Creative Writing Commons^™

Crown Of Thorns, Sarah Mellas

Masters Theses

Crown of Thorns is a proposed historical fiction series. Set in France on the brink of the 1789 French Revolution, the story speaks to themes of belonging, brokenness, abuse, forgiveness, and navigating through trauma and impossible choices. A challenge that a writer can face when seeking to craft an emotionally resonant series for the small screen is in building a genuine audience connection. This thesis and creative manuscript for the series pilot episode, The Spurning, focuses on exploring and demonstrating the importance that authentic characters render in building audience connection between viewer and series developed for television or streaming networks. …

In A Flash: A Study Of Flash Fiction’S Ability To Create Complete And Meaningful Stories, Morgan A. Lomax

Masters Theses

In In a Flash: A Study of Flash Fiction’s Ability to Create Complete and Meaningful Stories, I seek to prove that despite flash fiction’s extreme brevity, this relatively new sub-genre of fiction is capable of producing fully delineated stories with powerful messages, especially messages that align with a Christian worldview. To do this, I first examine the various definitions and complex history of flash fiction. Then, through the critical literary lenses of formalism, structuralism, and reader response theory, I analyze the different ways flash fiction uses the following eight narrative elements to create stories within specific examples of flash fiction: …

Immersed In The Fantastical: Creating Timeless Fantasy Realms And Stories, Kirk Kraft

Masters Theses

The first section of the thesis, my artist statement, discusses my purpose as a writer, what drives me to improve, how I hope to create lasting stories that will outlive me and how this will contribute to becoming a Christian scholar. The introduction will include when I discovered my love for writing and what inspired me to become a storyteller. I’ll briefly discuss my writing process, ideas, imagination and the power of feedback. The discussion will move to my desire to create memorable stories with staying power, similar to Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, deep diving into my …

I, As In We, Cj Maruyama

Dissertations and Theses

I, as in We is a hybrid collection of poems, essays, fictional letters, documents, and photographs through which the author revisits ancestors and explores their multiracial roots. Drawing on stories, interviews and research grounded in the Japanese American experience, the collection develops a call-and-response polyvocality that spans generations and geographies. In its use of white space, form experimentation, and tonal shifts, the work confronts the fluid, often ambiguous boundaries that shape identity. The compiled written and visual materials evolve into an original document--one that reaches toward heritage, belonging, and truth.

Creating A Narrative About Human Choice And Experience Through Short Fiction, Sidney D. Belleroche

English and Creative Writing Summer Fellows

Originally based on my story titled, ‘Scenes of a Typical Life,’ which I wrote for Professor Kowalski’s Fiction Writing class, I wanted to explore the idea of human experiences and emotions. The original ‘Scenes of a Typical Life’ centered around a character named Bernard Etienne and I imagined what key moments in his life would look like. While I originally planned to continue with this idea, I pivoted toward more general and mature short stories based on experiences from my life. Ultimately, the goal of the project became to examine the humanity of myself and others to effectively convey emotions …

Chamisa Vol 4, University Of New Mexico

Chamisa: A Journal of Literary, Performance, and Visual Arts of New Mexico and the Greater Southwest

No abstract provided.

Pre-Islamic Poetic Evidence In The Book “Islah Al-Khalal” By Ibn Al-Sayyid Al-Batalyusi, Jaziba Saleh

Al Jinan الجنان

This research delves into the pre-Islamic poetic evidence in the book «Islah al-Khalal» (Fixing the Defect) by Ibn al-Sayyid al-Batliusi. In this research, we learn about the meaning of the pre-Islamic poetic witness in general and the pre-Islamic witness in particular, about the reasons it is used in grammar and about its sources. We also learn about the book «Islah al-Khalal» (Fixing the Defect) and its author Ibn Al-Sayyid Al-Batliusi adopting the descriptive-analytical and statistical approaches, in addition to the historical approach, thus reviewing the pre-Islamic poetic witness and the grammatical issue in which it was presented. The research ends …

Feels Like Home, Qamar Bazar

Publications and Research

Feels Like Home is a personal poem about what home means and how it lives in our memories, culture, and the people we love, even when the physical place feels far or out of reach. With everything happening around the world, especially in places like Gaza and across Palestine, this poem is a reminder that home is something we carry in our language, our food, our traditions, and our stories. It explores themes of identity, belonging, and what it feels like to be rooted in a place you may not always get to return to. I wanted this piece to …

Evanescent - Issue 6

Evanescent

Evanescent: A Journal of Literary Medicine is the journal of the Eakins Writing Project, which also sponsors the Drs. Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize. The Eakins Writing Project is supported by the Jefferson Center for Injury Research and Prevention, located in the Department of Surgery of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.

Contents:

10 - From the Editors

11 - Basketball: Youth to Older by Dr. Charles Yeo

13 - A Follow-up from the Editors

14 - Prism by Yazan Bader (Third Place Winner)

17 - Reflections on Shards of Glass by Ana Maria Lopez

19 - The Dragonfly’s Journey by …

Heartlines Issue 6 (Fall 2025), Student Literary Magazine Creative Writing And Art

HeartLines

No abstract provided.

Review Of The Hospital, Michael F. Russo

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Writing Climate Change: Science Knowledge In Creative Forms; Part Two: From Reading To Writing, Lytton Smith

Climate Change and the Individual, 2025-26

This lesson explores how a short creative piece by Ada Limón, U.S. Poet Laureate, draws on climate science knowledge to engage readers informationally, imaginatively, and emotionally. Students will reflect through discussion and/or writing on both the scientific methodology and the questions of equity and justice her poem raises. Finally, students will engage in a guided writing prompt where they research science knowledge around climate change and use what they find to shape their own short creative pieces (100-300 words), based in that science.

Writing Climate Change: Science Knowledge In Creative Forms; Part One: Understanding Science Stories, Lytton Smith

Climate Change and the Individual, 2025-26

This lesson explores how a short creative piece by Ada Limón, U.S. Poet Laureate, draws on climate science knowledge to engage readers informationally, imaginatively, and emotionally. Students will reflect through discussion and/or writing on both the scientific methodology and the questions of equity and justice her poem raises. Finally, students will engage in a guided writing prompt where they research science knowledge around climate change and use what they find to shape their own short creative pieces (100-300 words), based in that science.

Φυσιολατρία (2), Eleni V. Angelos

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"φυσιολατρία is a Greek word that refers to sympathetic perception of the natural world in its uncultivated state. My pieces were inspired by my time spent outside when I am fully conscious and being mindful of my surroundings. I wanted to portray my feelings of connectedness, along with patterns/colors that I notice when I fully present in nature."

Birthday Wish, Melissa Velasco

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Author Statement

"This work is a part of a novel that I am working on about my dad's life story. I embellished the story for dramatic effect, but the story is true. What inspired me to write about my dad’s life was that growing up, I heard many stories about how different his childhood was, the different jobs he worked, and how he really wanted to come to the United States and I wanted to compile them in one place."

Cosmic Princess, Sophia R. Dakkuri

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Author Statement

"Sophia wanted to explore fantasy new to her by going straight to the cosmos and creating a story that features the 'Cosmic Princess.' She used her little sister as the subject. When looking at the sculpture, one can notice that the princess has independence and a sense of adventure expressed on her face. Her face is youthful and doll-like because she is still a child slowly growing up. The colors were chosen purposefully to help the storytelling. The combination of pastel and bright colors truly bring this princess to life and accentuate the movement of the hair."

Two-Headed Lamb, Nicole Gomez

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"'Two-Headed Lamb' is meant to be a storytelling piece that gives viewers mixed emotions of both eeriness and comfort. The eerie feeling comes from the subject of the work while the comfort feeling comes from the use of textile materials such as fabric, lace, and thread."

Hanahaki, Yanick Victorin

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"This piece is based on the fictional disease Hanahaki. The disease is described as 'a fictional disease in which the victim coughs up flower petals when they suffer from one-sided love. It ends when the beloved returns their feelings or when the victim dies.' The subject is actually from a character in a DnD campaign, who has suffered from unrequited love in his past. So I decided to dedicate this piece to him, mainly because I thought it was interesting."

From Our Faculty Advisors

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Bell Pepper, Effie D. Cypress

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"This was an assignment in one of the classes I had to take. In the beginning of class we just had to quickly paint whatever object was on the table before time ran out, and what was in front of me was a fake bell pepper on purple paper. It’s simple but I ended up liking the end result a lot."

On The Farm, Nicole Gomez

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"'On the Farm' tells the story of a relaxing summer in the countryside. This piece uses collaged elements, such as handmade paper, pressed flowers, and fabric, to create a variety of patterns and textures. Overall, I wanted the piece to have a vintage feel and resemble a pillow or quilt you would find in an old home."

Triptyx, Pranav Police

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement "The inspiration for 'TriptyX' comes from triptych art, where three pieces are displayed side by side with shared features. In 'TriptyX', I aimed to blend my atmospheric melodies with bouncy drums while maintaining consistent sonic elements across the tracks. I believe this project best represents my musical style at this stage. The meaning behind the pieces is open to interpretation, reflecting my current understanding of what defines my sound."

Fruitful Encounters, Princess Mari Mimay Cabusao

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Φυσιολατρία, Eleni V. Angelos

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Shadows And Doubt, Marieann C. Raguso

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Keep Pushing, Joseph T. Romano

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"I submitted this piece as an inspiration to all and any who choose to take the time to look at it. Your struggles and problems are always temporary. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and make it known to the world who you are. No matter what happens or what you’re going through. KEEP PUSHING."

Untitled, Sofia I. Menco

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

In Transit, Sara Menco Arenas

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Author Statement

"This poem intends to convey the experience of coming to terms with not only growing up but also letting go—recognizing that people will leave, time will pass, you will change, and yet, it is essential to cherish every moment. When I wrote this, and even now, I still feel that accepting change amid life’s unexpected transit is one of the hardest things to do— to learn to let go."

Echoes Of You, Sara Menco Arenas

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Author Statement

"The inspiration behind this piece is an old friend who, with the passage of time, has become more of a shadow than a presence. Though many years have passed, I wanted to acknowledge the small, everyday reminders—subtle traces that only I can recognize—showing that this person still lingers in my heart and mind. However, I chose to end on a hopeful note, waiting in anticipation to meet once again, for the memory to become more than just a shadow, and for their presence to no longer be just a fleeting glimpse in my life."

Trophy, Fidel E. Perez Pujols

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

Artist Statement

"'Trophy' explores the cycle of death and evolution. This piece reflects on the identities we shed yet still carry within us, symbolizing transformation and reawakening. Through its eerie yet captivating form, it invites viewers to consider how loss shapes who we become."