Admission requirements
None.
Description
Creative writing encompasses forms of writing outside of professional, journalistic, academic, or technical writing. This course introduces students to the theory and practice of creative writing, with an emphasis on crafting prose. Students learn about the different tools that writers of fiction and creative nonfiction (also known as narrative nonfiction) employ to make these forms successful in a myriad of ways. Through reading, discussion, and practice, the class will explore the ways in which writers creatively manipulate structure and language. They’ll discuss how literary devices are employed to give their writing a unique tone and style.
Each week, the class will read and discuss examples of creative texts to analyze which stylistic elements make the pieces successful. Then, students will apply what they learn to their own writing through weekly writing exercises, and strengthen the work through subsequent feedback in workshop, culminating in one fully-formed piece of writing at the end of the course.
Course Objectives
By the end of the term, students:
Will have an understanding of the literary devices used in the craft of writing in fiction and narrative nonfiction prose.
Will have learned to read, write, and respond to their peers in a workshop setting.
Will have produced one polished piece of writing as well as various shorter writing assignments.
Will have the tools to continue a writing practice.
Timetable
Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2020-2021 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.
Mode of instruction
Class sessions will consist of lectures, discussion of the reading material, in-class writing exercises, and workshops in which class members will peer review each other’s work. These activities may be supplemented by question and answer sessions with visiting authors and/or multimedia material.
As always, students are expected to come to class prepared, having read the weekly reading material and their peers’ writing when applicable, for response.
Assessment Method
Students will be assessed on their completion of writing assignments, incorporation of feedback in revision, peer review/workshop responses, responses to reading material, a final portfolio, and participation in the academic process, as follows:
Final Writing Piece, 15%
Revision Final Piece, 20%
Workshop Critiques, 20%
Responses to Reading, 10%
Short writing assignments, 10%
Portfolio, 10%
Academic Process (classroom discussion, participation in in-class writing and any other activities), 15%
Reading list
Weekly reading material will be available on Brightspace.
Registration
Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Mieke Eerkens.
Remarks
Due to the nature of creative writing courses and the personal narratives students may share through their writing and feedback, it is essential that all participants agree to help foster a classroom environment that encourages respectful, supportive communication, and that personal writing will not be shared outside the classroom without prior permission from the author.