The Writer’s Studio

The Writer's Studio at a glance

This is a brief summary of how you'll learn throughout your year in The Writer's Studio. For details, visit the curriculum section.

Study creative writing in the evenings and on weekends

The Writer’s Studio runs from January to mid-December each year. All of the courses, workshops, and events are scheduled on weeknights and some Saturdays. Classes and mentor workshop groups meet at SFU Vancouver at Harbour Centre, while other events, like monthly readings and the launch of emerge, our student anthology, take place at other venues throughout the city.

Creative writing courses

You'll take a series of creative and professional writing courses as part of The Writer's Studio curriculum. Visit the curriculum section and click on a course name for details.

Mentor workshop group and one-on-one consults

The Writer's Studio employs three mentors—one for fiction, one for poetry and lyric prose, and one for non-fiction and narrative. Based on your application, one of these mentors will invite you to join his or her workshop group, which will meet regularly.

You'll work with the same mentor and workshop group for the entire year. Within your mentor workshop group, you’ll receive regular feedback on your writing and learn more about the craft of writing. You'll also meet one-on-one with your mentor several times throughout the year to discuss your work.

Creative writing certificate (optional)

Some students wish to complete only The Writer’s Studio curriculum. Others want to graduate from the program with a creative writing certificate. To complete the certificate, you need to complete 24 hours of creative writing electives in addition to The Writer’s Studio curriculum (for a total of 129.5 hours of instruction).

Public readings

Public readings are an integral part of The Writer's Studio. Throughout the year, at public events, you'll read your work for an audience. You'll also hear others read their work.

Emerge

Each writer in The Writer's Studio will participate in the production or promotion of emerge, our annual student anthology.

Other events

You'll learn at other events during the year, including Orientation Day, Reconnection Day,  mentor salons, and the launch of emerge. Visit the curriculum section for details.

Work through three semesters

The Writer’s Studio consists of three semesters:

Spring semester: January to June

This is when you will complete most of the studio course work.

You’ll take courses on the following subjects:

• Manuscript critique
• How writing rhetoric, process, and materials affect your writing
• How to consider using a wider range of forms of your writing genre
  
• Legal and ethical issues in creative writing

You’ll also begin to meet with your mentor workshop group in January. When your group meets, your mentor will facilitate the improvement and critique of your writing, and provide training on craft and professional skills.

In late spring, there will be a series of readings by guest writers, your mentors, and all of the students in the studio. We will also begin production of emerge.

Summer semester: July to August

During the summer semester, you’ll focus on your own self-paced writing. In addition to at least one consultation with their own students, each mentor will offer an optional seminar—called a  salon—for all students. You may also meet informally with your mentor workshop group.

You’ll complete the bulk of the production for emerge during the summer semester.

Fall semester: September to December

During the fall semester, you will take one or both of our manuscript courses. Your bi-weekly mentor group meetings and one-on-one consults will continue. You'll also complete your final portfolio and participate in a final celebratory public reading in October, during the launch of emerge.

Creative writing certificate graduation requirements

If you would like to finish your year in The Writer's Studio with a certificate in creative writing, you need to complete 24 hours of creative writing electives in addition to The Writer’s Studio curriculum (for a total of 129.5 hours of instruction). After you have met these requirements, fill out the certificate graduation form and the Certificate in Creative Writing Checklist by February 15 in the year you wish to graduate.

Become a real writer at The Writer's Studio