creative writing classes austin texas

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11 Best Creative Writing Classes in Austin

Showing 11 courses that match your search.

Write Away Day

The Writing Barn

We’re going above and beyond the experience of spending the day writing at a café—enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and water, chat with local creatives and maybe even find a new writing partner and friend!

Website: https://thewritingbarn.com/class/write-away-day-april-14-...

Categories: Nonfiction and Fiction

Start date:

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Mastering the Submissions Process to Get a Literary Agent

Austin Writing Workshops

Many new writers hoping to become published authors often ask themselves, I’ve written a book…now what? Chances are, the first thing they need is a literary agent. This class focuses on the correct methods of obtaining a literary agent and helps simplify the process.

Website: https://writingworkshops.com/collections/the-best-online-...

Categories: Book and Publishing

October, 2024

Everything You Need To Know About Writing Nonfiction Picture Books (From Those Who Do It)

In this fast and fun, 90 minute event we will cover every facet of the creation process from research and ideas to creating and selling your book. Above all, you will discover how to take known facts and transform them into a true story that is uniquely yours.

Website: https://thewritingbarn.com/class/everything-you-need-to-k...

Categories: Book and Nonfiction

March, 2024

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Demystifying Show, Don’t Tell – Enhancing Your Writing 4-Week Zoom Class

The writer’s mantra – and the bane of most writers’ existence – is Show, Don’t Tell. In this workshop, writers will get down and dirty with ways to show and how to identify in their drafts where they are telling and how to enjoy transforming that telling into showing.

Categories: Short Story, Book, and Fiction

The Weekend Short Story Intensive

Led by Kritika Pandey, this class meets over two consecutive weekends (December 2-3 and December 9-10, 2023). It focuses on various aspects of short story writing, including passing time in fiction, structural unity, and dialogue. The course includes in-class generative writing, editing, and selected readings from authors like Donald Barthelme and George Saunders. Participants will have a revised short story by the end of the workshop.

Categories: Short Story

Finding Your Voice

A 6-week online Zoom class, designed to help writers discover and develop their unique voice through personal essays and poems. Taught by author Lynne Golodner, this course encourages mining life experiences for powerful stories, offering guidance in writing with purpose to leave a lasting legacy. It's suitable for those wanting to write for personal fulfillment or to inspire others​​.

Website: https://writingworkshops.com/products/finding-your-voice-...

Categories: Fiction, Essay, and Poetry

Open all year round

Writing Comedic Personal Essays

Austin Bat Cave

Conducted by Sophia Benoit, a writer featured in GQ and The Guardian, this seminar delves into blending personal essay writing with comedic storytelling. It's perfect for those looking to use humor to make personal stories universally relatable, and for writers wanting to enhance their humor writing skills.

Website: https://austinbatcave.org/product/writing-comedic-persona...

Categories: Comedy and Essay

Suffering the Consequences: Building Exciting Plot through Consequential Action

Led by award-winning author Manuel Gonzales, this fiction seminar explores crafting engaging plots through characters' decisions and actions. Focusing on how characters drive plots, the course aims to build organic and compelling narratives. Ideal for writers interested in character-driven storytelling

Website: https://austinbatcave.org/product/fiction-suffering-conse...

Categories: Fiction and Adult

Serial Poetics

Led by author and editor Ted Dodson, this seminar delves into the serial poem format. It offers a cross-medium approach, incorporating literary, video, and visual art techniques. Ideal for writers seeking new challenges or developing ideas for a poetry collection, the course examines works by various influential poets.

Website: https://austinbatcave.org/product/serial-poetry/

Categories: Poetry

Flash Fiction

Taught by Hilary Leichter, author and Columbia University instructor, this seminar explores the art of flash fiction. Participants learn about the form’s history, analyze works by prominent authors, and engage in class exercises. It's open to writers at all levels, from beginners to seasoned poets venturing into prose.

Website: https://austinbatcave.org/product/flash-fiction-hilary-le...

Austin Public Library

Dive into the realm of storytelling with Austin Public Library's writing workshops. Featuring sessions like 'Write with Spike: Writing Workshops with Spike Gillespie,' this series welcomes all, with a special 2-hour session on December 5, 2023. Explore writing basics across genres in a supportive community, with no prerequisites required, making it an accessible literary venture

Website: https://library.austintexas.gov/events/writing

Categories: Fiction, Essay, Poetry, Nonfiction, Short Story, Free, and Book

So you’re looking for creative writing classes in Austin

Austin: the City of the Violet Crown, the live music capital of the world, and a haven for artists down South. In the writing world alone, Austin has been home to countless famous authors, from Julie Powell to Katherine Anne Porter. By taking a creative writing class in Austin, you could join their ranks.

This directory of the best writing courses in Austin is meant to help you locate the right one for yourself.  We’ve included filters for price and genre so that you can quickly sort through the writing classes. And before you commit to any one writing class, consider the following questions:

• Who is the instructor?
• What is the price of the writing course?
• How far away is the writing course in Austin? Is there a remote alternative?
• How long could the course last?

Got any questions about finding the right writing class in Austin for you? Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . Good luck!

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Austin Bat Cave

We Believe in the Power of Words

adult classes

Austin Bat Cave offers adult writing classes for writers of all skill levels. Because we want our programming to be available to writers of all backgrounds and income-levels, we are pleased to offer participants support through scholarships and payment plans.

As an organization, ABC is working to ensure that our writing classes, events, and media are equitable and accessible for all. Unless otherwise noted, virtual classes are conducted in English. Currently, we provide students with closed captioning and recorded workshop sessions.* If you need other accommodations that will help us create a healthy mental, physical, and inclusive space, please let us know at registration.

*ABC is committed to student privacy. Recorded sessions will not be made public or available for purchase, with the exception of our SSSF seminars. To encourage open, honest discussion and create an environment of support, instructors of classes with highly-personal, intimate subject matter may decide to record only a portion of class.

The fees from ABC’s adult writing workshops subsidize our free writing programs for kids and pay our adult workshop instructors .

General Info

• ABC will host both virtual and in-person classes. We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the region and will shift in-person classes to virtual if necessary. Please note the class format before registering.
• Class times are listed in Central Time (CT).
• All classes are non-refundable but are transferable to another person or to another class of equal or lesser value.
• The fees from ABC’s adult writing workshops subsidize our free writing programs for kids and pay our adult workshop instructors. A major factor in determining tuition rates is the instructor’s time and preparation outside of the classroom. Classes that provide students with highly-personalized feedback, such as long-term workshops, will generally be priced higher than courses that meet only once. If you have the means, we encourage you to consider donating to Austin Bat Cave and help arts education and literacy continue to thrive during these challenging times.

Financial Assistance

Most adult classes feature a sliding scale to allow a wider range of participation. A limited number of seats in each class might be reserved for scholarships.  Scholarships cover 100 precent of tuition-fees, and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

We especially encourage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers to apply, though all are welcome. We do not ask for financial information or outside documents.

You may request a scholarship by emailing [email protected]

Special Offers

• ABC Virtual Literary Salon: Take advantage of this free archive of reflections and writing prompts from authors in our amazing creative community including Karen Russell, Lara Prescott, and more!  

Current Classes

In Person Horror Writing Workshop for Adults with Richard Santos

January 23rd, January 30th, February 6th, February 13th,

$ 65.00

Class Details

Recorded Sessions

Recorded Session

Summer Series

The Surreal Seminar with Sarah Rose Etter

Instant Download

$ 10.00

On Place: Regional Writing & Home Narrative in Fiction with Kristen Arnett

Suffering the Consequences: Building Exciting Plot through Consequential Action with Manuel Gonzales

Flash Fiction with Hilary Leichter

I’ll Build Me A World with Rion Amilcar Scott

Serial Poetics with Ted Dodson

Writing Comedic Personal Essays with Sophia Benoit

class Reviews

“The instructor was well prepared and I felt supported as a participant. I enjoyed the writing times she built in. Jenny was a wonderful instructor and did such a wonderful job curating a space that felt safe and connected over Zoom.” – The Personal Essay, Revamped with Jenny Tinghui Zhang

“Shannon is an exceptional instructor. It is clear that she puts so much thought and care in class preparation. She has an incredible teaching style that is warm, engaging, and supportive as well as incredibly challenging. She also did an incredible job leading discussions, which can be hard in in-person classes, but takes on an even more difficult dimension for online classes. The class exceeded my expectations in every possible way.” – Stories that Sing with Shannon Perri

“I found Rachel to be a very skilled teacher—she paced the class well, was well-prepared for each meeting, including having read the students’ submissions, fostered lively and free discussion, and offered specific and valuable feedback. She also handled the transition to on-line for the last two class meetings very well. I think she’s terrific!” – Start Your Novel with Rachel Heng

“I was terrified of writing poetry until I took this class. Now I’m writing poems. That’s in large part because Susan was so kind and nurturing. I know I still have a lot to learn, but now this seems like a journey I’m capable of making.” – You Are A Poet. with Susan Niz

“I left class feeling more inspired than I have been in quite a while.” – LA Seidenberger, Dear Diary with Bridget Brewer

“ABC’s Summer Festival was a remarkable and creative response to the limits imposed by the pandemic. I have admired so many of the writers for quite some time and the opportunity to listen to them and engage with them in a workshop setting has been thrilling. The course cost was very modest considering the amount of thought and preparation that went into all of the programs. Rion Amilcar Scott‘s workshop was very engaging and offered unexpected perspective on world building and far more. ”

“Sophia Benoit’s comedic personal essay class was a wonderful and genuinely insightful lens into the process of a very funny and talented writer. It contained so much that will continue to help me develop my writing practice and it helped a large group of people feel a sense of community through creative vulnerability.” – Nick Bachan

“You guys are a hidden gem! Such an excellent value. . . I could have paid twice this and still felt I had gotten my money’s worth. More of this, please!!!” – Crystal Ockenfuss

“It was amazing! Better than I knew an online seminar could be.”

“The community that was so quickly created in this workshop was so needed, for me anyway, right now. Being among like-minded writers and being able to engage and even share our work gave a fantastic flow to the entire seminar.”

Past Workshop Leaders

Karen Russell

Naomi Shihab Nye

Kristen Arnett

Rion Amilcar Scott

Natalia Sylvester

Hilary Leichter

Manuel Gonzales

Lara Prescott

Rachel Heng

Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Sarah Rose Etter

Michael Chang

Emma Copley Eisenberg

Zaina Arafat

Roohi Choudhry

Leticia Urieta

Owen Egerton

Shannon Perri

Gillian Kümm

Sean Petrie

Lauren Francis-Sharma

Willie Fitzgerald

Liz Garton Scanlon

Robin Bissett

Bridget Brewer

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Creative Writing

Earn an associate degree in creative writing and explore writing and story skills by studying Creative Writing at Austin Community College. You’ll learn about plot structure, effective literary devices, and helpful editing practices. Whether you’re a screenwriter, children’s author, or a genre-bender, ACC has you covered.

Career & Salary Information

While the publishing industry is highly competitive, writing skills can be a great advantage in almost any career. Wordsmiths often create content for advertising campaigns, books, magazines, movies, television, social media, and more.

Awards & Program Maps

Choose the award path that’s right for you.

ACC offers stackable credentials. Certificates prepare you for a career change or career advancement and often include credits that count toward associate degrees. Associate degrees further increase your employability and help you build a strong foundation for university transfer. Learn about credential options .

Explore awards and follow the program maps below to stay on track.

Academic Program Department Contacts

Request information about applying to acc.

Note: Bachelor’s Degree, Health Sciences, and other specialty programs may not appear in the Program Of Interest selection area. Use the Request for Information links on those pages to contact those program administrators.

Start Here. Get There.

Main Address

Michener Center for Writers

Mfa in writing.

The Michener Center for Writers is the only Creative Writing M.F.A. program in the world that provides full and equal funding to every writer—yet it is our extraordinary faculty and sense of community that most distinguishes us. Our program is a three-year, fully-funded residency M.F.A. with a unique multi-disciplinary focus. Writers apply and are admitted in a primary genre—fiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting—and study in both their primary and a secondary genre(s). There are no teaching duties, a luxury that allows our Fellows to commit themselves fully to their writing. And because only twelve writers are admitted each year, our faculty can devote ample time and energy to every writer. With unparalleled support and the deeply held belief that literary art matters now more than ever, the Michener Center offers writers 3 years of unencumbered space to make the work that only they can make.

News & Events

Mcw fellow darius atefat-peckham is keene prize runner-up.

Michener Center Fellow Darius Atefat-Peckham has been named a runner-up for the 2024 UT Keene Prize for Literature, for an excerpt from his forthcoming book… Read more

Alumn Abe Koogler’s Play Opens to Positive Reviews

Michener Center Playwriting Alumnus Abe Koogler‘s play Staff Meal has opened to rave reviews, with recent coverage from The New York Times, Vulture, Observer, New York Theatre… Read more

Congratulations, Michener Center for Writers Class of 2024!

The Michener Center celebrated the Class of 2024 at graduation events this past Friday and Saturday, April 26th & 27th, 2024. This year’s Fiction graduates… Read more

Michener Alumn Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig Wins Whiting Award

We’re proud to announce that Michener Center Alumnus and playwright Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig (MCW 2009) is the recipient of a 2024 Whiting Award. The Whiting… Read more

The Michener Center aims to be a welcoming, inspiring, and invigorating community where writers feel safe and supported to take chances on the page. We are extremely proud that there is no hierarchy here—all students receive equal funding—and we firmly believe that our egalitarian approach fosters a higher level of work that more competitive environments suppress.

Our MFA candidates have come from places as varied as western India, South Korea, eastern Europe, and northern Idaho. Their backgrounds and experiences lend to the pages they produce, which are unique and uniquely vital. We aren’t seeking writers of any particular aesthetic, but rather we are looking for writers whose work is distinct, urgent, and arresting.

Each year, we receive hundreds of applications for twelve seats in the cohort. We accept only full-time, in-residence candidates for the three-year program. There is no low-residency or part-time option.

Applicants must meet the UT Graduate School’s minimum requirements for consideration, which include completion of a Bachelor’s Degree prior to enrollment. The Michener Center no longer requires GRE scores.

James Michener was the Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of over 40 books, including Texas , Hawaii , and Tales of the South Pacific . In his final years, he and his wife, Mari Yoriko Sabusawa, moved to Austin, TX, where they endowed the Texas Center for Writers, a three-year MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Texas. The first cohort of Michener Fellows graduated in 1996. After Mr. Michener’s death in 1997, the Center was renamed in his honor.

To ensure both continuity and fresh perspectives, the Michener Center faculty is built with fixed and moving parts. Writers from UT’s departments of English, Theatre and Dance, and Radio-Television-Film comprise our Resident Faculty, and each year we also welcome an exciting roster of distinguished Visiting Faculty. That our faculty members—resident and visiting—are as passionate about their teaching as they are their writing is of the utmost importance. Like our students, our faculty afford the program a wealth of varied experience, an abiding sense of shared enterprise, and deep commitment to the making of literary art. For more on our outstanding faculty in each genre, visit our Faculty page .

Introduction to Creative Writing

These classes are designed to benefit anyone from the beginner to the advanced writer. Here, students will study the many aspects of crafting creative works including idea generation, structure, arc development, syntax, tension, and effective use of literary devices. We offer ENGL 2307 in all of the following forms:

Prose  • Poetry  • Fiction  • Memoir  • Young Adult Fiction  • Playwriting  • Screenwriting  • Poetry & Prose  • Flash Fiction  • Children’s Literature

Forms of Literature for Creative Writing

The goal of this class is to teach students how to read like a creative writer. To do this, students will closely study diverse forms of writing from poetry and short story to playwriting and film in order to understand the elements of craft necessary for each form. Genre focus to be determined by the instructor. .

Academic Coop

A capstone class for Creative Writing majors offered each Fall and Spring semester. The Academic Coop is designed to give participants insight into the process of publishing a literary journal. Under the guidance of a faculty member, students work collaboratively to produce the latest edition of the Rio Review , ACC’s Student Literary & Arts Journal .

Check Out Our Upcoming Classes!

Associates of arts in creative writing.

Our Associates in Creative Writing is designed to give you a valuable foundation in the art of writing. This degree plan includes introductory composition classes as well as a variety of creative writing classes designed to strengthen all levels of writing, from beginning to advanced. This degree includes access to unique creative writing electives such as being a part of a team of editors that collaborate to publish the bi-yearly Rio Review, ACC’s very own Student Literary & Arts Journal.

Check out the degree map for our Associate of Arts in Creative Writing .

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Creative Writing

Certificate in the college of liberal arts.

The Creative Writing Certificate is intended for any university student interested in advanced study of creative writing, both as reader and as writer.

The certificate program is a small one: approximately 60 students will be admitted each year.

How to Declare

Those who plan to pursue the certificate should begin the program by the fall of the junior year; applications are accepted each spring, beginning in March. The primary criteria for admission are UT-Austin GPA and a student’s progress toward degree, with additional consideration given to writing ability. Generally, admitted students have earned a 3.0 or higher GPA. The online application will remain open from March 1 through July. Students who apply prior to March 21 will be notified by April 1. All other students will be notified throughout the spring and summer, no later than August 1. The application requires a short personal statement (approximately one paragraph) about your interest in the program, as well as a writing sample (any genre, maximum of three double-spaced pages).

Required Courses

Visit the Creative Writing curriculum to see all required courses for the Creative Writing Certificate.

• Writing and communicating
• Critical thinking
• Analytical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Research skills
• Listening and interpreting
• Attention to detail

Related Links

• College of Liberal Arts
• Creative Writing Certificate
• Writing Contests

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Telephone 512-471-4991

Office Location CAL 226

Your major does not always determine your career path. Many graduates pursue careers outside their field, depending on their interests and experiences.

It’s not just your major that matters! Make yourself marketable by gaining a variety of experiences in college. Read a few inspiring stories by professionals whose experiences led to great careers.

Contact a Texas Career Engagement career counselor today to find out how you can turn your major into a career.

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This is an archived copy of the 2021-22 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/ .

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Creative Writing: CRW

Lower-division courses, crw 315d. playwriting i..

Same as Theatre and Dance 315 . The study and practice of writing plays. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 315D and Theater and Dance 315 may not both be counted.

CRW 315F. Introducton to Writing Fiction.

Intended for students with minimal prior experience in creative writing. Three lecture hours or one lecture hour and three workshop hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: English 303C (or 603A ), Rhetoric and Writing 306 , 306Q , or Tutorial Course 303C (or 603A ).

CRW 315P. Introduction to Writing Poetry.

Upper-division courses, crw 325. topics in creative writing..

Detailed study and practice of the techniques of biography, creative nonfiction, or other special topics of creative writing; includes reading and analysis of contemporary models. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D (or 603B ), 316L (or 316K ), 316M (or 316K ), 316N (or 316K ), 316P (or 316K ), or Tutorial Course 303D (or 603B ).

Topic 1: Writing Border Narratives. Same as Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic 34). Examines the United States and Mexico border through the use of the personal essay in its various forms. Students write personal essays that focus on their relationships to the border. Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 325 (Topic: Writing Border Narratives), 325 (Topic 1), Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic: Writing Border Narratives), 374 (Topic 34). Additional prerequisite: Comparative Literature 315, English 303D (or 603B), 316L (or 316K), 316M (or 316K), 316N (or 316K), 316P (or 316K), or Tutorial Course 303D (or 603B).

CRW 325E. Personal Essay.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 325 (Topic: Personal Essay) and 325E may not both be counted. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D (or 603B ), 316L (or 316K ), 316M (or 316K ), 316N (or 316K ), 316P (or 316K ), or Tutorial Course 303D (or 603B ).

CRW 325F. Fiction Writing.

Detailed study and practice of the techniques of fiction writing; includes reading and analysis of contemporary models. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D (or 603B ), 316L (or 316K ), 316M (or 316K ), 316N (or 316K ), 316P (or 316K ), or Tutorial Course 303D (or 603B ).

CRW 325M. Creative Writing.

Detailed study and practice of the techniques of fiction, poetry, and other genres of creative writing; includes reading and analysis of contemporary models. Three lecture hours or one lecture hour and three workshop hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D (or 603B ), 316L (or 316K ), 316M (or 316K ), 316N (or 316K ), 316P (or 316K ), or Tutorial Course 303D (or 603B ).

CRW 325P. Poetry Writing.

Detailed study and practice of the techniques of poetry writing; includes reading and analysis of contemporary models. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D (or 603B ), 316L (or 316K ), 316M (or 316K ), 316N (or 316K ), 316P (or 316K ), or Tutorial Course 303D (or 603B ).

CRW 325S. Screenwriting.

Study and practice the techniques of screenwriting. Read and analyze contemporary models. Three lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester. Creative Writing 325S and Radio-Television-Film 333 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: One of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D (or 603B ), 316L (or 316K ), 316M (or 316K ), 316N (or 316K ), 316P (or 316K ), or Tutorial Course 303D (or 603B ).

CRW 325T. Writing for Black Performance.

Same as African and African Diaspora Studies 330F , American Studies 321Q , and Theatre and Dance 357T (Topic 5). Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: African and African Diaspora Studies 330F , 372E (Topic: Writing for Black Performance), American Studies 321 (Topic: Writing for Black Performance), 321Q , Creative Writing 325T , English 376M (Topic: Writing for Black Performance), Theatre and Dance 357T (Topic: Writing for Black Performance), 357T (Topic 5). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

CRW 330. Literature for Writers.

Readings in fiction, poetry, drama, literary criticism, biography, and autobiography from the point of view of a creative writer. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: One of the following: Creative Writing 325 (or English 325 ), 325F (or English 325F ), 325M , 325P (or English 325P ).

CRW 335. Business of Writing.

Same as English 335P . Study the book publishing landscape including traditional and non-traditional career paths available to writers and those interested in the publishing industry. Analyze the publishing process, from concept to finished book: the acquisition, editorial, publicity, marketing, and sales stages of a book's life. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 335 , English 324 (Topic: Business of Writing), 335P . Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and one of the following: Comparative Literature 315 , English 303D (or 603B ), 316L , 316M , 316N , 316P , or Tutorial Course 303D (or 603B ).

CRW 340D. Playwriting II.

Same as Theatre and Dance 325 . Emphasis on the form and writing of the full-length play or equivalent. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 340D and Theatre and Dance 325 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, Creative Writing 315D or Theatre and Dance 315 , and consent of instructor.

CRW 340F. Short Story Workshop.

Practice in writing the short story, with study of contemporary models. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 340F and English 341 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Creative Writing 325F (or English 325F ), or 325M .

CRW 340P. Poetry Workshop.

Practice in writing poetry, with study of contemporary models. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 340P and English 341L may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Creative Writing 325M or 325P (or English 325P ).

CRW 355D. Playwriting III.

Same as Theatre and Dance 355 . Focus on experiments in revising dramatic text in order to create a common vocabulary around narrative structure. Revision often includes the creation of multiple new drafts, digging through past drafts for abandoned themes, lost focus, and new inspiration as well as exploring character, narrative, and/or language. Three lecture hours a week for one semester, with laboratory hours as required. Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 355D , Theatre and Dance 355T (Topic: Playwriting III), 355 . Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, Creative Writing 340D or Theatre and Dance 325 , and consent of instructor.

CRW 355F. Advanced Fiction Workshop.

A third semester seminar-style workshop in fiction for experienced creative writers. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 355F , 660 , English 355K . Prerequisite: Creative Writing 340F (or English 341 ).

CRW 355P. Advanced Poetry Workshop.

A third semester seminar-style workshop in poetry for experienced creative writers. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 355P and English 355K may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Creative Writing 340P (or English 341L ).

CRW 660. Intensive Creative Writing.

An accelerated seminar-style workshop for highly motivated students. Designed to be taken over two consecutive summer sessions; offered only during the summer semester. Three lecture-workshop hours a week for two semesters. Completion of this course is equivalent to completion of both Creative Writing 340F and 355F . Only one of the following may be counted: Creative Writing 340F and 355F ; or 660 ; or English 355K . Prerequisite: For 660A , credit or registration for Creative Writing 325F or English 325F ; for 660B , Creative Writing 660A .

CRW 370H. Honors Creative Writing Project.

For advanced students already proficient in writing who wish to work under supervision on specific and substantial projects. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Creative Writing 370H and English 367K may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Consent of the honors adviser.

CRW 375. Conference Course in Creative Writing.

Continue independent work in a creative project with a faculty advisor. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit twice. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Creative Writing 370H ; approval of written application by supervising instructor and the director of undergraduate creative writing.

Graduate Courses

Professional courses.

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• The Writing Center

Are you looking to become a better writer? Whether you need help with academic writing, creative writing, screenplays, poetry, technical writing, or group writing projects, the Writing Center is here to help you strengthen your writing abilities! Make an appointment below to meet with a specialist.

How We Can Help:

Use the links below to book a one-on-one consultation or a group session using your ACC eID and password. Once you’ve logged in, click “Meet with a Tutor” and search for one of our Writing Specialist: Katherine Kelfer-Taylor and Christina Johannson.

One-on-One Consultations

By appointment only. Requests must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to appointment time.

There are 30-minute or one hour options available.

Group Sessions

Group Sessions are for groups of three or more students. By appointment only. Requests must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to appointment time.

(Ex: Group writing projects)

Find Other Academic Support Services

Contact information:.

Round Rock, Campus, Bldg. 2000, 3rd Floor, Rm. 2328.00

Phone: 512-223-0209 Email: [email protected]

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Badgerdog Creative Writing Camps

Badgerdog Creative Writing Camps allow 3rd-12th grade students to immerse themselves in a supportive, imaginative writing experience. Intimately-sized workshops are led by professional writers and explore the arts of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting and screenwriting.

Our writing program follows the workshop model: writers of all ages and skill levels are invited to examine the techniques of literary artists and experiment with language to communicate experience and meaning. our goal is to empower students of all ages to uncover authentic self-expression, broaden language skills, and share in a love of reading and writing., camps follow a simple teaching model: read, write, share . we read the work of published writers to discover the strategies, and tools that make writing vivid and compelling. we write , practicing the art of storytelling. we share , reading our own work aloud in the classroom, performing in public, or having work published, learn more and register for our summer 2024 creative camps here..

For more information about Badgerdog’s programs, contact Programs Manager Katherine Lamb at [email protected] .

Read students' poems and stories on our blog, Unbound .

Creative Writing

Course description.

Creative Writing is a one-semester online course designed to improve your ability to find and express your ideas through various writing styles. Each unit blends the reading of rich mentor texts with the opportunity for you to engage intimately with the process of writing. The ability to read analytically and to write expressively exists as the cornerstone for success in the work place, the military, and/or post high school collegiate work. Embrace the process and find your voice.

Course Objectives

Upon completing this course you will understand and use:

• analyze various genres of literature and understand their cultural significance.
• analyze the critical attributes of varying modes of writing to appreciate and emulate the artistry of the writer.
• compose various types of texts dependent on audience, purpose, and message.
• incorporate standard grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling into all written work.

Required Course Materials

• Interactive Notebook – In the form of a small composition notebook, a spiral notebook, or loose-leaf paper kept in a binder.
• Pencil or Pen – In order to do well in the course, you must take notes, sketch diagrams and graphs, and solve problems when instructed to do so.
• Internet Access
• Adobe Reader
• Dictionary access (print or online)
• Online copies can be found, but you can also purchase your own copy of Barbara Kingsolver’s Poisonwood Bible . Paperback:  576 pages Publisher:  Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Reissue edition (June 10, 2008) Language:  English ISBN-10:  0061577073 ISBN-13:  978-0061577079

Course Organization

This course is a single semester that contains 7 units and one final exam.

Each Unit contains:

• 2–4 lessons. Each lesson includes some or all of the following components: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.
• Self-assessments to help you check your own understanding of the material covered in each lesson. You must complete these assessments in order to advance in the course.
• 2 graded assignments

Final Examination

The final examination is comprehensive; it covers the material from all 7 units. To pass the course, you must receive a grade of 70 percent or better. You can apply to take the Final Exam after 100 percent of your graded assignments have been submitted, and at least 70 percent have been graded and returned to you.

Format: Multiple-choice and essay, online Time Allowed: 3 hours Materials Allowed: None

Semester Topics

Topic 1: Why Do Writers Write? Topic 2: Creative Nonfiction Topic 3: Short Fiction Topic 4: The Novel Topic 5: Poetry Topic 6: Experimental Writing Topic 7: A Way of Writing

Young Writers Austin

guidance for creative and academic writers, ages 8-18

Learn more about Young Writers Austin and its founder, Jennifer Hritz.

Find an uplifting and inspiring workshop that fits your child's needs.

Discover opportunities for creative and academic instruction.

Get answers to questions you might have about Young Writers Austin.

Retreat. Create. Celebrate.

• Find a Class

The Writing Barn is a Book Lover’s Haven.

In Person & Online Writing Classes

Deepen your process, perfect your craft.

Host a baby shower, birthday, wedding, or corporate event!

Discover this wooded retreat space mere minutes from downtown Austin.

The Writing Barn

Situated on 7.5 wooded acres in Austin, Texas, The Writing Barn is a space for writers, creatives, and those looking for a serene getaway. Whether retreating at the Book House, The Cabin, or attending one of the many events and workshops held at The Writing Barn, you will have every opportunity to retreat, create, and celebrate.

Founded by author Bethany Hegedus , The Writing Barn is much more than a physical space. Since expanding our offerings online , we’ve grown into a worldwide community of writers journeying the literary life together. Our classes and intensives work in tandem with our sister program, The Courage to Create , a community of and for writers with exclusive submissions opportunities, industry insight events, and more.

Latest News

Wb writers featured on bank street’s best children’s books of 2023.

Bank Street College of Education has released their 2024 edition of The Best Children’s Books of the Year (2023), and we saw a lot of familiar names on the list! […]

Success Story with Johanna Peyton

We are absolutely thrilled for Writing Barn success story Johanna Peyton who is celebrating signing with her dream agent, Taylor Martindale Kean, at Full Circle Literary! How long have you […]

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The New Writers Project at the University of Texas at Austin is a small, fully funded , three-year studio MFA program within the large and highly-ranked Department of English . We offer our students close mentorship, literary community, and teaching and editing experience. Working in concert with our partner MFA program, the Michener Center for Writers , we provide our students an artistically adventurous and intellectually rigorous terminal degree, with courses taught by both experienced and accomplished resident faculty and esteemed visitors.

The New Writers Project core faculty in fiction are Edward Carey, Oscar Cásares, Bret Anthony Johnston, Peter LaSalle, Elizabeth McCracken, and Deb Olin Unferth. Our core faculty in poetry are Lisa Olstein, Roger Reeves, and Jennifer Chang. 

The New Writers Project hosts and co-hosts an array of literary events , from open-to-the-public poetry and fiction readings to small Q&A's with authors and students. Recent guests include Jericho Brown, Maggie Nelson, George Saunders, Kazim Ali, Ann Patchett, Ada Limón, Paul Lisicky, Srikanth Reddy, Jeff Vandermeer, Evie Shockley, Kelly Link, Eula Biss, Matthew Zapruder, Kiese Laymon, Lucy Corin, Nikky Finney, Andrea Lawlor, Jennifer Chang, Brenda Shaughnessy, Rachel Zucker, Max Porter, Leni Zumas, and Lydia Davis.

With the Michener Center for Writers , we host a yearly symposium of editors and agents for our creative writing students.

Other past events can be found on our  Facebook page.

A wide range of other literary events are sponsored by other UT departments, centers, and organizations, and Austin itself has a varied and excellent literary arts scene, which includes a number of independent book stores— BookPeople ,  Malvern Books , and  BookWoman  among them—and the enormous, lively, and free-to-the-public  Texas Book Festival , one of the longest-running book festivals in the country.

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Creative Writing

Texas' only bachelor of fine arts in creative writing.

Do you dream of writing the next great American novel or making it big as an award-winning screenwriter in Hollywood? SFA’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing will give you the training you need to succeed in a wide range of professions. It’s ideal preparation for a career as a novelist, poet, journalist or playwright. Even if you want to work in a field like media, public relations or corporate communications, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing is a significant advantage. SFA boasts the only program of its kind in Texas – and one of just a handful in the nation!

Learn more about possible career paths.

An inspirational setting

Our beautiful East Texas setting is ideal for writers seeking a creative environment. At SFA, you’ll get the best of both worlds. You’ll live in a dynamic community of your peers and acclaimed visiting writers, and you’ll have instant access to the inspiring sights and peaceful sounds of the East Texas Piney Woods.

Undergraduate programs and requirements

Bachelor of fine arts in creative writing.

Our Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing program is the only one in Texas and one of only 16 in the nation. If you’re an aspiring writer, this program will give you fundamental and advanced training in the craft and technique of writing for a variety of genres. This program includes coursework in playwriting, screenwriting and literary publishing.

View a degree plan on the advising web page .

To learn more about the requirements of this program, please see the  Undergraduate Bulletin or discuss with your advisor.

View Degree Maps and Course Descriptions

Creative Writing Dr. John McDermott [email protected]  

Dugas Liberal Arts North Room 214

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13007, SFA Station Nacogdoches, Texas 75962