English & Philosophy

creative

Minor in Creative Writing

The University of Central Missouri offers both a minor and an individualized major in Creative Writing. Students enrolled in the program take a series of courses in English and World literature and several creative writing workshops. They are also encouraged to work closely with individual faculty members on large creative projects and to participate on the staff of Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing. Our graduates have gone on to publish nationally in such journals as New Letters, Southern Humanities Review, Texas Review, Kenyon Review, The Laurel Review, American Book Review, Cimarron Review, Lit, Crab Creek Review, and Allegheny Review. They also frequently continue their studies at the MFA or PhD level at other universities.

Faculty
Courses

Faculty

Matthew Eck, Assistant Professor, fiction.

Matthew Eck holds an MFA from the University of Montana and is the author of the novel The Farther Shore (Milkweed, 2007), which won the Milkweed Fiction Prize, earned a “5 under 35” award from the National Book Foundation, and was a finalist for the Barnes & Noble Discover Award. His second novel is forthcoming. With Phong Nguyen, he edits fiction for Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing & Reviews.

Wayne Miller, Director and Associate Professor, poetry.

Wayne Miller earned an MFA from the University of Houston and is the author of three poetry collections: The City, Our City (Milkweed, 2011), The Book of Props (2009), and Only the Senses Sleep (New Issues, 2006). He also translated Moikom Zeqo’s I Don’t Believe in Ghosts (BOA Editions, 2007) and co-edited both New European Poets (Graywolf, 2008) and Tamura Ryuichi: On the Life & Work of a 20th Century Master (Pleiades Press, 2011). The recipient of 6 awards from the Poetry Society of America, The Bess Hokin Prize from Poetry magazine, and a Ruth Lilly Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of Pleiades.

Phong Nguyen, Assistant Professor, fiction.

Phong Nguyen holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. His first collection of short stories, Memory Sickness (Elixir, 2011), won the 2010 Elixir Press Fiction Award, and his stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines, including Agni, Beloit Fiction Journal, Boulevard, Florida Review, Iowa Review, Massachusetts Review, New Ohio Review, Meridian, and Portland Review. Former editor of Cream City Review, he serves as Editor of Pleiades.

Kathryn Nuernberger, Assistant Professor, poetry.

Kathryn Nuernberger received her PhD from Ohio University, where she was a finalist for the Ruth Lilly Fellowship. The winner of a 2010 Intro Journals Award from the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, she also received a 2010 Fellowship for Creative and Performing Artists and Writers from the American Antiquarian Society. Her first poetry collection, Rag & Bone (Elixir, 2011) won the 2010 Antivenom Prize. With Wayne Miller, she edits poetry for Pleiades.

Courses

In addition to the literature courses offered by the Department of English & Philosophy, The Creative Writing Program also offers these seminars:

English 2050—Introduction to Creative Writing. A general introduction to the crafts of fiction and poetry writing.
English 3051—Advanced Poetry Writing. An in-depth seminar/workshop in poetry writing.
English 3052—Advanced Fiction Writing. An in-depth seminar/workshop in fiction writing.
English 4051—Poetry Writing for Publication. A special seminar combining poetry workshops with discussion and advice on poetry publishing. Students use Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing as part of the course, participating in the editing and selection process.
English 4052—Fiction Writing for Publication. A special seminar combining fiction workshops with discussion and advice on fiction publishing. Students use Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing as part of the course, participating in the editing and selection process.
English 4053—Essay Writing for Publication. A special seminar combining intensive reading of previously published nonfiction writing and workshop.
English 3990/4990—By arrangement, advanced students may enroll in these as independent studies to pursue larger creative writing projects.

Program of Study - Minor in Creative Writing

Pleiades