creative writing classes madison

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Writing Classes & Workshops

Arts + Literature Laboratory is home to Madison's only independent literary arts center. Whether you're new at writing or a published writer or somewhere in between, we have a creative writing class that will help you become a better writer. Workshops in screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction enrolling now. We also have great art classes , including classes on book-making and letterpress!

We offer a low teacher-student ratio, affordable rates, and experienced instructors, so register today . If the registration fee poses a financial hardship, please reach out to [email protected] for scholarship information.

Interested in teaching a workshop for us? Send us a proposal !

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Arts + Literature Laboratory is located at 111 S. Livingston Street #100, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703.

Our galleries are open Tuesday through Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday noon to 5pm, and other programs take place throughout the week. Please check the events calendar and education section for details.

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(FULL) Creative Writing: Storytelling (Grades 7-8)

• All upcoming dates
• July 08, 2024

Upcoming dates (1)

Session 1: July 8–12, 2024

Register through: May 01, 2024

All times shown in central time.

Cancellation Policy

Badger Precollege reserves the right to cancel classes when necessary, including those for which enrollment numbers are not sufficient, or those for which a highly qualified instructor is unavailable. In the case of course cancellations, we will be happy to help you choose an alternative course. If no acceptable alternative is available, we will refund any tuition paid, minus any non-refundable application fees or deposits.

Precollege Academic Campus Experience (PACE)

Do you love a good story? Do you enjoy creating characters and setting them loose in a world of your imagination? If so, join us for a writing workshop where you can express your voice through the endless possibilities of fiction. We'll explore what it is that makes for great storytelling and enjoy sharing our ideas with each other.

Student profile

This course is designed as a challenging enrichment opportunity for students completing grades 7-8.

Important dates

Application deadlines.

Application opens: Nov. 28, 2023 Deadline: Apply by May 1, 2024

Tuition deadlines

The first half of tuition is due by May 15, 2024. The second half of tuition is due by June 1, 2024.

PACE (grades 5–8)

More PACE (grades 5–8) Offerings

• Medical Mysteries (Grades 7-8) More
• (Week 3 FULL) A Class of Characters (Grades 5-6) More
• (Week 2 FULL) Space Exploration Adventures (Grades 5-6) More
• (Week 2 FULL) Biotechnology: Engineering Life (Grades 7-8) More
• (FULL) Neuroscience (Grades 7-8) More
• (FULL) Introduction to Computer Science (Grades 5-6) More
• View All PACE (grades 5–8) Offerings

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Writing @ Madison Public Library

Ongoing events.

Madison Writing Assistance: General and Job-Related Writing Help

National Poetry Month (including writing workshops)

Wisconsin Book Festival

Chapters Teen Writing Club Thursdays, 6-8pm - Pinney Library Local author Carole Madrzak leads a writing club for teens.

First Monday, First Person First Monday of the month - Pinney Library Monthly writers' salon on the Monday of each month through December (excluding holidays)

Workshops and Programs

Have an idea for a writing workshop you’d like to see at the library? Email  [email protected]  to tell us about it. 

Local Resources for Writers

• Arts + Literature Laboratory
• Council for Wisconsin Writers
• Madison Writers’ Studio
• UW-Madison Writer’s Institute
• UW-Madison Writing Center
• Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets
• Wisconsin Writers Association
• Write-by-the-Lake Writer’s Workshop and Retreat
• Writing @ UW Madison Continuing Studies
• Writing Meetups in Madison

Books about Writing

• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life  by Anne Lamott
• The Elements of Style  by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
• Letters to a Young Writer: Some Practical and Philosophical Advice   by Colum McCann
• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft  by Stephen King
• On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction  by William Zinsser
• Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them  by Francine Prose
• Syllabus: Notes From an Accidental Professor  by Lynda Barry
• This Year You Write Your Novel  by Walter Mosley
• Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within  by Natalie Goldberg
• The Writing Life  by Annie Dillard
• Writer’s Market 2018  by Robert Lee Brewer

Also check  LINKcat  for Writer’s Market books for specific genres.

Online Resources

Business and educational writing.

• Business Plans Handbook  Database containing actual business plans compiled by entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses throughout North America.
• LearningExpress Library  A comprehensive online database of practice tests and tutorial course series designed to help students and adult learners succeed. Includes tutorials on writing and grammar.
• Writer’s Handbook  Guidelines for academic and professional writing from the Writing Center at UW-Madison.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab  Writing resources and instructional material from the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University.

Creative Writing

• National Novel Writing Month  National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.
• Poets & Writers  Resources for writers, including selected content from Poets & Writers Magazine.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Creative Writing Resources that will help you with the basics of creative writing, including resources on writing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
• Writer’s Digest  Online home of the popular magazine dedicated to helping writers with the craft and the business of writing.

Professional Associations

There are many professional associations for writers of any genre or style. Check out a few below, or find more lists  here ,  here , and  here .

• Academy of American Poets
• Horror Writers Association
• Mystery Writers of America
• Romance Writers of America
• Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America

Grant Writing

• Grant Writing 101: Resources for Grant Writers  Informative blog post with useful links from GuideStar.
• Agent Query  The internet's largest free database of literary agents.
• “ The Indie Author's Guide to Free Reviews ” Article from Publisher’s Weekly that includes a list of places indie authors can look to for free reviews of their books.
• Mad Poetry's Local Publications & Media list Madison area resource list
• Poets & Writers Literary Agents Database Includes agents and literary agencies that represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kind of books they're interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.
• Query Shark  A blog dedicated to how to write query letters.
• Writer’s Digest  Online resources for writers, with a focus on writing and getting published.

Center for Teaching and Research on Writing

Working together, sharing, and collaborating

The Center for Teaching and Research in Writing (CTRW) was founded to coordinate the English Department’s writing programs and to serve as a research engine on the subject of writing for the university and beyond. While CTRW constituent programs are already mature and well-functioning units, their coordination allows its professionals – faculty, instructional staff, and graduate students – to better flourish and engage in research, drawing additional expertise from around the campus and around the world.  Read more about us .

Teaching Support

CTRW is centered on the teaching of writing, and UW-Madison offers a full spectrum of writing support and opportunities at every level for:

• Students (college/university, but also K-12 programs via GWMP)
• Teachers (focusing on graduate teaching assistants, as well as PT/FT instructional faculty)
• Program/unit directors (who are interested in writing research opportunities and becoming an affiliated program)
• Community members (writing events of all types for writers in the community)

Research Support

At the CTRW, we harness the intellectual and research power of the center’s core programs and open up the programs as research sites to other researchers and teachers on the UW-Madison campus with an interest in writing and writing pedagogy. The center serves as a research home base to faculty, instructional staff, and graduate students who wish to affiliate with the center and/or conduct research using the intellectual resources found in its constituent units.

• Visit our research overview for more information on research opportunities for faculty, staff, and graduate students interested in research on writing and research that supports writing instruction.
• Find grants & opportunities on our blog.

Upcoming Events

E100: First Nations Cultural Landscapes Tour April 26, 2024 @ 10:00 am CDT - 11:30 am CDT Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 24 at 12pm

CWPA: Wisconsin Affiliate Summer Event July 29, 2024 St. Norbert College Registration - $50

Announcements

Humanities now: public universities, legislatures, and academic freedom, ctrw @ 2024 cccc annual convention, a public affair interview: michael bernard-donals on the vulnerability of higher education, ctrw outreach surveys, christa olson wins rsa book award.

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Grants & Opportunitites

Racial justice grants – nathan cummings foundation, russell sage foundation (rsf) , seeking wisconsin idea conference proposals, muir elementary school classroom support, community-engaged scholarship graduate project assistant.

• More grants & opportunities More

WAC Program

Contact the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) for ways to incorporate writing into your courses

ESL Program

The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program provides a wide range of support international students and ESL instructors.

English 100 Program

English 100 is an introductory college composition course that helps students prepare for the demands of writing at UW.

English 201 Program

English 201 is an intermediate composition course that helps students prepare for writing after and outside undergraduate life.

Undergrad Writing Fellows

The Undergrad Writing Fellows brings talented undergraduate and committed faculty together to improve student writing.

The Greater Madison Writing Project (GWMP) offers support for K-12 educators, as well as young writers.

Writing Center

Helping teachers and tens of thousands of students since 1969.

CTRW News and Events

Find more on research events and news.

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The University Writing Center and WC Satellites

Since its start as the Writing Laboratory in 1969, the Writing Center at Madison has helped literally tens of thousands of University of Wisconsin students, both undergraduate and graduate, learn more about writing and has helped them successfully complete course papers, theses, dissertations, and articles for publication — in all sorts of academic disciplines. To provide this help, we offer an extensive range of  individual instruction ,  non-credit workshops ,  curricular-based writing tutors (Undergraduate Writing Fellows) , and  instructional materials .

Writing Across the Curriculum Program

The Writing Across the Curriculum Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is eager to help you think about creative and effective ways to incorporate writing and speaking assignments into your courses at all levels and in all disciplines. The hundreds of pages of materials on this site offer a good place to start.

If you teach at UW-Madison, we would be happy to consult with you about ways to customize these materials and the pedagogical strategies they suggest. Click on “About Us” above to see some of the many ways we can help with your teaching. And please do not hesitate to request a consultation or contact us if you would like additional support.

English as a Second Language Program

The UW-Madison’s English as a Second Language Program mission is to support the University’s international students. We provide a wide range of ESL courses for undergraduate and graduate students. We train international teaching assistants to become more effective teachers and prospective ESL teachers who desire TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification. Our program supports the University’s community and international outreach goals. We look forward to meeting you and answering any questions you may have.

English-100 (Communications-A) Program

English 100 is an introduction to college composition that helps students prepare for the demands of writing at UW-Madison and also helps them think about writing beyond the classroom. The course satisfies the Communication A general education requirement for undergraduates.

Students  in English 100 build rhetorical awareness in both written and oral communication. Assignments engage questions of audience, purpose, genre, discourse conventions, and research methods. Students use narrative strategies to explore abstract concepts; summarize and synthesize information; engage in conversations with the ideas of others; and construct arguments through original research. The course views writing as an act of inquiry, a means of communication, and a process. With this in mind, instructors emphasize drafting, revising, and editing as critical practices.

Instructors  for English 100 are part of a dynamic intellectual community, centered in the English department. In this community you will find doctoral students in literary studies, composition and rhetoric, English Language and Linguistics, and Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies, as well as Creative Writing MFA students. Additionally, instructional staff often includes experienced doctoral students from the School of Education, Linguistics, and other areas of the university.

English-201 (Communications-B) Program

English 201 is a 3-credit, intermediate level, general education writing course that satisfies the university’s Communications B requirement for enhancing students’ literacy skills. Enrollment in English 201 assumes that a student has successfully completed or been exempted from the “Communication A” requirement.

English 201 is a low-enrollment course that depends on student participation, so each section is capped at 19 students. It is designed to develop skills in the four modes of literacy: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This course places special attention on writing, requiring numerous assignments of multiple pages, each developed through extensive planning, drafting, revising, and editing. Most classes employ a workshop approach, meaning that students work in peer writing groups, reading and commenting on one another’s work in constructive ways that are taught to students early in the semester.

The Greater Madison Writing Project (GMWP)

The Greater Madison Writing Project (GMWP) at  University of Wisconsin – Madison  (UW) is an affiliate of  National Writing Project  (NWP) network, a nationally acclaimed professional learning community that puts educators’ knowledge, experience and voices at its center.  GMWP offers both professional development for educators as well as enrichment opportunities for children and young adult writers.  The Greater Madison Writing Project was founded as a joint effort at between the  College of Letters & Science  and the  School of Education  and is now a member of the  Center for the Teaching and Research on Writing  in the  UW-Madison English Department . Find GMWP teacher-writers and their stories on our  Medium Blog

How to Become a Writer in Wisconsin with a BFA, MFA or Similar Creative Writing Degree

Written by Catherine Dorian

Writers thrive when they have the freedom to discover and explore their inner voice. But writers also need community; we find inspiration and novelty in comradery with other storytellers, poets, and thinkers.

It’s no surprise that the Midwest has long been a region for creatives. Its sprawling fields, scattered lakes, wild woodlands, and combination of eclectic rural communities along with its vibrant cities meet the unique needs of the artistic mind. And in the state of Wisconsin, the pioneering writer has long been an integral contributor to the area’s culture.

Modern Literary Greats that Left Their Mark on Wisconsin

Modern writer of literary fiction Jane Hamilton, a recipient of the PEN/Hemingway Foundation Award for her novel The Book of Ruth, also started her career in Wisconsin. But Wisconsin doesn’t only cultivate nature-writers and small-town stories. Screenwriter, TV series writer, novelist, and social commentator John Ridley IV ( 12 Years a Slave, American Crime) spent most of his childhood outside Milwaukee.

Due to its longstanding community of writers, Wisconsin boasts a robust literary heritage. Though humble in spirit, the state embraces its culture for storytelling, thinking, and learning. Several English Departments across the University of Wisconsin system have developed their own literary publications and publishing houses, which offer a platform for the state’s diverse talent. The Sheepshead Review of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and the Midwest Review have both featured some of America’s premier short story and nonfiction essay authors, including Dennis Day and Pardeep Toor.

Between its workshops, literary publications, and indie publishing houses, Wisconsin proves itself to be a space for writers to learn and to grow, whether you’re an aspiring undergrad looking for a BA or BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) or are well on your way with your sights set on an MA or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing. And as a writer, you know that learning and growth are at the heart of our craft.

Wisconsin’s Creative Writing Classes, Courses, and Workshops Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree

Any writer will tell you that success comes from consistency and your own hunger for challenge. Enter contests, submit your work for publishing, subject your prose to scrutiny—it’s all part of the process for building your portfolio of work.

Wisconsin’s writers and writing teachers already offer several workshops, conferences, and classes that will give you the formative experience that can help you succeed when you’re enrolled in an intensive residency or bachelor’s degree.

Wisconsinites are eager to support the state’s writers and build a vibrant community to sustain its literary legacy. Jodie Mortag, Assistant Professor of Writing at Lakeland University, hosts the annual Great Lakes Writers Festival, where writers across all genres, ages, and regions of the Midwest gather for free workshops and networking events. You read that right: free. Jodie even provides a special event for high school writers. The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters also offers a robust catalogue of workshops taught by local writers, including the intensive “Write Your Novel in Eight Weeks” and courses specifically for naturalists, nonfiction writers, and poets.

When it comes to writing, Wisconsinites are also good at finding their people. Red Oak Writing offers retreats and roundtables for young, emerging writers who benefit from building a support network. Wisconsin has its own chapter of Romance Writers of America, and they offer workshops in various areas around the state. The aspiring crime novelist or murder mystery fanatic can even attend the Writer’s Police Academy, a training on true crime, done by law enforcement officers and forensic scientists who know their genre in real life.

Getting involved in the writing community is also about getting involved in the literary community. The Wisconsin Book Festival, offered through the Madison Public Library Foundation, hosts free events that feature public authors and conversations year-round—and the conference has featured an impressive catalogue of prize-winning authors (Jane Smiley, Stacey Abrams, and Mark Bittman, just to name a few!).

Besides attending workshops and conferences, Wisconsin writers are also dedicated to grassroots efforts that build communities of writers. If you’re looking for a writing group in your area of the state, check out the Wisconsin Writers Association. On their website, you can make your own profile and look for one of their registered writing groups—or you can start your own. They also keep an updated list of all the state’s workshops and conferences. You can consider them your database for writing in the state, especially if you’re just getting started.

Between its opportunities for publication and for learning from and with writers across all levels of experience, Wisconsin proves itself to be a hub of inspiration and vibrant culture for writers. You can amass a plethora of skills and tips by immersing yourself in the writing community.

If attending workshops and taking courses helps you find other writers and practice your skill, you’ll find a special sense of intimacy and support in any of the rigorous creative writing programs offered at Wisconsin’s colleges and universities.

Writing Colleges in Wisconsin Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer

Of course, earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in creative writing can help you hone your skills and join a community of fellow artists. If you’re in Wisconsin, you have several options for college-level programs, all of which will challenge you with instruction on narrative technique and workshops where you’ll learn to improve your work based on feedback.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Other Bachelor’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Wisconsin

Beloit college.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Accreditation: HLC

Degree: Bachelor – BA

Private School

• English-Creative Writing

Cardinal Stritch University

HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT

• Creative Writing (Writing, Cultural Studies)

Lakeland University

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS

Degree: Bachelor – BFA

• Creative Writing

Northland College

St. Norbert College

DIVISION OF HUMANITIES

• English-Creative Writing emphasis

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Degree: Bachelor – BFA, BA

Public School

• BFA - Writing and Applied Arts
• BA - English-Creative Writing emphasis

University of Wisconsin-Madison

COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE

• English-Creative Writing track

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Other Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Wisconsin

Degree:  Master – MFA

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• English: Emphasis on Creative Writing

english, CREATIVE WRITING option

NOTE:  This is a formal Option and will appear on the transcript.

L&S undergraduates with a particular interest in creative writing may combine a background in literature with a concentration of courses in fiction or poetry writing. The major requirements are distributed as follows:

 excluding ENGL 207 and ENGL 236 .

Workshops numbered 400 and higher may be repeated for credit. Students are allowed to take only one creative writing workshop per semester. All three required workshops must be completed prior to beginning the Directed Creative Writing course ( ENGL 695 ).

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Welcome to the Creative Writing Library Research Guide

• Next: Fiction >>
• Last Updated: Apr 1, 2024 10:33 AM
• URL: https://libguides.madisoncollege.edu/creativewrite

1701 Wright Street | Madison, Wisconsin 53704 | Libraries: 608.246.6640 | Student Achievement Centers: 608.246.6125 | College Info: 608.246.6100

Undergraduate Faculty & Instructors

Amy Quan Barry , Lorraine Hansberry Professor of English (MFA: University of Michigan) is the author of the poetry collections Asylum ,  Controvertibles ,  Water Puppets , and  Loose Strife , as well as the novels  She Weeps Each Time You’re Born ,  We Ride Upon Sticks , which was awarded the American Library Association’s Alex Award, and the 2022 release  When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East . Barry is one of a select group of writers to receive NEA fellowships in both poetry and fiction. She is Forward Theater’s first ever Writer-in-Residence, and her first play production, The Mytilenean Debate , was staged in spring 2022.

Each year, the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing receives up to a thousand applications from some of the best emerging writers in the country. Five or six are selected to write for a year, contribute to the life of the university, and teach intermediate-level courses in fiction and poetry. Our undergraduates in creative writing work with both established authors and the stars of tomorrow. You can read the biographies of current fellows and view the list of past fellows here .

Many of our introductory courses in creative writing are taught by Teaching Assistants who are MFA candidates in poetry or fiction. The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s MFA program is among the most competitive in the country. Instructors go through rigorous training in Creative Writing and Composition pedagogy and frequently win department teaching awards. MFA alums who have taught English 207 at UW have gone on to wide acclaim, and many are now professors at universities around the country.

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About Creative Writing at JMU

The written word has been a powerful tool used by many to convey different thoughts and feelings. The core study of Creative Writing at James Madison University allows for students to convey their ideas and sentiments through various genres. From fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenplay writing, and numerous other genres, students can craft and develop their writing techniques in our program. Creative Writing can connect, question, and allow us to reflect in the ever-changing world around us.

Our Mission

Our mission in the Creative Writing program is to prepare students to be able to convey emotions and messages through language and the written word. The true meaning behind creation is a powerful link between human experiences and feelings. In Creative Writing, we develop our students to be able to craft their unique skills and approaches to writing. We pride our students in their ability to compose and create while exploring what it means to convey meaningful messages.

Why did you choose Creative Writing?

- Jackie Phillips, Senior Creative Writing Minor

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