Creative Writing
Creative writing, one of the five majors offered in the ONU Department of English, combines liberal-arts studies with a focus on creative expression (fiction, poetry, plays and screenplays) to enable students to develop their creative and intellectual capabilities to prepare for a variety of professional employment opportunities. Besides encouraging students to sharpen their abilities within their choice of genres, the major is designed to develop critical thinking and communication, organization, interpersonal, computer and research skills in a context of multicultural awareness. The program includes academic courses with literary models to stimulate writing, workshops, invidual mentoring and advice on publishing venues. It also promotes diversity in student course selection, not only within the department but also in other disciplines, ensuring flexibility in acedemic study and career preparation as a complement to conceiving and completing creative works.
Distinctive Features:
- A diverse and qualified faculty who bring their research and writing expertise to the classroom
- Advanced seminar classes and writing workshops with intense faculty mentoring
- Weekly meetings of two Ohio Northern University creative writers groups, one for screenwriting, one for fiction and poetry
- Hands-on editing and production experience working on Polaris, the ONU journal of literature and the arts; Delirium, the English Department webzine; and other department and University publications
- Assistance and experience submitting creative work to journals and Web sites
- Specialized orientation program the first quarter of fresman year
- Emphasis on career development, starting in the first year
- Original student research or literary work as a capstone project Senior Seminar
- Enrichment program that encourages attendance at campus cultural events
- Faculty-student trip for conferences and special events
- Study-abroad options
- Visiting writings sponsored by the department, in conjunction with the Cultural and Special Events Committee, including authors John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, Edward Albee, Nikkie Giovanni, Ursula Hegi, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Albert Goldbarth, Tom C. Hunley and Elizabeth Kolbert
- Membership in Sigma Tau Delta, an award-winning national English honor society