Fall 2024
Creative Writing Workshop Application Instructions–Fall 2024
Admission to all upper-division 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 Kiebach
Enrollment by instructor consent and NOT by enrollment pass time: Interested students should apply by 8 pm on September 13, 2024. 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 after July 15 HERE. Students applying to English 20W should enroll in an alternate course during their 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.
CANCELLED–Creative Writing: Intermediate Poetry
English 136A / Prof. Wilson
If you applied for a seat in ENGL 136A for Fall 2024, please apply to ENGL 136B.1 or ENGL 136B.2, instead! See below for instructions and deadline.
Creative Writing: Advanced Poetry
English 136B.1 / Prof. D’Aguiar
A weekly poetry reading and writing class conducted in the workshop format of practice-based discussions. Students write an original poem each week and read assigned published poems for discussion in class.
The course website requires students to post weekly remarks for each of the original poems set for class discussion. A portion of class time examines examples of published work. Students write one poem on an assigned topic each week and revise their work based on the class commentary.
A final portfolio of revised poems, assigned during the quarter, replaces the usual final exam.
How to Apply:
Students submit four of their original poems (Word Doc) along with two paragraphs about their recent reading of published poetry.
If you are applying to more than one workshop and have a preference, please indicate that preference so we can try to accommodate it.
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: Oliver 136B.1) and it should be sent to freddaguiar@ucla.edu AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
Acceptance Notifications
An announcement of the class list of admitted students will be posted in the Department of English main office (149 Kaplan Hall) before classes begin. Accepted students may also receive notifications via email.
Due to the volume of submissions, the professor is unable to provide feedback or suggestions regarding the students’ submitted work.
Creative Writing: Advanced Poetry
English 136B.2 / Prof. Mullen
In this creative writing workshop, students write original poems, a new poem each week, and post weekly drafts for class discussion. Each student also contributes constructive feedback to fellow writers, and makes an oral presentation on the work of a published poet. Criteria for grading include regular and punctual attendance and completion of assignments, participation in discussion with respectful critique of fellow writers, as well as a final portfolio of revised poems. Enrollment is by instructor consent.
How to Apply:
To apply for enrollment, please submit five poems you have written, along with a brief statement about your interest in reading and writing poetry and your previous experience in literature and creative writing courses. Please include your 9-digit UID number and e-mail address. If you are applying to more than one workshop and have a preference, please indicate that preference so we can try to accommodate it.
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: Gorman 136B.2) and it should be sent to mullen@humnet.ucla.edu AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
Acceptance notifications:
Accepted applicants will be notified by email before the first class meeting.
Due to the volume of submissions, the professor is unable to provide feedback or suggestions regarding the students’ submitted work.
Creative Writing: Intermediate Short Story
English 137A / Prof. Wang
Not open for credit to students who have previously completed ENGL 137A, 137B, or 137.
Are there stories you are aching to tell but you don’t feel equal to the task? This workshop is geared towards helping you identify and flex the “literary muscles” every great writer needs to develop. Through readings and in-class exercises you will be exposed to new tools, forms, devices, and narrative strategies to experiment with when creating your own stories.
You are required to write two original short stories, and give thoughtful feedback to your peers. You will be asked to bear down and pay strong attention on your own and each other’s writing.
How to Apply:
Please email me one PDF attachment of your short fiction (5- 8 pages, double-spaced) and a brief note introducing yourself. Tell me what you’re reading, the names of your favorite writers and your current creative writing habits. Also, please include your class standing and any previous workshop experience.
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: Chiang 137A.1) and it should be sent to xuanjuliana@gmail.com AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024.
Acceptance notifications:
Accepted applicants will be notified before the first class meeting. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, the professor will be unable to provide feedback or suggestions on the students’ submitted work.
Creative Writing: Advanced Short Story
English 137B / Prof. D’Aguiar
The compression of short stories challenges fiction forms. We read, write and discuss short stories in a workshop format to distill the various facets of the art and craft. Published exemplars of the form along with original student work comprise the class reading and discussion.
The course website requires students to post weekly remarks for each of the original stories set for class discussion. A portion of class time examines examples of published work. Students write three stories and revise them based on the class commentary.
Students submit a final portfolio of revised stories at the end of the quarter.
How to Apply:
Students send an example of their short fiction (one short story or an extract from a longer work or a few pieces of flash fiction, or a combination of these, of up to 12 pages) and a paragraph that describes their recent readings of fiction and states if they have had any creative writing class experience.
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: McDonald 137B) and it should be sent to freddaguiar@ucla.edu AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
Acceptance Notifications
Accepted applicants will be notified before the first class meeting. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, the professor will be unable to provide feedback or suggestions on the students’ submitted work.
Topics in Creative Writing: Screenplay Adaptation Writing Workshop
English M138 / Prof. Stefans
There is no set way to adapt a novel to film: what makes a novel successful does not succeed in movies without significant alterations in the plotting, tone, beat structure, dialogue and so forth. This class involves some readings in screenplay theory and analyses of previous adaptations (Brokeback Mountain and Arrival in particular). Students will be asked to work with a previously published text which they will choose themselves and continue to adapt throughout the quarter. Grading will be based on evaluation of students’ participation, quality of writing assignments, revisions, and a portfolio of work at quarter’s end. Most sessions will be classic writing workshops; the student is expected to bring in pieces of writing he or she would like to submit to peer evaluation. The portfolio will include a screenplay “bible” that contains a well developed 10-page treatment of a film with clearly articulated plot points, A and B plots, character descriptions, and so forth. The portfolio will also include the first 10-15 pages of the screenplay itself.
IMPORTANT: Students are required to own a screenwriting application that they work on throughout the quarter (you will not be permitted to use a word processor for your assignments).
How to Apply:
To apply to this course, please send a PDF with your name, student ID number, major, year and an introduction describing your previous experience with film/screenplay analyses and creative writing. Please also include some samples of your creative writing (doesn’t have to be screenwriting) to stefans@humnet.ucla.edu.
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: Gerwig M138) and it should be sent to stefans@humnet.ucla.edu AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
Acceptance Notifications
Accepted applicants will be notified before the first class meeting. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, the professor will be unable to provide feedback or suggestions on the students’ submitted work.