welcome to hartwick creative writing

See yourself as a novelist? A poet? A game designer? A political speech-writer? A world-traveling journalist, a playwright or a screenwriter? Hartwick is the place for you.

As a Creative Writing major, you will develop your unique voice and the sought-after writing skills that are in-demand across a variety of careers.

Interested in becoming a lawyer, social media marketer, teacher or C-suite executive? You’re still in the right place. Literature and Cultural Studies is one of three majors offered through the Literature, Media and Writing Department, with the Literature With an Emphasis on Writing major completing the trio of current majors.

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Many Career Paths

Hartwick’s co-curricular, multi-disciplinary approach to creative writing gives you the foundation for a variety of careers – publishing, social media and content writing, journalism, teaching, marketing, grant writing, interior design, writing for the stage and screen, and more.

Your Alumni mentor will offer you personalized career-tested advice, and your Career Coach will help you find an internship in which you’ll put your evolving creative, analytical, and writing skills to the test.

EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to put your creative writing skills into practice. Join the literary club, Writing Underground, in which students write fiction and poetry, critique each other’s work, and sponsor public events, such as poetry slams. Submit a story or poem to be featured in our literary magazine, Word of Mouth, or even land a coveted internship as the Managing Editor!

Cross-collaboration is built into Hartwick’s curriculum. Write a new play for the Theatre Department’s annual 24-hour Playwriting Festival, record a podcast in our Media Production studio or spin your favorite tunes as a DJ at WHRO, Hartwick’s Radio Station.

J Term opportunities allow you to engage your creativity while exploring the world. Immerse yourself in the food, culture, and art of Spain or Ireland; or write an interactive adventure-play for local youth as part of the Dandelion summer drama festival. Your Faculty Advisor, partnering with your Success Coach, will help you to find the right courses to chart your academic, extracurricular, and activity-rich Hartwick experience!

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An Education Built for You

Hartwick fosters a culture of writing beyond the classroom. Our Visiting Writers series introduces you to nationally-recognized authors reading from published work or works-in-progress, whereas public readings give you a chance to share what you’re working on.

In your senior year, you’ll compile your work into a collection of short stories, essays, poems or a novella, then give a community reading during our Student Showcase. It’s all reflected on your Digital Resume, which shows employers that you have the talent and skills to thrive in a professional setting.

Visiting Writers Series

WHERE WILL A HARTWICK CREATIVE WRITING DEGREE TAKE YOU?

PUBLISHING

Like Brendan Walsh ’10, who is the author of six poetry collections, including his most recent, concussion fragment, from NightBallet Press. A Fulbright scholar in Laos, he is now an English teacher and Department Chair at NSU University School.

EMPLOYMENT

Like Suzy Rigdon ’14, who earned her M.F.A. in creative writing from George Mason University. She is the Festival Manager for Fall for the Book, co-hosts the Fall for the Book Podcast, and teaches Digital Creative Writing.

MARKETING

Like Samantha Ford ’20, now an Associate Product Marketing Manager at MediaOcean. A double-major in Creative Writing and Business Administration, she worked in the Writing Center as a peer tutor and was named a Faculty Scholar.