Creative Writing

The creative writing minor helps you answer three key questions: what are your stories? What are the best ways for you to tell them? How can you refine your expression to appeal to readers and listeners of all kinds? You will discover these answers through singular mentorship and an array of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting classes.

Overview

The Creative Writing Program empowers you to craft compelling narratives, poetry, and other forms of written expression designed to tell stories and impact readers. Creative writing fosters critical thinking and creativity, allowing you to explore genres, styles, and voices. It also helps grow your skillset and prepares you for careers where strong writing is essential, such as publishing, journalism, advertising, law, and content creation. Beyond professional benefits, the minor encourages personal growth, offering a way to reflect on experiences, explore your imagination, and connect with others through storytelling. Creative writing will make you a more articulate and graceful communicator, no matter your vocation. It will teach you creative problem-solving and the empathic critique of others’ work. Whether you aim to write professionally or simply enjoy writing as a hobby, a creative writing minor cultivates your ability to communicate effectively and creatively in both personal and professional contexts.

Your Minor Took You Where?

Creative Writing minors have gone on to a variety of graduate programs and careers.

Employers and Professions

Sarabande Books
The Nashville Symphony
The Courier Journal
Hatchett Publishing Group
The Carnegie Center in Lexington, Kentucky

Postgraduate Study

University of Iowa Writing Workshop
University of Cincinnati Phd in Creative Writing
New York University, PhD in Creative Writing
Columbia School of Law
University of Kentucky School Library Science
The Center for Writers Hattiesburg, MS

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Curriculum

Centre’s creative writing minor includes introductions to the writing of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, as well as intermediate and advanced classes, mixed genre classes, and classes in special topics, such as creative writing on nature & the environment, and poetic forms. Drawing students from all three academic divisions, writing workshops teach techniques in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, and playwriting.

Minor Requirements

Experiential Learning

Students engage in hands-on learning experiences and reflection to develop skills and increase knowledge retention.

Creative writing minors at Centre can expect to collaborate with visiting writers and have the opportunity to facilitate and teach community creative writing workshops at the local library, and area elementary, middle, and high schools.

Internships

We're committed to helping students find quality internship experiences in the career area of their choice.

Internships for creative writing minors at Centre have included the University Press of Kentucky, Sarabande Books, Narrative Magazine, Hindman Settlement School, Quay Books, Danville Advocate-Messenger, Cleveland Magazine, Knopf Books, and Hatchett Publishing Group.

Careers

Our extraordinary liberal arts and sciences education prepares students for meaningful lives and careers.

Graduates with a creative writing minor have found success in careers such as journalism, writing/publishing their work, literary research, editing, teaching, publishing, library science, and video production.