Austin Community College offers a variety of creative writing courses at beginning and advanced levels. Writing genres include poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, children’s writing, playwriting, and screenwriting. Most classes are offered in both traditional and distance learning formats.

Please see the Creative Writing Master Syllabi for questions concerning general course guidelines, requirements, and format.

ENGL 2307, Beginning Creative Writing (3-3-0). Prerequisites: ENGL 1301. Depending on course genre(s), students discover poetry, prose, screenwriting, children’s literature, or playwriting. Each course centers on the craft of literary writing through reading and writing assignments. Courses may also cover effective feedback methods and possible publication markets.

ACC offers ENGL 2307 in the following genres:

Concentration in Poetry—Students explore poetry through reading and writing assignments, sharing work in peer reviews and an introductory workshop. Emphasis may vary.

Concentration in Fiction—Students explore fiction through reading and writing assignments, sharing work in peer reviews and an introductory workshop. Emphasis may vary.

Concentration in Poetry/Prose—Students explore both poetry and prose in this mixed-genre format, sharing work in peer reviews and an introductory workshop. Emphasis may vary.

Concentration in Creative Nonfiction—Students explore creative nonfiction through reading and writing assignments, sharing work in peer reviews and an introductory workshop. Emphasis may vary.

Concentration in Playwriting—Students explore, through reading and writing assignments, the structure and movements of theater and how it differs from film and other genres of the written word. May focus on production of  “Into the West.”

Concentration in Children’s Literature— Students explore various genres, from picture books to chapter books, gaining a better understanding of the children’s book industry through both reading and writing

Concentration in Screenwriting— Students study and analyze the process of writing for film by examining story concept, theme, characterization, structure, and script formatting, and by creating synopses and treatments. Emphasis may vary.

Concentration in Science Fiction and Fantasy— Students focus on developing literary stories, through both reading and writing practice, within a science-fiction/fantasy framework.

ENGL 2308, Advanced Writing Workshop (3-3-0). Prerequisites: ENGL 1301, ENGL 2307. Students further their knowledge of literary craft with focused practice in a particular genre, honing their voices through reading and writing assignments along with discussion of their work in a seminar or workshop setting. Courses cover effective feedback methods, publication markets, and presentation and/or idea pitching skills.

ACC offers ENGL 2308 in the following genres:

Concentration in Poetry— Continuation of ENGL 2307 (poetry) with emphasis on reading and writing assignments in a seminar setting. Performance opportunity available.

Concentration in Prose— Continuation of ENGL 2307 (fiction or creative nonfiction) with emphasis on reading and writing prose in a seminar setting. May be offered as Fiction or Fiction/Creative Nonfiction. Performance opportunity available.

Concentration in Screenwriting — Continuation of ENGL 2307 (screenwriting) with emphasis on editing and analysis of screenwriting in a seminar setting.

Concentration in Children’s Writing—Continuation of ENGL 2307 (children’s writing) with emphasis on reading and writing children’s literature in a seminar setting.

Concentration in Poetry/Prose—Continuation of ENGL 2307 (poetry or prose) with emphasis on reading and writing two genres in a seminar setting. Performance opportunity available.

ENGL 2389, Academic Co-op or Writing Practice/Internship (3-3-0). Prerequisites: ENGL 1301, ENGL 2307, ENGL 2308 (or concurrent). Opportunity for individual and team practice in editing, publication, journalism, and related writing skills through work on the college literary journal.