Learn how to write for creative purposes. Brock University’s Creative Writing Certificate will provide you with the foundational knowledge to tell stories in a wide variety of formats such as novels, short stories, poetry and more.
This four credit certificate in creative writing allows you to choose your own creative pathway. Begin with choosing a credit in either Decolonizing Literature, Literature and Wellness, Literary Traditions, and Reading Literature Today. Also specialize in format of writing you want such as writing for Digital Media, writing scripts, storytelling, and more.
Study the history of specific genres. Go in depth into critical study of Young People’s Literature before or after 1914, Western literature, poetry and poetry style, short story telling and modern writing for movies, film, television, video games and the internet.
Program Information
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN STUDYING CREATIVE WRITING AT BROCK
- How to develop a writing practice
- Writing for specific genres and media types
- How to write a novel, poetry and short stories
- How to publish your writing and utilize resources
- Writing for different audiences and various viewpoints
- Technique for expanding creativity
CREATIVE WRITING CERTIFICATE FOR:
- Aspiring fiction writers
- Book reviewers
- Copy editors or digital copywriters
- Blog writers
- Playwrights
- Communication specialists
- Teachers
To be awarded this certificate, learners must complete the required courses with a combined average of over 60%
CHOOSE TWO
| Course Code | Course Description |
| ENGL 1P91 | Decolonizing Literature: Examination of contemporary politics of literature and literary studies with particular attention to cultural struggles, decolonization, and Indigenization. |
| ENGL 1P92 | Literature and Wellness: Examination of literary treatments of health and wellness with particular attention to the relationship among bodies, reading practices, and writing. |
| ENGL 1P93 | Literary Traditions: Examination of key texts and movements in English literatures from the Middle Ages on; particular attention to historical contexts, significant genres, and formal experimentation. |
| ENGL 1P94 | Reading Literature Today: Examination of twentieth and twenty-first century texts with particular attention to genre and critical reading practices. |
CHOOSE TWO
| Course Code | Course Description |
| ENGL 2P10 | Young People’s Literature to 1914: Critical study of fairytales, folk tales, poetry and novels adapted for or directed toward children and young people from the folk-tale heritage to 1914. |
| ENGL 2P11 | Young People’s Literature after 1914: Critical study of fairytales, folk tales, poetry and novels written for children and young people during the 20th century. |
| ENGL 2P13 | Genre Studies: History and characteristics of a particular literary genre such as satire, detective fiction, graphic novels selected by the instructor. |
| ENGL 2P15 | Speculative Fiction: Critical study of some of the histories, contexts, genres, and traditions of science fiction and the literature of the fantastic. |
| ENGL 2P17 | The Evolution of the Western: Adaptations of the genre of the Western in literature, film, television, radio, and comics to reflect contemporary politics, forms, and social ideals. Representations of nation, race and gender, and the ways in which this popular form can be used to explore ongoing and new cultural ideas and political issues. |
| ENGL 2P45 | Poetry and Poetics: Construction of a working technical vocabulary for analyzing and discussing poetry, including a variety of poetic styles, authors and periods, as well as a number of critical statements on poetics. |
| ENGL 2P56 | The Short Story: Theory and analysis of the short story from Poe and Hawthorne to contemporary writers. |
| ENGL 2P93 | Popular Narrative: Analysis of storytelling across different media such as novels, film, television, the Internet and video games. |
AND CHOOSE FOUR
| Course Code | Course Description |
| ENCW 1P06 | History and Future of Storytelling: History of storytelling from the earliest oral traditions to contemporary forms of digital expression. Storytelling’s cultural roots in fairy tales, legends and myths through to film, video games and interactive fiction. Elements of narrative, structure, character, conflict and dramatic arc. Concepts and practices in rhetoric, storyboarding, and presentation. |
| ENCW 2P72 | The Creative Writer: Introduction to creative writing. Emphasis on practical and critical approaches to forms, elements of craft, and editing. |
| ENCW 3P06 | Creative Writing- Short Fiction: The craft of short fiction writing. |
| ENCW 3P07 | Creative Writing- Poetry: The craft of poetry writing. |
| ENCW 3P08 | Creative Non-Fiction Writing: The craft of creative non-fiction writing. |
| ENCW 3P72 | The Creative Writer and the Community: Consideration of the special place that creative writers occupy in their various communities, literary, local and global. |
| ENCW 3P73 | Creative Writing for Digital Media: Exploration of new avenues for creative expression opened by digital technologies. Consideration of how digitalization changes such notions as the nature of creativity, genre, audience, authorship and copyright. |
| ENCW 3P92 | Scriptwriting: Theory and practice of writing with action, character and dialogue. |
PREREQUISITES
- Same as degree programs
To successfully complete your program, you will need to complete all the components outlined in your course. Your progress will be continuously evaluated using a variety of formative and/or summative assessments to receive a final mark. Information about these assessment methods will be provided in the Learning Management System on the first day of the program.
Check course availability on our timetables.
Program Details
Type: Certificate (Credit)
Format: Full-time or part-time
Delivery: Blended
Duration: 8 months full-time
Frequency: 3-5 hours per class per week