Creative writing practicum to open doors

New course would give students experience in publishing world

The goal of a proposed one credit-hour practicum course in creative writing is to teach students about arts administration, how writers manage to make ends meet and how they manage their time and their life. Janessa Nayler

University of Winnipeg creative writing professors Margaret Sweatman and Catherine Hunter are in the preliminary stages of preparing a one credit-hour practicum course that would give creative writing students an experience that goes beyond simply handing in work for grading.

The practicum course is intended to take students beyond writing and into the realms of editing, publishing and the business end of the literary world.

“[The students] will be learning about arts administration, how writers manage to make ends meet and how they manage their time and their life,” said Sweatman.

Hunter, who is also the chair of the English department, wants the practicum course to produce a well-rounded class of creative writing graduates.

“It will give our students a sense of reality, show them what’s really behind the scenes,” said Hunter.

Sweatman and Hunter have been approaching local small press book publishers and poetry, fiction and children’s literature journals. They have found interest in the course from publishers and independent writers in the community, but no commitments have been made yet.

“Everyone is struggling right now, so if places turn down our offer, I can understand that,” Sweatman said.

The practicum would essentially be a 12-hour internship at a publishing house or similar literary business.

“The way I’m going to sell it to the businesses is that for two hours of instruction [for the students] you’ll get 10 hours of labour,” explained Sweatman.

Writing student Justin Van Damme said he would consider the course for its ability to teach creative writing outside the classroom.

“It’s beneficial to have the mentorship of the creative community,” Van Damme said. “I’ve built up a decent portfolio but [the next step is] the experience in mentorship of a publisher in the city.”

Since the course is still in development, Sweatman is hoping to have students e-mail her names of people in the writing community with whom they would like to connect.

Published in Volume 64, Number 12 of The Uniter (November 19, 2009)

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