The value of the written word

In literary arts courses, students write regularly, discuss and evaluate writing, learn literary concepts and compile portfolios of their best writing.

They explore techniques of:

  • Poetry

  • Fiction

  • Creative nonfiction

  • Other genres

Exploring voice

Publication and performance, writers’ workshops and visiting authors are a regular part of literary arts curriculum.

All courses above the explore level are sequential and require the recommendation of the instructor.

  • Explore: interest

  • Style and technique: intentional writing

  • Workshop: commitment to writing as an art form

Wordsworth: VSAA’s Literary Magazine

Black and white books drawing

Literary arts coursework

Explore

Exposure to excerpts and short samples of literary texts, enabling creation, analyzing and evaluating own writing.

 

One semester

Style and technique

Create literary texts to apply constraints of form to a chosen theme and/or genre (poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction).

Full year

Workshop

Demonstrate commitment to writing as an art form.

Full year

“A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.”

W.H. Auden

Literary arts faculty and staff

Kelsey Hudson
Erin Engebreth
Jody Adams
Colette Rood
Morgan DeKlyen-Kearney

Interest. Intention. Commitment.

Use the art form of writing to express yourself.