Course schedule for the Publishing and Professional Development in Writing Graduate Certificate Program, Northwestern University School of Professional Studies - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

Course Descriptions and Schedule

Publishing and Professional Development in Writing Certificate Requirements

• Three Publishing and Professional Development courses

May include MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, MCW 579 Practicum in Teaching Creative Writing, MCW 580 Practicum in Publishing or any other related courses identified by the SPS Graduate Office.

• One writing workshop or one graduate-level course elective

May include independent study (not to exceed one), any Publishing and Professional Development course, any graduate literature course, or any MCW 490 elective course.

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MCW_SEMINAR 461-0 : Nonfiction Writing Workshop

Description

“In the best nonfiction,” writes Philip Lopate, “It seems to me, you’re always made aware that you are being engaged with a supple mind at work. The story line or plot in nonfiction consists of the twists and turns of a thought process working itself out.” The personal essay, specifically, is much more than a short story that happens to be true. Reflection, self-awareness, metawriting, personal vulnerability, and critical thinking all create their own story about the author as focalizer, distinct from what happens in scene. In addition to your workshop pieces, we’ll discuss the work of contemporary essayists (think: Sarah Manguso, Camille Dungy, Alexander Chee, Roger Reeves, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Elissa Washuta), tracing how their “supple minds” withhold and reveal information, contextualize their experiences, and draw connections among seemingly disparate elements. Students can expect to write and revise two essays, as well as a few critical annotations of readings.