Creative Writing in English

Paper Code: 
CWE 161
Credits: 
5
Periods/week: 
5
Objective: 
  • To enhance understanding and skills of the art of creative writing and provide professional knowledge in order to develop the creative ability of those interested in short-story writing and/or to take up a professional career as a freelance writer. This programme also includes training in the form of a workshop on writing poetry and short story-writing and scripting for TV/Radio.
  • Methodology : Circulating drafts, handouts, etc.
4.00
Unit I: 
General Principles of Writing

Formulating ideas
The Role of Imagination
Lucidity and Directness
Grammar and Punctuation
Proofreading and Editing

12.00
Unit II: 
Writing a Short Story

Choosing a Theme
Choosing the Plot, Character and Setting
Narration, Perspective and Point of View
Selection of Voice, Language and Style
Drafting, Revising and Editing
 

12.00
Unit III: 
Writing Poetry

Function and Role of Poetry
Main Forms of poetry
Poetic Devices : Imagery, Persona, Personification, Metaphor, etc.
Stanza forms, Rhythm and Rhyme, Diction, Blank Verse/Free Verse
Drafting, Revising and Editing

12.00
Unit IV: 
Writing for Radio/TV

Adapting for Audio-visual Media
Choosing a Theme
Development of Thought
Scriptwriting
Dialogue-writing (to be aired or telecast)
Drafting, revising and editing

SUGGESTED READINGS: 
  • The Art of Fiction by John Gardener (Vintage, 1991)
  • The Everything Creative Writing Book by Carol Whitely (Adams Media Corporation, 2002).
  • The Short Story : An Introduction ed. By Wilfred Stone, 1976.
  • Writing for Media by Ambrish Gupta.
  • A Glossary of Literary Terms by M.H. Abrams
  • Editing and Revising Texts by Jo Billingham (OUP, 2002).
  • Prose and Poetry Appreciation by L.G. Alexander.
  • Anatomy of Poetry (OUP).
  • How to Write Film Screenplays by Nirmal Kumar Chawdhary.
Academic Year: 
2016-2017