Spring 2025
Creative Writing Workshop Application Instructions–Spring 2025
Admission to all English Creative Writing workshops is by application ONLY. Please read and follow the posted application instructions carefully.
Students do not need to complete an “A” workshop before completing a “B” workshop, and may apply for the level they feel best suits their writing abilities. Not certain which level is most appropriate? Students may apply to both the “A” and “B” workshops in the genres of their choice, and our creative writing faculty will determine placement.
Introduction to Creative Writing
English 20W / TA assignments pendingDescription
Enrollment by instructor consent and NOT by enrollment pass time: Interested students should apply by 8 pm on February 27. Applications received after this date will be considered only if additional space should become available and may not receive a full review or response. Enrollment preference for English 20W will be given to first and second-year students. Approved applicants will receive a PTE directly from the instructor.
To apply, please prepare a brief (no more than 250 words) note explaining why you wish to take this course, and what previous experience you have with creative writing courses (if any—none required!).
Applications may be submitted through our approved web form, which you can access HERE beginning February 20. Students applying to English 20W should enroll in an alternate course during their February enrollment passes, and should not assume that they will be admitted.
Please note that due to the volume of submissions, only students selected for the class will receive notification. Please do not email the instructors requesting status updates, as this will only delay the selection process. Questions should be directed to the English Undergraduate Advising Offices via MyUCLA MessageCenter.
Creative Writing: Advanced Poetry
English 136B / Prof. WilsonDescription
In this advanced poetry workshop, you’ll write a new poem each week, and can expect many of the same experiences you’d have in any other writing course: discussion of exemplary published work, group work, and peer critique. You’ll also be expected to write a review of a recent single-author book of poems, and submit a collection of your revised poems at the end of the quarter.
How to Apply:
Enrollment is by instructor consent. If admitted, you must attend the first class.
To apply for the course, submit by e-mail attachment three to five of your best poems. In the body of the e-mail, provide your name, UID number, major, class level, and a brief note (no more than 250 words) about your experiences with poetry, your favorite literary poets (especially contemporary poets), any other creative writing courses you may have taken (none required!), and any other creative writing courses to which you are applying this quarter.
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: Smith 136B.1) and it should be sent to rwilson@english.ucla.edu AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu. Accepted students will be notified by e-mail.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025.
Acceptance Notifications:
Accepted students will be notified by e-mail.
Due to the volume of submissions, the professor is unable to provide feedback or suggestions regarding the students’ submitted work.
Creative Writing: Advanced Short Story
English 137B / Prof. HunevenDescription
This class is an intensive workshop on the reading and writing of short literary fiction.
We will consider the short story form, studying one or more great short stories weekly which the students will take turns presenting to the class. All students will be expected to read these stories multiple times and annotate them to identify the mechanics and the magic.
Students will write one short story every week for the first five weeks. After that, they will write two slightly longer stories and work on revisions. The goals of the class are 1) to help the students develop a regular practice of writing, 2) to learn the craft of writing fiction, and 3) to develop useful editorial skills.
Emphasis will be on developing the student writer’s individual voice and writing ability.
How to Apply:
Please submit no more than 5 (double-spaced) pages of your FICTION (Please don’t send in plays, screenplays, or poems) and list any workshops you’ve taken in the past. Please list your three favorite short stories and their authors. Also, tell me your class standing (sophomore, junior, etc.)
If you are applying to more than one workshop and have a preference, please indicate that preference so we can try to accommodate it.
Submissions must be e-mailed to huneven@me.com When e-mailing submissions, please put your last name and the course and section number in the subject line (example: Smith 137B.)
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2025.
Acceptance notifications:
You will be notified if you are accepted before classes begin.
Due to the volume of submissions, the professor is unable to provide feedback or suggestions regarding the students’ submitted work.
Topics in Creative Writing: Narrative Nonfiction
English M138.2 / Prof. JagerDescription
In this workshop devoted to narrative nonfiction, we will study short samples of the genre, and students will write their own pieces to be shared and discussed in class. Assignments will include first-person pieces (e.g., memoir), profiles based on interviews, and fact pieces or features incorporating library and internet research. The course is not limited to English majors and has enrolled many students from across the humanities as well as in the physical and social sciences.
How to Apply:
Enrollment requires a PTE, and interested students should submit (1) a 250-word personal statement about their writing goals and interests, (2) a list of ALL undergraduate courses taken so far, and (3) a 5-10 page double-spaced nonfiction writing sample. Please submit all applications via email to <ejager@humnet.ucla.edu>.
Acceptance Notifications:
Accepted applicants will be notified by email before the start of classes.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, the professor will be unable to provide feedback or suggestions on the students’ submitted work.
This class is an eligible non-fiction topic for the Professional Writing minor.
Topics in Creative Writing: Web Writing Workshop
English M138.3 / Prof. SnelsonDescription
This creative writing course explores new genres of writing on the internet. We follow emerging trends in digital poetics to develop new ways of creating works that are equally likely to appear on Instagram, through digital video games, in a chat story, generated with LLMs, or even printed on demand in paper format. Studying digital platforms and formats alongside contemporary art and letters, we’ll reimagine experimental writing practices through today’s emerging genres. How might social media platforms facilitate serial narratives? What do games demand of poetry? To what literary purposes might we direct webcomics, memes, or Twitch streams? Using a collective workshop format, we’ll engage in a series of writing experiments that attempt to find some of our own poetic responses to today’s technological environment. No previous training in creative writing or new media is required.
How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter introducing yourself and a sample of your writing or creative work in any format (no more than five pages, links to online work in any genre encouraged). In your cover letter, please include the following: your student identification number, email address, year of graduation, and a brief statement that addresses your interest in the course and any relevant coursework or creative practices—and finally, mention some of your favorite works on the internet.
Please email your submission in PDF to dsnelson@humnet.ucla.edu and creativewriting@english.ucla.edu. Please title your PDF starting with your last name, i.e.: lastname_spring-www_submission.pdf.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025.
Acceptance Notifications:
Accepted applicants will be notified by email before the start of classes.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, the professor will be unable to provide feedback or suggestions on the students’ submitted work.