WRIT 8063 - The Creative Process

“There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” — W. Somerset Maugham

After all the courses, the critiques, and The Capstone, Hamline’s MALS and MFA graduates move into their spheres of influence to participate as creators. A working relationship with the creative process is a vital part of that transition, as well as a foundation for the work students do as creators within their graduate program. This course is structured as an investigation and an experiment. Each student will identify the elements of “right practice” for a productive individual approach to generating, developing, and bringing new ideas to fruition. We’ll study the testimonies of writers, artists, musicians, mathematicians, scientists, psychologists, philosophers and other creative minds for patterns and collective wisdom. We’ll consider theories and models for the workings of the creative process across disciplines. Most importantly, each student will observe their own creative process through a series of exercises and experiments. Course requirements include an attitude of curiosity and a willingness to experiment, substantial reading and discussion, completion of a detailed process journal, and a critical essay which both makes a creative contribution to the conversation and reflects the theories, models, and experiments undertaken during the semester

Credits: 4

Note: MFA elective