Creative Writing
鈥淚f there鈥榮 a book that you want to read, but it hasn鈥檛 been written yet, then you must write it.鈥� 鈥� Toni Morrison
Program Overview
As a major or minor in creative writing, you鈥檒l be part of an intimate program with enthusiastic faculty. We give undergraduate students opportunities to get publishing experience before graduation. Unlike larger programs where your work may be lost in large workshop classes, our faculty are excited to work one-on-one with undergraduate students. To encourage innovation and experimentation as students develop their voices, all majors complete coursework in prose, poetry, and performance writing.
A junior course lets students refine their voices and practice their craft in their preferred genre in a class where they will get feedback from students of multiple genres. Seniors take the Creative Writing Portfolio course, a capstone class in which students write a unified collection of publication-ready work in their preferred genre, working with the instructor of their choice on an independent study basis.
Student publication is encouraged in Snowdrifts, an annual publication produced by creative writing students. You can also get involved in publication production through our internships with Border Crossing, LSSU鈥檚 teaching journal.
Program Objectives
- Creative writing students learn to communicate effectively, to understand the history and power of words, to think critically and creatively, and to recognize and balance several points of view.
- The study of literature and creative writing provides you a better understanding of human nature, your community, and your place in the world.
- The writing and critical thinking skills developed in English coursework will make you competitive in many fields.
- In addition, you can learn professionalism through publishing experiences on campus, where you can work on undergraduate and professional literary journals and learn from the editing process.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 124 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.00 or higher. A gpa of 2.00 or higher is also required in your Major, as well as in your General Education Requirements.
Required Courses
- ENGL180 Introduction to Literary Studies 3
- ENGL221 Introduction to Creative Writing 3
- ENGL223 Creative Writing II 3
- ENGL301 Creative Prose Writing 3
- ENGL302 Poetry Writing 3
- ENGL303 Performance Writing 3
- ENGL409 Advanced Writing Workshop 3
- ENGL480 Creative Writing Portfolio I 3
- ENGL482 Creative Writing Portfolio II 3
Select 1 sequence from:
- ENGL231 American Literature I 3
- ENGL232 American Literature II 3
or - ENGL233 English Literature I 3
- ENGL234 English Literature II 3
Select 2 additional Professional Writing Skills Courses from:
- ENGL222 English Grammar and Language in Context 3
- ENGL306 Technical Writing 3
- ENGL398 Community Workshop Internship 3
- ENGL399 Publishing Internship 3
- JOUR211 Newswriting 3
- CSCI106 Web Page Design and Development 3
Select 1 Theatre Course from:
- THEA251 History of Drama and Theatre I 3
- THEA252 History of Drama and Theatre II 3
- THEA333 Studies in the Drama: The Genre and Theater in Context 3
- THEA309 Theatre Studies: (Topic) 3
English Cognate
- USEM101 University Seminar I: Foundation Success 1
- Minor (minimum 20 credits)
- General Education: All LSSU bachelor鈥檚 degree candidates must complete the LSSU
- Bachelor of Arts degree (8 credits): One year of a modern language other than English. If taken at LSSU, this would be CHIN151-CHIN152 or CHIN251-CHIN252; FREN151-FREN152 or FREN251-FREN252 or SPAN161-SPAN162. One-half year of two different languages will not meet this requirement.
Total Credits Required: 24
- ENGL180 Introduction to Literary Studies 3
- ENGL221 Introduction to Creative Writing 3
- ENGL223 Creative Writing II 3
- ENGL231 American Literature I 3
and - ENGL232 American Literature II 3
or - ENGL233 English Literature I 3
and - ENGL234 English Literature II 3
- ENGL409 Adv. Creative Writing Workshop 3
Select two from the following:
- ENGL301 Creative Prose Writing 3
- ENGL302 Poetry Writing 3
- ENGL303 Performance Writing 3
Alumni News
Leah Mockridge (Creative Writing/Communication, 鈥�21) has accepted a position as Director of Marketing at Red Dog Logistics. She is also pursuing a Master鈥檚 in English at Grand Canyon University.
Genevieve Smith (Creative Writing/Communication, 鈥�19) has published her short story, 鈥淭he Thereminist Takes Requests,鈥� in Boston University鈥檚 Clarion Magazine. She is currently working as a Creative Marketing Assistant doing writing and design work for Jefferson Lines in Minneapolis.
Sydney Rain (Creative Writing, 鈥�17) has published her debut novel, Well of Vengeance, with her publishing and editing company, Midnight Owl Publishing. In addition to working on the rest of the Lunen Kingdom Series, she works as a freelance editor.
Clay Winowiecki (Creative Writing 鈥�17) has accepted a position as a Reporter for the Chronicle-Tribune in Marion, Indiana!
Jana Tahtinen (Creative Writing 鈥�17) has been accepted to the Vermont College of Fine Arts and Lesley University MFA Programs in nonfiction!
Ana Robbins (Creative Writing 鈥�17) has been accepted to the Creative Nonfiction program at Bay Path University!
Charlotte Mazurek (Creative Writing 鈥�16) has accepted a position as an Audio Describer with CaptionMax.
Maxwell K. Cleary (Creative Writing 鈥�14) had his debut original play, Remember Me, produced at Issue Box Theater in Toledo, Ohio!
Department News
The BA program in Creative Writing has been selected as a 鈥淢ost Affordable Creative Writing Program鈥� by .
Student Stories and Achievements
Being part of the Creative Writing Program at LSSU was transformative for me as both a writer and a young professional entering the workforce. The program didn鈥檛 just teach me about writing; it also provided a deeper understanding of the 鈥渨hy鈥� behind creative writing through the study of literary history. This perspective has driven my passion for storytelling, filling my work with meaning and purpose in my post-graduate career.
The workshops I participated in during the program were crucial to my development as a student. Regularly giving and receiving constructive feedback has helped me critically evaluate my own work as a writer. This skill has been equally valuable in my professional life, where feedback is essential for growth. From crafting compelling scripts in a newsroom to engaging community members through marketing efforts in the automotive industry, I now approach each project with confidence, adaptability, and patience. The Creative Writing Program taught me that great writing doesn鈥檛 always happen on the first try鈥攊t鈥檚 a process of revision and refinement. This lesson has been vital in my professional life, where patience and persistence are key to creating work that resonates and makes a difference. I will always be grateful for the program that has given me the tools to create meaningful, impactful work across all my professional endeavors.
Danielle Schackmann
My experience in the English department at 海角社区, specifically the creative writing and literature courses, has been nothing short of impeccable. Through taking these courses, I have seen various forms of improvement in my comprehension, literacy, critically analyzing, and experimenting creatively.
I have always been passionate about these subjects; however, through three and a half years of taking classes under Julie and Chad Barbour, I realized I was capable of achieving a lot more than I originally believed. My options for career paths and higher education have grown exponentially and I could not have done it without the guidance and support from these two professors.
Brooklyn Patchin
My studies at LSSU helped prepare me to be an effective graduate school candidate because of how small of a campus this is and how incredibly talented the professors are in my department. I was able to work multiple internships, which most undergraduates can hardly dream of working at bigger schools.
I was able to work at a deep level on my writing with professors whenever I desired to, which often translated to weekly meetings. I was able to have wonderful classmates in my department who meticulously edited me and kept my head straight to keep my writing tight. There鈥檚 so many incredible things about the English department at LSSU. I cannot thank the professors and my classmates enough!
Clay Winowiecki
Career Paths
- Author
- Editor
- Freelance Writer
- Technical Writer
- Public Relations Director
- Audio Describer
- Reporter
- Teacher
- Professor
- Content Creator
Annual Writing Contests
Each year, the Department of English holds three writing contests for LSSU undergraduates: the LSSU Short Story Contest, and two contests for the best papers written in the previous calendar year in ENGL 110 and ENGL 111. Rules, directions for entering, and deadlines are listed below.
Here to learn more about our poetry scholarship? The Osborn Poetry Prize is endowed separately from the Annual Writing Contests. Starting in the 2017-2018 academic year, the Osborn Poetry Prize will follow a different pay structure and eligibility rules from those listed here. You can read more about the poetry scholarship听here.
LSSU Short Story Award ($100 prize)
This contest is open annually to any student at LSSU who submits up to two stories during the submissions period (January 31-March 31). Stories can be fiction or nonfiction. Each story must have a title. All entries must be e-mailed and sent as attachments to听[email protected]. In the e-mail, mention your story title(s) and student number. In the file attachment, include only your student number and address on the top left-hand corner of the first page.听Do not include your name.听Put 鈥淟SSU Story Contest 鈥� in the email title. There are no restrictions on subject or style. The judges reserve the right not to award any prizes. Submission of your entry is considered permission to publish it in an LSSU student journal and/or on the English website.
The winner of this contest is selected anonymously each year by a panel of judges.
2022 Winner听
Mary Sonnabend, 鈥淒ucky Dee鈥檚 Magical Menagerie鈥�
Best ENGL 111 Paper ($100 prize)
For this contest, the judges look for a research paper written in ENGL 111 at LSSU that demonstrates an ability to develop a clear and sustained argument using your own ideas as well as college-level sources. To submit, email your essay to听[email protected],听with the subject title 鈥淏est ENGL 111 Paper.鈥� The deadline is听March 31听of the year after the year in which the paper was written. In the text of your email, list the title, the semester the paper was written, the name of your professor, and your own name with contact information (address, email, and phone).听Please do not put identifying information on the entry file itself; only a title.听The judges reserve the right not to award any prizes.
The winner of this contest was selected anonymously by a panel of judges.
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest ($100 prize)
2021 WINNER:听
Gabrielle Cayouette,听鈥淟ove, Lust, and Friendship: Why Relationships Should Be More Than Just Sex鈥�
Best ENGL 110 Paper ($50 prize)
For this contest, the judges look for an essay written in an ENGL 110 class at LSSU that demonstrates a clear purpose and develops that purpose in a thoughtful style. To submit, email an essay to听[email protected], with the subject title 鈥淏est ENGL 110 Paper.鈥� The deadline is听March 31听of the year after the year in which the paper was written. In the text of your email, list the title of the essay, your own name with contact information (address, email, and phone), the name of your ENGL 110 professor, and the semester the paper was written.听Please do not put identifying information on the entry file itself; only a title.听The judges reserve the right not to award any prizes.
The winners of this contest were selected anonymously by a panel of judges.
2021 Winners:
ENGL 110 Best Critical Paper Contest ($50 prize)
WINNER:
Sydney Hubert, 鈥淭he Need for Better Sex Education鈥�
ENGL 110 Best Personal Essay Contest ($50 prize)
WINNER:
鈥泪-75鈥�
Past Winners
LSSU Short Story Award
Mary Sonnabend for 鈥淒ucky Dee鈥檚 Magical Menagerie鈥�
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest
Gabrielle Cayouette for 鈥淟ove, Lust, and Friendship: Why Relationships Should Be More Than Just Sex鈥�
Best ENGL 110 Papers鈥泪-75鈥�
Sydney Hubert for 鈥淭he Need for Better Sex Education鈥�
Stellanova Osborn Poetry Contest Winner
Karalyn Jobe for 鈥淎 Poem Lost鈥�
LSSU Short Story Award
Jennifer Gavreau for 鈥淭he Apologists鈥�
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest
Sophia Wessel for 鈥淔rom Schools to Suffering: A Story of Intergenerational Trauma in the Native American Community鈥�
Stellanova Osborn Poetry Contest Winner
Leah Mockridge听 for 鈥淭hank God and Blame Women鈥�
LSSU Short Story Award
Rachel Tallon for 鈥淢ilk Stains on the Bathroom Ceiling鈥�
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest
Andrew Quon for 鈥淔rom Formosa to Taiwan鈥�
Best ENGL 110 Papers
Insufficient Entries
LSSU Short Story Award
2019 Winners (in alphabetical order)
Elizabeth Garavaglia, 鈥淎sexual Awakening鈥�
Amy Lehigh, 鈥淣arrative鈥澨�
2019 Finalists
Kayleigh Harnden, 鈥淭he Day My Father Died鈥�
Genevieve Smith, 鈥淭he Thereminist Takes Requests鈥�
Dylan Wyatt, 鈥淭he Enemy of Fear鈥�
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest
2018 WINNER: Fixated on a Flower by Whitney Drenth with Dr. Louann Disney
Runners Up:
The Modern Pandemic: Y. pestis in Sub-Saharan Africa by Karalyn Jobe with Dr. Louann Disney
Misrepresentation of Female Characters in Movies by Jocelynn Burtch with Prof. Kathleen Connors
Finalists:
The Impact Sexual Behavior Portrayed in the Media has on Adolescents by Eileene Naniseni with Dr. Louann Disney
Fish Stocking in Michigan: The Unseen Importance by Kaitlyn A Fisher with Dr. Louann Disney
Development of Skills through Peer-Mediated Interactions by Sidney Wilkins with Dr. Louann Disney
The Impacts of Breastfeeding in Comparison to Formula by Michaela Garner with Dr. Louann Disney
Best ENGL 110 Papers
ENGL 110 Best Critical Paper Contest听
WINNER:Maternity Leave in the USA听by Emilee Kennedy with Prof. Julie Barbour
Runners Up:
American Division-The Star Spangled Banner听by Zander Park with Prof. Jillena Rose
Rhambo听by Natalie Nowak with Prof. Tyler Dettloff
Other Finalists: Rap: Romanticism Redefined听by Tristen Mysen with Prof. Kathleen Connors
Social Ramifications of New Gender Theory听by Andre James with Prof. Shirley Smart
Watchdog听by Isaac Anderson with Prof. Tyler Dettloff
ENGL 110 Best Personal Essay Contest听
WINNER:
Chance by Natalie Nowak with Prof. Tyler Dettloff
Finalists:
When Scars Become Memories by Zander Park with Prof. Jillena Rose
How the Game of Sport Changed My Life by Steph Del Bosco with Prof. Shirley Smart
A Humble Household鈥檚 Hearth by Jeremy Turnbow with Prof. Dettloff
LSSU SHORT STORY CONTEST
WINNER: Genevieve Smith,听for 鈥淎 Very Brief Tale of a Most Unfortunate Fate鈥�
RUNNER UP: Taylor Worsham,听for 鈥淲hat January Brings鈥�
FIRST-YEAR WRITING BEST PAPER CONTESTS
ENGL 111 Best Paper Contest: Nicole Arkens, for 鈥淚nnocence Lost: A Research听Paper听Conducted on the Sexualization of Minors鈥�
RUNNERS UP:
Kent Barlow, for 鈥淎n Evaluation of Renewable Energy Production in the Midwestern United States鈥�
Madelyn Collia, for 鈥淒ance and Movement Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder鈥�
Brandon Gage, for 鈥淎n Analysis of the听Adventure听Industries of Michigan and New Zealand鈥�
MaKaila Marrison, for 鈥淭he Double Standard and Hillary Clinton鈥�
ENGL 110 PERSONAL ESSAY
Jessica Orazietti, for 鈥淎pprehensively in Love鈥�
RUNNER UP: Kali Henke, for 鈥淏roken Savageness鈥�
ENGL 110 CRITICAL ESSAY Jessica Orazietti, for 鈥淐asual Killing鈥�
RUNNERS UP:
Jennifer Campbell, for 鈥淚s Survival Sufficient?鈥�
Brendan Lukomsi, for 鈥淧assive Thesis Writing: Turning the Argument on its Head鈥�
Aysha Scarton, for 鈥淪tation Eleven through the Eyes of Criminal Justice鈥�
Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner: 鈥淎t Ten I was an Astronomer,鈥� Destinee Bruce
Runner Up: 鈥淩uination,鈥� Makaelynn Marten
Finalist: 鈥淪tay,鈥� Elizabeth Enos
Finalist: 鈥淛ust in Case You Were Wondering,鈥� Mary Sonnabend
Finalist: 鈥淧risoner of My Cranium,鈥� Alexis Woodward
LSSU Short Story Award
Winner: 鈥淭he Diaper,鈥� Jenny 鈥楢na鈥� Robbins
Runner Up: 鈥淭he Four Horsemen,鈥� Paige Cavaness
Runner Up: 鈥淚nkless Tattoo,鈥� Devin Hartman
Finalist: 鈥淒eadline,鈥� Elizabeth Enos
Finalist: 鈥淐hloe,鈥� Jana Tahtinen
Finalist: 鈥淧eck Street,鈥� Grace Williams
Finalist: 鈥淢anagua at Night,鈥� Clay Winowiecki
Best 111 Paper
Winner: 鈥淟oving the Alien: an Analysis of David Bowie鈥檚 Spiritual Evolution,鈥� Daniel Foix
Best 110 Paper
Winner: 鈥淥n Natural Morality,鈥� Mel Gilbertson
2016 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner selected by Jessica Care Moore: 鈥淒ad Worries鈥� by Adam Uhrig
Runner Up: 鈥淚n the Cabin鈥� by Charlotte Mazurek
2016 LSSU Short Story Award
Winner selected by Jessica Care Moore: 鈥�01101101 01110101 01110011 01101001 01100011鈥� by Daisy Fentiman
Runner Up: 鈥淟ove Story鈥� by Jenny 鈥楢na鈥� Robbins
Best ENGL 111 Paper
Winner: 鈥淧sychology of Goaltending in Ice Hockey鈥� by Gordon Joseph Defiel
Best ENGL 110 Papers
Personal Essay Winner: 鈥淢opping with Love鈥� by Molly Campbell
Critical Essay Winner: 鈥淲ind Energy: Risk vs. Reward鈥� by Molly Campbell
2015 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner selected by Ellen Airgood: Snake by Cornelia Hobbs
2015 LSSU Short Story Award
Winner selected by Ellen Airgood: Dream Eater by Katie Murray
Best 111 Paper
Winner: Stephanie Spray, 鈥淓ffects of PTSD in Military Personnel After Deployment to Iraq鈥�
Best 110 Papers
Personal Essay Winner: Scarlett Hermann, 鈥淕oing Back鈥�
Critical Essay Winner: Olivia Guillard, 鈥淭echnology in the Classroom鈥�
Best 091 Paper
Winner: Alexis Donovan, 鈥淲hy Children Should Be Involved in Sports鈥�
2014 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner selected by Joseph Haske: 鈥淚 Long to See the Day鈥� by Daisy Fentiman
2014 LSSU Short Story Award
Winner selected by Joseph Haske: 鈥淔ive Years鈥� by Daisy Fentiman
Best ENGL 111 Paper
Winner: Lindsey McCullough, 鈥淛apanese for English Speakers鈥�
Best ENGL 110 Papers
Personal Essay Winner: Charles Hunter, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the Ticket鈥�
Critical Essay Winner: Jennifer Fredericks, 鈥淭he Safety of Aspartame鈥�
Best 091 Paper
Winner: Tyler Aikens, 鈥淎utism Training in the School System鈥�
2013 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner selected by Helen Frost: 鈥淥nce Upon a Dream鈥� by Michael Krueger
2013 LSSU Short Story Award
Winners selected by Helen Frost (Tie): 鈥淪lipping Away鈥� and 鈥淢other of God,鈥� both by Stephen Keller
Best ENGL 111 Paper
Winner: Michael Gordon, 鈥淪ocial Sustainability and China鈥檚 One-Child Policy鈥�
Best ENGL 110 Papers
Personal Essay: Winner: Jerusha Lane, 鈥淥f Pants and Paragliders鈥�
Critical Essay: Winner: Victoria Steffke, 鈥淕rab Some Rubbers: It鈥檚 the Law 鈥�
Best ENGL 091 Paper
Winner: Scott Pardon, 鈥淐riminals Are Not Bad People鈥�
2012 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner: John Keller, for 鈥淭he Phone of Martha Taylor鈥�
2012 LSSU Short Story Contest
Winner: Michael Krueger, for 鈥淢y Kingdom for a Flower鈥�
Best ENGL 111 Paper
Winner: Johnee Whalen, for 鈥淭he Problem with Guided Indecision鈥�
Best ENGL 110 Paper
Winner: Alex Guillard, for 鈥淭hin is In鈥�