Pictured Above: Me standing in front of The Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Several of my writing courses were taught by alumni and students from The Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
Highlighted Knowledge
Creative Writing and Popular Culture
Creative writing through the lens of popular culture; topics include television, film writing, adaptations, commercials, advertising, magazines, newspapers, comic books, song lyrics, billboards, and backs of cereal boxes.
Writing Commons: A Community of Writers
Varied topics focused on building community and enhancing writing skills through generative exercises, long-form essay and hybrid assignments, workshops, sharing work in public, reading and discussing works of published authors.
Publishing I: Introduction to Literary Publishing
Introduction to major aspects of book and literary publishing, including evaluating submissions, copy editing, production calendars, and planning marketing campaigns; discussion of industry trends.
Publishing II: Advanced Literary Publication (& Publishing The Iowa Chapbook)
Hands-on experience of entire literary publishing process including reading submissions, selecting texts, editing, layout and design, marketing and promotion, and book release. This course also included experiential learning in the field of publishing through the Iowa Chapbook Prize; students gain knowledge in all aspects of publishing world including assessing submissions, selecting manuscripts, editing and proofreading, layout and design, marketing and promotion, and book release.
Writing Effectively Across Disciplines
Establish a solid understanding of style in order to communicate effectively across disciplines, industries, media, and fields of expertise.
Word Power: Building English Vocabulary
Analysis of unfamiliar English words through knowledge of the history and meaning of word parts.
The Art of Observation for Compelling Descriptive Writing
Complete exercises, go on explorations, and respond to prompts designed to attune their senses. They will keep detailed observation journals, which each will turn into a final project—a story, an essay, a group of poems, or some other project designed in consultation with the instructor, that demonstrates an improved ability to write clearly, accurately, and compellingly about the observed world.
The Art of Revision: Rewriting Prose for Clarity and Impact
Writing and rewriting of short stories and essays; specific choices to help writing reach its full potential; examination of first drafts and making strategic or radical decisions on what needs to happen in subsequent drafts in order for writing to better match original intentions; students gain insight from peers on where first drafts are succeeding or falling short, and write second and third drafts of short stories and personal narratives; structural and aesthetic choices.
Fixing Common Grammar Mistakes
Tackle some of the most common grammar mistakes in the English language and strive not just for rote memorization of rules, but a deeper understanding of the underlying structures of the language—the reason the rules make sense.
Rhiana S. Chickering 