Academic Life

Each day of the week, students attend two morning sessions and a 90-minute afternoon session.

Morning literature course will be taught as conventional college-level courses, with the focus of our analysis on the writer’s craft. Students will examine important contemporary poetry and fiction to get a stronger sense of the writing landscape in which they’re maturing, as well as to closely analyze the kinds of choices writers make and the variety of techniques available to fulfill those choices.

Directed writing sessions will encourage students to generate new material by trying on fresh approaches to their writing. Exercises might include responsive writings, imitations, or focused work on creative techniques such as figurative language, tone, or voice.

Rather than assuming that writers work in creative isolation, afternoon workshops allow students to build trusting relationships with peers pursuing shared creating goals. These sessions offer students the opportunity to give and receive constructive feedback on one another’s work.

The culmination of this work is a series of public readings in which students will share their work alongside faculty, mentors, and established writers. This year’s special reading series guests may include National Book Award nominee Jess Walter; poet, publisher, and Washington State Book Award winner Christopher Howell; and novelist and poet Beth Cooley. Parents and friends are encouraged to see students read their work in these vibrant, creative events.