Fall 2026
Creative Writing Workshop Application Instructions–Fall 2026
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.
Please note: students may take only one course 136(A/B) or one course 137(A/B) per quarter.
Introduction to Creative Writing
English 20W
Enrollment by instructor consent and NOT by enrollment pass time: Continuing UCLA students should apply by 11:59 pm on July 3. 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 June 25. Students applying to English 20W should enroll in an alternate course during their enrollment passes, and should not assume that they will be admitted.
Questions should be directed to the English Undergraduate Advising Offices via MyUCLA MessageCenter.
Students who are interested in taking English 20W in lieu of English 4W while working on their preparatory requirements should contact a Dept. of English advisor.
Creative Writing: Intermediate Poetry
English 136A / Prof. Mullen
Not open for credit to students who have previously completed ENGL 136A, 136B, or 136.
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: Cruz 136A) and it should be sent to mullen@humnet.ucla.edu AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026
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 Poetry
English 136B / Prof. Stefans
This workshop is intended to focus on the craft of poetry and the layers of expression that are possible in a poem. Weekly and in-class writing assignments as well as student presentations on a contemporary Anglophone poet. Students are required, as in all English classes, to put several hours of effort into their homework and to be attentive and helpful to their peers when discussing their poems.
How to Apply:
Please submit a single PDF titled with your last and first name (in that order. Your PDF should include:
- Your name, student ID number, major, and year
- A brief but representative selection of your recent poems (about 3–5 pages)
- A paragraph or two describing your experience and development as a poet, including favorite poets, books, etc.
- A quote from a favorite poem, along with a few sentences explaining what you appreciate about it
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: Oliver 136B) and it should be sent to stefans@humnet.ucla.edu AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026
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 Prose (Short Fiction)
English 137B / Prof. D’Aguiar
Short fiction compresses a story into a formal relationship with a reader and listener. The art as craft emerges out of the practice of reading, writing, discussion and revision. We read and discuss exemplars of the form and write three short stories in the quarter. We discuss students’ stories in the workshop format of offering feedback for revision into a final portfolio. Readings for the course consists of published short stories.
How to Apply:
Email a word document of one of your short stories (no less than 5 pages and not more than 8 pages maximum length) with a brief statement of your recent reading in fiction and past creative writing 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 4, 2026
Acceptance notifications:
A class list announcement will be posted at the main English department office, 149 Kaplan Hall. Accepted students may also receive email notifications.
Due to the volume of submissions, the professor is unable to provide feedback or suggestions regarding the students’ submitted work.
Topics in Creative Writing—Literary Non-Fiction
English M138.1 / Prof. Nersessian
They say truth is stranger than fiction, but how does a writer capture real life in prose that’s as exciting to read as a great novel? In this class, we will read works of journalism, personal memoir, historical reportage, and other works of what is called literary non-fiction in order to develop our own strategies for telling the truth in the most interesting—and unexpected—way possible. There will be frequent short writing assignments culminating in a long essay on a subject of your choosing (in consultation with the professor). Readings from Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Eve Babitz, Janet Malcolm, Maggie Nelson, Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, Eula Biss, Sadiya Hartman, Cathy Park Hong, Celia Paul, and others.
How to Apply:
Application instructions coming soon.
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: Kim M138.1) and it should be sent to nersessian@humnet.ucla.edu AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026
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.
Topics in Creative Writing—Creative Nonfiction
English M138.2 / Prof. Wang
This class is an intensive writing workshop focused on the reading and writing of creative nonfiction. In this form, the act of writing is not an explanation of the world around you but a means of discovering how you think and feel about it. We will read and discuss a variety of creative nonfiction: some personal essays, some narrative reportage, some portraits, and some hybrid forms. The goal of the course is to help students develop their own unique voice and a sense of narrative rhythm and pacing necessary to craft a truly engaging story. Students will complete weekly short writing exercises, as well as a longer piece that will be critiqued in workshop and revised.
How to Apply:
Please email me one PDF attachment of your best creative prose writing (5-8 numbered pages, double-spaced, 12 pt serif font). The sample may be drawn from creative nonfiction or from fiction. In the body of the email, provide your name, major, class standing, and a brief note about yourself. Is there a piece of writing you have read lately that truly moved you? Which writers do you consistently return to, and what draws you back to them? Tell me about your current creative writing habits and if you’ve taken other writing workshops, either at UCLA or elsewhere, please let me know. If you’re applying to multiple workshops and have a preference, please note that as well.
The subject line of your message should be your last name followed by the course number (example: McDonald M138.2) and it should be sent to xuanjuliana@gmail.com AND creativewriting@english.ucla.edu.
SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026
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.