Creative Writing

Minor in creative writing

Learn how to write in a full range of literary genres, from fiction to poetry to spoken word to creative nonfiction to playwriting. You will have the opportunity to conceive of, write, edit, and sometimes publish or perform your own creative work. You will leave UMass Dartmouth with a diverse collection of your own stories, poems, essays, and plays that will serve as a foundation for your writing life.

The creative writing minor is a valuable addition to any curriculum, no matter if a student dreams of being a published novelist someday or if they simply want the chance to explore the creative work that they are passionate about. It teaches you self-motivation, quick critical thinking, the ability to synthesize complex ideas, and empathy.

Work with award-winning authors

As a creative writing minor, you will work with award-winning, published authors who have written books, articles, essays, and poems—faculty members such as:

Lucas Mann, who has been praised for his most recent books, Class A: Baseball in the Middle of Everywhere, Lord Fear, and Captive Audience
Caitlin Amaral, who earned a 2023 Center for Community News Faculty Champions grant from the University of Vermont; won the Danahy Prize for her 2020 piece "Mark"; received the 2013 Ninth Letter Prize in fiction; and won the 2012 Women Who Write International Short Prose Contest for her story "Waitress."
Morgan (Mwalim) Peters, whose play "Listen to Sipu" has been touring with the Watertown New Repertory since 2021; has developed the "Among Brothers" series for the African Grand Lodge 459; published the novel LAND of the BLACK SQUIRRELS in 2020; and published the short story collection A Mixed Medicine Bag 2007; and has plays performed internationally

UMassD advantages

Publish your work in Temper magazine, the English & Communication Department's literary magazine, and serve as the editorial staff for the magazine. You will select and edit content, design the issues, and organize the production schedule. This is invaluable experience that leads to internships, and potentially careers in publishing, marketing, media, or public relations.

Expand your opportunities

Advance your studies and earn your master's degree in professional writing & communication. This graduate program will help you gain the skills you need to work in the communication and technical writing fields.