Punctuation, Research and Documentation, and Writing for Employment. Online, PDF, print book files, and LMS course formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing for Success Textbook "that provides instruction in steps, builds writing, reading, and critical thinking, and combines comprehensive grammar review with an introduction to paragraph writing and composition." Includes a chapter for English Language Learners and has sections on sentence-creation and grammar. 2015, Univ. of Minnesota. Multiple file formats available to download and edit. CC BY NC SA 4.0 license (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial).Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing for Success – 1st Canadian H5P Edition (OER textbook) Tara Horkoff, BCcampus (Canada), 2021. A "text that provides instruction in steps, builds writing, reading, and critical thinking, and combines comprehensive grammar review with an introduction to paragraph writing and composition. It includes over 150 interactive H5P activities." The self-check H5P activities are integrated throughout text, with grammar activities concentrated in chs. 2-3. Online (Pressbooks), PDF, EPUB, and Common Cartridge (web links) formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• The Word on College Reading and Writing Created by Oregon community college instructors, 2017. Uses a reading apprenticeship-style approach to teaching reading and writing; organized into two main sections, Part I Working with Texts and Part II Writing. PDF and online versions available, as well as peer reviews. Licensed under a CC BY NC license (Creative Commons - Attribution - Noncommercial). Eligible for Print on Demand.
• EmpoWord: A Student-Centered Anthology & Handbook for College Writers 2018, Portland State Univ. Three major sections: Description Narration and Reflection; Text Wrestling; and Research and Argumentation. Designed for 1st and 2nd-year college composition courses. Strong emphasis on vocabulary, concepts, and strategies, as well as using student writing to exemplify those writing strategies. Online and PDF versions available for entire text and individual chapters. Licensed under a CC BY NC license (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial). Eligible for Print on Demand.

Supplemental tools and materials (incl. games, lessons, videos, exercises, etc.):

• Writing Commons Web texts for students and faculty in college-level courses that require writing and research. Web texts are stand-alone modules with essays, activities, and supplemental materials. Ten main sections/chapters. Web texts are available to print, email, PDF and hyperlink. Most are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - No Derivatives).
• The Writing Center @ UNC-Chapel Hill Excellent handouts and videos around key writing concepts, including Writing the Paper; Citation, Style, and Sentence Level Concerns; Specific Writing Assignments or Contexts; and Writing for Specific Fields. Licensed under CC BY NC ND (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - No Derivatives).

Curriculum & online lab resources

• University Writing Resources (OER collection) Collection of openly licensed writing handouts, assignments, assessments, etc., provided by Auburn University writing instructors, shared 2022. Materials "support students and instructors across the disciplines in their writing and writing instruction. We define writing broadly, so you will find resources on ePortfolios, visual design, professional communication, and presentations in addition to traditional writing tasks like reflective writing, literature reviews, peer review, and editing and proofing." Use subject tags on the right to narrow down, including resources for Abstracts, Peer Review, Plagiarism, Research Writing, STEM Writing, and more. All resources provided in both PDF and editable Word formats. Materials have CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license.
• Project CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments) An open access resource for faculty and librarians. It is intended to be a collaborative space for adapting and experimenting with research assignments and sharing the success or lessons learned so that others may benefit. The database contains multiple, reliable and reproducible research assignments.
• RUwrite online writing lab Regent University, created 2020. Online writing lab created as an open alternative comparable to MyWritingLab. "To help you become a professional leader with strong writing skills, this digital learning experience will guide you through the fundamentals of excellent writing. Your journey will begin with essentials related to grammar and sentence construction. As you progress through the units, you will sequentially build your skills to applying punctuation correctly and writing in a scholarly voice." Organized into four units: Topic 1: Parts of Speech, Topic 2: Structuring Your Sentences, Topic 3: Polishing your Punctuation, and Topic 4: Writing in a Clear, Scholarly Voice. Each unit has embedded videos and practice exercises using Google Forms. (Note: You do NOT have to have a Google email address for the exercises.) Online format. Site utilizes openly licensed content. more... less... Case study written about creating this online writing lab, Open Solutions: Creating an OER Writing Lab at https://virginialibrariesjournal.org/articles/10.21061/valib.v65i1.604/print/
• Excelsior Online Writing & Reading Labs Online writing and reading labs from Excelsior College, updated 2023. Online Writing Lab includes slides and activities for aspects of the writing process, including Grammar Essentials, Avoiding Plagiarism, Academic Writing 101, and more. Online Reading Comprehension Lab includes sections for Previewing, Questioning, Paraphrasing, and more. Online format, with embeddable activities and exercises. All PDFs updated for accessibility. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.

Anthologies & essays

• 88 Open Essays: A Reader for Students of Composition & Rhetoric (open collection) Edited by Sarah Wangler and Tina Ulrich, Northwestern Michigan College, 2019, "This book is a free and open resource for composition instructors and students, full of essays that could supplement OER rhetoric and writing texts that lack readings. All of the essays in this reader are versatile rhetorically and thematically. It is arranged alphabetically by author name. Each essay has a series of hashtags that apply to the essay in some way. You can search for essays thematically for topics like education, the environment, politics, or health. You can also search for essays based on composition concepts like analysis, synthesis, and research. You can search for essays that are based on shared values, essays that rely heavily on ethos, logos, or pathos, essays that are very kairos-dependent, and essays that are scholarly." Online, digital PDF, and EPUB formats. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Bad Ideas About Writing (OER collection) West Virginia University, 2017. A compilation of essays from English and writing instructors that push back against established ideas and stereotypes about writing and research. "[T]he same core questions such as what is good writing, what makes a good writer, how should writing be assessed, and the like persist across contexts, technologies, and eras. The project has its genesis in frustration, but what emerges is hope: hope for leaving aside bad ideas and thinking about writing in more productive, inclusive, and useful ways." Faculty peer reviews of this text available on this site. PDF format. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) format. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• My Slipper Floated Away: New American Memoirs (OER anthology) Anthology of 25+ essays written by students at Lehman College in the Bronx, 2020. "The writers are immigrants or the children of immigrants and/or POC. They grew up hearing gunshots and sirens at night, played fire escape basketball and still celebrate Thanksgiving by dancing. The stories reveal the writers' intense longing to belong in America and their passion to succeed in this country, while dealing with myriad challenges. They bear witness, in riveting, artful narratives that will be revelatory to Americans who fear and resent immigrants or people of color." Essays grouped by theme (e.g. Resilience). PDF format. CC BY NC ND (Creative Commons Attribution - Non-Commercial - No-Derivatives) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing Spaces Peer-reviewed essays on writing, "an open textbook project for college-level writing studies courses. Each volume contains peer-reviewed collections of essays about writing—all composed by teachers for students.” Each essay and volume available as web or downloadable PDF versions. Click the “Downloads” tab to browse and download essays. Could be used for a textbook or as supplemental sources. CC BY NC ND (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - No Derivatives) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Public Domain Core Collection Collaboration between Ryerson and Brock universities (Canada). "The Public Domain Core Collection consists of over 50 titles of public domain works that have been created using Pressbooks and made available in online, epub, pdf and editable formats." Includes classic fiction and non-fiction titles, in areas of American and African-American literature, British literature, women's literature, classic philosophy, mythology, political science, and more. Public Domain. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Entering the Conversation: A College Composition Compilation Edited by Naomi Salmon, UW-Madison. "This collection of readings that emerged out of partnerships between OER enthusiasts, composition instructors at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and contributors who shared ideas and resources on a Twitter thread about open composition." Readings, essay and discussion prompts, and activities. Online format. CC BY (Creative Commons Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing LCC: An Anthology of Student Writing Collected at Lansing Community College Lansing, Michigan (OER collection) Open pedagogy collection of student essays from English courses at Lansing Community College, 2020. "Student writing collected from English classes at Lansing Community College with brief notes from instructors. Intended audience--faculty and students. A brief annotated bibliography about publishing student writing and permission form in Appendices." Online, PDF, and editable OpenDocument formats. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution). Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Composition Reading Bank (libguide) Compiled by Columbus State Community Library College, last updated 2021, "a repository of links to freely available texts that replaces a traditional reader for Composition courses." Organized into tabs for common topics, such as Society & Culture, Identity, Food & Health, and more. Online format. Most articles are not openly licensed but are freely available online. Not eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing Unleashed: Reader Compiled by Sybil Priebe, North Dakota State College of Science, 2020. "This reader contains example genres and strategies, along with example arguments and other general readings. It contains full accessibility." Word format via Google Docs; make a copy to edit. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Reading Anthology: Three Levels (OER course) OER course from Lumen and currently hosted by LibreTexts. Online reading anthology organized into three modules/levels with openly licensed/public domain readings. Each level includes both creative and non-fiction readings. Online and PDF formats. Course pages may have different CC (Creative Commons) open licenses. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Thematic Reading Anthology (OER ancillary materials) OER course from Lumen and currently hosted by LibreTexts. Curated collection of openly licensed or public domain primary texts, organized thematically, including themes of Food, Culture, Nature & Conservation, Technology, Health Care, Politics, and Literature. Online and PDF formats. Course pages may have different CC (Creative Commons) open licenses. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• TheConversation.com "Academic rigor, journalistic flair." A collection of essays and articles on current issues, written by academics. Browse by topic, e.g., Arts + Culture and Economy + Energy. Online format. CC BY- ND (Creative Commons - Attribution - NoDerivatives) format.
• Building Blocks of Academic Writing (OER textbook) Carellin Brooks, BCcampus (Canada), 2020. Designed for intermediate level and Adult Basic Education curriculum. "Covers typical writing situations for developing academic writers, from prewriting and research through expressing themselves online. Developmental work in different types of paragraphs—descriptive, narrative, expository, persuasive—allows students to build capacity for longer essays." Organized into 11 chapters, each with review questions for writing practice. Includes an appendix for Grammar Review. Faculty peer reviews of this text on this site. Online (Pressbooks), PDF, EPUB, and Common Cartridge formats. CC BY NC (Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• ENGL000: Pre-College English course (OER course) Saylor Academy course, with 5 units focusing on active reading and analytic writing, as well as an intro to the expository essay. Includes active reading practice in each unit, plus study guides and review exercises available. Web version only. TIP: Click on the "Resources" menu link for a shortcut to the files and link to resources used in the course. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand if materials are compiled into a print-ready format.
• Basic Reading and Writing (OER course) OER course from Lumen and currently hosted by LibreTexts. “Focuses on helping students identify and apply foundational concepts and skills in reading and writing.” Organized into 5 main modules: Success Skills, Critical Reading, Writing Process, Research Process, and Grammar. Online and PDF formats. Course pages may have different CC (Creative Commons) open licenses. Eligible for Print on Demand.

TCC-created resources: 

Additional Canvas course shells:

• Successful College Composition (3rd Edition) Created by Georgia State University instructors, 3rd edition published 2019. A reworking of the "Writing for Success" OER text, with a new instructor's manual. Online, PDF, Word, and course cartridge file formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Rhetoric and Composition: A Guide for the College Writer Includes a “Grammar and Mechanics” section. last updated 2021, Wikibooks. Online, printable, and PDF versions available. CC BY SA 3.0 license (Creative Commons - Attribution - ShareAlike) Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing Skills Lab (OER course) Lumen Learning online course developed in collaboration with Univ. of Mississippi writing faculty, and currently hosted by LibreTexts, last updated 2020. Organized into 9 module. Focuses more on academic reading and arguments. Online and PDF formats. Course pages may have different CC (Creative Commons) open licenses. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• ENGL001: English Composition I Saylor Academy course, with 4 units focusing on critical thinking and academic writing skills. Includes study guides and review exercises. Web version only. TIP: Click on the "Resources" menu link for a shortcut to the files and link to resources used in the course. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand if materials are compiled into a print-ready format.
• ENGL002: English Composition II Saylor Academy course, with 6 units focusing on basic research concepts and writing techniques. Includes study guides and review exercises. Web version only. TIP: Click on the "Resources" menu link for a shortcut to the files and link to resources used in the course. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand if materials are compiled into a print-ready format.
• Writing in College: From Competence to Excellence Amy Guptill, Open SUNY, 2016. “Designed for students who have largely mastered high-school level conventions of formal academic writing and are now moving beyond the five-paragraph essay to more advanced engagement with text. It is well suited to composition courses or first-year seminars and valuable as a supplemental or recommended text in other writing-intensive classes.” Available as PDF, e-book, and web page. Licensed under a CC BY NC SA license (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike). Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing Commons Web texts for students and faculty in college-level courses that require writing and research. Web texts are stand-alone modules with essays, activities, and supplemental materials. Ten main sections/chapters, including the Writing Process, Academic Writing, and Rhetoric. Web texts are available to print, email, PDF and hyperlink. Most are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - No Derivatives).
• Writer's Handbook, Writing Process and Structure From the UW-Madison Writer's Handbook. Sections on different stages of writing a paper, including getting started, drafting, and revising. Freely available online (not OER).
• Writer's Handbook, Academic and Professional Writing From the UW-Madison Writer's Handbook. Sections on different types of academic writing, including analysis and research papers. Freely available online (not OER).
• How Arguments Work - A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College (OER textbook) Anna Mills, City College of San Francisco, via LibreTexts platform, updated 2021. "How Arguments Work takes students through the techniques they will need to respond to readings and make sophisticated arguments in any college class. This is a practical guide to argumentation with strategies and templates for the kinds of assignments students will commonly encounter. It covers rhetorical concepts in everyday language and explores how arguments can build trust and move readers." Organized into 11 main chapters + a Teacher's Guide. Online, PDF, print book files, and course cartridge formats. CC BY NC (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing Unleashed: Argument (OER textbook) OER textbook by Sybil Priebe, North Dakota State College of Science, 2019. Focuses on writing and understanding argument essays, with different examples of argument essays. Word format via Google Docs; make a copy to edit. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Informed Arguments: A Guide to Writing and Research, Revised 2nd ed. (OER textbook) Texas A&M University instructors, revised second edition 2022. "Our goal is for students to leave this course as critical thinkers, polished writers, and informed citizens who can engage in civil public discourse." Organized into 8 sections, including sections on Types of Argumentation, Joining the Academic Conversation, and Researched Writing . PDF format. CC BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Designing Arguments for Academic, Public, and Professional Audiences - Fourteenth Edition (OER textbook) Phillip Marzluf, Kansas State University, 2021. "This college-level textbook guides students through five different types of arguments: evaluations, responses, persuasive rhetorical arguments, proposals, and practical professional development arguments." Organized into 6 chapters. PDF format. CC BY NC (Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Reading, Writing and Evaluating Argument (OER textbook) Chris Werry, San Diego State University, 2018. OER textbook for first year writing, with sections on claims, strategies, close reading, analysis, drafting, fallacies. Integrates exercises and videos throughout. Includes a glossary. Editable Word format. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Intermediate College Writing: Building and Practicing Mindful Writing Skills (OER textbook) Dawn Atkinson and Stacey Corbitt, Montana Technological University, 2022. "An open textbook designed for use in university‐level courses that focus on cultivating study skills alongside effective academic and workplace writing skills." Designed for co-req models. Organized into 9 units, with 44 total chapters. Activities and discussion questions are embedded throughout, so this text could also be used as a workbook or the basis for activities or discussion forums. PDF format via Google Drive. CC BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• EmpoWord: A Student-Centered Anthology & Handbook for College Writers 2018, Portland State Univ. Includes a major section on "Research and Argumentation." Designed for 1st and 2nd-year college composition courses. Strong emphasis on vocabulary, concepts, and strategies, as well as using student writing to exemplify those writing strategies. Online and PDF versions available for entire text and individual chapters. Licensed under a CC BY NC license (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial). Eligible for Print on Demand.
• A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing (OER textbook) OER textbook created by Cleveland State University professors, 2017. Includes chapters on "Making Academic Arguments," "The Research Process," "Sources and Research," and "Ethical Source Integration." Many chapters include a "Deeper Reading" section. Online, EPUB, and digital PDF formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - Share Alike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand. more... less... Includes chapters on "The Research Process," "Sources and Research," and "Ethical Source Integration."
• Writing in College: From Competence to Excellence 2016, Open SUNY Textbook. “It is well suited to composition courses or first-year seminars and valuable as a supplemental or recommended text in other writing-intensive classes.” Includes a chapter on argument. Available as PDF, e-book, and web page. Licensed under a CC BY NC SA license (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike).
• Reading, Writing and Evaluating Argument – teaching materials (OER collection) Teaching materials for Chris Werry's Reading, Writing and Evaluating Argument OER textbook, linked above.

For TCC Library-created and external resources on research and information literacy skills, explore the Information Literacy and Research Skills OER subject guide , linked below, including sub-tabs for Research skills and information literacy , and for Research and writing .

• Information Literacy and Research Skills - TCC OER Subject Guide by Jennifer Snoek-Brown Last Updated Jul 25, 2024 50 views this year
• Brehe's Grammar Anatomy "Brehe’s Grammar Anatomy makes grammar accessible to general and specialist readers alike. This book provides an in-depth look at beginner grammar terms and concepts, providing clear examples with limited technical jargon." Practice exercises in each chapter. Includes glossary. CC BY SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Conventions 101: A Functional Approach to Teaching (and Assessing!) Grammar and Punctuation “This is a collection of cumulative units of study for conventional errors common in student writing. It’s flexible, functional, and zeroes in problems typically seen in writing of all types, from the eternal “there/they’re/their” struggle to correct colon use. Units are organized from most simple to most challenging.” A “cheat sheet” is also included at the end of the textbook. Available in multiple formats, including PDF, online, eBook, and ePub. 2016, Columbia Gorge Community College. CC BY NC 4.0 license (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial) Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing for Success Univ. of Minnesota, originally published 2015, updated 2019. "[P]rovides instruction in steps, builds writing, reading, and critical thinking, and combines comprehensive grammar review with an introduction to paragraph writing and composition." Includes a chapter for English Language Learners and has sections on sentence-creation and grammar. Multiple file formats available to download and edit. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• About Writing: A Guide (revised edition) Includes a chapter on Multilingual Writers and ESL Challenges, as well as other chapters on basic grammar. 2015, Klamath Community College in Oregon. CC BY 4.0 license (Creative Commons - Attribution). Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Writing Commons Web texts for students and faculty in college-level courses that require writing and research. Web texts are stand-alone modules with essays, activities, and supplemental materials. Ten main sections/chapters, including Style and Sentence-Level Mechanics. Web texts are available to print, email, PDF and hyperlink. Most are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - No Derivatives).
• Writer’s Handbook, Grammar and Punctuation From the UW-Madison Writer's Handbook. The “Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist” could be a particularly useful supplement for students. Freely available online (not OER).
• Daily Grammar Archive Links to free, self-paced grammar lessons and quizzes you could incorporate into classes. Daily Grammar consists of 440 lessons and 88 quizzes. Includes answers. Freely available online (not OER).

Resources for ELA  and multilingual students

• Intro to Academic Writing for ESOL Textbook and course, revised edition Sept. 2018. Written by a community college instructor in Oregon. Materials for ESOL learners with intermediate-high writing skills to help transition to college-level composition courses. Includes syllabus, textbook, slideshows, creative writing journal, and homework. Each unit previewable on website; files linked to Google Docs. CC BY NC SA license (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) Eligible for Print on Demand.
• College ESL Writers: Applied Grammar and Composing Strategies for Success (OER textbook) Georgia State University, 2018. "[D]esigned as a comprehensive grammar and writing etext for high intermediate and advanced level non-native speakers of English. We open the text with a discussion on the sentence and then break it down into its elemental components, before reconstructing them into effective sentences with paragraphs and larger academic assignments. Following that, we provide instruction in paragraph and essay writing with several opportunities to both review the fundamentals as well as to demonstrate mastery and move on to more challenging assignments." Accessible PDF and Word formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Transition with Purpose: Pathways from English Language to Academic Study (OER textbook) Michele Miller and Anne Greenhoe, Portland State University Library, 2018. "This Open Access Textbook will guide students through their English language to academic degree studies [...] Key elements include culture and expectations in an American university, transferring academic skills from ESL to content-specific academic courses, and helpful exercises to be academically successful." Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Advanced Community College ESL Composition: An Integrated Skills Approach (OER textbook) Created by California Community College instructors, 2020. "This book has been created to provide a framework for building your skills in writing and critical thinking. It provides access to published samples from professional authors along with essay drafts from ESL students who have polished their skills in their respective writing courses." Organized into 4 main sections: The Writing Process, Sentence Structure, Literary Analysis, and Critical Thinking and Reading. Appendices include sample essays from ESL students. Faculty peer reviews of this text available on this site. Online and PDF formats. CC BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.

Canvas course shells:

• Effective Professional Communication: A Rhetorical Approach (OER textbook) Rebekah Bennetch, et al, Univ. of Saskatchewan (Canada), 2021. "focuses on communicating in professional environments." Organized into 7 main chapters, including Technical Writing Essentials and Writing a Report, plus several appendices. Covers different modes of communication, including memos, letters, text messages, reports, and speeches. Online, PDF, EPUB, course cartridge, and editable OpenDocument formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Technical Writing Essentials:Introduction to Professional Communications in the Technical Fields - H5P Edition (OER textbook) Suzan Last, BCcampus (Canada), 2022. "This open textbook is designed to introduce readers to the basics of technical communication: audience and task analysis in workplace contexts, clear and concise communications style, effective document design, teamwork and collaboration, and fundamental research skills. This text includes over 40 interactive H5P activities created by Deb Nielsen." Organized into 8 chapters, plus appendices. Online (Pressbooks), PDF, EPUB, and Common Cartridge formats. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Technical Writing (Central Oregon CC textbook) Created by Central Oregon Community College instructors, 2017. "A textbook focusing on writing in the workplace, with an emphasis on audience analysis, writing for specific situations, document design, research processes, and visual aids." Organized into 14 chapters. Online, EPUB, Digital and Print PDF, and editable OpenDocument formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Technical Writing Essentials (OER textbook) Created by Univ. of Victoria instructors (Canada), 2019. This open textbook "is designed to introduce readers to the basics of technical communication: audience and task analysis in workplace contexts, clear and concise communications style, effective document design, teamwork and collaboration, and fundamental research skills." Organized into 8 chapters plus appendices. Online, EPUB, Digital and Print PDFs, and editable OpenDocument formats. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Technical Writing Strategies (OER textbook) This text was adapted by Lumen Learning from materials developed by Dr. Elizabeth Lohman, with additional updates by Joshua Dickinson, Jefferson Community College / SUNY, 2017. "[O]verviews the fields of technical writing and professional communication. It includes sections introducing students to the field of study, audience-centered communications, APA and MLA formats, language and tone, visuals, websites, memos, letters, descriptive and prescriptive reports, classification and partition reports, white papers, informative presentations, research, problem analysis, summaries and responses, proposals, feasibility reports, persuasive presentations, and writing conventions." PDF format. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Howdy or Hello?: Technical and Business Communications (OER textbook) Matt McKinney, et al., Texas A&M University, 2021, revised pilot edition. "Technical writing courses introduce you to some of the most important aspects of writing in the worlds of science, technology, and business." Organized into 20 chapters, including chapters on different types of oral and written communications. PDF format. CC BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Introduction to Professional Communications (OER textbook) Melissa Ashman, Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Canada), 2018. "This book covers key business communications topics that will help you in your career, including intercultural communication, team work, professional writing, audience analysis and adapting messages, document formatting, oral communication, and more.” Organized into 8 main parts, with sub-sections. Includes links to two open online course packs using this text. Online, EPUB, Digital PDF, Print PDF, and course cartridge formats. CC BY NC SA 4.0 (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Workplace Writing: A Handbook for Common Workplace Genres and Professional Writing (OER textbook) Kansas State University, 2016. "This handbook is designed for a generalized business writing course that seeks to meet the needs of a variety of student majors and career interests. In it you will find: descriptions and discussions of common genres, both routine and formal, print and electronic, and in-class activities and sample assignments. You will also find commentary on how to adapt the writing process to the rhetorical constraints of a workplace as well as how to think about, conduct, and use research outside an academic setting." Includes lots of sample assignments. PDF, EPUB, and Kindle formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
• Open Technical Writing: An Open-Access Text for Instruction in Technical and Professional Writing (OER textbook) Created by University of Arkansas-Fayetteville instructor, 2019. "This book presents technical writing as an approach to researching and carrying out writing that centers on technical subject matter. Each and every chapter is devoted to helping students understand that good technical writing is situationally-aware and context-driven." PDF format. CC BY SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.

To browse OER on Writing about Literature , explore the Literature OER subject guide , linked below >> click on the sub-tab for " Writing about literature ."

• Literature - TCC OER Subject Guide by Jennifer Snoek-Brown Last Updated Aug 5, 2024 159 views this year

To browse OER on  Bible as literature , explore the  Literature OER subject guide , linked below >> click on the sub-tab for " Bible as literature ."

To browse additional OER and library resources on  environmental literature and writing , please explore the Literature OER subject guide , linked below and then click on the " Environmental literature/writing " sub-tab:

Related OER subject guides:

For additional OER and library resources on  health communication , please explore the  Communication Studies OER subject guide , linked below and then click on the " Health communication " sub-tab:

• Communication Studies - TCC OER Subject Guide by Jennifer Snoek-Brown Last Updated Jul 24, 2024 119 views this year
• Public Health Writing Guide (Open access guide) Boston Univ. School of Public Health, 2018. “The Public Health Writing Guide provides concrete strategies for improving your prose, increasing your productivity, and meeting the specific needs of your readers. Our goal is to provide you with some best practices that can be useful to you over the course of your career, any time you are looking for encouragement, structure, or advice about how to get started.” Includes an expansive section, Part III: Specific Types of Writing in Public Health. Tone is practical and straightforward. Sections of the guide are embedded within image map pop-ups; the entire guide is also available in PDF format for online viewing or download. Open access. Not eligible for Print on Demand.

Library e-books:

Unlimited user access. Use permalinks in Canvas courses. Not eligible for Print on Demand. You may need to log in with your portal and/or Canvas credentials to access the e-books.

• Community Tool Box A service of the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas. "[R]esources and tools to help people work together to build healthier communities." The Table of Contents outlines the resources plus related toolkits. Chapter 6. Communications to Promote Interest includes sub-sections like “Section 7. Preparing Public Service Announcements” and “Section 15. Creating Fact Sheets on Local Issues.” CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike) license.
• Science Writing and New Media: Perspectives on Medicine and Public Health (OER ancillary materials) Cynthia B. Taft, MIT OpenCourseware, Fall 2016. “Over the course of the semester, we will explore the full range of writings by physicians and other health practitioners.” Potentially some good readings and assignments in the Readings and Assignments sections. PDF files. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand if materials are compiled into a print-ready format.
• Soft Skills Training: Communication Competency Curriculum (OER ancillary materials) Health Workforce Initiative, California Community Colleges. “The purpose of the Health Workforce Initiative is to identify health care workforce needs and cultivate solutions. The role of the Health Workforce Initiative is to facilitate a community college response to workforce needs.” Developed specifically for community-college level of students in health care. The “Communication Competency Curriculum” set includes a “Written Communication” activity sheet and accompanying PowerPoint slides; other sets may be useful, as well. PDFs and PowerPoint slides downloads. Terms of use page includes a CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license, and to use this statement when reusing their materials: “CC BY, copr. California Community Colleges, Chancellor’s Office.” Eligible for Print on Demand.

The Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Pedagogy OER Subject Guide, linked below, provides a starting point for OER professional development and curricular materials relating to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion; trauma-informed practices; and culturally responsive, inclusive, and anti-racist pedagogy and practices. This guide includes concepts and keywords; TCC OEDI resources; introductory and more in-depth professional development resources (toolkits, guides, etc.); curriculum resources (activities, assignments, etc.); OER and EDI rubrics; instructional design; accessibility; as well as EDI-focused OER in different disciplines across the curriculum, including Writing. 

• Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Pedagogy - TCC OER Subject Guide by Jennifer Snoek-Brown Last Updated Jul 26, 2024 98 views this year

Your OER and liaison librarian

Attributions

Except where otherwise noted, the content in this guide was compiled by Jennifer Snoek-Brown,  Tacoma Community College Library , and is licensed under a  CC BY SA 4.0  license.

• Next: OER licenses >>
• Last Updated: Jul 26, 2024 12:53 PM
• URL: https://tacomacc.libguides.com/oer_writing

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Earning A Master’s In Creative Writing: What To Know

Updated: Nov 1, 2023, 1:51pm

Do you want to create written work that ignites a reader’s imagination and even changes their worldview? With a master’s in creative writing, you can develop strong storytelling and character development skills, equipping you to achieve your writing goals.

If you’re ready to strengthen your writing chops and you enjoy writing original works to inspire others, tell interesting stories and share valuable information, earning a master’s in creative writing may be the next step on your career journey.

The skills learned in a creative writing master’s program qualify you to write your own literary works, teach others creative writing principles or pursue various other careers.

This article explores master’s degrees in creative writing, including common courses and concentrations, admission requirements and careers that use creative writing skills. Read on to learn more about earning a master’s degree in creative writing.

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What Is a Master’s in Creative Writing?

A master’s in creative writing is an advanced degree that helps you develop the skills to write your own novel, poetry, screenplay or nonfiction book. This degree can also prepare you for a career in business, publishing, education, marketing or communications.

In a creative writing master’s degree program, you can expect to analyze literature, explore historical contexts of literary works, master techniques for revising and editing, engage in class workshops and peer critiques, and write your own original work.

Creative writing master’s programs usually require a thesis project, which should be well-written, polished and ready to publish. Typical examples of thesis projects include poetry collections, memoirs, essay collections, short story collections and novels.

A master’s in creative writing typically requires about 36 credits and takes two years to complete. Credit requirements and timelines vary by program, so you may be able to finish your degree quicker.

Specializations for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are a few common concentrations for creative writing master’s programs. These vary by school, so your program’s offerings may look different.

This concentration helps you develop fiction writing skills, such as plot development, character creation and world-building. A fiction concentration is a good option if you plan to write short stories, novels or other types of fiction.

A nonfiction concentration focuses on the mechanics of writing nonfiction narratives. If you plan to write memoirs, travel pieces, magazine articles, technical documents or nonfiction books, this concentration may suit you.

Explore the imagery, tone, rhythm and structure of poetry with a poetry concentration. With this concentration, you can expect to develop your poetry writing skills and learn to curate poetry for journals and magazines.

Screenwriting

Screenwriting is an excellent concentration to explore if you enjoy creating characters and telling stories to make them come alive for television or film. This specialization covers how to write shorts, episodic serials, documentaries and feature-length film scripts.

Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are some typical admission requirements for master’s in creative writing degree programs. These requirements vary, so check with your program to ensure you’ve met the appropriate requirements.

• Application for admission
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Transcripts from previous education
• Writing samples
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement or essay

Common Courses in a Master’s in Creative Writing

Story and concept.

This course focuses on conceptualizing, planning and developing stories on a structural level. Learners study how to generate ideas, develop interesting plots, create outlines, draft plot arcs, engage in world-building and create well-rounded characters who move their stories forward.

Graduate Studies in English Literature

Understanding literature is essential to building a career in creative writing. This course prepares you to teach, study literature or write professionally. Expect to discuss topics such as phonology, semantics, dialects, syntax and the history of the English language.

Workshop in Creative Nonfiction

You’ll study classic and contemporary creative nonfiction in this course. Workshops in creative nonfiction explore how different genres have emerged throughout history and how previous works influence new works. In some programs, this course focuses on a specific theme.

Foundations in Fiction

In this course, you’ll explore how the novel has developed throughout literary history and how the short story emerged as an art form. Coursework includes reading classic and contemporary works, writing response essays and crafting critical analyses.

MA in Creative Writing vs. MFA in Creative Writing: What’s the Difference?

While the degrees are similar, a master of arts in creative writing is different from a master of fine arts in creative writing. An MA in creative writing teaches creative writing competencies, building analytical skills through studying literature, literary theory and related topics. This lets you explore storytelling along with a more profound knowledge of literature and literary theory.

If you want your education to take a more academic perspective so you can build a career in one of many fields related to writing, an MA in creative writing may be right for you.

An MFA prepares you to work as a professional writer or novelist. MFA students graduate with a completed manuscript that is ready for publishing. Coursework highlights subjects related to the business of writing, such as digital publishing, the importance of building a platform on social media , marketing, freelancing and teaching. An MA in creative writing also takes less time and requires fewer credits than an MFA.

If you want to understand the business of writing and work as a professional author or novelist, earning an MFA in creative writing might be your best option.

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Creative Writing?

Below are several careers you can pursue with a master’s in creative writing. We sourced salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Postsecondary Creative Writing Teacher

Median Annual Salary: $74,280 Minimum Required Education: Ph.D. or another doctoral degree; master’s degree may be accepted at some schools and community colleges Job Overview: Postsecondary teachers, also known as professors or faculty, teach students at the college level. They plan lessons, advise students, serve on committees, conduct research, publish original research, supervise graduate teaching assistants, apply for grants for their research and teach subjects in their areas of expertise.

Median Annual Salary: $73,080 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in English or a related field Job Overview: Editors plan, revise and edit written materials for publication. They work for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, advertising agencies, media networks, and motion picture and video production companies. Editors work closely with writers to ensure their written work is accurate, grammatically correct and written in the appropriate style for the medium.

Median Annual Salary: $55,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field Job Overview: Journalists research and write stories about local, regional, national and global current events and other newsworthy subjects. Journalists need strong interviewing, editing, analytical and writing skills. Some journalists specialize in a subject, such as sports or politics, and some are generalists. They work for news organizations, magazines and online publications, and some work as freelancers.

Writer or Author

Median Annual Salary: $73,150 Minimum Required Education: None; bachelor’s degree in creative writing or a related field sometimes preferred Job Overview: Writers and authors write fiction or nonfiction content for magazines, plays, blogs, books, television scripts and other forms of media. Novelists, biographers, copywriters, screenwriters and playwrights all fall into this job classification. Writers may work for advertising agencies, news platforms, book publishers and other organizations; some work as freelancers.

Technical Writer

Median Annual Salary: $79,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Overview: Technical writers craft technical documents, such as training manuals and how-to guides. They are adept at simplifying technical information so lay people can easily understand it. Technical writers may work with technical staff, graphic designers, computer support specialists and software developers to create user-friendly finished pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About a Master's in Creative Writing

Is a master’s in creative writing useful.

If your goal is to launch a career as a writer, then yes, a master’s in creative writing is useful. An MA in creative writing is a versatile degree that prepares you for various jobs requiring excellent writing skills.

Is an MFA better than an MA for creative writing?

One is not better than the other; you should choose the one that best equips you for the career you want. An MFA prepares you to build a career as a professional writer or novelist. An MA prepares you for various jobs demanding high-level writing skills.

What kind of jobs can you get with a creative writing degree?

A creative writing degree prepares you for many types of writing jobs. It helps you build your skills and gain expertise to work as an editor, writer, author, technical writer or journalist. This degree is also essential if you plan to teach writing classes at the college level.

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Sheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation. Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Indiana University South Bend, and she received her teacher certification training through Bethel University’s Transition to Teaching program.

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English instructor and published author connects with students through writing

Thiele got his start writing poetry and lyrics. He has two hit songs “Almost in Love” by Dolly Parton and “Dancing Like Lovers” by Mary MacGregor.

“Since I teach composition and creative writing, clearly my attention to my own writing, editing, paragraphs and phrasing, helps me explain how to write technically,” Thiele said. “The thing that can be difficult to teach is that you have to rely on readers to fill in the blanks, to keep books to a manageable size.”

Thiele’s latest work, “Tsisqua’s Nation,” dedicated to his wife, Jo, chronicles the life of an old man who is about to die. The story has him meeting many people, doing serious soul searching and figuring out how to spend the rest of his life.

“You never really finish writing a book,” Thiele said. “You just put it out there.”

In the classroom, Thiele strives to make students interested in learning. “I see myself as a facilitator to help students realize their dreams,” he said. “And I teach on a lot of diverse subjects, while fulfilling the obligations of each course.”

Thiele says his favorite part of teaching at a community college is working with a varied student body. “I like that my students lack pretense and come with a thirst for learning and a desire to get the job done.”

He added, “Most students want to be understood. I work hard to call them by name and make those important connections.”

Thiele noted that in today’s environment of rapid-fire technology, it’s still important to learn that collecting the facts is only one step. “It’s our job to help students learn to assess and coordinate facts – otherwise the knowledge is useless.”

Another plus for Thiele is the camaraderie of the English faculty on the Chesapeake Campus. “It’s a tangible thing and one of the joys of coming to work. I look forward to it every day,” he said. Thiele is co-chair of TCC’s annual literary festival with colleagues Rick Alley and Joe Antinarella.

Thiele’s other published works include short stories and fiction novels including “Eight Lyrics,” “out back,” “Like Chinese Milk” and “Juntun.”

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

List of All U.S. Colleges with a Creative Writing Major

Writing has been my passion practically since I learned to read in kindergarten. I would write stories about princesses and my family dog, Gansett. When it came time to look at colleges, I was set on attending one with a strong creative writing program. Ultimately, I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars.

Today, colleges across the country offer creative writing as a major. Because writing skills are essential for a wide range of careers, and because most curricula emphasize broad liberal arts competencies, a degree in creative writing can set you up for success in numerous fields, whether you want to be an editor or a lawyer.

Interested in majoring in creative writing? Learn which schools offer the major and what to look for in a program.

Overview of the Creative Writing Major

Creative writing is about more than spinning tales. For your major, you’ll generally need to pursue a curriculum grounded in literature, history, foreign language, and other humanities courses, along with distribution courses, if the college requires them.

Most creative writing majors must participate in workshops, in which students present their work and listen to peer critiques, usually with a certain number of advanced courses in the mix. In some cases, colleges will ask you to specialize in a particular genre, such as fiction, poetry, or playwriting. 

To succeed in creative writing, you’ll need to have a tough spine, in order to open yourself up to feedback from your classmates and instructors. You may need to give readings in public — if not as an undergraduate, certainly during your career. Of course, a passion for creating is essential, too, as is a willingness to revise your work and learn from the greats and your peers.

A creative writing major opens up doors to many careers, including journalism, content marketing, copywriting, teaching, and others. Even careers that don’t center around writing often have a strong writing component: you’ll need to write reports, deliver presentations, and so on.

Some writers go on to earn an MFA, which will help you hone your craft. It’s also often a prerequisite for teaching creative writing at the college level.

What to Look for in a College as a Creative Writing Major

Published authors on faculty.

Many world-renowned authors have another claim to fame: professorships. Writers who have taught their craft include (among many others):

• Maya Angelou (Wake Forest University)
• Colson Whitehead (many colleges, including Vassar College and Columbia University)
• Stephen Dixon (Johns Hopkins University)
• Viet Thanh Nguyen (University of Southern California)
• Eula Biss (Northwestern University)
• Toni Morrison (Princeton University)

Be aware that as an undergraduate, you may not be able to learn from the greats. That’s why it’s important to look into which courses these faculty teach before you have dreams of being mentored by Salman Rushdie — who is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU.

Genres Offered

While many schools that have creative writing majors offer fiction and poetry courses and tracks, there are some niche genres that could be more difficult to find. If you’re interested in playwriting, for example, you won’t find that at every school. Before you decide on a program, be sure it includes the genres you’d like to explore further, whether that’s flash fiction, creative nonfiction, or something else.

Workshopping Opportunities

The core of most quality creative writing curriculum is workshopping. This means sharing your work in your classes and listening to your peers discuss and critique it. While this may sound intimidating, it can do a lot to help you hone your work and become a better writer. Look for colleges that make this the bedrock of their curriculum.

Showcasing Opportunities

Are there opportunities to present your work, such as college-sponsored readings where undergraduates can participate? Or, perhaps the school has a great literary journal. At my school, students could submit their plays and have them performed by fellow students. 

List of All U.S. Colleges With a Creative Writing Major

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

No matter what major you’re considering, the first step is ensuring you’re academically comparable to students who were previously accepted to the college or university. Most selective schools use the Academic Index to filter out applicants who aren’t up to their standards.

You’ll also want to demonstrate your fit with the school and specific major with the qualitative components of your application, like your extracurriculars and essays. For a prospective creative writing major, the essay is particularly important because this is a way to demonstrate your writing prowess. Activities might include editing your school’s newspaper or literary journal, publishing your work, and participating in pre-college writing workshops.

Want to know your chances of being accepted to top creative writing schools? Try our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike other calculators, it takes your individual profile into account, including academic stats and qualitative components like your activities. Give it a try and get a jumpstart on your journey as a creative writing major!

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English, A.A.

Get ready for diverse careers with an A.A. in English. Develop critical skills in research, writing, and more.

About the Program

• Prepare for a wide range of careers.
• Develop essential skills in research, critical thinking, and effective writing.
• Immerse in diverse human experiences through literature, creative writing, research, and rhetoric.
• Achieve a grade of "C" or higher in required English major courses.
• Thrive in an environment that encourages reading, writing, discussion, and creative thinking.
• Gain exposure to profound ideas of our time.
• Contribute to the student-edited literary journal, The Tulsa Review .
• Participate in creative writing contests with cash prizes.
• Engage in service-learning to explore diversity, community, and inclusion.
• Elevate discussions with Honors classes.
• Explore original literary research opportunities.
• Benefit from dedicated and engaging faculty members.
• Apply for Admission
• Request Info

Program Details

Discover the world of literature, hone creative writing, and gain vital skills. Learn more about the English A.A.

Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing this program, you will have the ability to:

• Formulate ideas based on informed reading of texts, their elements, and their contexts.
• Evaluate diverse literary works of various genres, styles, traditions, and movements.
• Use secondary sources in various media.
• Compose clear, focused, convincing, thesis-driven analytical essays.
• Create interpretative arguments based on original thought.

Requirements

View a semester-by-semester course plan of study and information regarding transferring this degree to other colleges and universities.

Degree Requirements

Program Map

Plan your academic journey step by step. Explore our English A.A. program map in the catalog.

Student Organization

The English Department selects and oversees student editors for TCC's online literary journal, The Tulsa Review .

Clubs & Organizations

Program Contact

English Program 918-595-7064

School of Communication, English, & World Languages TCC Metro Campus 909 South Boston Avenue Tulsa, OK 74119 918-595-7694 [email protected]

Careers in English

Don't miss out on the opportunity to connect with our Career Services professionals. Schedule a session now to explore the comprehensive range of complimentary resources available for career planning and job preparation.

Seamless Transfer: Your Next Chapter Awaits

TCC is your launchpad to success. Our program ensures a smooth transition from TCC to your chosen university, helping you save on costs while pursuing quality education. Get ready to transfer your TCC credits and step confidently into your bright future.

Tacoma Community College

Welcome to our Online Instruction Center.

Tacoma Community College’s Continuing Education Department offers a wide range of highly interactive courses that you can take entirely online .  All of our courses are led by expert instructors, many of whom are nationally known authors.  Our online courses are affordable, convenient, fast, fun, and tailored to you.

Ready to learn more?   Browse our catalog or check out our courses.

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With the Speed Spanish course, you will immediately start creating sentences and conversations in Spanish. Each lesson will introduce new techniques to increase your fluency quickly and allow you to start speaking Spanish right away.

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Gain a marketable new skill by learning the basics of double-entry bookkeeping, financial reporting, and more.

Learn everything you need to know to start writing grant proposals and consult or volunteer for non-profit, public foundations.

If you work with data of any kind, knowing how to create a spreadsheet is key to effectively managing and organizing information. This course will introduce you to Microsoft Excel 2019 and teach you how to use this powerful software.

Learn to master American Sign Language through immersive, silent instructional videos that emphasize proper sign techniques and facial expressions for effective communication. You will become skillful at fingerspelling and an array of signs to engage in conversations confidently.

New Courses

This course offers an in-depth look at depression, including symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment, plus vital suicide prevention strategies.

This course will teach you how to integrate some simple study skills into your lesson using a method called the notecard system.

Learn about mindfulness meditation, including health benefits, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), as well as techniques and practices.

This course will highlight the significance of retrieval practice in the math classroom and guide you in a specific format for teaching retrieval techniques to your students.

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Creative Writing Program

Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Visionaries Wanted

Stories impact us in profound ways. Good stories can inspire and touch our souls; they bring freshness, life, understanding and clarity to our human experience. They can draw us closer to God and to Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. They are at the core of the entertainment which shapes our culture and society. Under the guidance of experienced writers, JPCatholic students study the discipline and craft of powerfully telling stories for multiple mediums, whether that be a novel, short story, or screenplay.

St. John Paul the Great, a writer and artist himself, wrote extensively encouraging artists to develop their “divine spark”, to create works whose excellence communicates truth and beauty. Many career paths after graduation are available to students in the Creative Writing emphasis, but they are all oriented to contributing to the common good.

“Society needs artists...they not only enrich the cultural heritage of each nation and of all humanity, but they also render an exceptional social service in favor of the common good.”

POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II

Creative Writing Curriculum

Creative Writing Core

All Creative Writing students will take a well-rounded foundation of courses in areas like short fiction, poetry, prose fiction, and non-fiction.

Elective Tracks

Screenwriting

Immerse yourself in opportunities to write for film and television, with the chance to pitch your screenplay to our Feature Film Program.

Study landmark novels, contemporary fiction, and works like Lord of the Rings and The Brothers Karamazov that bridge literature and theology.

Learn more about marketing and publishing, with the opportunity to lead a campus creative arts journal.

General Education

Theology & Philosophy

Impact culture for Christ and grow in faith and understanding through a rich sequence of Scripture based Theology courses and Philosophy courses.

Prepare yourself for a career in writing with skills in marketing, project management, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Study the human condition by actively engaging in an exploration of literature, art, culture, politics, economics, and more.

Envision your future at JPCatholic

Submit your story to the Feature Film Program

JPCatholic’s annual Feature Film Program gives students the opportunity to pitch their scripts to be developed into a full-length movie.

Publish Your Work in Our Student Journal

Our student-published journal Pelican’s Plume provides you with opportunities to share your work in creative writing, poetry, illustration, and more.

Diverse Elective Opportunities

Whether you are interested in poetry, short stories, non-fiction writing, screenwriting, adaptation, or novels, you’ll have the chance to explore and develop your unique voice. You can also delve into electives from our other programs such as illustration, theatre, film, and more.

Our Authentically Catholic Community

Our campus is a place where students can grow both professionally and spiritually. We’re a unique community of artists and innovators, centered around our faith in Jesus Christ and the beauty of the Catholic faith. Immerse yourself in an abundance of opportunities for spiritual growth, including Daily Mass, Confession, Adoration, Rosary, Retreats, and Service Projects.

Our Small Campus Environment

With a total student body under 300, JPCatholic offers a warm, tight-knit campus community. Foster lifelong friendships, form creative partnerships, and surround yourself with a supportive environment that encourages your growth in both virtue and artistic excellence.

Generous Scholarships Available

At JPCatholic, we’re committed to making a quality Catholic education affordable for every student. 99% of our students receive a scholarship, and packages take both need and merit into account. Our personalized financial counseling process assists you in identifying all awards you might be eligible for.

Graduate in 3 Years

Our unique academic model prepares students for the real-world pace of professional life in the industry, with a focus on hands-on projects, internships, and portfolio preparation. The program is structured on a year-round quarter system, and you graduate with your Bachelors Degree in just 12 quarters. Each quarter is 10 weeks long, with about 3 weeks of break between each quarter.

Alumni Success

JPCatholic alumni have found success in a variety of paths, ranging from Hollywood to independent media organizations, and from large corporations to nonprofits to their own entrepreneurial start-ups. View our placement rate and alumni jobs by clicking below.

Located in San Diego County

John Paul the Great Catholic University is centered in north county San Diego, just a 35-minute drive from downtown in America's Finest City. Southern California is famous for its fantastic weather, beautiful beaches and mountains, and bustling metropolitan areas. Our campus is just 15 miles from the beach, a short trip by car or train. And with Los Angeles and Hollywood within striking distance, students have even more opportunities for internships and networking.

Meet the Faculty

With small class sizes and mentorship, professors are able to provide individualized training. They bring decades of experience and unique perspectives from varied backgrounds.

Christopher Riley

Professor of Film

Chris is one of the most authoritative figures for the official screenplay format of Hollywood. He is a screenwriter whose first film, After The Truth, an award-winning courtroom thriller written with his wife, Kathleen Riley, sparked international controversy when it was released in Germany. Other credits include 25 To Life, a dramatic thriller for Junction Entertainment and Touchstone Pictures; The Other White House, a political thriller for Sean Connery's Fountainbridge Films and Intermedia; Aces, an action-adventure romance for Paramount Pictures; and a screen adaptation of the book Actual Innocence for Mandalay Television Pictures and the Fox television network.

A veteran of the Warner Bros. script department, Riley is the author of The Hollywood Standard: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style . From 2005 through 2008, he served as director of the acclaimed Act One Writing Program in Hollywood, which trains Christians for careers as writers and executives in film and TV. Chris holds a BS in Telecommunications from Oral Roberts University and was a National Merit Scholar.

Dr. Julie Anne Stevens

Adjunct Professor of Humanities

Julie Anne has her PhD from Trinity College Dublin. She publishes and lectures on Irish literature and the visual arts, nineteenth and twentieth century Irish and American women’s writing, illustrated children’s books, and short fiction. She took early retirement in August 2021 from Dublin City University to relocate to the United States, and returned to JPCatholic where she had been a visiting professor from 2017-2019. As a tenured lecturer in the School of English, DCU, she served as a convenor for both Research (2015-17) and Teaching and Learning (2020-21). She also served as the Director for the Centre for Children’s Literature and Culture (2009-17). During this time, she was treasurer of the Irish Society for the Study of Children’s Literature (ISSCL) and in 2013 she accepted an invitation to join a panel of judges for the Children’s Books Ireland Awards. She currently is part of the team for the Irish Women’s Writing (1880-1920) Network and one of the editors for their forthcoming double issue of English Studies (2022-23) She published The Irish Scene in Somerville and Ross in 2007 and co-edited The Ghost Story from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century in 2010. Somerville Press published her latest book, Two Irish Girls in Bohemia: The Drawings and Writings of E. Œ. Somerville and Martin Ross , in 2017.

Steve Kramp

Professor of Theology and Humanities

Steve is a theologian and prize-winning poet. Prior to coming to JPCatholic he taught courses in writing, literature, and cultural history at a number of universities and colleges, including the University of California, Merced, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He holds a BA in English from the University of Oregon, an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and an MA in Theology and Christian Ministry from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He also worked for three years in youth ministry at a Seattle-area parish.

In his classroom teaching Steve often returns to his primary intellectual interest, which is the intersection of faith practice and artistic practice. In addition to his teaching and administrative service as Humanities Chair at JPCatholic, Steve is currently working on Holy Saturday, a series of long poems. Prof. Steve has received a Mandatum from the Bishop of San Diego as an ecclesial recognition of his posture and commitment to teach Theology always in communion with the Church, and in conformance with the requirements of Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Bill Marsilii

Adjunct Professor of Screenwriting

Bill co-wrote Déjà vu - a romantic time-travel thriller, which at the time was the highest-priced spec screenplay of all time after selling to Jerry Bruckheimer and Touchstone Pictures for $5 million. Déjà vu, which starred Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Val Kilmer and Jim Caviezel, grossed more than $180 million worldwide. Marsilii sold 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo to Walt Disney Pictures, and with his Deja Vu partner Terry Rossio, sold Lightspeed, a space adventure to Bruckheimer/Disney. More recently, Marsilii adapted the sci-fi comic Sebastian X for producer Gale Anne Hurd and director Martin Campbell, and sold an original project, Cold, to Lionsgate with Reese Witherspoon attached to star and produce. Marsilii has been a guest lecturer at a wide variety of film and screenwriting programs, including those at UCLA TFT, USC, NYU, and Pepperdine. He has served as a mentor for the Act One Screenwriting Program.

Sheryl Anderson

Visiting Professor of TV Writing

Sheryl is an accomplished author, television writer, and producer with over 20 years of experience. Over the course of her career, Sheryl has written and produced for hit TV shows such as Charmed, Flash Gordon, Ties that Bind , and the Netflix original series Sweet Magnolias . She began her career as a development executive for Grant Tinker's GTG Entertainment where she wrote for half-hour sitcoms Parker Lewis Can't Lose and Dave's World. Sheryl has also published four novels in her Molly Forrester series. In addition to her writing, she has taught for Act One, an instructional program for Christian screenwriters, and for UCLA's Writer's Extension Program.

Robin Murray, PhD

Robin is a classicist whose research focusses on Imperial Rome, early Christianity and ancient philosophy. Her dissertation analyzed the theme of death and death preparation in the Satyrica, an ancient novel by Petronius who, although a friend to the Emperor Nero, was forced to commit suicide by him in 66 A.D. More broadly, she studies the Graeco-Roman world and strives to make it relevant to people of today. She received her PhD in Classics from UC Irvine where she taught classes on the history and literature of ancient Greece and Rome and served as the assistant editor to the Classics journal TAPA ( Transactions of the American Philological Society ). She lives in Northern San Diego with her husband and children.

Megan Jauregui Eccles

Megan writes dark, speculative fiction for young adults and is represented by Laura Galit of LKG Agency. Her writing has appeared in Kelp Journal, Coachella Review, Ladies of the Fright, The Lineup, and Dwarf+Giant. She is editorial assistant and social media manager for Hill Nadell Literary Agency. She holds a BA in Music from the University of San Diego and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California Riverside-Palm Desert. She lives in San Diego with her husband and four sons.

Get an Inside Look

Creative Writing Program Overview

Humanities Program Overview

Joshua David MG: Writing to Express Yourself | Why We Create

Why Study Poetry?

Prof. Nathan Scoggins: Why do stories impact us? | Crash Course in Storytelling

Megan Eccles | Faculty Insights

The Philosophy of Lord of the Rings: Capstone Seminar

Alyssa Helsel: Art Reflects the Artist | Why We Create

How This Class Develops Your Storytelling for Video Games

Start Learning Now

Story Masters Film Academy is an online education platform founded by screenwriting alumna Tara Stone and two JPCatholic faculty, Prof. Chris Riley and Prof. Nathan Scoggins. Story Masters offers online courses in screenwriting and directing for high school students; JPCatholic has partnered with Story Masters to make these two courses eligible toward transfer credit at JPCatholic.

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