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Last updated on Feb 14, 2023

10 Types of Creative Writing (with Examples You’ll Love)

A lot falls under the term ‘creative writing’: poetry, short fiction, plays, novels, personal essays, and songs, to name just a few. By virtue of the creativity that characterizes it, creative writing is an extremely versatile art. So instead of defining what creative writing is , it may be easier to understand what it does by looking at examples that demonstrate the sheer range of styles and genres under its vast umbrella.

To that end, we’ve collected a non-exhaustive list of works across multiple formats that have inspired the writers here at Reedsy. With 20 different works to explore, we hope they will inspire you, too. 

People have been writing creatively for almost as long as we have been able to hold pens. Just think of long-form epic poems like The Odyssey or, later, the Cantar de Mio Cid — some of the earliest recorded writings of their kind. 

Poetry is also a great place to start if you want to dip your own pen into the inkwell of creative writing. It can be as short or long as you want (you don’t have to write an epic of Homeric proportions), encourages you to build your observation skills, and often speaks from a single point of view . 

Here are a few examples:

“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.

This classic poem by Romantic poet Percy Shelley (also known as Mary Shelley’s husband) is all about legacy. What do we leave behind? How will we be remembered? The great king Ozymandias built himself a massive statue, proclaiming his might, but the irony is that his statue doesn’t survive the ravages of time. By framing this poem as told to him by a “traveller from an antique land,” Shelley effectively turns this into a story. Along with the careful use of juxtaposition to create irony, this poem accomplishes a lot in just a few lines. 

“Trying to Raise the Dead” by Dorianne Laux

 A direction. An object. My love, it needs a place to rest. Say anything. I’m listening. I’m ready to believe. Even lies, I don’t care.

Poetry is cherished for its ability to evoke strong emotions from the reader using very few words which is exactly what Dorianne Laux does in “ Trying to Raise the Dead .” With vivid imagery that underscores the painful yearning of the narrator, she transports us to a private nighttime scene as the narrator sneaks away from a party to pray to someone they’ve lost. We ache for their loss and how badly they want their lost loved one to acknowledge them in some way. It’s truly a masterclass on how writing can be used to portray emotions. 

If you find yourself inspired to try out some poetry — and maybe even get it published — check out these poetry layouts that can elevate your verse!

Song Lyrics

Poetry’s closely related cousin, song lyrics are another great way to flex your creative writing muscles. You not only have to find the perfect rhyme scheme but also match it to the rhythm of the music. This can be a great challenge for an experienced poet or the musically inclined. 

To see how music can add something extra to your poetry, check out these two examples:

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

 You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well, really, what's it to ya? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah 

Metaphors are commonplace in almost every kind of creative writing, but will often take center stage in shorter works like poetry and songs. At the slightest mention, they invite the listener to bring their emotional or cultural experience to the piece, allowing the writer to express more with fewer words while also giving it a deeper meaning. If a whole song is couched in metaphor, you might even be able to find multiple meanings to it, like in Leonard Cohen’s “ Hallelujah .” While Cohen’s Biblical references create a song that, on the surface, seems like it’s about a struggle with religion, the ambiguity of the lyrics has allowed it to be seen as a song about a complicated romantic relationship. 

“I Will Follow You into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie

 ​​If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks Then I'll follow you into the dark

You can think of song lyrics as poetry set to music. They manage to do many of the same things their literary counterparts do — including tugging on your heartstrings. Death Cab for Cutie’s incredibly popular indie rock ballad is about the singer’s deep devotion to his lover. While some might find the song a bit too dark and macabre, its melancholy tune and poignant lyrics remind us that love can endure beyond death.

Plays and Screenplays

From the short form of poetry, we move into the world of drama — also known as the play. This form is as old as the poem, stretching back to the works of ancient Greek playwrights like Sophocles, who adapted the myths of their day into dramatic form. The stage play (and the more modern screenplay) gives the words on the page a literal human voice, bringing life to a story and its characters entirely through dialogue. 

Interested to see what that looks like? Take a look at these examples:

All My Sons by Arthur Miller

“I know you're no worse than most men but I thought you were better. I never saw you as a man. I saw you as my father.” 

Arthur Miller acts as a bridge between the classic and the new, creating 20th century tragedies that take place in living rooms and backyard instead of royal courts, so we had to include his breakout hit on this list. Set in the backyard of an all-American family in the summer of 1946, this tragedy manages to communicate family tensions in an unimaginable scale, building up to an intense climax reminiscent of classical drama. 

💡 Read more about Arthur Miller and classical influences in our breakdown of Freytag’s pyramid . 

“Everything is Fine” by Michael Schur ( The Good Place )

“Well, then this system sucks. What...one in a million gets to live in paradise and everyone else is tortured for eternity? Come on! I mean, I wasn't freaking Gandhi, but I was okay. I was a medium person. I should get to spend eternity in a medium place! Like Cincinnati. Everyone who wasn't perfect but wasn't terrible should get to spend eternity in Cincinnati.” 

A screenplay, especially a TV pilot, is like a mini-play, but with the extra job of convincing an audience that they want to watch a hundred more episodes of the show. Blending moral philosophy with comedy, The Good Place is a fun hang-out show set in the afterlife that asks some big questions about what it means to be good. 

It follows Eleanor Shellstrop, an incredibly imperfect woman from Arizona who wakes up in ‘The Good Place’ and realizes that there’s been a cosmic mixup. Determined not to lose her place in paradise, she recruits her “soulmate,” a former ethics professor, to teach her philosophy with the hope that she can learn to be a good person and keep up her charade of being an upstanding citizen. The pilot does a superb job of setting up the stakes, the story, and the characters, while smuggling in deep philosophical ideas.

Personal essays

Our first foray into nonfiction on this list is the personal essay. As its name suggests, these stories are in some way autobiographical — concerned with the author’s life and experiences. But don’t be fooled by the realistic component. These essays can take any shape or form, from comics to diary entries to recipes and anything else you can imagine. Typically zeroing in on a single issue, they allow you to explore your life and prove that the personal can be universal.

Here are a couple of fantastic examples:

“On Selling Your First Novel After 11 Years” by Min Jin Lee (Literary Hub)

There was so much to learn and practice, but I began to see the prose in verse and the verse in prose. Patterns surfaced in poems, stories, and plays. There was music in sentences and paragraphs. I could hear the silences in a sentence. All this schooling was like getting x-ray vision and animal-like hearing. 

This deeply honest personal essay by Pachinko author Min Jin Lee is an account of her eleven-year struggle to publish her first novel . Like all good writing, it is intensely focused on personal emotional details. While grounded in the specifics of the author's personal journey, it embodies an experience that is absolutely universal: that of difficulty and adversity met by eventual success. 

“A Cyclist on the English Landscape” by Roff Smith (New York Times)

These images, though, aren’t meant to be about me. They’re meant to represent a cyclist on the landscape, anybody — you, perhaps. 

Roff Smith’s gorgeous photo essay for the NYT is a testament to the power of creatively combining visuals with text. Here, photographs of Smith atop a bike are far from simply ornamental. They’re integral to the ruminative mood of the essay, as essential as the writing. Though Smith places his work at the crosscurrents of various aesthetic influences (such as the painter Edward Hopper), what stands out the most in this taciturn, thoughtful piece of writing is his use of the second person to address the reader directly. Suddenly, the writer steps out of the body of the essay and makes eye contact with the reader. The reader is now part of the story as a second character, finally entering the picture.

Short Fiction

The short story is the happy medium of fiction writing. These bite-sized narratives can be devoured in a single sitting and still leave you reeling. Sometimes viewed as a stepping stone to novel writing, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Short story writing is an art all its own. The limited length means every word counts and there’s no better way to see that than with these two examples:

“An MFA Story” by Paul Dalla Rosa (Electric Literature)

At Starbucks, I remembered a reading Zhen had given, a reading organized by the program’s faculty. I had not wanted to go but did. In the bar, he read, "I wrote this in a Starbucks in Shanghai. On the bank of the Huangpu." It wasn’t an aside or introduction. It was two lines of the poem. I was in a Starbucks and I wasn’t writing any poems. I wasn’t writing anything. 

This short story is a delightfully metafictional tale about the struggles of being a writer in New York. From paying the bills to facing criticism in a writing workshop and envying more productive writers, Paul Dalla Rosa’s story is a clever satire of the tribulations involved in the writing profession, and all the contradictions embodied by systemic creativity (as famously laid out in Mark McGurl’s The Program Era ). What’s more, this story is an excellent example of something that often happens in creative writing: a writer casting light on the private thoughts or moments of doubt we don’t admit to or openly talk about. 

“Flowering Walrus” by Scott Skinner (Reedsy)

I tell him they’d been there a month at least, and he looks concerned. He has my tongue on a tissue paper and is gripping its sides with his pointer and thumb. My tongue has never spent much time outside of my mouth, and I imagine it as a walrus basking in the rays of the dental light. My walrus is not well. 

A winner of Reedsy’s weekly Prompts writing contest, ‘ Flowering Walrus ’ is a story that balances the trivial and the serious well. In the pauses between its excellent, natural dialogue , the story manages to scatter the fear and sadness of bad medical news, as the protagonist hides his worries from his wife and daughter. Rich in subtext, these silences grow and resonate with the readers.

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Perhaps the thing that first comes to mind when talking about creative writing, novels are a form of fiction that many people know and love but writers sometimes find intimidating. The good news is that novels are nothing but one word put after another, like any other piece of writing, but expanded and put into a flowing narrative. Piece of cake, right?

To get an idea of the format’s breadth of scope, take a look at these two (very different) satirical novels: 

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

I wished I was back in the convenience store where I was valued as a working member of staff and things weren’t as complicated as this. Once we donned our uniforms, we were all equals regardless of gender, age, or nationality — all simply store workers. 

Keiko, a thirty-six-year-old convenience store employee, finds comfort and happiness in the strict, uneventful routine of the shop’s daily operations. A funny, satirical, but simultaneously unnerving examination of the social structures we take for granted, Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman is deeply original and lingers with the reader long after they’ve put it down.

Erasure by Percival Everett

The hard, gritty truth of the matter is that I hardly ever think about race. Those times when I did think about it a lot I did so because of my guilt for not thinking about it.  

Erasure is a truly accomplished satire of the publishing industry’s tendency to essentialize African American authors and their writing. Everett’s protagonist is a writer whose work doesn’t fit with what publishers expect from him — work that describes the “African American experience” — so he writes a parody novel about life in the ghetto. The publishers go crazy for it and, to the protagonist’s horror, it becomes the next big thing. This sophisticated novel is both ironic and tender, leaving its readers with much food for thought.

Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction is pretty broad: it applies to anything that does not claim to be fictional (although the rise of autofiction has definitely blurred the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction). It encompasses everything from personal essays and memoirs to humor writing, and they range in length from blog posts to full-length books. The defining characteristic of this massive genre is that it takes the world or the author’s experience and turns it into a narrative that a reader can follow along with.

Here, we want to focus on novel-length works that dig deep into their respective topics. While very different, these two examples truly show the breadth and depth of possibility of creative nonfiction:

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

Men’s bodies litter my family history. The pain of the women they left behind pulls them from the beyond, makes them appear as ghosts. In death, they transcend the circumstances of this place that I love and hate all at once and become supernatural. 

Writer Jesmyn Ward recounts the deaths of five men from her rural Mississippi community in as many years. In her award-winning memoir , she delves into the lives of the friends and family she lost and tries to find some sense among the tragedy. Working backwards across five years, she questions why this had to happen over and over again, and slowly unveils the long history of racism and poverty that rules rural Black communities. Moving and emotionally raw, Men We Reaped is an indictment of a cruel system and the story of a woman's grief and rage as she tries to navigate it.

Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

He believed that wine could reshape someone’s life. That’s why he preferred buying bottles to splurging on sweaters. Sweaters were things. Bottles of wine, said Morgan, “are ways that my humanity will be changed.” 

In this work of immersive journalism , Bianca Bosker leaves behind her life as a tech journalist to explore the world of wine. Becoming a “cork dork” takes her everywhere from New York’s most refined restaurants to science labs while she learns what it takes to be a sommelier and a true wine obsessive. This funny and entertaining trip through the past and present of wine-making and tasting is sure to leave you better informed and wishing you, too, could leave your life behind for one devoted to wine. 

Illustrated Narratives (Comics, graphic novels)

Once relegated to the “funny pages”, the past forty years of comics history have proven it to be a serious medium. Comics have transformed from the early days of Jack Kirby’s superheroes into a medium where almost every genre is represented. Humorous one-shots in the Sunday papers stand alongside illustrated memoirs, horror, fantasy, and just about anything else you can imagine. This type of visual storytelling lets the writer and artist get creative with perspective, tone, and so much more. For two very different, though equally entertaining, examples, check these out:

Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

"Life is like topography, Hobbes. There are summits of happiness and success, flat stretches of boring routine and valleys of frustration and failure." 

This beloved comic strip follows Calvin, a rambunctious six-year-old boy, and his stuffed tiger/imaginary friend, Hobbes. They get into all kinds of hijinks at school and at home, and muse on the world in the way only a six-year-old and an anthropomorphic tiger can. As laugh-out-loud funny as it is, Calvin & Hobbes ’ popularity persists as much for its whimsy as its use of humor to comment on life, childhood, adulthood, and everything in between. 

From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell 

"I shall tell you where we are. We're in the most extreme and utter region of the human mind. A dim, subconscious underworld. A radiant abyss where men meet themselves. Hell, Netley. We're in Hell." 

Comics aren't just the realm of superheroes and one-joke strips, as Alan Moore proves in this serialized graphic novel released between 1989 and 1998. A meticulously researched alternative history of Victorian London’s Ripper killings, this macabre story pulls no punches. Fact and fiction blend into a world where the Royal Family is involved in a dark conspiracy and Freemasons lurk on the sidelines. It’s a surreal mad-cap adventure that’s unsettling in the best way possible. 

Video Games and RPGs

Probably the least expected entry on this list, we thought that video games and RPGs also deserved a mention — and some well-earned recognition for the intricate storytelling that goes into creating them. 

Essentially gamified adventure stories, without attention to plot, characters, and a narrative arc, these games would lose a lot of their charm, so let’s look at two examples where the creative writing really shines through: 

80 Days by inkle studios

"It was a triumph of invention over nature, and will almost certainly disappear into the dust once more in the next fifty years." 

Named Time Magazine ’s game of the year in 2014, this narrative adventure is based on Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. The player is cast as the novel’s narrator, Passpartout, and tasked with circumnavigating the globe in service of their employer, Phileas Fogg. Set in an alternate steampunk Victorian era, the game uses its globe-trotting to comment on the colonialist fantasies inherent in the original novel and its time period. On a storytelling level, the choose-your-own-adventure style means no two players’ journeys will be the same. This innovative approach to a classic novel shows the potential of video games as a storytelling medium, truly making the player part of the story. 

What Remains of Edith Finch by Giant Sparrow

"If we lived forever, maybe we'd have time to understand things. But as it is, I think the best we can do is try to open our eyes, and appreciate how strange and brief all of this is." 

This video game casts the player as 17-year-old Edith Finch. Returning to her family’s home on an island in the Pacific northwest, Edith explores the vast house and tries to figure out why she’s the only one of her family left alive. The story of each family member is revealed as you make your way through the house, slowly unpacking the tragic fate of the Finches. Eerie and immersive, this first-person exploration game uses the medium to tell a series of truly unique tales. 

Fun and breezy on the surface, humor is often recognized as one of the trickiest forms of creative writing. After all, while you can see the artistic value in a piece of prose that you don’t necessarily enjoy, if a joke isn’t funny, you could say that it’s objectively failed.

With that said, it’s far from an impossible task, and many have succeeded in bringing smiles to their readers’ faces through their writing. Here are two examples:

‘How You Hope Your Extended Family Will React When You Explain Your Job to Them’ by Mike Lacher (McSweeney’s Internet Tendency)

“Is it true you don’t have desks?” your grandmother will ask. You will nod again and crack open a can of Country Time Lemonade. “My stars,” she will say, “it must be so wonderful to not have a traditional office and instead share a bistro-esque coworking space.” 

Satire and parody make up a whole subgenre of creative writing, and websites like McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and The Onion consistently hit the mark with their parodies of magazine publishing and news media. This particular example finds humor in the divide between traditional family expectations and contemporary, ‘trendy’ work cultures. Playing on the inherent silliness of today’s tech-forward middle-class jobs, this witty piece imagines a scenario where the writer’s family fully understands what they do — and are enthralled to hear more. “‘Now is it true,’ your uncle will whisper, ‘that you’ve got a potential investment from one of the founders of I Can Haz Cheezburger?’”

‘Not a Foodie’ by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell (Electric Literature)

I’m not a foodie, I never have been, and I know, in my heart, I never will be. 

Highlighting what she sees as an unbearable social obsession with food , in this comic Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell takes a hilarious stand against the importance of food. From the writer’s courageous thesis (“I think there are more exciting things to talk about, and focus on in life, than what’s for dinner”) to the amusing appearance of family members and the narrator’s partner, ‘Not a Foodie’ demonstrates that even a seemingly mundane pet peeve can be approached creatively — and even reveal something profound about life.

We hope this list inspires you with your own writing. If there’s one thing you take away from this post, let it be that there is no limit to what you can write about or how you can write about it. 

In the next part of this guide, we'll drill down into the fascinating world of creative nonfiction.

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What is Creative Writing?

Written by Scott Wilson

Creative writing is any kind of writing that employs creative literary or poetic techniques in the service of either fiction or non-fiction writing. It involves original composition and expressiveness of the individual author.

Ask ten creative writing professors what creative writing is, and you’ll get eleven different answers. Turn to the dictionary and the definition invokes invention and incorporation of imagination. But what are the limits of imagination? Where does invention begin?

Every sentence in every work ever written began as an act of creation in the mind of the writer.

Creative writing may be most easily defined by what it is not…

• Technical writing
• Professional or business writing
• Scholarly or academic writing

Creative writing is the entire body of the writer’s craft that falls outside the boundaries of the ordinary.

Yet you will find many entries in the canon of those fields that might also be considered creative writing. No one would consign Truman Capote’s groundbreaking In Cold Blood to the sterile cells of mere journalism. But that haunting novel is unquestionably also an important work of investigative reporting.

So, what is creative writing, if a non-fiction novel of a horrific quadruple murder falls into the same scope as a classic of American literature like To Kill a Mockingbird ?

It has to do with style and art. Creative writing goes to the heart of the individual expressiveness of the writer. It breaks the boundaries of the typical. That’s an exercise of artistic skill that can happen in any topic, toward almost any goal. And it’s the heart of what it is to be a writer, no matter what you write about.

Defining creative writing isn’t easy. Rooms full of the best authorities routinely disagree. But what is creative writing , isn’t the most interesting question to ask here. Instead, we would be best served by asking another:

Why Is Creative Writing Important?

Storytellers were plying their craft thousands of years before the written word was invented. The creative spark doesn’t belong to words. It may not even depend on language. It draws instead on a deep part of what it is to be human. Invention, imagination, the urge to create… these are all deep and vital parts of the human experience.

Creative writing is important because it is evocative.

That well of creativity flows forth in many arts and forms of expression. But in creative writing it has found a medium where it can be both preserved and shared. It’s a method of human connection that has no expiration date, no geographical or even cultural limit.

Writers touch the souls of their contemporaries first. But like Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and Lady Murasaki, their reach may also span generations.

Creative Writing Fuels Communication in All Forms of Writing

Although fiction is the first refuge of creative writing, that expressiveness serves the purposes of just about any kind of author.

The goals of most other forms of writing are focused on various kinds of literal communication. A journalist seeks to convey the facts and the context of important news stories. Technical writers need to communicate the details of operating programs and machinery, clearly describing all kinds of minute details with zero ambiguity. Business communications are created with a view toward clarity and concision—helping readers get the main points of the piece quickly and without confusion.

Creative writing can also help to serve these purposes.

Creative writing taps into a different level of communication. While it may, and often does, aspire to other goals like offering clarity and detail, it also goes toward developing emotional connection. The reader will take away more than mere words from a piece of creative writing.

Creative Writing is Important For Making Other Kinds of Writing Compelling

Just as importantly, creative writing entertains. In a story about the importance of algorithmic and high-frequency trading, all kinds of technical details must be absorbed to make sense of the issues. Both technological and economic concepts have to be introduced. In a comprehensive article about the subject, readers from outside the field could be expected to nod off about two pages in.

But put the story in the hands of Michael Lewis, and you get Flash Boys , a New York Times Best Seller.

It’s not important that Flash Boys did well because it was entertaining, however. It’s important because the market trends and activities it described have real impacts on many of the readers. Retirement funds, college savings, family investments… all are affected by the story Flash Boys tells. Today, millions of readers who would never otherwise have understood how their investments were being handled can make an informed assessment… thanks to creative writing.

How To Separate Creative Writing From Less Creative Forms of Writing

In general, it’s safe to say that a piece of writing is creative when it makes use of literary devices such as:

• Narrative development
• Imagination and invention

In Cold Blood passes this test due to Capote’s use of characterization, plot development, and world-building. It’s considered today to be a pioneering example of the non-fiction novel, a paragon of the creative writing world.

The original crime reports, local newspaper articles, and subsequent court documents detail the same events with the same participants. Yet they are not works of creative writing. The incident is described in dry, straightforward, technical language. The timeline is linear and offered without consideration of pace or drama.

Both Capote and the authors of those other articles and documents set out to inform. But Capote’s goal was also to captivate.

New Journalism Tells the Story of How Creative Writing Has an Important Role in Non-Fiction

Books like Wolfe’s The Right Stuff mixed truth and dramatization, documentation and invention, to tell larger stories about serious events. In dramatizing those stories, New Journalism writers also drew more readers and achieved broader awareness of the stories.

At the same time, long-form New Journalism pieces, deeply researched and documented, were able to report stories in depth in a way that traditional journalism often did not. By invoking plot, characterization, and narrative structures, the New Journalists could keep readers involved in long and complex issues ranging from crime to politics to culture.

New Journalism is important in defining what is creative writing because it is clearly an example of both creative and journalistic writing. It demonstrates the ways that creative writing can serve other forms of writing and other kinds of writers.

Of course, it’s also possible to come at the divide from the other shore. Categories of writing that are clearly creative in nature include:

• Novels and novellas
• Flash fiction and short stories
• Plays and film scripts

These works incorporate elements of storytelling that may not always be present in other forms of writing. A newspaper article will often have a setting, action, and characters; creative writing will offer plot, pacing, and drama in describing the same story.

What is Creative Writing Coursework Like in College Degree Programs?

All university students are exposed to basic coursework in English language and communication skills. These all go to the elementary aspects of writing—the ability to construct a sentence, a paragraph, a paper. They teach grammatical rules and other elements that make a work readable to any reader of the English language.

Even the general education requirements in college programs touch on creative writing, however. Students may be assigned to write essays that explore creative styles and imagination. They’ll be assigned to read novels and stories that are time-tested examples of the finest kinds of creative writing. And they’ll be asked to explore their impressions and feelings, and to exercise their imaginations and analyze the intent of the author.

Creative writing programs go beyond the basics to touch the imagination of the writer.

Creative writing exists just on the other side of those general English and literature courses. Students in creative writing classes will be asked to take the extra step of creating their own stories using the techniques they have learned.

In fact, they may be encouraged to break the same rules that were so laboriously learned in their regular English writing classes. Creative writing works to allow writers to tap into their own imagination and emotion to forge a deeper connection with readers.

Student Workshops Offer an Interactive Way of Learning What Creative Writing Is All About

Creative writing degrees will go much further into developing a sense of what creative writing is. they continue to include many reading assignments. but instructors also introduce concepts such as:.

Genre is the method used to categorize written works. Creative writing programs explore the tropes and expectations that exist for different genres and deconstruct them for better understanding.

Story structure and form

The structure and form of a novel and a short story are very different. Creative writing programs explore different formats and how they impact creative storytelling.

Plot is not a universal feature of creative writing, but a good plot can make or break a creative work. Classes look at the features and composition of plot, and also teach plotting.

Voice, tone, and creative expression all come out of the narration of a piece of creative writing. Creative writing courses explore both the textbook forms of narrative and show how to use it to serve plot and story.

Style and rhythm

One clear feature of creative writing in all genres is that it rests on a sense of rhythm and of styling that other types of writing ignore. Many courses found in creative writing degree programs explore the ways in which writing style serves story and hooks the reader.

In addition to formal classes, students will better learn why creative writing is important and the purposes it serves through workshops. These informal gatherings are designed to foster discussion, to present examples of different types of writing, and to critique and hone individual creative writing skills .

Through that process, creative writing degrees help students better identify what creative writing is and how to use it effectively.

Creativity is Important No Matter What Your Career Goals in Writing May Be

Creative writing training allows writers in any genre to develop more complete, more meaningful, and more memorable ways to get a point across. Using the skills and techniques learned in creative writing courses can inject humor, gravity, and other sensations into any piece of writing. And those very techniques can improve concision and clarity.

Figuring out what creative writing is and what it is not, is the first thing you should leave behind in a writing career. The dry definitions of the dictionary or droning English professors are the last place you should look.

Creative writing is the process of engaging your imagination and talent to serve the purpose of whatever piece of writing you are working on. And that’s why creative writing is important.

When people think about art, the first thoughts might be that of a painting, drawing, or sculpture. However, writing isn’t usually among the list of art forms for many individuals. In this article, we aim to correct this by providing five reasons writing should be considered an art form.

Table of Contents

5 Reasons Why Writing Is An Art Form

The very nature of writing makes it exciting to not just the writer but also the reader. However, the question for many remains, “Is Writing an Art form?” The answer is a resounding yes, but to justify this, here are five reasons why writing is an Art form:

● We tell stories through it

● It involves human expression

● The use of metaphors

● It explores our creative side

● Writers live through their writing

We Tell Stories Through It

Through writing, we’re able to share our experiences and ideas. Both the fiction and non-fiction side of writing can be exciting to read. Many authors in the past have used their writings to bring to light events they have lived through. In many instances, these pieces of writing have then been later converted into movies that have gone on to make millions.

The ability to tell engaging stories is one of the traits of good essay writers . A novel, when written down, can transport the reader into another world.

It Involves Human Expression

Writing involves the use of words to convey the author’s expression. Much like a painting can get the artist’s emotions, a piece of writing can also help the author express themselves. Sometimes, the said expression can be pain, joy, or excitement.

At times, life events can push us to share our thoughts in the form of a journal or an autobiography. For example, “ The Diary of a Young Girl ” by Anne Frank was the way she was able to share her internal emotions during the events of WW2.

The Use of Metaphors

Through metaphors, writers have for years been able to merge two unrelated realities in such thought-provoking methods that their readers have found sensational. This is understandable when you consider that humans, by nature, have a multi-layered mindset.

We frequently try to combine things, such as visiting where we grew up with our kids. Shakespeare is one of many writers that used metaphors in their writings, with Macbeth being one of his best works.

Writing Can Influence Others

Whether for better or worse, writing has been proven numerous times to influence the thinking of others. A lot of writing today involves storytelling, but a great deal also consists in informing the reader in other to control their habits or thinking.

The Bible and Quran are great examples of writings that have shaped the thinking of many. Most, if not all, art colleges  today teach students how art can be used to shape the opinion of the viewer. In the same way, Michael Crichton’s writings helped reignite the world’s interest in paleontology.

Writers Live Through Their Writing

When a writer eventually passes on, they live on through their writings. Authors such as Shakespeare and Anne Frank are a few examples of writers still remembered today through their work. This is possible through the powerful impression their works had on individuals during their time and beyond.

Unlike a photograph or a video that only captures a brief moment in your life, writing can capture your state of mind, personality, and much more in such an enduring form that it would likely stand the test of time.

In Conclusion

We all do writing, whether in the form of fiction or simply an essay. In all the forms of writing that involve expression, there is no doubt that it can be considered an art. Hopefully, at this point in this article, you also agree.

Author’s Bio

Barbara Fielder is a freelance writer that enjoys writing fiction articles. She has written a few fiction novels but is more focused on blogging these days. Barbara simply enjoys helping people, and her blog articles aim to help her audience understand more about writing as an art form.

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Literature as Fine Art

• First Online: 19 October 2023

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• Richard Dien Winfield 2  

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Language poses great challenges and great opportunities as a medium of fine art. These challenges and opportunities apply to both form and content.

The form of language is radically distinct from that of the visual arts and the art of sound because language is a purely conventional medium whose sensuous appearance consists of signs. The visual arts present viewers with visible imagery whose shape, shades, and colors directly convey either a pictorial transfiguration of reality or an expression of the artist’s emotions that have significance worthy of aesthetic appreciation. Music confronts its listeners with a soundscape whose rhythm, pitch, timbre, harmony, and thematic organization give direct expression to the profoundest movements of the soul. By contrast, language appears to its audience in intuitable marks that signify meanings that have no connection to the intuitable appearance of the signs that convey them. Symbols symbolize a meaning that is connected to the intuitable content of the symbol, as, for example, a lion, as apex predator of the savannah, can convey the royalty of a monarch. Signs, unlike symbols, have an intuitive content that bears no connection to what they signify. What signs mean is purely a construct of semiotic imagination, which chooses to connect a sign with a certain meaning. To become intersubjectively intelligible, that semiotic connection must be available to a plurality of rational animals who comprehend its semantic relation of sign and object signified. Consequently, unlike the visual arts and music, the fine art of language must rely upon semiotic imagination, shared by a linguistic community, to comprehend the meaning and imagery that words represent.

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As Hartmann observes, literature “cannot address itself directly to perception but instead has to call upon a substitute stratum where imagination takes the place of perception”. Hartmann, Aesthetics , p. 115.

Our simian relatives lack this ability to produce sounds sufficiently differentiated to sustain speech, but some have the ability to sign and humans have taught chimpanzees to communicate hundreds of meanings with sign language.

As Hegel notes, “the tempo of words and syllables, rhythm, and euphony, etc. … remain not as the proper element for conveying the subject-matter but as a rather accidental externality which assumes an artistic form only because art cannot allow any external aspect to have free play purely by chance, arbitrarily, or capriciously.” Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , pp. 963–964.

Martin Heidegger is a proponent of such a view, which is not unconnected to his endorsement of Nazism.

The Plays of Kālidāsa: Theater of Memory, ed. Barbara Stoler Miller, trans. Edwin Gerow, David Gitomer, Barbara Stoler Miller (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1999), p. 20.

Lukács, Die Eigenart des Ästhetischen , II pp. 170–171.

Aristotle, Poetics , 1451a36–37, 1451b5–6, 1451b10, in The Complete Works of Aristotle , Volume Two, ed. by Jonathan Barnes (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1984), pp. 2322–2323.

Lukács, Die Eigenart des Ästhetischen , II p. 178.

Hartmann, Aesthetics , p. 111.

Hartmann, Aesthetics , p, 112.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 960.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , pp. 960–961.

As Lessing notes, “Homer represents nothing but progressive actions. He depicts bodies and single objects only when they contribute toward these actions, and then only by a single trait … he places this single object in a series of stages, in each of which it has a different appearance. … And when Homer wants to show us how Agamemnon was dressed, he has the king put on his garments, one by one before our eyes.” Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim, Laocoön: An Essay on the Limits of Painting and Poetry , trans. by Edward Allen McCormick (Baltimore & London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984), pp. 79–80.

The Valmiki Ramayana , trans. by Bibek Debroy (Gurgaon, India: Penguin Classics, 2017).

Lessing, Laocoön: An Essay on the Limits of Painting and Poetry , p. 4.

Lessing, Laocoön: An Essay on the Limits of Painting and Poetry , p. 78.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 964.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 967.

Hegel accordingly acknowledges that to “specify the conception of poetry, … we would have to repeat everything already expounded in our First Part about beauty and the Ideal as such. For the nature of poetry coincides in general with the conception of the beauty of art and works of art as such.” Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 971.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 966.

Hegel grants this universality of literary achievement, albeit as the exclusive boon of the art of language, writing that “poetry … enjoys its periods of brilliance and success in all nations and at practically every period which is productive of art at all.” Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 977.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 967. As Hegel observes, literature “can harbor the entire content of art and all the forms of art.” See Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 968.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 972.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , pp. 987–989.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 989.

As Hegel writes, “the poetic work of art has no aim other than the production and enjoyment of beauty; in its case aim and achievement lie directly in the work itself, which is therefore independently self-complete and finished;” whereas oratory is always concerned with its effects and subjects itself to external circumstances. Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 992.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 975.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 976.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 979.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , pp. 982–983.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 983. Teleology here signifies the external teleology in which means and ends are distinguished, rather than the internal teleology that animates an organism.

As Hegel writes, since “this same subject-matter is treated also by the prosaic mind … the question arises as to the general difference between prosaic and poetic modes of conception, granted a possible similarity of the subject-matter in both cases.” Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 973.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1001.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1002.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1005.

Hegel maintains that this is particularly true of Eastern poetry. See Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1004.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , pp. 1004–1005.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 972 ff.

In this connection, Aristotle observes, “The distinction between historian and poet is not in the one writing prose and the other verse – you might put the work of Herodotus into verse, and it would still be a species of history; it consists really in this that the one describes the thing that has been, and the other a kind of thing that might be.” See Aristotle, Poetics , 1451a37–1451b5, in The Complete Works of Aristotle , Volume Two, ed. by Jonathan Barnes (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1984), p. 2323.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1014.

Hegel discusses all these metric versification options. See Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1016.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1024.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1017.

As Hegel puts it, “Just as in musical declamation, the rhythm and melody must take on the character of the subject-matter, … so versification too is a music which … makes re-echo … the course and character of the ideas in question. To this end, the meter must announce the general tone and spiritual touch of a whole poem; and it is not a matter of indifference whether iambics, trochees, stanzas, alcaic or other strophes are adopted as external forms for a poem.” Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , pp. 1013–1014.

So Aristotle can observe in connection to drama that “the diction of the personnages, i.e. …. the expression of their thoughts in words, … is practically the same thing with verse as with prose.” See Aristotle, Politics , 1450b13–14, in The Complete Works of Aristotle , Volume Two, ed. by Jonathan Barnes (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1984), p. 2321.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 973

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 973.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 1009.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 997.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , pp. 997–998.

Hegel, Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art , p. 999.

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Winfield, R.D. (2023). Literature as Fine Art. In: Rethinking the Arts after Hegel. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35542-4_11

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Creative Writing, MFA

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english, literature, poetry, prose, story

ASU's creative writing program, distinguished by an outstanding faculty whose works have received major national and international recognition, is consistently ranked among top-tier programs in poetry and fiction. The program's curricular strengths, community outreach and close mentorship combine to advance pragmatic, effective outcomes for students, graduates and artist-citizens.

The MFA in creative writing at ASU has always been an unswervingly student-first program. Through small classes, intimate workshops and one-to-one mentoring, the centuries-old apprenticeship model thrives within the New American University. Poets and fiction writers work with outstanding faculty who have published more than 80 books and garnered national and international attention through awards and honors that include:

• Guggenheim, Howard Foundation, Lannan Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and United Artists fellowships
• international Griffin Poetry Prize and Whiting Award
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• two medals of achievement from the National Society of Arts and Letters
• two Chancellors of the Academy of American Poets
• Walt Whitman Award from the Academy of American Poets

Additionally, in concert with the Master of Fine Arts program, several campus entities contribute to the MFA experience: the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing offers students a wide range of fellowships, support for professional development, and other teaching and leadership opportunities including a Community Outreach Graduate Assistantship. The Center for Imagination in the Borderlands brings writers and other artists for intensive workshops, classes and public events, and offers an artistic development and teaching assistant fellowship and two research assistantships. The Master of Fine Arts program also hosts a newly inaugurated series of craft lectures and an alumni reading series.

Furthermore, students have access to a variety of additional professional development opportunities, including serving on the editorial board of an international literary journal Hayden's Ferry Review, translation experience through the Thousand Languages Project and internships with award-winning independent literary press Four Way Books.

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48 credit hours including a written comprehensive exam and the required applied project course (ENG 593)

Coursework (39 credit hours)

Other Requirement (6 credit hours) ENG 592 Research (6)

Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) ENG 593 Applied Project (3)

Additional Curriculum Information The creative writing program requires 48 credit hours of study evenly divided between writing courses and literature courses designed to inform that writing.

While students are expected to satisfy these requirements in the genre in which they were accepted, the program encourages cross-genre study, and electives can include courses taken outside of the creative writing program or even outside of the English department.

A written comprehensive exam and an applied project are required.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants should have an undergraduate major in English or creative writing; however, exceptional students who do not have either of these undergraduate majors may be admitted on the basis of writing excellence.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• statement of purpose
• resume or curriculum vitae
• three letters of recommendation
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• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) and has not graduated from an institution of higher learning in the United States must provide proof of English proficiency . Applications will not be processed without valid proof of English proficiency. Please note that official scores must be sent to ASU in order for the application to be processed.

The personal statement should include the applicant's writing background, intended area of specialization and a brief self-evaluation of recent work (double-spaced, up to three pages or 750 words). The creative manuscript should be up to 20 pages of poetry or up to 30 pages of prose (prose should be double-spaced). Students applying for a teaching assistantship must submit a statement of teaching philosophy and an academic writing sample.

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

• Create original fiction or poetry that incorporates theoretical and foundational literary knowledge.
• Explicate their creative works articulately.
• Analyze and critique the writing of other creative writers.

A Master of Fine Arts in creative writing graduate is prepared primarily for the professional creation of new art, including fiction, poetry and other written forms. In addition to working as novelists, poets and short story writers, graduates go on to careers in education, arts administration, media and entertainment, and in political and community organizations. Career examples include:

• book designer or marketer
• book or magazine editor
• creative writing professor
• essayist or journalist
• grant writer and developer
• literary or events coordinator
• nonprofit administrator
• public relations and communications manager
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• secondary education teacher

Department of English | RBHL 170 [email protected] 480-965-3168 Admission deadlines

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Understanding the difference between art and fine art.

What is fine art? Art is a vast and varied term that encompasses numerous creative practices and methods. It serves as a form of human expression that allows us to communicate ideas, emotions, and experiences through various mediums. From paintings and sculpture to performance and installation art, there are many ways to express oneself through artistic means.

So... What's the difference between art and fine art?

One of the main distinctions in the field of art is the difference between art and fine art. While both types of art can be visually appealing and creatively expressive, different purposes are served by each, and they are created using different techniques.

LePrince Fine Art Gallery represents artists creating fine art.

Fine art is primarily created for its aesthetic value, with its beauty, emotional impact, and technical skill intended to be appreciated.   Art often created using traditional techniques and materials such as painting, sculpture, or printmaking.  Typically, you will find it displayed in galleries, museums, and other cultural institutions.

Check out our article on how to buy art in an art gallery for more information. Fine art can also include other mediums such as performance art, installation art, and conceptual art.

What's the purpose of fine art?

Its primary purpose of fine art is to evoke emotions and to communicate an idea or message to the viewer.  Fine art is meant to be appreciated for its beauty and its ability to convey complex ideas, emotions, or experiences. It is often created by trained artists and is regarded as a luxury or investment, with works by well-known artists fetching high prices at auction. For the appreciation of fine art lies in its cultural, historical, and artistic value.  It's intellectual value can be studied and analyzed in depth by art historians, critics, and scholars. For example, here are some of the characteristics to look for in a fine art painting, such as in Lorraine Christie's oil painting titled "Still" (shown above).

Characteristics of Fine Art:

• Artists primarily create fine art paintings for their aesthetic value.
• They often utilize traditional techniques and materials such as oil paint, acrylic paint, or watercolor on high-quality surfaces like canvas.
• They carefully consider the placement of objects and figures within the painting, giving great attention to composition and design.
• They demonstrate technical skill and mastery of the medium through their adept handling of the paint, meticulous attention to detail in the painting, and the overall high quality of their work.
• Fine art paintings often evoke an emotional impact on the viewer through the use of color, composition, or subject matter.
• These characteristics work together to create a work of art that is visually stunning, emotionally impactful, and technically proficient, captivating and inspiring viewers around the world. 

Applied art and its design principles.

Applied art, on the other hand, refers to the use of artistic design principles in the creation of functional objects. This type of art serves a practical purpose, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing. Applied artists use the principles of art and design to create objects. These objects need to bevisually appealing while also being functional and useful.

Applied Art

Examples of applied art include graphic design, product design, interior design, fashion design, industrial design, and architecture. In graphic design, for instance, the principles of composition, color, and typography are used to create logos, packaging, and other promotional materials for businesses. Product Design

However, In product design, the focus is on creating aesthetically pleasing and functional objects such as furniture, appliances, and consumer electronics.  In architecture, the principles of design and aesthetics are employed to create structures that are functional, safe, and visually appealing. Architects use their knowledge of materials, space, and form to create buildings that are both beautiful and functional. Industrial design involves designing everyday objects such as tools and appliances that are both functional and visually appealing.

Fashion design is another example of applied art that involves creating clothing and accessories that are both fashionable and functional. Fashion designers use their knowledge of color, texture, and form to create clothing and accessories. 

Differences

Unlike fine art, which is primarily appreciated for its aesthetic value, applied art is characterized by serving a practical purpose while also being aesthetically pleasing. A wide range of applications exists for applied art, and it finds use in various fields such as advertising, product design, architecture, and fashion.  involves combining creativity with functionality, creating objects that are both beautiful and useful.

In conclusion, art is a diverse and powerful category that encompasses a wide range of creative practices and disciplines.  The distinction between art and fine art is reflected in the different purposes and techniques involved in the creation of these various forms of artistic expression, with fine art being primarily created for its aesthetic value and art encompassing a wider range of creative practices and purposes.

Mark making and storytelling  are two essential aspects of artistic expression that allow artists to create powerful works of art that can evoke emotions, convey messages, and connect us with others on a deeper level. Our blog offers more insights on the mark making techniques of  scumbing ,  glazing  and  hatching . Applied art, on the other hand, serves a practical purpose while also being aesthetically pleasing, and has a wide range of applications in various fields.

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Creative Writing with Fine Art at Aberystwyth University will allow you to develop new or broaden and deepen your skills in painting, printmaking, photography to name a few whilst at the same time discovering and immersing yourself in the words that have our shaped our world. This cross-disciplinary degree will introduce to you an ever-expanding industry, providing you with an advantageous start after graduation. Under the expert guidance of our award-winning writers and experts in Fine Art, you will discover the hidden talents and find out what sort of artist you are. On completion to this degree, you will have not only a portfolio of exceptional creative material, but also the skills and attributes to flourish in any workplace. 

Course Overview

Why study Creative Writing with Fine Art at Aberystwyth University? 

• Benefit from the disciplined acquisition of technical expertise, the formation of creative intelligence, and a historical, critical, theoretical and contemporary aware of Fine Art practice.
• The School of Art at Aberystwyth University has been awarded Accredited Museum Status by Arts Council England. This demonstrates that our collection care and management are at the highest standard. 
• Explore connections between creative and critical thinking and develop a deep understanding of the relationship between professional practice and imaginative thought.
• Learn from experienced staff who are internationally renowned artists, authors, curators and art historians.
• Participate in our study visits within the UK or abroad (destinations have included Madrid, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, New York, Vienna, Barcelona, Venice, Moscow, St Petersburg, Florence, Budapest and Lisbon).
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Many of our graduates are successful writers in the fields of:

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Some of our graduates have discovered other successful career options:

• Marketing and Communications

As well as establishing careers as practicing artists, some our graduates have become employees within:

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What career enhancing opportunities are there for me as a student?

Aberystwyth Arts Centre will be woven integrally into your learning opportunities, permitting staff and students to come together with the shared aim of engaging, working and learning in a thriving and dynamic creative culture. Here you may showcase your work, engage and network with others, and develop lifelong skills valuable to employers in the creative industries and beyond.

Our degree will enable you to develop:

•  the ability to express ideas and communicate information effectively in a broad range of contexts
• outstanding skills in creating, forming and manipulating the written word
• evidence of your ability to be an effective problem solver
• excellent creative thinking, informed by critical rigour
• a proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• excellent time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines
• self-motivation and self-reliance and have the ability to develop appropriate and effective strategies
• valuable research skills that are trans-disciplinary and adaptable to any research context.

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

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Enhance your employability prospects with  GO Wales and YES  (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department. 

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

This degree is based on our strongly held belief that in order to become a really great writer you need to be a good reader, whilst offering you the flexibility to develop as a writer across a range of creative modes. During your first year you will develop foundational skills in the interpretation and analysis of literary texts, alongside your study of basic writing skills. Throughout the course you will use your knowledge of literature and textual production in your own creative work, exploring the relationship between creative and critical practice.

 In the first year you will discover:

• A range of techniques for reading and writing fiction and poetry
• Modes of descriptive writing
• The importance of plot
• Printmaking
• Drawing and Painting
• Life Room studies
• Art History
• The use of dialogue
• Some key figures from literary history (from Shakespeare to the Brontës)
• Lesser known texts, and writers who are new-to-you
• Interdisciplinary thinking and practice
• A variety of “ways of reading” and some theoretical approaches to textual analysis
• “The critical commentary” and research skills for writers.

In the second year you will explore:

• The theoretical approaches to, and the practice of, literary criticism
• Your own writing style, informed by your reading and research
• A programme of tutor-led self-directed practice and research that evidences an experimental approach and gives expression to a personal voice as an artist
• A self-critical approach to creative working and professional methods
• your art practice within contemporary contexts and historical traditions
• A number of specialist topics chosen by you (these might focus on a specific genre (such as crime fiction), historical period (such as the Victorian era), or theme (such as “transpositions”).

Students following this degree programme have the flexibility to take option modules from the departments of Film, Theatre and Television Studies, and Welsh and Celtic studies, both of which offer a number of creative writing modules in areas such as scriptwriting, writing for radio, writing for television and much more.

In the third year you will master:

• Theory for writers and the application of theoretical perspectives the production and critical evaluation of your own creative work;
• And produce a body or work that demonstrates conceptual and technical coherence;
• The subject and conceptual bases acquired over three years to produce a body of qualitative work for public exhibition
• Extended writing and independent research in your final year writing project (chosen and defined by you with the support of a published author)
• Your own specialisms drawn from a diverse range of option modules taught by writers in those fields. Our option modules include topics such as Elizabethan drama, the ghost story, queer fiction, writing for children, science fiction and fantasy, and much more.
• In your final year you will have the opportunity to take part in a writing retreat at a country house in mid Wales - an amazing opportunity to spend time with fellow students and staff, developing your final year projects and dissertations, in a splendid rural setting.

How will I be taught?

Our course is delivered through a range of traditional and non-traditional settings with particular emphasis on workshops and discursive seminars. Lectures are not the norm but are used when it is essential to convey specific, knowledge-centred, material. One-to-one tutorials will also be a regular feature in your timetable, particularly towards the end of your programme of study. We assess our students through portfolio submissions, essays and, on some modules, traditional examinations and presentations.

Typical Entry Requirements

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A Levels BBB-BCC to include B in Art or related subject, plus satisfactory portfolio

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4): English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma: DDM-DMM, plus satisfactory portfolio

International Baccalaureate: 30-28, plus satisfactory portfolio

European Baccalaureate: 75%-65% overall, plus satisfactory portfolio

English Language Requirements: See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements: International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course. Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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Creative writing should be considered a fine arts credit.

As I stared at the long list of high school electives attached to my course selection sheet, one elective’s class description stood out among the rest: Creative Writing. With my desire to hone writing skills and techniques to transform an  idea to a full-length story, this course seemed perfect for someone like me whose thoughts are constantly filled with new characters, plots and ideas. When I marked it as my number one elective, more important than even Newspaper, I had no idea how amazing the class would be. From learning how to write different types of poetry to writing a full-length ‘choose-your-own adventure’ story to getting three of my pieces published, the semester-long creative writing elective course broadened my horizons and gave me confidence to share my work with the world. 

After taking Creative Writing, I couldn’t wait to take Creative Writing 2 next semester and contacted my counselor to sign me up. She replied with bombshell: despite focusing on creativity, imagination and ingenuity, the creative writing course is not considered a fine arts credit. 

This news derailed my plans; I need a fine arts credit to graduate, and though I am only a freshman, my schedule in the coming years is packed. Due to doubling-up science courses, I solely have room for one elective in the upcoming years, Newspaper. Talking to my counselor about my options, I learned that Playwriting was an option, but it required a prerequisite in Drama. Even though Playwriting and Creative Writing use similar, if not the same, skills (after all, playwriting is a part of creative writing), only one is considered a fine arts credit.

Eventually, my counselor came back to me with the best elective I could hope for given the circumstances: Film as Literature. The course revolves around movies and writing; we watch a movie, then write an essay analyzing some aspect about it. While I enjoyed the class and highly recommend it, it is arguably less creative and more analytical than Creative Writing, since Film and Literature requires students to write specific, topical essays instead of letting their imagination run wild. Film as Literature is considered fine arts, while Creative Writing, which gives students freedom to write about whatever they want, whether it be in poetry, prose or even song form, is labeled as an English course.

Ms. Diana Adams, who teaches Creative Writing, considers fine arts to be “any of the creative disciplines: drawing, painting, sculpting, literature, music, dance, theatre and even architecture.” She continued, “The main lesson I want my students to learn is to write, experiment and be proud of it… my students use their creativity every day, and they create beautiful, inspiring pieces that I consider art.”

At its heart, fine arts is supposed to help students unleash their creativity, and what better way to do that than by taking a course with “creative” in its name? Creative Writing is not really a traditional English course—unlike English class, students don’t analyze literature or study grammar—instead, it is a fine arts course, helping budding writers discover their creative potential. While it is too late for me to take Creative Writing 2, it’s time for administration to recognize Creative Writing as the fine arts course it truly is.

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Senior Ellaheh Gohari is entering her fourth (and sadly final) year on staff and third year as co-EIC of the Patriot Post. She loves learning new things and can often be found going down Wikipedia rabbit holes in search of random knowledge. Outside of room 25310, she serves as co-president to both the Girls Excelling in Math and Science club and the Science National Honor Society. A science-lover, she enjoys exploring the subject through research projects with UMiami, volunteer tutoring with OTTER and fact-checks with MediaWise. She hopes you enjoy your time reading the Patriot Post.

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	Pacific University
	Jun 08, 2024   Academic Catalog 2021-2022     Academic Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Introduction Pacific’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program celebrates writing as an art that has the potential to make a difference in the world. With an emphasis on the creative process, award-winning writers work closely with students to support and inspire evolving craft and voice. In the belief that writers can and must lead full and interesting lives, the program embraces students who have full-time jobs and other obligations. The low-residency format allows students to earn a graduate degree over the course of two years through five intensive campus residencies, coupled with guided study during four semesters. Students earn 15 credits each semester and apply those 15 credits toward the minimum of 60 required for successful completion of the program. A student may earn an MFA in Writing in fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Each semester begins with a 10-day residency. One is held in January at the Oregon Coast and the other is held in June on the Pacific University campus. Residencies include workshops, lectures, panels, classes and readings, featuring award-winning writers who act as faculty members for the program and visiting writers who participate only during the residency. At the residencies, students are paired with a writer who serves as an advisor for the independent study that follows. Student and advisor meet in conferences to develop a study plan for the subsequent guided study when the student will devote 20-25 hours each week to writing and reading. The MFA program offers a high level of conversation along with the good humor and camaraderie of individuals who share a passion for art. We believe in inspiration but also in revision. We believe there is no one way to write and no right way to write. Above all, we believe in quality and originality in any guise. Faculty Advisors The writers who serve as faculty for the MFA program are recognized for both their level of national or regional achievement and for their teaching records and abilities. They are hired as independent contractors to instruct and advise MFA students. While writers are not regular Pacific employees, they are bound by all federal and state laws as well as many Pacific University and all MFA policies. In this catalog and in other MFA materials, these writers are referred to as “faculty.” Most faculty who serve as advisors for students teach during the residency that precedes the semester, though the program reserves the right to assign non-residency faculty as advisors in some circumstances. During the residency, faculty members give readings, deliver lectures, conduct classes and serve on panels. Some of the visiting writers also participate actively in residency events but do not serve as advisors in the following semester. Admission: Master of Fine Arts in Writing Eligibility/Prerequisites The MFA program seeks students who have demonstrated talent, commitment to the writing process, ability to look objectively at their work, and willingness to use criticism in a discriminating manner while remaining true to individual voice and vision. Applicants to the MFA program should hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Exceptions may be made to this requirement contingent upon the understanding that students must complete their undergraduate degree before enrolling in the MFA thesis semester. All exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be granted in special circumstances such as when the applicant is close to completing an undergraduate degree, has a strong writing record with published works, and shows maturity of purpose and work habit. Admission is based primarily on the quality and promise exhibited in the application manuscript and personal essay. Applicants should address their ability to participate productively and supportively in a writing community and to sustain commitment through extended independent work periods during the guided study. Application Process The Master of Fine Arts in Writing program accepts new students twice a year for semesters beginning with the January and June residencies; students may enter the program at either time. For priority consideration, submit all application materials by September 1 for the semester beginning in January or March 1 for the semester beginning in June. Applications received after these dates will be considered as space allows and may be processed for the following semester. For information on what materials to submit, see the MFA Application Procedure & Forms page: http://www.pacificu.edu/as/mfa/admissions/applicationprocedure.cfm . Non-degree-seeking students of the Residency Writers Conference (residency only) may apply for admission to the full program through the second week of the semester. In this situation, matriculation into the program would typically begin with the current semester. Since the application for Residency Writers Conference requires half the same elements as an application for the full MFA program – creative sample, critical sample, personal essay – the student’s matriculation would be considered conditional upon the receipt of two letters of reference, transcripts, and a new Intent to Enroll form showing enrollment in the full program. Transfer of Credits Petitions for transfer of credits from another Master of Fine Arts creative writing program will be considered by the Admissions Board. In no instance will more than 15 semester credits transfer. No other credit waivers or transfers of any other credits will be allowed. Transfer of one semester’s credit elsewhere does not guarantee that the student will finish the Pacific MFA in three additional semesters. The time it takes to finish the program depends on the student’s ability to successfully complete both the critical essay and the creative manuscript. Policies: Master of Fine Arts in Writing Assessment Assessment occurs at midterm and semester end. For both assessments, the student and advisor each write a narrative analysis addressing the following: The student’s semester performance and progress toward completion of the program The number and merit of the student-advisor exchanges, as well as the effectiveness of assignments Expectations and tentative plans for the coming semester as discussed with the advisor The midterm assessments are advisory only, used by the MFA program for counseling purposes when necessary, and do not become part of the student’s permanent record. In addition, students are invited to contact the MFA director during the semester if they have concerns about their work and exchanges, especially if they anticipate problems meeting a deadline. Assessments completed by the student and advisor at the end of the semester become part of the student’s official record and the narrative transcript is used to assign credit (the MFA program does not use grades). Students receive a hard copy letter of credit/no credit and a copy of their narrative transcript prior to the next residency. Award of Semester Credit Semester credit is granted only in 15-hour units and requires documentation by way of the semester study plan, residency review, midterm and final semester assessments, semester bibliography, analytical and creative work, and a log of exchanges. These semester assignments require a minimum time commitment of 20-25 hours of study per week. After the faculty advisor has evaluated the student’s semester work and has recommended credit in the Narrative Transcript, the MFA program reviews the student’s semester portfolio. If all is in order, the program awards credit. Prior to the next residency, the student is advised of the award of credit in a letter from the director. Comments and counsel for the student regarding the upcoming semester may be included. Students who attend only a portion of the residency or who participate in the residency but fail to complete all semester work will receive no credit. Students who complete semester requirements but whose analytical or creative work does not meet program expectations may be granted credit even though the work falls short of the criteria for the granting of the degree. Decisions about the awarding of credit are made between the final deadline for receipt of semester project evaluations and the next residency, as are decisions regarding whether or not a student will continue on in the program. A student whose analytical or creative work does not demonstrate the competency to advance to the next semester may enroll in up to one extra semester or take a leave of absence to develop his/her skills. If the revised manuscripts from this additional semester of work are not successful, as determined by the Admissions Board, the student will be dismissed from the program. Deadlines and Extensions Students are responsible for turning in required work by the assigned deadline and recording their exchanges with their advisors in a log. All semester work must be satisfactorily completed by the end of the semester to receive credit. Students who fail to meet deadlines with their advisors or the MFA office and who fail to make other arrangements for completing work lose their right to further exchanges and to credit for that semester. In such cases, students may be required to take an additional semester to complete the unfinished work and earn the required credit toward the degree. In exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the MFA Academic Board for an extension of deadlines to earn semester credit. In this case, the student would need to complete the Student Petition for Waiver of/Exception to MFA Policy and submit it to the MFA Board. Students may petition to earn credit only when a portion of semester coursework has been completed satisfactorily and health or other emergency reasons prevent the student from finishing all requirements by the established deadlines. The petition should detail the circumstances that led to the request as well as dates and plans for completing the semester work. The advisor and the student should agree upon a timeline for the completion of all work, with the following limitations: Unfinished course work for which no credit is given in the fall semester must be completed by the following April 15 to earn credit Unfinished course work for which no credit is given in the spring semester must be completed by the following November 15 to earn credit If the agreed-upon course work is not completed in the period allotted and an extension has not been granted, no credit will be given for the semester. Please note that extensions on deadlines may incur additional fees, jeopardize credit, or delay decisions about advancement toward the degree. Academic Standing, Probation and Dismissal Students receive ongoing assessment throughout the residency and the guided study. While most excel in the program, those students who find they are unable to complete their work or who have other academic concerns should contact the MFA director or their advisor immediately to discuss a plan of action. This might include a Petition for Exception to MFA Policy, an LSS accommodation, or other options. A student who fails to complete the degree requirements as outlined in the MFA Handbook or whose work does not demonstrate graduate-level competency is not permitted to progress in the curriculum. Student status and attending action plans are identified and described below. Acceptable and In Good Standing The student demonstrates all of the following: Satisfactory progress in completing assignments and meeting deadlines Satisfactory progress in the development of analytical and creative writing skills Adherence to University and MFA rules or procedures Appropriate professional/ethical conduct and attitudes Notice of Concern A student may receive a “notice of concern” if an advisor, faculty or staff member expresses concerns about the student’s performance in any of the areas defined above. A notice of concern is designed to bring the student’s attention to an issue (e.g., failing academic performance, missed deadlines, inadequate or problematic communication with MFA advisors, faculty members, and/or program staff) so that the student may address and improve the performance in the area of concern and thus avoid receiving an academic warning or losing their acceptable academic standing. The MFA director sends a notice of concern to a student via email and/or the letter of credit. This notice may include an action plan for remediation.  Students who receive two notices of concern within a semester and do not improve their performance will receive an academic warning. Academic Warning and Suspension A student who receives an official academic warning is no longer a student in good standing and must address the issue(s) to the satisfaction of the advisor, staff member, and/or director within two weeks of receiving notification. The academic warning includes a plan of action for any one of the following:student may receive an official academic warning that includes a plan of action for any one of the following: Failure to meet deadlines and/or failure to contact advisor or MFA staff within three days of missed deadlines Incomplete work Insufficient progress in analytical or creative writing skills Failure to comply with University or MFA program rules or procedures and/or unprofessional/unethical behavior A student who does not address the issue(s) within two weeks of receiving the academic warning, or who receives additional notices of concern or academic warnings for other issues, will be suspended from the program for the rest of the semester and receive no credit. Academic Probation A student who receives an academic warning and/or who is suspended from the MFA program will be placed on academic probation and will be given one semester to regain good academic standing. A student on probation must have an approved plan for addressing one or more of the following: Repeated failure to meet deadlines and/or failure to contact advisor or MFA staff within three days of missed deadlines Failure to meet the terms of an action plan designed as the result of an academic warning Lack of compliance with University or MFA program rules or procedures and/or unprofessional/unethical conduct at a level of greater magnitude than that considered to warrant a warning A second semester of unacceptable performance will result in academic dismissal from the program. Dismissal A student may be dismissed from the program for any one of the following: Failure to meet deadlines and/or failure to contact advisor or MFA staff within three days of missed deadlines for more than one semester Incomplete work for more than one semester Insufficient progress in analytical or creative writing skills for more than one semester Academic probation for more than one semester at any time in the program Failure to meet the terms of an action plan designed as the result of an academic probation Flagrant or intentional violations of the University or MFA program rules and procedures and/or inappropriate, unprofessional/unethical or illegal conduct Students who have been dismissed may reapply to the program after a period of absence, depending on the circumstances of dismissal. Decisions on student status are determined by members of the MFA faculty and/or Admissions Board. Students may appeal status decisions within 10 days of notification of the original action to the MFA Board of Directors, which includes the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Accreditation and Awarding of the Degree Pacific University and the Master of Fine Arts in Writing program are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The Master of Fine Arts degree is granted by the Pacific University President and the Board of Trustees upon recommendation of the Academic Board of the MFA in Writing program and the approval of the College of Arts and Sciences. Auditing Students Alumni, current students, and applicants accepted into the MFA program may choose the option to audit an MFA semester at the discretion of the program and as space allows. Students who request this option typically attend a residency and adapt their semester study plan to focus entirely on their creative manuscript, although some students do include readings in their semester work. While auditing students enroll in, pay for, and participate in MFA residencies and guided study, they are not required to complete assignments or turn in a portfolio at the end of the semester. Students must declare the audit option before the end of the add-drop period; once the audit option has been declared the course cannot revert back to the graded option. Students who audit receive no credits and this is reflected on a transcript as ‘AU’ instead of a grade. Course auditing is not applied toward degree requirements even if the student is able to come back to the program in the future as a degree-seeking student. Non-Degree-Seeking Students Alumni, current students, and applicants accepted into the MFA program may choose the option to study as non-degree-seeking students at the discretion of the program and as space allows. Earning Credit As a Non-Degree Seeking Student Non-degree seeking students may earn 15 credits for each full semester (residency and guided study). These students must complete all academic requirements as outlined in the MFA Handbook and Pacific catalog. While the non-degree seeking student may earn credit, it does not apply to the MFA degree until the student is enrolled as a matriculated, degree-seeking student. Students switching from non-degree seeking to degree seeking must have approval from the Admissions Board. Transfer Credit Request for transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. No more than 15 credits can be transferred. Credit Load Students must register for 15 credits for each semester. Part-time enrollment is not allowed. Honors The MFA program does not award graduation honors Grading System All courses are graded Pass/No Pass. Add/Drop/Withdrawal Schedule Students may add or drop through the second week of the semester. After this time and through the 65% mark of the semester (approximately three months into the semester), students may withdraw and receive a W grade on the transcript. After this point, students not completing the course will earn a No Pass grade. Readmission Policy/Process Students who leave the program before earning the degree may be able to apply for readmission if their situations have changed. See the Program Director for more information. Time Limits to Complete Degree It is generally expected that all degree requirements will be completed within three years, although exceptions can be granted by the Program Director. Incomplete Grade In exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the MFA Academic Board for an extension of deadlines to earn semester credit. In this case, the student would need to complete the Student Petition for Exception to MFA Policy/Incomplete Grade and submit it to the MFA Board. Students may petition to earn credit only when a portion of semester coursework has been completed satisfactorily and health or other emergency reasons prevent the student from finishing all requirements by the established deadlines. The petition should detail the circumstances that led to the request as well as dates and plans for completing the semester work. The advisor and the student should agree upon a timeline for the completion of all work, with the following limitations: Fall semester Incompletes must be completed by the following April 15 to earn credit. Spring semester Incompletes must be completed by the following November 15 to earn credit. Tuition: Master of Fine Arts in Writing Annual tuition $19,660 (Fall 2021 and Spring 2022) Audit (guided study), per credit hour $630 Fall room & board $900 Spring room & board $900 Books and supplies $800 (estimate) Graduation application fee $100 Calendar: Master of Fine Arts in Writing All dates are subject to change: http://www.pacificu.edu/as/mfa/index.cfm Graduate-level courses for the Master of Fine Arts program. WRI 581 - MFA Writing Course WRI 582 - MFA Final Residency Official Blog of O.P. Jindal Global University What is Fine Arts? Meaning, Scope, Nature, Importance & More What Is Fine Arts? Fine arts encompass an expansive spectrum of expressive forms, ranging from the visual arts like painting, sculpture, and photography to the performing arts such as music, dance, and theatre, as well as literary pursuits like poetry and prose. These artistic endeavours are distinguished by their pursuit of aesthetic beauty, innovation, and emotional resonance, serving as vehicles for individuals and societies to convey, explore, and interpret the complexities of the human experience.  Rooted in history and culture, fine arts have long been revered for their ability to reflect societal values, challenge conventions, and provoke contemplation. Fine arts provide platforms for personal expression, social critique, and collective celebration, whether through evocative brushstrokes on canvas, dynamic movements on stage, or stirring melodies in symphonies. They facilitate connections across diverse cultures and perspectives, fostering empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the rich tapestry of human creativity.  In this blog, we will briefly talk about the history and nature of fine arts, its types, its scope, and why it is important. Let’s get started! History and Nature of Fine Arts  The history of fine arts dates back to prehistoric times with cave paintings and carvings, reflecting humanity’s innate desire to depict and communicate. Ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and Rome saw the development of sophisticated artistic forms, with significant achievements in sculpture, architecture, and visual arts.  During the Middle Ages, art was dominated by religious themes, while the Renaissance marked a rebirth of humanism and individual expression, exemplified by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. The subsequent centuries introduced various art movements, including Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism, each contributing to the evolution of fine arts. The 20th century saw revolutionary changes with movements like Cubism, Surrealism, and Pop Art, pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms. The nature of fine arts is characterized by its diversity and creativity, encompassing visual arts (painting, sculpture, drawing, photography), performing arts (music, dance, theatre), and literary arts (poetry, prose).  Fine arts aim to express human emotions, ideas, and experiences in aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking ways. They evoke deep emotions, provoke critical thought, and inspire change, mirroring society and fostering cultural identity. Engaging with fine arts enhances critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence, providing individuals with a means of self-expression and a deeper understanding of the world. The enduring significance of fine arts lies in their ability to captivate, challenge, and enrich our lives, embodying the essence of human creativity and expression. Types of Fine Arts Here are some of the most popular fields and of fine arts and fine arts subjects. Visual Arts This category includes painting, which involves applying pigment to a surface to create an image, expression, or representation, with styles ranging from realism to abstract. Sculpture is another form involving creating three-dimensional forms by carving, modelling, or assembling materials such as stone, metal, or clay.  Drawing, the technique of marking a surface with tools like pencils, charcoal, or ink to produce an image, also falls under this category. Printmaking is the process of creating artwork by printing, typically on paper, using techniques like etching, lithography, and screen printing. Photography, the art of capturing images using light, either on film or digitally, creates visual records or artistic compositions. Performing Arts Music is the art of creating and arranging sounds to produce melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, performed with instruments or the human voice. Dance involves the movement of the body, often rhythmically and to music, as an expression of emotion, storytelling, or aesthetic enjoyment. Theatre combines acting, speech, gesture, music, dance, and visual arts to convey a narrative or emotion to an audience. Film and cinema tell stories through moving images, blending elements of theatre, visual arts, music, and literature to create a powerful medium of expression. Literary Arts Poetry uses language to evoke emotions and create aesthetic experiences through rhythm, meter, and metaphor. Prose, written or spoken language in its ordinary form, includes novels, short stories, essays, and other narrative forms that explore human experiences and ideas. Applied Arts Architecture blends functionality with aesthetic principles in the design and construction of buildings and other physical structures. Design encompasses creating plans for objects, systems, or structures and includes graphic design, fashion design, interior design, industrial design, and more. Interdisciplinary Arts Digital arts use digital technology as an essential part of the creative process, including digital painting, computer graphics, and virtual reality. Performance art is a live presentation often combining elements of visual arts, dance, theatre, and music, emphasizing the artist’s use of their body and actions in real-time. Installation art involves creating three-dimensional works designed to transform the perception of space, often using various materials and sensory experiences. Scope of Fine Arts  The scope of a fine arts course and this field is broad and diverse, offering numerous opportunities for personal growth, professional development, and societal impact.  Personal and Creative Development Fine arts allow individuals to express their creativity, emotions, and ideas, enhancing critical thinking and emotional intelligence. Engaging in artistic activities fosters personal identity and continuous learning. Educational Opportunities Fine arts education spans from primary schools to specialized higher education, promoting creativity, cultural awareness, and appreciation for diversity. Visual arts, music, dance, theatre, and literature programs help students develop their artistic skills and knowledge. Professional Careers Artists can pursue careers in various fields, including painting, sculpture, photography, music, dance, theatre, and writing. The entertainment industry, art education, curation, art therapy, and arts administration offer viable career paths. Cultural and Social Impact Fine arts preserve and promote cultural heritage, fostering a sense of identity and continuity. Art can challenge societal norms, provoke thought, and inspire social change through public installations, performances, and exhibitions. Economic Contributions The fine arts sector significantly contributes to the economy by generating employment and revenue. Art galleries, museums, theatres, and cultural festivals attract tourists and support local economies while selling artworks and performances sustains artists and related businesses. Interdisciplinary Applications Fine arts intersect with technology, health, and social sciences. Digital arts create new forms of expression, art therapy supports mental health, and collaborations between artists and scientists lead to innovative solutions in various domains. Scope of Fine Arts in India  The scope of fine arts in India is extensive and multifaceted, reflecting the country’s rich cultural heritage and dynamic contemporary art scene. Opportunities abound in cultural preservation, with restoration, curation, and heritage management roles. Educational institutions offer comprehensive programs in fine arts, nurturing future artists.  Graduates from a fine arts course can explore professional careers spanning painting, sculpture, photography, design, dance, theatre, music, art education, therapy, and administration. Fine arts play a significant role in social impact, engaging communities and promoting inclusivity. Economically, the sector supports tourism and a growing contemporary art market, while interdisciplinary digital arts, health, and sustainability applications highlight innovative collaborations. Additionally, Indian artists are gaining international recognition, enhancing global cultural exchanges. Importance of Fine Arts  The importance of fine arts extends across various facets of individual and societal life, enriching human experience and fostering cultural development. Fine arts provide a powerful means of personal expression, allowing individuals to convey emotions, ideas, and identities through creative processes.  This expression enhances emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, contributing to personal growth and mental well-being. Culturally, fine arts preserve and promote heritage, reflecting diverse communities’ values, traditions, and histories. They foster cultural continuity and pride while challenging societal norms and inspiring social change. Public art installations, performances, and exhibitions engage communities, raise awareness about social issues, and promote inclusivity and diversity. Economically, the fine arts sector generates significant employment and revenue. Art galleries, museums, theatres, and cultural festivals attract tourists and stimulate local economies. The sale of artworks and performances supports artists and related businesses, while the growing market for contemporary art offers financial opportunities. Educationally, fine arts enhance learning by fostering creativity, cultural awareness, and appreciation for diversity. Art education at all levels nurtures future artists and cultivates a deeper understanding of the world. Moreover, fine arts intersect with various fields such as technology, health, and environmental sustainability. Digital arts leverage new media, while art therapy supports mental health. Collaborations between artists and scientists lead to innovative solutions to societal challenges. About JGU BA Fine Arts Programme A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a comprehensive four-year undergraduate degree program that offers in-depth and specialized training in various fields of fine arts. This program is designed to cultivate artistic talent and provide students with a broad understanding of fine arts’ theoretical and practical aspects.  The curriculum typically includes a combination of core and elective subjects that ensure a well-rounded education. Common subjects studied in a BFA program include art history, which provides insights into the evolution of art across different cultures and periods; art theory, which explores the principles and philosophies that underpin artistic practices; art criticism, which teaches students how to evaluate and interpret artworks; art appreciation, which fosters a deeper understanding and enjoyment of visual arts; and studio practice, which offers hands-on experience in creating art. The B.F.A. (Hons.) program at Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities (JSLH) is specifically designed to educate and train visual artists while encouraging students to explore additional forms of artistic practice. This holistic approach ensures that graduates are well-prepared for various career paths within the art world.  Graduates of the B.F.A. program can pursue careers as freelance studio artists, where they create and sell their own artworks; illustrators, who produce images for books, magazines, and other media; gallery artists, who exhibit and sell their work in galleries; creative designers, who work in fields such as fashion, interior design, and advertising; art historians, who study and interpret art from different periods and cultures; and art acquisition specialists, who work with museums and private collectors to acquire new works of art. Other career options include curators, who organize exhibitions and manage art collections; gallery assistants, who support the operations of art galleries; community artists, who engage with local communities through art projects; arts marketing and business professionals, who promote and manage art-related businesses; and theatre set designers, who create the visual environments for stage productions.  The B.F.A. program equips students with a range of valuable skills, such as creativity, which enables them to generate original ideas and artworks; innovation, which allows them to develop new techniques and approaches; imagination, which fuels their ability to envision and create; problem-solving, which helps them overcome artistic and technical challenges; improvisation, which aids them in adapting to new situations and ideas; and critical thinking, which sharpens their ability to analyze and interpret art. What is fine arts and a fine arts course? Fine arts encompass creative disciplines, including visual, performing, and applied arts. These disciplines focus on aesthetic expression and the creation of works appreciated primarily for their beauty and emotional power. A fine arts course typically includes Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Applied Arts. Courses in fine arts often cover foundational skills, art history, techniques, and advanced specializations, providing students with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in their chosen art forms. What are some common job roles and career fields after a degree in fine arts in India? After a fine arts degree in India, graduates can pursue careers as artists, graphic designers, illustrators, art directors, animators, and photographers. They can also work as sculptors, curators, art educators, critics, and writers. Additional roles include interior and fashion design, set design, conservation, and art therapy. These careers span sectors like education, entertainment, advertising, media, and healthcare. Is a degree in Fine Arts like BFA difficult? A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree can be challenging, but the difficulty depends on an individual’s passion, dedication, and aptitude for the arts. Mastering various techniques and mediums requires consistent practice, while continuously producing original and creative work can be mentally taxing. Receiving and applying constructive criticism is essential for growth but can be tough. Additionally, balancing multiple projects and deadlines demands strong time management skills, and understanding art history and theory involves substantial reading and comprehension. However, a BFA can be highly rewarding and fulfilling for those passionate about art and committed to improving their skills. What are some common fine arts subjects that are taught in a BFA degree? In a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, students typically study subjects like Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Art History, Color Theory, Visual Communication, Digital Art, Figure Drawing, Photography, Graphic Design, Ceramics, Textile Design, Animation, and Portfolio Development. These subjects provide a comprehensive foundation in various fine arts disciplines. Related Post “JGU helped me build a deep interest in nature and the environment and a zeal to do something for the planet,” shares Charvi Rawat, Student, JSLH Why study Environment & Sustainable Development at O.P. Jindal Global University? Why Study B.A. (Hons.) Film and New Media at O.P. Jindal Global University? Share full article The Ancient Art of Calligraphy Is Having a Revival Calligraphy, which means “beautiful writing” in Ancient Greek, is seeing a surge of interest from younger people who say it offers a meditative and creative escape. Supported by By Jenny Gross Jenny Gross attended a recent beginner’s calligraphy class in London. May 29, 2024 For the first time in many years, a teacher was correcting my handwriting. “Go more slowly,” Laura Edralin, a calligraphy teacher in London, told me, as she walked around a table of beginners on a recent Wednesday night, explaining how to achieve even, flowing strokes. As a breaking news reporter for The New York Times, I am not used to being told to slow down, nor am I accustomed to writing by hand. But both those new to the medium and seasoned calligraphers say the deliberate, steady nature of the practice is a huge part of its appeal — one that is on the upswing. With so much digital fatigue, writing elegantly with pen and paper can be a joy. Calligraphy, a centuries-old art form, is seeing a surge of interest, including among young people more familiar with coding than cursive. At Michael’s, the largest arts and crafts chain in North America, more than 10,000 customers signed up for lettering classes online between January 2023 and March 2024 — nearly three times more than in the same period a year ago, when about the same number of classes were offered. An increase in calligraphy-related posts on social media and the popularity of online classes may have helped drive the trend. On TikTok, where users can find how-to videos or watch clips of experienced calligraphers at work, 63 percent more posts used #calligraphy in April 2024 than in April 2023, according to TikTok. And on Instagram, top calligraphy influencers such as Nhuan Dao in Ha Noi, Vietnam, and Paola Gallegos in Cusco, Peru, have 2 million or more followers apiece (on TikTok , Gallegos has 9 million). @calligraphilic ¿Qué nivel eres tú? 🤔😍🥰😜 #calligraphy #lettering #artistatiktok ♬ GATA ONLY - FloyyMenor Rajiv Surendra, a calligrapher and actor (best known as the math M.C. Kevin G. in the 2004 film “Mean Girls”), said he was surprised to find that his how-to calligraphy videos were some of the most popular posts on his YouTube channel; one video on calligraphy basics has garnered more than 840,000 views. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber?  Log in . Want all of The Times?  Subscribe . Advertisement ODU Creative Writing Students Partner with Norfolk SPCA to Help Get Animals Adopted Writers from Old Dominion University’s Master in Fine Arts in Creative Writing program are harnessing the power of language to help adoptable animals at the Norfolk SPCA find forever homes. The effort is part of ODU’s Writers in Community , a non-profit program dedicated to helping the diverse communities of Coastal Virginia by cultivating literacy and creativity. A branch of the Old Dominion University MFA Creative Writing Program, Writers in Community works with local organizations to reach out to children and adults who can benefit from the opportunity to express themselves artistically. Through a social media campaign that started in May, students wrote bios for the several dogs, bunnies and a cat, who are in need of new homes, including the shelter’s longest resident, Haley, who has been with the SPCA for more than a year. Students have also shared photos of their own literary-minded pets to encourage others to adopt.  “We’re thrilled to partner with such talented writers to share the stories of these wonderful animals,” said Tammy Lindquist, community engagement manager at the SPCA. “Animals make a profound difference in our lives and we’re so happy these writers are sharing the stories of our beloved animals and their own.” The novelists, poets and essayists in the MFA program also shared photos of their own pets, with reflections on the impact these best friends have made on their lives. SPCA supporters are encouraged to share photos on social media of the pets they’ve adopted through the SPCA with #findyournewbestfriend. “Our pets provide endless joy and inspiration,” said Kent Wascom, MFA in Creative Writing program director at ODU and author of “The Great State of West Florida.” “The incredible writers in our program are so excited to help these dogs and cats and rabbits find families who will care for them, and to share the ways their own pets impact their lives.” The adoptable animals featured in the campaign and others hosted by the SPCA can be met from 1 to 4:30 p.m. each day except Tuesdays at their adoption center on Ballentine Boulevard. Enhance your college career by gaining relevant experience with the skills and knowledge needed for your future career. Discover our experiential learning opportunities. Picture yourself in the classroom, speak with professors in your major, and meet current students. From sports games to concerts and lectures, join the ODU community at a variety of campus events.  232 IMAGES Is Creative Writing A Fine Art What is Creative Writing and How to Use it for Specific Academic Level The Art of Creative Writing Creative Writing Masters Why Creative Writing Is Important What is Creative Writing, What Are Some Types of Creative Writing, and VIDEO Fine arts Meaning Fine Art college ke submition #minivlog #painting #indore #lavinagar #artist #bhopal Simple Art Idea for Drawing flowers #creative #artideas #easyart What Does It Mean To Be Creative? Creative Writing important ( objectiev & subjective )| creative writing vvi question 2023 WHAT IS CREATIVE WRITING AND CREATIVE NON-FICTION? (INFOMERCIAL) COMMENTS What is Fine Art? Learn About the Definition and Types of Fine Art Théodore Géricault, "The Raft of The Medusa," 1818-9 (Photo: Louvre via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain) Fine art traditionally refers to types of art that primarily serve an aesthetic or intellectual purpose. This usually applies to visual arts, such as painting and sculpture, but has also been used to describe other creative ... Is Writing an Art? Any kind of writing can be an art, but creative thinking is the key. Whether you plan to immerse yourself in writing poetry, believe there's a novel in you trying to get out, or are simply tackling an essay or a blog post, your creative thinking and skill can combine to turn it into a work of art. Although creative fiction or poetry writing ... Fine art Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created to fulfill the creative vision of the artist. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism and commercial photography. ... Architecture is frequently considered a fine art, ... MFA in Writing. University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA - MFA; California ... Is Writing an Art or Craft? The Art (and Craft) of Creative Writing. Not surprisingly, creative writing is most commonly considered an art form. The creative arc of a plot line and narrative voice draws a natural link between this pleasurable pastime and the artistic world. Experimental authors such as J.D. Salinger and David Mitchell are often praised for their artful ... Creative Writing Major BFA - weighted more heavily toward purely creative arts credits. BA - weighted more toward general liberals arts credits, which include math, science, history, psychology, etc. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, something close to 75% of your studies would be focused exclusively on the arts. Writing as a kind of art And that's perfectly fine since writing, like many other artforms, is an acquired skill and can get better with time. ... While poetry is generally considered a creative activity, anything else that is written to express one's emotions eloquently can also be considered likewise. Anything that stirs on your creative heartstrings can and does ... Creative writing Due to the looseness of the definition, it is possible for writing such as feature stories to be considered creative writing, even though it falls under journalism, ... One California study of prison fine arts programs found art education increased emotional control and decreased disciplinary reports. Participation in creative writing and other ... What Is Creative Writing? Today, creative writing is a well-known and widely available outlet for people to express themselves. Whether writing creative nonfiction, poetry, songs or novels, there are personal and professional opportunities for those willing to practice their craft. Creative writing spans multiple genres and art forms, including nonfiction. 10 Types of Creative Writing (with Examples You'll Love) A lot falls under the term 'creative writing': poetry, short fiction, plays, novels, personal essays, and songs, to name just a few. By virtue of the creativity that characterizes it, creative writing is an extremely versatile art. So instead of defining what creative writing is, it may be easier to understand what it does by looking at ... What is Creative Writing? In Cold Blood passes this test due to Capote's use of characterization, plot development, and world-building. It's considered today to be a pioneering example of the non-fiction novel, a paragon of the creative writing world. The original crime reports, local newspaper articles, and subsequent court documents detail the same events with the same participants. Is Writing An Art Form? FacebookTweetPin When people think about art, the first thoughts might be that of a painting, drawing, or sculpture. However, writing isn't usually among the list of art forms for many individuals. In this article, we aim to correct this by providing five reasons writing should be considered an art form. 5 Reasons Why Writing Is […] Literature as Fine Art 1 Language as a Medium of Fine Art. Language poses great challenges and great opportunities as a medium of fine art. These challenges and opportunities apply to both form and content. The form of language is radically distinct from that of the visual arts and the art of sound because language is a purely conventional medium whose sensuous ... Creative Writing, MFA A Master of Fine Arts in creative writing graduate is prepared primarily for the professional creation of new art, including fiction, poetry and other written forms. In addition to working as novelists, poets and short story writers, graduates go on to careers in education, arts administration, media and entertainment, and in political and ... What is Fine Art? Art vs Fine Art Fine art is meant to be appreciated for its beauty and its ability to convey complex ideas, emotions, or experiences. It is often created by trained artists and is regarded as a luxury or investment, with works by well-known artists fetching high prices at auction. For the appreciation of fine art lies in its cultural, historical, and artistic ... Different Forms of Art Next on the list of different forms of art are Literary Arts. Literary Arts refer to the written word. This includes writing, editing, teaching, proofreading, and all other activities and work that is related to written communications. It is creative writing and literature. The Literary Arts has three genres: Poetry; Fiction; Non-fiction; 1. What Is Creative Writing? Types, Techniques, and Tips Types of Creative Writing. Examples of creative writing can be found pretty much everywhere. Some forms that you're probably familiar with and already enjoy include: • Fiction (of every genre, from sci-fi to historical dramas to romances) • Film and television scripts. • Songs. • Poetry. Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees: Majors and Specialty Areas A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is an undergraduate degree where students learn about the history, skills, methodology and industries associated with their artistic field of choice. The five main BFA categories are visual arts, theater and dance, film and photography, music and creative writing. A BFA is not the same as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or ... Master of Fine Arts Writing sample that demonstrates your writing abilities. Six to 10 pages for poetry and no more than 30 pages for fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting and screenwriting; Statement of purpose that describes your academic and professional objectives. In a 500- to 600-word essay, discuss in detail your interest in your emphasis area and your ... Aberystwyth University WW18. Creative Writing with Fine Art at Aberystwyth University will allow you to develop new or broaden and deepen your skills in painting, printmaking, photography to name a few whilst at the same time discovering and immersing yourself in the words that have our shaped our world. This cross-disciplinary degree will introduce to you an ever ... Creative writing should be considered a fine arts credit Ms. Diana Adams, who teaches Creative Writing, considers fine arts to be "any of the creative disciplines: drawing, painting, sculpting, literature, music, dance, theatre and even architecture.". She continued, "The main lesson I want my students to learn is to write, experiment and be proud of it… my students use their creativity every ... Master of Fine Arts in Writing Pacific's Master of Fine Arts in Writing program celebrates writing as an art that has the potential to make a difference in the world. With an emphasis on the creative process, award-winning writers work closely with students to support and inspire evolving craft and voice. In the belief that writers can and must lead full and interesting ... What Is an MFA Degree? All You Need to Know Creative Writing: This area of fine arts consists of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting ... An MFA is considered a terminal degree, meaning it's the highest level of education you can achieve in fine arts and performing arts. On the other hand, a master's degree isn't terminal and can serve as preparation for doctoral studies. Your Guide to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree Art education Creative writing. Dance. Dance education. Design Film Music education. Performing arts administration. Studio art Theater. Within each major, you may have additional options to narrow your focus. For example, a theater major may study acting, production, or direction, while an art major may study studio art, digital design, or art ... What is Fine Arts? Meaning, Scope, Nature, Importance & More The nature of fine arts is characterized by its diversity and creativity, encompassing visual arts (painting, sculpture, drawing, photography), performing arts (music, dance, theatre), and literary arts (poetry, prose). Fine arts aim to express human emotions, ideas, and experiences in aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking ways. The Ancient Art of Calligraphy Is Having a Revival Calligraphy dates back to before the 1st century A.D., said Dr. Chia-Ling Yang, a Chinese art history professor at the University of Edinburgh. By the 10th century, good brushwork had become known ... ChatGPT Write a message that goes with a kitten gif for a friend on a rough day (opens in a new window) ODU Creative Writing Students Partner with Norfolk SPCA to Help Get Writers from Old Dominion University's Master in Fine Arts in Creative Writing program are harnessing the power of language to help adoptable animals at the Norfolk SPCA find forever homes. The effort is part of ODU's Writers in Community, a non-profit program dedicated to helping the diverse communities of Coastal Virginia by cultivating literacy and creativity. assignment essay homework paper report resume review speech thesis