The Creative Writing Program at Grossmont College fosters the development of
creative writers at all skill levels in a supportive, professional, and dynamic atmosphere.
Our mission includes active efforts to serve and engage students, faculty, and the
community through a rich variety of readings and other literary events that are always
free and open to the public. The Creative Writing Program seeks to cultivate a diverse
literary community and to celebrate and promote literary creativity in our culture.
For more information about the Creative Writing Program at Grossmont College, contact
the Program Co-Coordinators:
Sydney Brown
Karl Sherlock
619-644-7523
619-644-7871
Catalog Course Descriptions
ENGLISH 126: CREATIVE WRITING
3 units, 3 hours lecture. Prerequisite: English 110 or 120 (a "C" or "CR" grade or higher
in English 110 or equivalent or assessment for 120). Introduction to the basic elements
of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and drama, including study and analysis of
techniques in the works of contemporary and established writers. Practice in writing in
the four genres as well as introduction to the workshop method. Opportunity for
publication in college literary journal, participation in student readings, and inclusion in
on-line college chapbook.
ENGLISH 130-131-132-133: SHORT FICTION WRITING
3 units, 3 hours lecture. Prerequisite: English 110 or 120 (a "C" or "CR" grade or higher
in English 110 or equivalent or assessment for 120). Practice in writing short stories.
Students submit original short fiction for class discussion and learn to use the writers'
workshop to develop their work and skills as critics. Study and analysis of structure,
techniques, and principles used by established and contemporary short fiction writers.
Opportunity for publication and public readings.
ENGLISH 134-135-136-137: CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITING
3 units, 3 hours lecture. Prerequisite: English 110 or 120 (a "C" or "CR" grade or higher
in English 110 or equivalent or assessment for 120). Practice in writing creative
nonfiction, with emphasis in memoir; the personal essay; literary journalism; cultural
criticism; and feature articles, including the travel essay, music or nature writing.
Students submit original creative nonfiction for class discussion and learn to use the
writers' workshop to further their work and skills as critics. Study and analysis of
techniques used by contemporary and established creative nonfiction practitioners.
Opportunity for publication and public readings.
ENGLISH 140-141-142-143: POETRY WRITING
3 units, 3 hour lecture. Prerequisite: English 110 or 120 (a "C" or "CR" grade or higher
in English 110 or equivalent or assessment for 120). Practice in writing poetry.
Students submit original poems for class discussion and learn to use the writers'
workshop to develop their work and skills as critics. Study, analysis, and application of
the fundamental tools, techniques, and forms of poetry: imagery, alliteration,
assonance, simile, metaphor, rhyme, meter, traditional and free verse forms used by
established and contemporary writers. Opportunity for publication and public readings.
ENGLISH 145-146-147-148: ACORN REVIEW EDITING
1, 2, or 3 units; 1, 2, or 3 hours lecture, respectively. Recommended preparation: a "C"
or "CR" grade or higher in English 126 or equivalent. Reading, selecting, editing,
proofreading and arranging student manuscripts for ACORN REVIEW, the Grossmont
College creative writing magazine. Transfers to: CSU.
ENGLISH 160-161-162-163: DRAMA WRITING
3 units, 3 hour lecture. Prerequisite: English 110 or 120 (a "C" or "CR" grade or higher
in English 110 or equivalent or assessment for 120). Critical analysis of dramatic
structure and literary techniques of writing drama. Practice in the fundamentals of
effective dramatic writing. One or more dramatic compositions required with the
opportunities for publication and performance in a staged performance or dramatic
reading format.
ENGLISH 175-176-177-178: NOVEL WRITING
3 units, 3 hour lecture. Prerequisite: English 110 or 120 (a "C" or "CR" grade or higher
in English 110 or equivalent or assessment for 120). Recommended Preparation: a
"C" or "CR" grade or higher in English 126 or equivalent. Practice in writing novels.
Study and analysis of techniques of novel construction, character development, plot
outline, scenes, and themes. Study and critical analysis of student and professional
writing.
