Syllabus - Obsidian Publish

# Introduction to Creative Writing **Professor:** Sarah Gambito **Email:** [email protected] **Office Hours:** [By Videoconference](https://www.sarahgambito.com/office-hours) **Location:** Lowenstein, TBA **Class Day/Time:** Tuesdays/Fridays, 10:00 - 11:15 am --- >*Talent is insignificant. I know a lot of talented ruins. Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck, but most of all, endurance. ~ James Baldwin* ## Course Description This class introduces students to the craft of creative writing. Artistic process will be taught as a discipline and a foundational way of thinking that fosters empathy, resilience and joyful innovation. We’ll study creative writing as a skill that is developed through active practice and literary citizenship. Students will write intensively, read work in multiple genres and engage in communal workshops. ## Course Media - Ed. Joe Fossler, *Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process* - Olivarez, José, *Citizen Illegal* - Course Database ## Why Take This Class - Cultivate a generous classroom community dedicated to fostering your creative vision. - Write voluminously to achieve your best work. - Manage your ongoing development through regular self-assessment & reflection opportunities - Embrace core values of Curiosity, Joy, and Generosity and grow as a writer and thinker. ## Schedule *This schedule is subject to change based on the flow of our conversation in class.* | Date | Lesson | Assignments Due | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | January 13, 2026 | [[Opening Circle]] | Carefully read & bookmark our Syllabus Purchase Required Course Media Sign up for [English Dept Community on Discord](https://discord.gg/ABtyrm5AmX) | | January 16, 2026 | [[Manifestation + Writing Foundation]] | [Read Writing Down the Bones Excerpt](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_jNJZIlABbOrvbg6bpsE9sWmWmN86f8b/view?usp=sharing) Watch [Your Elusive Creative Genius](https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius?language=en) Sign up for [English Dept Community on Discord](https://discord.gg/ABtyrm5AmX) | | January 20, 2026 | [[Building Community + Wildness]] | Fill out [Advanced Labor form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9wu5PbJsfsatiAQeTnHB8LFWP_Cwvcptc6DSG0VraxIORQw/viewform) [Sign up for Show & Tell Presentation](/81857b6fdada434a9931ca18d3fbf91b?pvs=25) [RSVP for Mary Higgins Clark Keynote](http://fordhamenglish.com/mhc) Read Light the Dark: Sherman Alexie, Leaving the Reservation of the Mind - Begin Writing Notebooks | | January 23, 2026 | [[Deep Cave + Creative Nonfiction]] | Read: [Her Tattoo is My Name & My Name is a Poem](/df5f140869d947cf924cdc3872960d65?pvs=25) Read: Reid Book Read [Creative Writing Workbook (pg 270 - 278)](/79467f56110748a294b7104100f05f04?pvs=25) [Write 3 thoughtful questions for Mary Higgins Clark Chair](/ba2869ae26dc40449e2dd8e6737b07a0?pvs=25) | | January 27, 2026 | [[Choose Your Own Adventure 1]] | Read [Odyssey Plans](/b9f601d4dfcc40a588d47b801c6b34f8?pvs=25) & Watch Video Revise Creative Nonfiction Freewrite Piece | | January 30, 2026 | [[Choose Your Own Adventure 2]] | Revise Odyssey Plans Revise Creative Nonfiction Freewrite Piece Your Choice Event Response Due on Blackboard | | February 3, 2026 | [[Freedom in Fiction]] | Read Light the Dark: Walter Mosley, How I Awoke Read [Creative Writing Workbook (pg. 70 - 84)](/79467f56110748a294b7104100f05f04?pvs=25) Read [How to Talk to a Hunter](https://docs.google.com/document/d/11qtj0UO6bnGOfrhF1xwZvNfgQBlaKwqX0oEa7UVXt14/edit?usp=sharing) | | February 6, 2026 | [[Deep Cave + How to Tell a Story]] | Read Light the Dark: Leslie Jamison, On Commonness Watch [How to Tell a Story](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-1xNNrABw8) | | February 10, 2026 | [[Mystery]] | — | | February 13, 2026 | [[A poem should not mean but be]] | Read Light the Dark: Edwidge Danticat, All Immigrants are Artists Read [Creative Writing Workbook (pg 167 - 180)](/79467f56110748a294b7104100f05f04?pvs=25) | | February 17, 2026 | *Classes follow Monday Schedule* | — | | February 20, 2026 | [[Deep Cave + Someday I'll love....]] | Read [What is a Poem](https://readwise.io/reader/shared/01hcyfssv9239vr5gzzagmhs33) Wildcard Advanced Labor Pitches are due to me by email Listen to [Someday I'll love Roger Reeves](https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/someday-ill-love-roger-reeves-audio-only) Listen to and read [Someday I'll love Ocean Vuong](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/04/someday-ill-love-ocean-vuong) | | February 24, 2026 | [[Shine On]] | — | | February 27, 2026 | [[Entering Workshop]] | Read Light the Dark: Yiyun Li, Strangers on a Train Read [Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JZcojfTMQeFXV9AVTI0NPBZL_lpOTCYQ/view?usp=sharing) Read [Federico Garcia Lorca's "Play and Theory of the Duende"](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zag1ZETbit2swojZlRK5w2nUya4lnUNJf2PgBbYRiyM/edit?usp=sharing) Read [The dog](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_-RDRR1_b6zLcY7I6htWNI3XzKSO8qel2TGcErGQIUI/edit?usp=sharing) | | March 3, 2026 | [[Workshop 1]] | — | | March 6, 2026 | [[Workshop 2]] | — | | March 10, 2026 | *Spring Break* | — | | March 13, 2026 | *Spring Break* | — | | March 24, 2026 | [[Workshop 3]] | — | | March 27, 2026 | [[Workshop 4]] | — | | March 31, 2026 | *Easter Break* | — | | April 3, 2026 | *Easter Break* | — | | April 7, 2026 | [[Workshop 5]] | — | | April 10, 2026 | [[Workshop 6]] | — | | April 14, 2026 | [[Workshop 7]] | [Complete Reflection Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWnC68rk_xp2W5uy1AOu9a3flMcUAIQe9msCuYRjM4Im04_Q/viewform) | | April 17, 2026 | [[Workshop 8]] | — | | April 21, 2026 | [[Shine On]] | — | | April 24, 2026 | [[Shine On]] | — | | April 28, 2026 | [[Closing Circle]] | — | ## Home Groups & Workshop Dates | Name | Home Group & Workshop Date | | ---- | -------------------------- | | | | ## Important Logistics: ## [[1. Policies]] ## [[2. Class Community]] ## [[3. Grading]] ## [[4. Advanced Labor (Improving Your Contracted Grade)]] ## [[5. Assignments]] ## [[6. Workshop]] --- <!-- NOTES: - Syllabus auto-updates when CourseConfig changes - All lesson links connect to files in xLesson Library - Set `publish: true` to include in site builds *Last updated: 2025-11-12*