Creative Writing—Writers' Workshop Courses (English) (CW)

CW Courses

This is a list of courses with the subject code CW. For more information, see Creative Writing (Iowa Writers' Workshop) and English (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) in the catalog.

CW:1200 Creative Writing for Non-Native English Speakers 3 s.h.

Designed to help non-native English speakers who would like to learn more about creative writing; guided readings and creative writing exercises in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, with special emphasis on the interests of writers from diverse backgrounds; creative writing as a means of self-expression, while improving writing and speaking skills in a friendly, supportive environment.

CW:1800 Creative Writing Studio Workshop 3 s.h.

Experience reading and writing fiction, poetry, and personal narrative in a workshop setting; study of published work and critical discussion from a writer's standpoint; critique of class members' work. GE: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.

CW:2100 Creative Writing 3 s.h.

Guidance in the process of writing fiction and poetry; writing as exploration; development of students' critical skills as readers; application of new knowledge and skills to students' own writing. English majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Nonfiction and Creative Writing. GE: Engineering Be Creative.

CW:2600 Special Topics Workshop 3 s.h.

Writing workshops on special topics (e.g., writing weird tales, world building, writing place); students dive into the intricacies of craft in context of a particular topic, practice a particular set of skills, and develop new creative work.

CW:2870 Fiction Writing 3 s.h.

Analysis of works of accomplished fiction writers; critique of class members' short stories, in writing and in class; discussion of how class members use language, characterization, point of view, other elements of fiction in their work. English majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Nonfiction and Creative Writing. GE: Engineering Be Creative.

CW:2875 Poetry Writing 3 s.h.

Careful writing of poems, reading of poetry by class members as well as established poets; supportive workshop context. English majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Nonfiction and Creative Writing. GE: Engineering Be Creative.

CW:3000 Writing and Reading Romance Fiction 3 s.h.

How constraints and parameters in which romance fiction is created are a useful lens through which to explore the layers of craft and technique that underlie all great creative writing; opportunity to hone understanding of genre; exploration of specific craft techniques; development of a broader understanding of the fiction landscape.

CW:3002 Writing and Reading Young Adult Fiction 0,3 s.h.

Constraints and parameters in which young adult fiction is created and a useful lens through which to explore the layers of craft and technique that underlie all great creative writing; opportunity for students to hone their understanding of genre, explore specific craft techniques, and develop a broader understanding of the fiction landscape.

CW:3003 Writing and Reading Science Fiction 3 s.h.

Science fiction literature as an ongoing conversation about the possible; exploration of world boundaries we have by imagining worlds that we don't (yet); alien encounters that consider ways we react to beings we see as unlike ourselves; alternate histories to illuminate what might have been; transhumanist fiction to explore what we may become; issues of composition and craft that underlie all effective fiction; students write and revise works of science fiction and engage in constructive discussion of each other's work. GE: Engineering Be Creative.

CW:3004 Writing and Reading Fantasy Fiction 3 s.h.

Exploration of rules and boundaries of fantasy writing; interrogation of strategies and approaches that make writing fantasy distinct from other genres of fiction.

CW:3005 Professional and Creative Business Communication 3 s.h.

Solid foundation for creative and professional communication in today's modern work world; exploration of techniques, strategies, and craft of writing résumés, letters of interest, email and its related etiquette, and organization of ideas into presentable form; semester-long creative project that builds a bridge between office and the world using modern technology and social media; readings and discussions of literature to better understand issues of ethics, leadership, conflict, moral judgment, decision-making, and human nature; how to navigate and succeed in business or any professional field. GE: Engineering Be Creative. Same as INTD:3005, WRIT:3005.

CW:3105 The Art of Writers' Journals 3 s.h.

Introduction to literary art of journal writing through close readings of celebrated writers' journals, fiction related to journaling, and a series of journaling exercises; students build skills in communication, observation, voice, and literary expression.

CW:3107 Creative Writing for the Health Professions 3 s.h.

GE: Engineering Be Creative. Same as INTD:3107.

CW:3215 Creative Writing and Popular Culture 3 s.h.

Creative writing through the lens of popular culture; topics include television, film writing, adaptations, commercials, advertising, magazines, newspapers, comic books, song lyrics, billboards, and backs of cereal boxes. GE: Engineering Be Creative. Same as INTD:3300.

CW:3218 Creative Writing for New Media 3 s.h.

Prepares creative writers for evolving marketplace of electronic text and media; experience writing in varied media (e.g., internet, e-books, video games, mobile devices, emergent social narratives). GE: Engineering Be Creative. Same as INTD:3200.

CW:3400 Working Writers in Conversation 3 s.h.

Exposure to work of established contemporary writers who plan to visit the University of Iowa campus; students engage with each writer directly through class visits and reading attendance.

CW:3870 Advanced Fiction Writing 3 s.h.

Analysis of accomplished fiction writers' work; critique of class members' short stories, in writing and in class; discussion of how class members use language, characterization, point of view, other elements of fiction in their work. English majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Nonfiction and Creative Writing. Prerequisites: CW:2870.

CW:3875 Advanced Poetry Writing 3 s.h.

Writing poems, reading poetry by class members and established poets; workshop context. English majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Nonfiction and Creative Writing. Prerequisites: CW:2875.

CW:4745 The Sentence: Strategies for Writing 3 s.h.

Writing dynamic, cogent, and grammatically correct sentences; effectively communicating ideas; writing with clarity and confidence; review of grammar and various types of sentences; building complexity by adding adverbial, subordinate, and connective clauses to simple sentences; how rhythm, syntax, and word order expand the meaning of a sentence; application and appreciation. GE: Engineering Be Creative. Same as WRIT:4745.

CW:4751 Creative Writing for the Musician 3 s.h.

Better writing by focused appreciation of classical and popular music; musical forms and storytelling; music as a source of inspiration, performance of free-form writing exercises set to different soundtracks; what music can teach about language; scansion; methods for applying musical techniques in word form; how punctuation and grammar create rhythm; tone and diction used to create and modify dynamics of prose; multimedia project incorporating written, visual, and audio storytelling techniques. GE: Engineering Be Creative.

CW:4760 The Art of Revision: Rewriting Prose for Clarity and Impact 3 s.h.

Writing and rewriting of short stories and essays; specific choices to help writing reach its full potential; examination of first drafts and making strategic or radical decisions on what needs to happen in subsequent drafts in order for writing to better match original intentions; students gain insight from peers on where first drafts are succeeding or falling short, and write second and third drafts of short stories and personal narratives; structural and aesthetic choices. GE: Engineering Be Creative. Same as WRIT:4760.

CW:4870 Undergraduate Writers' Workshop: Fiction arr.

English majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Nonfiction and Creative Writing.

CW:4875 Undergraduate Writers' Workshop: Poetry arr.

English majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Nonfiction and Creative Writing.

CW:4885 Undergraduate Writers' Seminar arr.

Exploration of literature to develop substance and craft; craft sessions designed around topic chosen by instructor; modeled after Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate reading seminars. Prerequisites: ENGL:2020.

CW:4894 Undergraduate Project in Creative Writing arr.

English majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Nonfiction and Creative Writing.

CW:4897 Novel Writing 3 s.h.

Introduction to the process of writing a novel through focused lessons on character, perspective, plot, scene, and dialogue; organizing a longer work; creating notes and sections of a novel with progression towards completing a draft. Requirements: creative writing or fiction writing course.

CW:7810 Form of Fiction 3 s.h.

CW:7820 Form of Poetry 3 s.h.

CW:7830 Seminar: Problems in Modern Fiction arr.

CW:7840 Seminar: Problems in Modern Poetry arr.

CW:7870 Fiction Workshop arr.

CW:7875 Poetry Workshop arr.

CW:7878 Special Topics Seminar 3 s.h.

Seminar topics vary.

CW:7880 Teaching Assistant Pedagogy Colloquium 1-2 s.h.

Training and support for graduate students in the Creative Writing Program. Corequisites: CW:7870 or CW:7875. Requirements: enrollment in creative writing graduate program.

CW:7890 Graduate Project in Creative Writing arr.

CW:7895 MFA Thesis arr.