Creative Writing
The English Department welcomes creative writers from all majors, whether through the English major with an emphasis in creative writing, the creative writing minor, or individual courses.
Students read and write a wide variety of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry in classes that take a studio approach, writing individually and collaboratively in the classroom community. Students develop sustainable writing and reading practices grounded in attention, beginning with the ground at their feet, the books in their hands, or the people around them. Advanced writing classes focus on a specific genre or genres and include fiction and non-fiction prose, poetry and hybrid prose, and playwriting.
Creative writing students at Carthage are part of an active, welcoming community of English majors and minors. They work closely with writing faculty and visiting professional writers, and have many opportunities to practice, share, and publish their work.
Beyond the Classroom
Student writers can join Poetry Underground, a student writing group that hosts weekly writing sessions and regular open mic nights. Students can also submit their work to Centrique, the College’s creative arts journal, and join the journal as editors and designers.
Carthage hosts acclaimed writers from across the country in our Visiting Writers Series. Curated by Writer in Residence Richard Meier, the series has welcomed dozens of nationally-renowned fiction writers and poets, including Danielle Evans, Joshua Beckman, Renee Gladman, David Trinidad, Julie Patton, Eileen Myles, Kate Greenstreet, Duriel Harris, Lisa Fishman, Bojan Louis, Jenny Gropp, Laura Solomon, Sidik Fofana, José Felipe Alvergue, and Lewis Freedman.
Off campus, students are encouraged to take advantage of the many literary events offered in the area. They can attend poetry readings, lectures, and plays both on campus and in renowned venues in nearby Milwaukee and Chicago. Every fall, English students and faculty travel to the acclaimed Stratford Festival in Ontario, where we see a variety of plays from Shakespearean tragedies to modern musicals.
See more student opportunities
Outstanding Achievements
Carthage recognizes students who have done outstanding creative writing work with scholarships and awards. Every year, the English Department awards the Chapin-Tague Creative Writing Awards for poetry and prose and the Centrique Editor’s Award for the best writing published in the journal.
Creative writing students graduate from Carthage with a collection of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, playwriting, or a combination of genres. Every English major with an emphasis in creative writing and every creative writing minor creates a chapbook of their original work during the capstone Seminar in Creative Writing and presents a public reading on campus.
Carthage graduates have gone on to M.F.A. programs at the Art Institute of Chicago, Boise State University, Columbia College Chicago, and others. Additionally, our graduates continue to write and contribute to literary communities around the country.