Overview
The Creative Writing Capstone Course is designed to help students transition from developing their craft to pursuing their next professional goals as writers. Rather than focusing on traditional creative writing workshops, the course emphasizes creating the professional materials needed to advance a writing career, whether that means querying literary agents, applying to MFA programs, submitting to writing residencies, pursuing publication opportunities, or exploring other professional pathways.
Students can review the public course syllabus for a detailed overview of weekly assignments, learning outcomes, and course expectations.
What Will Students Work On?
Throughout the course, students develop a variety of professional materials that support their individual goals as writers. Depending on a student's objectives, assignments may include:
- Author biographies
- Artist statements
- Query letters
- Writing samples
- Application materials
- Professional portfolios
- Other career-focused documents relevant to the student's chosen path
Weekly coursework is designed to build toward a final capstone project tailored to each student's next professional step.
Is this a Workshop Course?
No. The Capstone Course is not structured as a traditional creative writing workshop.
Students do not formally critique one another's creative work, such as novels, short stories, memoir excerpts, poems, or screenplays. However, peer feedback is an important part of the course and is typically focused on professional materials being developed throughout the quarter. For example, students may review and provide feedback on each other's artist statements, author biographies, or query materials.
What is the Final Capstone Project?
There is no single capstone project format or required page count.
Because students enter the course with different professional goals, capstone projects vary significantly in scope, length, and content. For example:
- A student preparing to query literary agents may assemble a complete novel query package and manuscript materials.
- A student applying to an MFA program may develop application materials and a writing sample that meets a program's page limit requirements.
- A student pursuing a residency or fellowship may create a portfolio tailored to that opportunity's submission guidelines.
The final project is customized to align with each student's professional objectives.
How Do Students Choose Their Project?
Early in the course, students identify their desired professional destination and create an individualized project plan. To support this process, the instructor introduces a variety of suggested "paths" and project packages that outline common materials writers may need for specific goals.
Examples may include pathways related to:
- Literary agent submissions
- MFA applications
- Writing residencies
- Publication opportunities
- Professional author platforms
- Independent writing career development
Students whose goals fall outside the suggested pathways may also propose their own project concept for instructor approval.
Who Should Take the Capstone Course?
The Capstone Course is ideal for students who have developed their writing skills and are ready to focus on the next stage of their writing journey. The course helps writers transform completed or ongoing creative work into professional opportunities by providing guidance, structure, and feedback on the materials needed to pursue their goals.