Creative Writing Commons^™

Satirical Essay Assignment Prompt & Calendar, Brenna E. Crowe

Open Educational Resources

Assignment description with calendar and hyperlinked model & craft essays

Writing For The Fantasy Genre Through The Christian Worldview, Angelina Rose Butters

Masters Theses

My thesis proffers the prevalence of Christian worldview elements in fantasy fiction. The research findings presented expand on the different Christian elements within fantasy literature by interpreting the writing and influence of Christian authors, such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and secular authors, such as Jennifer A. Neilson and J.K. Rowling. I argue that within fantasy there are Christian elements that are either overtly or covertly incorporated. I present my findings based on these readings in different sections: fantasy’s purpose to provide entertainment, the inclusion of God to dictate the destiny and laws of the fantasy worldview, the inclusion …

Poetry-Making As Healing, Callan Latham

Proceedings from the Document Academy

Many of us are taught to believe that poetry is restricted to a narrower existence than it truly is. Many people don’t enjoy poetry, or say they don’t understand it—but luckily, poetry, for a while now, is becoming more accessible as an art form. In this work, I seek to further this accessibility by connecting writing poetry with building a house.

Mosaico De Fantasía: A Collection Of Microrrelatos And Short Stories, Jennifer Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations

Art is subjective, as is the art of writing. Creating a piece of writing out of a fleeting thought is truly the most frightening yet fulfilling feeling there is for a writer. Entire universes with their own unique worlds, aesthetic verses littered with imagery to paint an intricate mental picture; each representing a brief scenario that my mind decided to fabricate out of nothingness. Though not everyone will love my work, my goal is to reach someone that might. Even if it’s just one person. I want them to read my work and think “This is pretty cool.” My …

Andonia Gountanis' Poems, Andonia Gountanis

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Hello! My name is Andonia Gountanis, I am a junior and a neuroscience major at Binghamton University. My studies mostly consist of heavy-loaded-science courses. I enjoy writing in my free time! This gives me a little diversity in what I do, and gives me a break from all the heavy science material I learn in a day!

Understanding Toxic Cycles And How To Defeat Them: How Poetry Can Heal, Tosha Marie Brown

Masters Theses

Cathartic writing dates back millennia. Poetry, as a form of therapy, has been used in history to nurture the soul. Its effects go deeper than spiritually, and has been shown to aid in dealing with depression, anxiety and negative behaviors.

The Power Of Conflict Or Rhetoric And Poetry, Suzanne Riskin

be Still

I am grateful for the opportunity to write this piece, share my thoughts and give a moment of gratitude for the grace that medical students show to others, their attending physicians, patients and most importantly themselves Effective writing, speaking, and expression is easily born from a struggle with others. Our own internal battles emote themselves as prolific poetry.

This piece was inspired by the quote by Yeats.

An Exploration Of The Axiom “Show, Don’T Tell” In Fiction Writing, Tina Matras

Masters Theses

This thesis is about one person’s journey from the stringent, fact-based world of technical writing to a creative place known as fiction writing. The Artist Statement explores the author’s journey into the world of creative writing and choice of genre. The critical paper is a sample of the process the author undertook to learn how to “show” a story. Instructional technical writers provide readers with a set of instructions or steps from information that already exists. Nothing is made up, and any visual provided is accompanied by pictures. The reader doesn’t have to imagine anything. Fiction writers must help a …

Writing New Lives, Writing New Worlds, A. Zed

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

Creative nonfiction. Children are learning to write their letters. Adults are learning to write their feelings. All of us are learning to write our stories, and thereby release some of the trauma circling through our world.

Tell Me A Story Assignment, Taylor Riley

Cardinal Compositions

This assignment sheet was designed for an English 102 course.

Themed Course Discussion Questions, Ayaat W Ismail, Lana Helm

Cardinal Compositions

No abstract provided.

Lessons From The Aisles: A Collection Of Short Stories, Drew Jones

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of short stories, each set in a separate aisle of Walmart. By exploring the relationships and conflicts of these characters, I hope to illustrate that life’s complexity can be shown in a place as simple and mundane as Walmart.

Wave By Wave: A Fantasy Author's Guide For Refining A Creative Writing Style, Michael Bose

Senior Honors Theses

Writing a novel is a great undertaking. Many would-be writers have set out to create a novel and give up halfway through, uncertain where or how they failed. This project aims to help prospective authors get past that barrier. By analyzing one’s own writing style, a writer can ascertain greater insight into the strengths and weaknesses of one’s own work and therefore help rectify mistakes one might make otherwise, or learn to see a chapter from a new angle. The author will demonstrate this method on himself first by way of focused revisions. A sample chapter of a fantasy novel, …

Antitype: An Exploration Of Self And Poetry, Faith Harris

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Antitype is a collection of poetry that examines childhood and adolescence through a lens of place and loss, while exploring both poetry and creative processes. The work presented begins by contextualizing antitype within the history of poetry, assessing influences of specific poets and poetic movements on my own work. Next, I share excerpts from my poetry collection to illustrate connections from its five different sections, each investigating facets of this overarching theme: my childhood affected by loss and as it contributes to my development as a poet. Section one examines how my childhood was shaped by place and family heritage. …

Covid-19'S Impact On Communication Practices In The Animal Welfare Nonprofit Sector, Tiffany M. Davis

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Historically, writing and communication practices have been vital components in the nonprofit sector. With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, the writing and communication practices within the nonprofit sector have been forced to adapt and change for organizations to continue disseminating their missions and continuing fundraising. Specifically, animal welfare nonprofit organizations have had to shift their communication practices in the wake of the virus. This capstone aims to answer questions about the value of writing and communication practices, and also answer research questions about the effects of COVID-19 on the animal welfare nonprofit sector. Through secondary and primary research, in …

Part-Time., Anthony Mark Piedmonte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a creative writing project in prose covering the first 70 pages of a novel manuscript titled Part-time. Part-time will center around a 25-year-old medical school dropout starting a new job at a neighborhood golf clubhouse and gym. This coming-of-age narrative follows Danny as he struggles with his sexual identity, student debt, and job outlook after returning to the privileged community he grew up in. This sample will introduce the major characters, the clubhouse setting, and the forming relationship dynamics. By the end of these pages, readers will gain insight into how the part-time employees of the Longwood …

The Supporting Role: Cultivating A Writing Life To Prevent And Combat Writer's Block, Molly Elizabeth Hanberry

Masters Theses

Every writer will suffer from writer’s block from time to time, and there are two general schools of thought in dealing with this affliction: wait it out or struggle through. The purpose of this thesis is to illuminate the nature of writer’s block from a fundamental level, beginning with the neuroscience of creativity. From there, it will explore the three root causes of writer’s block: lack of inspiration, burnout, and fear. And finally, with an understanding of its causes, it will be possible to examine ways to combat writer’s block through methods based in neuroscience, personal experience, and professional advice …

Why I Write, Mary Morrison

The Tuxedo Archives

No abstract provided.

Acting With Inscriptions: Expanding Perspectives Of Writing, Learning, And Becoming, Kevin R. Roozen

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This article argues for increased attention to people’s engagements with inscriptions and inscriptional practices and the long-term implications they have for the ongoing production of persons, practices, and social worlds across heterogeneous times, places, and activities. Based on a multi-year case study, this analysis examines one microbiology major’s production and use of inscriptions at the intersections of his participation in both disciplinary science and religious worship and traces the long-term consequences those uses have for his becoming as a scientist of faith. If, as Paul Prior asserts, “ literate activity is not located in acts of reading and writing but …

“The Hidden Door That Leads To Several Moments More”: Finding Context For The Literacy Narrative In First Year Writing, Denise Goldman

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

The literacy narrative has emerged as a useful genre in composition pedagogy because of the perceived bridge it provides between personal narrative and academic literacy. Although there remains disagreement among practitioners with regard to its purpose and efficacy, it continues to be a staple in the writing classroom because it has the potential to help students learn analytical skills while fostering investment through the features of a personal narrative. Recent efforts in the field, especially with regard to questions of transfer of writing, have focused on the benefits of genre and community discourse analysis as a means to help students …

Watley, Louanne, B. 1937, Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3606. Correspondence of Watley, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and poet, author and Appalachian studies scholar Jim Wayne Miller regarding writing workshops and grant-funded projects. Includes poems of Watley and a detailed critique by Miller.

Stories About Stories (For Myself And Others), Anthony Bonuccelli

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

A collection of stories about themselves

Castle Building: Contemporary Poetry And Flash Fiction From Appalachia, Sharolyn Shae Johnson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Appalachian writing brings a voice to the region that is often obstructed or excluded by popular culture throughout the United States. Crowded with stereotypes, many stories of Appalachian culture are misconstrued or never heard at all. This makes the work of modern Appalachian writers especially significant. Perhaps one of the best ways to reach a broader audience of people in this fast-paced digital time is through shorter writings, and in this thesis I will be presenting my process of writing modern flash fiction and poetry and of sharing the truths of working class, Appalachian people.

Heavy Is The Head, Elizabeth Wiles

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

"Heavy is the Head: how my mental illness made me a writer" is a collection of poetry about a journey in and through mental illness. It engages the social action issue of mental health awareness. "Heavy is the Head" tells a story of mental illness, how it was accepted, how it was used to improve, and how it can pave the road to self-acceptance.

Rocky Waters: Exploring The Intersections Of Romance And Travel, Jessica Bragg

Honors Projects

The genres of romance and travel have been explored by several authors, but this 60,000-word novel provides a unique combination of the two by exploiting a younger demographic of characters and placing the setting of the story in a fascinating realm of this world: the Mediterranean islands. Despite possessing an extensive business background, this creative project has encouraged versatility, adaptability, and enhanced time management skills that will transfer into all other aspects of my life. Research regarding the history of the romance and travel genres took place during the Fall 2020 semester, and the weekly process of writing and revising …

20 Things, Reann Parker

Honors Theses

20 Things is a short young adult novel that explores a variety of topics and themes, from mental health, recovery, and self discovery to race, love, and friendship. Beginning with a high school girl named Halle waking up in a hospital after a suicide attempt, the novel is a coming of age story about the help Halle receives and what she goes through in trying to find reasons to keep living. The novel is divided into ten chapters: “Waking Up,” “Going Home,” “Arriving,” “Being Honest,” “Keeping the Faith,” “Soul Searching,” “Willingness,” “Maintaining,” “Checking In,” and “Living.” Each chapter represents the …

The Writer’S Grit Guide: Practical Methods For Effective Writing, Victoria Renee Gomez

Masters Theses

Successful writing practices involve confidence, idea generation, and productivity habits. Writers can lack confidence about their abilities or about the quality of their writing when pitted against the creative and technical challenges that come with writing. Fear—which leads to both insecurity and egotism—is often what drives confidence issues in writing. True confidence emerges from the middle ground—or balance—between insecurity and ego. Writers can also struggle to develop new ideas when the competition to come up with original material results in writer’s block. Writers must improve their productivity and follow through on their goals by developing grit. This thesis will reveal …

Et Cetera, 2019-2021, Marshall University

Et Cetera

Founded in 1953, Et Cetera is an annual literary magazine that publishes the creative writing and artwork of Marshall University students and affiliates. Et Cetera is free to the Marshall University community.

Et Cetera welcomes submissions in literary and film criticism, poetry, short stories, drama, all types of creative non-fiction, photography, and art.

Only With Thine Eyes, Morgan Mcivor Bowser

Masters Essays

No abstract provided.

Alumna Becomes The Youngest Writer In The Writer's League Of Texas Fellowship Program, Kendra Rainey

Black History at St. Mary's University - 2025 Collection

The youngest member of the Writer’s League of Texas Fellowship Program after graduating was no surprise to her professors as Jamira Richardson proved to be an excellent writer. Richardson in this article is interviewed about her experience at St. Mary’s University and what led to her success, as well as the influences she leaned on to aid in her writing and pursuit for higher education. The road to success doesn’t always pan out as one hope. There are challenges, pitfalls, and doubts, but Richardson is a shining example as to the strength of perseverance and intellect. Richardson is working on …