Advanced Creative Writing

1. Explain the concept of creative writing as a discipline.
2. Identify sources of idea and inspiration for a writer.
3. Explain the essentials of major creative genres.
4. Describe elements and techniques of fiction, drama and poetry.
5. Discuss principles of authorship and creativity.
6. Identify contemporary contexts and creative theories.

13 weeks, about 32 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: The Art and Practice of Creative Writing

   • Unit 1: The Discipline of Creative Writing · 2 hours

     Define creative writing as a discipline.. Explore the scope and evolution of creative writing.. Complete the garden visualization exercise..

   • Unit 2: Sources of Idea and Inspiration for a Writer · 2 hours

     Explain the concepts of idea, inspiration, and style.. Discuss environment and experiences as sources of inspiration.. Analyze master's statements and philosophies for inspiration..

2. Week 2Module 1: The Art and Practice of Creative Writing

   • Unit 3: Creativity and Writing Routines · 2 hours

     Explain writing routines and their importance.. Discuss the role of innate talent versus learned skills.. Examine the significance of the reader in creative work..

   • Unit 4: Aiming to Write · 2 hours

     Enumerate ways to prepare for writing.. Identify the significance of reading other writers.. Discuss the importance of reading across time..

3. Week 3Module 1: The Art and Practice of Creative Writing

   • Unit 5: Arming to Write · 2 hours

     List ways of keeping thoughts and ideas.. Identify how to write and how not to write.. Explain the concept of negative capability..

   • Unit 6: Getting started, getting going and keeping going · 2 hours

     Identify the seven steps of the writing process.. Explain preparation, planning, and incubation.. Discuss how to finish a draft of creative work..

4. Week 4Module 2: Essentials of Major Creative Genres

   • Unit 1: Essentials of Prose/Fiction · 2 hours

     Describe the difference between fiction and faction.. List and explain different forms of prose fiction.. Identify the distinction between types in terms of length..

5. Week 5Module 2: Essentials of Major Creative Genres

   • Unit 2: Essentials of Drama/Play and Theatre · 2 hours

     Discuss the history and evolution of drama and theatre.. List and explain the types and features of drama.. Enumerate the essential features of theatre..

6. Week 6Module 2: Essentials of Major Creative Genres

   • Unit 3: Essentials of Poetry · 2 hours

     Explain the poetics of poetry.. Describe features and characteristics of a poem.. Identify the different forms of poetry..

7. Week 7Module 3: Technique of the Major Creative Genres

   • Unit 1: Elements and Techniques of Fiction · 2 hours

     Identify and explain the different forms and structure of fiction.. Identify and explain the style of writing fiction.. Describe the basic elements of fiction..

8. Week 8Module 3: Technique of the Major Creative Genres

   • Unit 2: Elements and Techniques of Drama · 2 hours

     Determine the nature of drama, theatre and play-text.. Identify and explain the elements of drama.. Identify and discuss the technique of presenting drama and theatre..

9. Week 9Module 3: Technique of the Major Creative Genres

   • Unit 3: Elements And Techniques Of Poetry · 2 hours

     Identify and explain the basic forms and structure of a poem.. Mention and explain ten basic elements of composing a poem.. Discuss the technique of writing poetry..

10. Week 10Module 4: Masterclasses

    • Unit 1: Contemporary contexts and creative theories · 2 hours

      Identify the basic polemic on language use in postcolonial creative work.. Analyze the points raised by postcolonial critics on language.. Mention the difference of point of views raised by the critics on the use of language in the African novel..

11. Week 11Module 4: Masterclasses

    • Unit 2: Writer and the Tradition of Writing · 2 hours

      List fictional or poetic writing tips provided by the masters.. Mention creative theories on fiction and poetry.. Identify what the masters say about culture and tradition..

12. Week 12Module 4: Masterclasses

    • Unit 3: Principles of Authorship and Creativity · 2 hours

      Mention different theorists and their theories on authorship.. Identify the place of the author in a work of fiction or poetry.. Explain their position in relation to the function of an author..

13. Week 13Module 5: Getting Published

    • Unit 1: Pitching · 2 hours

      Explain the terms publishing and publishers.. Identify outlets for literary and creative writing competitions.. Prepare a work for the publishers..