Courses & advising

Fall/Winter
Instructor: Liz Howard 
Mon-Wed: 10:15-11:30 a.m. 

Fall/Winter
Instructor: Gillian Sze 
Tues-Thurs: 10:15-11:30 a.m.

This course introduces students to writing poetry, reading and critiquing poems, and developing their craft. Over the course of the school year, students will learn useful vocabulary, poetic forms, techniques, and practical skills for editing and publishing. In the first semester, we will spend time building our “poetry toolkit” via readings, writing exercises, short lectures, and group discussions. The aim is to provide a common critical language that will provide a crucial foundation for the second half of the course, when we discuss our own poetry in workshops. During the workshops, students will be expected to submit their work (based on a scheduled rotation), receive criticism, as well as provide oral and written comments for their peers. Assessment will be based on regular attendance, active and consistent participation, timely submissions, and a final portfolio

Fall/Winter
Instructor: Kate Sterns
Mon-Wed: 10:15-11:30 a.m. 

The Introductory Workshop is designed to introduce essential elements of the craft of fiction writing (structure, motive, conflict, character, POV etc.). We begin with the study of published texts alongside targeted exercises intended to help students develop their stories. In the second semester, students begin to engage in peer review via the workshop model. In this class, we focus on the creative process —how to move from that first idea through to a revised draft— and on developing your editorial skills. Participation is a key factor in the success of any workshop and students are expected to attend the workshop consistently.

Winter
Instructor: Josip Novakovich (Winter term only) 
Tuesday 17:45-20:15

The first half of the course covers the elements of fiction and writing techniques exemplified in published stories. You will do a variety of exercises in preparation for the second half of the course, to be conducted mainly as a writing workshop, with participants presenting their original work for class discussion and feedback, with advice for further development and revision. You will gain a sense of what works in your prose as well as in the prose of your peers, developing not only writing skills but also editorial skills, which are essential for revising and improving works in progress. When the time permits, we will do a few writing sketches in various genres.

Please note: This full year course is taught by different instructors in the fall and winter terms. Students enrolling in this course should therefore be open to different pedagogical models, which we hope will result in a diverse, engaging, and constructive class experience.

Fall/Winter
Instructor: Mikhail Iossel
Wed: 2:45-5:30 p.m.

This seminar will be divided into two parts: during the first semester, in parallel with reading and analyzing many broadly representative short stories by a variety of international authors, we will be concentrating on the very nature and essence of prose writing, its main objectives, methods and techniques. Beginning with the second semester, the class will start discussing and analyzing the students’ own stories, following the typical writing workshop model (participants present their original work, which subsequently gets analyzed and critiqued by the group, led by the instructor).

The seminar’s primary objectives will consist of helping the students understand the difference between the different genres and modes of prose writing, and becoming familiar with the various approaches to the craft of writing and its essential techniques.

Winter 2025 
Instructor: TBC 
Tues and Thurs: 2:45–5:30 p.m. 

Fall/Winter
Instructor: TBC
Mon-Wed, 10:15-11:30 a.m. 

This introductory class is designed to introduce elements of the craft of playwriting (structure, character, dialogue, stage directions and terminology) in a practical way. The course will also introduce the idea of a writing practice: what that is, how it will benefit you as a playwright and how to make it work for you. We will read and discuss established plays and texts, alongside targeted writing exercises. The first semester will primarily be focused on writing exercises to inspire creativity and generate ideas, culminating in a character monologue which will be workshopped in class. The second semester will be focused on writing a short one-act play. The class will be run in a workshop format; students will engage in peer review via the workshop model. Throughout the semester there will be class visits from established playwrights. The final two weeks of the winter semester will be devoted to a mini play-reading festival.

Fall/Winter
Instructor: TBC
Tues: 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 

This introductory class is designed to introduce elements of the craft of playwriting (structure, character, dialogue, stage directions and terminology) in a practical way. The course will also introduce the idea of a writing practice: what that is, how it will benefit you as a playwright and how to make it work for you. We will read and discuss established plays and texts, alongside targeted writing exercises. The first semester will primarily be focused on writing exercises to inspire creativity and generate ideas, culminating in a character monologue which will be workshopped in class. The second semester will be focused on writing a short one-act play. The class will be run in a workshop format; students will engage in peer review via the workshop model. Throughout the semester there will be class visits from established playwrights. The final two weeks of the winter semester will be devoted to a mini play-reading festival.

Fall/Winter 
Instructor: TBC
Tues-Thurs 2:45-4 p.m.

A workshop to advance your fiction writing skills, building upon the foundation of the elements of fiction introduced in ENGL226. We will survey a variety of techniques in published fiction to explore craft possibilities in a range of forms and approaches: micro-fiction, short story, novella, novel chapter; realistic and psychological fiction, literary fiction, genre fiction, and cross-genre, such as prose-poem, true story. You will constructively critique your peers’ writing, and they will critique yours. For the writing paradigms, we’ll rely on the works available in the public domain (short stories), and novel chapters (e.g. The New York Times Book Review first chapters). We’ll also survey writing as a profession—how and where to publish short fiction and novels as well as how and where to continue your training as a writer if you so choose, in an MA or MFA program here or abroad or on your own.

Fall/Winter
Instructor: Josip Novakovich
Monday: 5:45-8:15 p.m.

A workshop to advance your fiction writing skills, building upon the foundation of the elements of fiction introduced in ENGL226. We will survey a variety of techniques in published fiction to explore craft possibilities in a range of forms and approaches: micro-fiction, short story, novella, novel chapter; realistic and psychological fiction, literary fiction, genre fiction, and cross-genre, such as prose-poem, true story. You will constructively critique your peers’ writing, and they will critique yours. For the writing paradigms, we’ll rely on the works available in the public domain (short stories), and novel chapters (e.g. The New York Times Book Review first chapters). We’ll also survey writing as a profession—how and where to publish short fiction and novels as well as how and where to continue your training as a writer if you so choose, in an MA or MFA program here or abroad or on your own.

Fall/Winter
Instructors: TBC/Kate Sterns (winter semester only)
Mon and Wed: 2:45-4 p.m.

This class is designed to advance the work of ENGL226 by building on your understanding, and application, of elements such as: structure, character, conflict, and setting. The course will utilize exercises designed to aid in story development, along with an enhanced focus on the workshop.

Please note: This full year course is taught by different instructors in the fall and winter semesters. Students enrolling in this course should therefore be open to different pedagogical models, which we hope will result in a diverse, engaging, and constructive class experience.

Fall/Winter
Instructor: TBC
Wed: 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Fall
Instructor: Mikhail Iossel
Thurs: 5:45-8:15 p.m. 

This is a course about reading and writing -- and the vital connections between the two. It can be viewed as advanced practice in the writing and revising of creative nonfiction. We will explore the creative possibilities of non-fiction writing, deepen our understanding of the genre through careful reading of past and contemporary authors, and hone our critical reading skills by considering such essential issues facing non-fiction writers as the tension between differing prose styles, the choice of personal voice and vision, and the importance of deliberate artistic approaches to experience. We will pay especially close attention to how essayists choose their topics and structure their narratives.

Prerequisites: Completion of any 300 level Creative Writing course, or permission of the department.

Winter
Instructor: Mikhail Iossel
Thurs: 5:45-8:15 p.m.

This is a course about reading and writing -- and the vital connections between the two. It can be viewed as advanced practice in the writing and revising of creative nonfiction. We will explore the creative possibilities of non-fiction writing, deepen our understanding of the genre through careful reading of past and contemporary authors, and hone our critical reading skills by considering such essential issues facing non-fiction writers as the tension between differing prose styles, the choice of personal voice and vision, and the importance of deliberate artistic approaches to experience. We will pay especially close attention to how essayists choose their topics and structure their narrative.

Prerequisites: Completion of any 300 level Creative Writing course, or permission of the department.

Fall-Winter
Instructors: Sina Queyras (Fall)/Liz Howard (Winter)
Wed: 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Students of this advanced poetry workshop will be required to produce writing on a weekly basis. We will spend the bulk of our time reading and discussing student generated work. Students will develop tools for a sustainable creative practice, engage in writing experiments and learn to present our work in print and performance. The first semester will focus on experiments and creative play and the second semester will be spent working on an extended project. Poets will be required to attend literary events over the year. Reading list will include a course pack and authors including, but not limited to: Canisia Lubrin, Sue Goyette, Karen Solie, AE Stallings, Claudia Rankine, Franny Choi, CA Conrad, Dionne Brand, George Abraham, Iman Mersal, Terrance Hayes, Wanda Coleman, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, and Diane Seuss as well as the The Penguin Book of the Prose Poem and several literary journals including The Capilano Review, The London Review of Books.

Please note: This full year course is taught by different instructors in the fall and winter semesters. Students enrolling in this course should therefore be open to different pedagogical models, which we hope will result in a diverse, engaging, and constructive class experience

Fall/Winter
Instructor: Alexandria Haber 
Wed and Fri: 1:15-2:30 p.m.

This advanced playwriting workshop is primarily focused on the creation of a full-length play. The class combines workshopping original scripts with reading and discussing plays, watching plays, readings about writing plays and plenty of writing exercises tailored to playwriting. We will explore different styles of playwriting and work towards uncovering your own specific voice as a playwright through different writing exercises and establishing a writing practice. Time will also be devoted to the practical aspect of playwriting: grants, one-page blurbs and cover letters for Artistic Directors, a creative CV and how to get your work read and seen. Readings will include plays from both Canadian and International playwrights. There will be guest speakers from various theatrical backgrounds and may include: established playwrights, directors, designers and actors.

NB: Workshopping first drafts will begin in the fourth week of class.

Fall
Instructor: TBC
Thurs: 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

This course will focus on workshopping your script as if it was scheduled for a production. We will cover all the different aspects involved in getting a play from page to stage, starting with the script itself.

Over the course of the semester, you will write two drafts of your play.

An essential component of the Unit is play readings. Each draft will be read aloud (by the rest of the Unit). As a unit, we will work cohesively as a group to support and offer feedback to each other. One of the crucial components of the Unit is peer feedback. In addition to notes/thoughts from the instructor, you will also receive feedback from your fellow playwrights. For the final readings, each playwright will have the opportunity to have their workshop with a guest artist attending, who will give their feedback on specific aspects of playwriting. Some potential guest artists include: actors (who will perform the reading) set/ costume designer, director, Artistic Director and sound designer. In the final class, we will discuss how and where to submit your plays and how to write a grant.

NB: You must bring to the class a working first draft. It does not have to be a completed (100%) first draft, but it should be substantial (at least 85% written).

Pre-requisites: Completion of ENGL227 and ENGL384

This class is cross-listed with ENGL670/2/A.

Winter
Instructor: TBC
Tue–Thurs: 10:15–11:30 a.m.

This course will introduce students to the principles and practices of writing narrative for a range of media, including screenwriting, interactive fiction, and videogames. Throughout the course, we’ll explore topics ranging from script writing and writing for interaction to narrative design for digital media and formatting. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with different genres and to produce short final projects in a genre of their choosing. The class will be run in a seminar/workshop format that may feature a range of elements, including short instruction blocks, class discussions, activities, practical skill applications, and peer feedback.