Both fictional and non-fictional works fall into this category, including such forms as novels, biographies, short stories, and poems.
In this sense, creative writing is a more contemporary and process-oriented name for what has been traditionally called literature, including the variety of its genres.
[4] In the UK, the first formal creative writing program was established as a Master of Arts degree at the University of East Anglia in 1970 [5] by the novelists Malcolm Bradbury and Angus Wilson.
[6]Creative Writing programs are typically available to writers from the high school level all the way through graduate school/university and adult education.
Once rare, Ph.D. programs are becoming more prevalent in the field, as more writers attempt to bridge the gap between academic study and artistic pursuit.
[9][10] Creative writers often place an emphasis in either fiction or poetry, and it is normal to start with short stories or simple poems.
Some courses teach the means to exploit or access latent creativity or more technical issues such as editing, structural techniques, genres, random idea generating, or unblocking writer's block.
Some noted authors, such as Michael Chabon, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, Kevin Brockmeier, Ian McEwan, Karl Kirchwey,[11] Dame Rose Tremain and reputed screenwriters, such as David Benioff, Darren Star and Peter Farrelly, have graduated from university creative writing programs.
[13] These same people say creative writing can have similar effects on international students by acting as a platform for them to share their own heritage, experiences, and values.
[14] He concluded that taking the creative writing class ultimately made her a more confident writer not only in English but also in other languages.
These programs' continuation relies heavily on volunteers and outside financial support from sources such as authors and activist groups.
[22] The Poets Playwrights Essayists Editors and Novelists, known as PEN, were among the most significant contributors to creative writing programs in America.
In Alabama, Writing Our Stories began in 1997 as an anti-violence initiative to encourage positive self-expression among incarcerated youths.
The program found that the participants gained confidence, the ability to empathize and see their peers in a more positive light, and motivation to want to return to society and live a more productive life.
Participation in creative writing and other art programs result in significant positive outcomes for the inmates' mental health, relationship with their families, and the facility's environment.