Creative Writing at St. Olaf
Creative Writing at St. Olaf begins with English 150, Fundamentals of Creative Writing. Through reading, discussion, and writing exercises, students develop a broad foundation of strategies in creative writing and a general understanding of craft across genres—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Risk-taking, experimentation and play are encouraged. The course is open to all students who have taken or are currently enrolled in GE 111 or equivalent. This course is a prerequisite for 200- and 300-level creative writing courses.
At the intermediate level, courses focus on a single genre within creative writing: English 291, Intermediate Creative Nonfiction Writing; English 292, Intermediate Poetry Writing; English 293, Intermediate Fiction Writing. These courses involve intensive reading and writing in the genre. English 150 or previous college-level creative writing course with instructor's permission are prerequisites.
At the advanced level, courses include: English 371, Advanced Poetry Writing; English 372, Advanced Fiction Writing; English 373, Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing. Advanced courses in each genre will be open to students who have taken the intermediate course in that genre or in another genre with instructor’s permission.
