Creative Writing Concentration

Discover and develop your voice by focusing your English language and literature studies in creative writing. You’ll start with a broad introductory course and work your way up to specialized and advanced courses as you explore a variety of genres—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, radio/storytelling—in a collaborative workshop environment. Your creative work culminates in a capstone project, which could involve crafting an online literary journal, judging a national writing contest, or completing an honors thesis and a public reading. 

Why study creative writing at Gordon?

Gordon College’s small class size means that your professors get to know you—and your writing—well. You’ll receive plenty of feedback through faculty and peer reviews in a close-knit setting. And you’ll have opportunities to interact with emerging and established writers through both our Princemere Writers Series and the annual Five Ponds Creative Writing Festival. Gordon’s 485-acre wooded campus is an inspiring setting for the study and production of writing in the tradition of New England literary giants, and our proximity to Boston affords you access to readings, conferences, festivals and writing seminars in Boston and around the North Shore. 

What careers can I pursue with a creative writing concentration or English major?

Many creative writing students go on to earn an MFA in competitive programs around the country. The writing skills that you hone in the creative writing program will prepare you for a wide variety of careers, including:

• Teaching (private and public)
• Non-profit work
• Advertising
• Marketing and communications
• Journalism
• Freelance writing

Learn more about jobs and internships ➔

Experiential learning in creative writing

Outside of your creative writing courses, there are ample opportunities to continue honing your voice, including:

• The annual Five Ponds Creative Writing Festival
• Off-campus writing and editing internships
• Departmental and student-led readings and events
• Student-led publications: The Idiom (literary and arts journal), Vox Populi (alternative news and feature writing) or The Tartan (student newspaper)
• Annual Princemere Poetry Prize, a national poetry competition hosted by Gordon’s English Department.

Global Opportunities

Be further inspired in your creative writing by taking your pen (or pencil) and writing pad abroad. You might consider one of the following global opportunities:

• Gordon IN Orvieto (Italy)                
• Scholar’s Semester in Oxford (England)
• British Theatre Studies (England and Scotland)