Fiction and Poetry

Fiction and Poetry, previously known as Introduction to Creative Writing, is a writing course with no prerequites. Its class code is INCW and it is offered at Carlisle and Lancaster in both sessions.

Course Description

Description found on CTY site:

Saul Bellow said, "A writer is a reader moved to emulation.” In this class, students draw inspiration from the published works, journals, and rough drafts of writers such as Alice Munro, John Updike, Rita Dove, and Li-Young Lee. Examining a range of content, techniques, styles, and structures, students discover what it means to read like a writer. For instance, they may debate the distinction between the realistic and the fantastic in Gabriel García Márquez’s “I Sell My Dreams” or the value of concrete imagery in Elizabeth Bishop’s “The Fish.”

Beginning with the spark of an idea and moving through the drafting stages, students write short fiction and poetry in various forms. Under the guidance of the instructor, students provide frequent feedback on each other’s drafts. The workshop format of the course creates an enriching space that fosters students’ development as writers. Students not only learn to give and receive criticism with tact and grace, but also to refine their personal aesthetics, building a communal understanding of how voice, style, and structure comprise strong poetry and prose.

Note: This course focuses on realistic, literary fiction and poetry. The genres of science fiction, fantasy, romance, and mystery are not part of this course.

Class History

LAN 15.2

The members of this insanely well-behaved, well-loved by instructor Jack and TA Juli, and generally extremely model class included Joi, Alicia, Emily, Evelyn, Rachel, Sam, Olivia, Samira, Ryan, Julia, Claire, Kerry, Theodora, and Victoria. Break times with this class were seriously pleasant, including lovely dramatic readings of My Immortal and fangirling over unfortunate targeted camper Daniel Ma. May his rec specs live on in glory. The class read Walt Whitman out in the grass, took a trip to the farmer's market, cried over sand and snow, and generally became very close in the course of the short three weeks they spent together. A Cornell snapback, a sequin hat sent as part of the Muse package, and a white baseball hat were passed around from sweaty scalp to sweaty scalp during the session. It was not very sanitary. The group took on the name of Waka Waka due to one particularly memorable time when Jack said, well, waka waka and it just happened to be treasured forever. It even became the subtitle class's end of session anthology, while "Fickey Mouse Poe House" became the title. Other titles considered were "Fic the World Cause It's My Poe" (inspired by a line in All Time Low's Missing You), "Leaves of Trash", "Fic Poe Nail Clippers", "You Can Fic My Poe", "Fic Too Poemb", "If I Could Fic One Body Part to Cut Off, It'd Be My Big Poe" and "Fickey Poes". At one point, the class had a count-off in which they spelled out Fiction & Poetry, however, due to the generally inattentive nature of the class, it failed miserably. Notable works of art during the session included Olivia's surprisingly incredibly well-written WhitBeouf fanfiction, Sam constantly wanting to write about a girl called Donna stripping and dancing, and Emily's hardcore mailman x mailbox fanfiction. Watch out for the arm hairs as they bristle the roof of your mouth, darlings. I used to be a sequin. I don't wanna talk about it. Long live Fic Poe!

LAN 16.2

The two teachers of this class were tasked with putting up with some of the most hyperactive children on campus, with the exception of future lorekeeper Tyler. The lovingly disorganized teacher Kate and down to earth TA Katie did a (fairly) good job of reining in the class, and making the three weeks at least somewhat intellectual. Breaks often consisted of long, swear-laced games of ERS or BS, and Pokemon Go on the steps of the library. Class was filled with memories, drawing Sarah's hall and only boy Tyler closer together. The class cried over hot air balloon assisted suicide, cried again over Mia's spoken word masterpiece, and cried many times in-between, but were giving a good shoulder by the other classmates. Some other memorable experiences include the reading of Good Country People, (lovingly dubbed "Good Kinky People" by the class) RA Mikes impeccable timing during one of the worse crying moments, the extremely expensive magazine/reader, and the most competitive word game ever conceived, as well an undying obsession with the wobble and corn dog queen Waverly [hey roomie]. Trips to the bookstore were spent well, and the visit to the farmers market ended in Katherine getting lost by her partners. The session ended with the creation of comic books, featuring the ever dark adventures of Fern and CT-WHY, a CTY inspired comic featuring the (slightly altered) adventures of Sarah's hall. Overall, the session was memorable, and created a hopefully long lasting group of CTY friends.