dundee university creative writing

Practicing Creative Writing module (EN22007)

Develop your writer's toolkit and deepen your engagement with writing methods in a range of forms and genres

This module helps you build a ‘writer's toolkit’ in a broad and open sense that is also accessible, even if you haven’t studied creative writing before.

You will develop and deepen your engagement with writing methods in a range of forms and genres, including the important skills of editing and responding critically to your peers’ work.

You will have a chance to work with prose (fiction and non-fiction), poetry, and/or drama, and we’re excited to press against the boundaries of these categories with you.

What you will learn

In the module, you will:

• learn tools and techniques to make you a better writer, including thinking about dialogue, word order, writing from your own experience, and extra-linguistic effects (e.g. punctuation, pauses, and the space between words)
• do weekly writing exercises to get you started thinking creatively and experimenting with different forms of writing
• give and get constructive feedback from your lecturers and peers

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• create a substantial portfolio of new writing in a form of your choosing
• edit and refine your work, taking on board feedback from a range of perspectives
• write critically and reflectively about your own writing practice, and situate this practice alongside other literary and cultural works

Assignments / assessment

• creative portfolio (60%)
• writer's manifesto 800 words (30%)
• workshop submission (10%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• guided writing exercises
• invited guest speakers (professional writers and creative practitioners)
• writing workshops

This module is available on following courses:

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• University news / 2017

University news

Dundee writes uncovers university’s hidden creative talent.

Published On Wed 24 May 2017 by Cara Longmuir

What do a Politics postgraduate from Nigeria, a Professor of chronic pain management in Dundee, a deep water salvage specialist from Fife and a graduate of International Water Law from New York have in common?

The answer is that they have their work published in the latest edition of ‘Dundee Writes’, the University of Dundee’s magazine of creative writing. This is the eighth edition and will be launched in the University’s Tower Building tomorrow. 

Staff, students and alumni from across all Schools and departments in the University are eligible to submit their poetry and prose to the magazine which is produced and edited by graduates of the MLitt in Writing Practice and Study, part of the University’s Creative Writing programme.

Since its first issue in 2010, the magazine has published more than 100 pieces of work by an extraordinary diverse range of writers.

The magazine is distributed to agents, publishing houses and libraries across Scotland, and many of its contributors have gone on to publish their work elsewhere. Claire MacLeary, whose piece ‘The Collector’ appeared in 2011, recently signed a two-book publishing deal with Saraband and her debut novel ‘Cross Purpose’ was launched to acclaim this year.

“The range and quality of the writing is testament to our vibrant creative community here in Dundee,” said Josie Jules Andrews, co-editor of the magazine.

“All submissions are judged anonymously by a team of volunteer readers, so we never know who will make it into each issue. Over the years Dundee Writes has uncovered writing talent from staff and students in Schools as diverse as Dentistry, Nursing and Engineering and from Continuing Education students in all walks of life. We are delighted to be celebrating our latest collection with the launch of Dundee Writes 8.”

Professor Kirsty Gunn, director of the University of Dundee’s Creative Writing Programme, said, “’Dundee Writes’ continues to be an important part of our writing scene – both at the University and beyond in the wider creative community that we nourish through our writing courses and activities. It is small and idiosyncratic and intelligent – a terrific example of the ‘little literary magazine’”

The new issueis dedicated to poet Dr Jim Stewart, a lecturer in the University’s English department, who died last year. It includes tributes from Kirsty Gunn, Professor of Creative Writing and Andy Jackson, a librarian at the University. Jim Stewart’s poem ‘Spider Problem’ is also featured.

For media enquiries contact: Cara Longmuir Media Relations Officer University of Dundee Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN Tel: +44 (0)1382 385243 Email: [email protected]

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English and Creative Writing MA (Hons) University of Dundee

Key course facts.

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Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 20 graduates of English and Creative Writing MA (Hons) at University of Dundee for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in English Studies (Non-Specific).

Salary of Graduates in English Studies (Non-Specific)

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of English Studies (Non-Specific) at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students .

Salary of all UK Graduates of English Studies (Non-Specific)

Course description.

On this course you can study the history of English literature from the medieval period right up to the present day, and combine this with studies in creative writing.

A range of modules give you the option to study anything from Shakespeare to science fiction, Romantic to contemporary poetry, or Victorian novels to Hollywood films.

Our creative writing modules help you explore and extend your own potential as a writer and engage you in a range of literary activities. Our students write novels, stories, poetry, monologues, as well as exploring creativity in non-fiction, essays, journalism, reviewing, and writing for the theatre.

For English literature we start by covering topics such as how to analyse a poem and how to read a novel as a literary critic, introducing you to key skills in critical-creative ways of reading and writing.

We then move on to historical surveys of literature, before exploring in more detail many of the periods, movements, and topics previously covered.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

What graduates are doing after 15 months

Current jobs, job in line with future plans, utilise skills from studies, work is meaningful, required skill level of job after 15 months, % skilled jobs, jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation).

Example below based on all graduates of English and Creative Writing MA (Hons) at University of Dundee

Grading & Study Time

Assessment methods, study time distribution, entry requirements / admissions, ucas tariff of accepted students for this course, tuition fees english and creative writing ma (hons), additional fee information.

Tuition fees shown for Rest of UK and Scot/EU students are for 2022/23. The fees for 2023/24 have not yet been confirmed and we expect confirmation of these in March 2023.

International tuition fees shown are confirmed for 2023/24 entry. These will increase by no more than 5% per year for the length of your course.

Average student cost of living in the UK

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:.

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

• year 1 (Default entry point)

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Positions of university of dundee in top uk and global rankings., rankings of university of dundee in related subject specific rankings., languages & literature, about university of dundee.

The University of Dundee is a publicly funded institution in the small and diverse city of Dundee, Scotland. Particularly well known for their research work in the fields of Health and Climate Change, student researchers here feel that they can make a difference at home and abroad. Students discover a friendly, safe, and welcoming city in Dundee, where inhabitants are able to get to most of their commitments either by bike or even on foot.

List of 387 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Dundee - Course Catalogue

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15 Best universities for Creative Writing in Scotland

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
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Below is a list of best universities in Scotland ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 60.2K citations received by 5.59K academic papers made by 15 universities in Scotland was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Edinburgh

For Creative Writing

2. University of Glasgow

3. University of St Andrews

4. University of Strathclyde

5. University of Aberdeen

6. University of Stirling

7. University of Dundee

8. University of the West of Scotland

9. Heriot-Watt University

10. Edinburgh Napier University

11. Glasgow Caledonian University

12. Robert Gordon University

13. Queen Margaret University

14. Abertay University

15. Glasgow School of Art

Closest to Scotland states to learn Creative Writing

Art & design subfields in scotland.

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English and Creative Writing

Combine the study of English literature with our distinctive creative writing course

MA (Hons) English and Creative Writing

Degree Duration

Pathways Available

1 year pathway + 3 year degree

Start Dates

Degree Overview

On this course you can study the history of English literature from the medieval period right up to the present day, and combine this with studies in creative writing.

A range of modules give you the option to study anything from Shakespeare to science fiction, Romantic to contemporary poetry, or Victorian novels to Hollywood films.

Our creative writing modules help you explore and extend your own potential as a writer and engage you in a range of literary activities. Our students write novels, stories, poetry, monologues, as well as exploring creativity in non-fiction, essays, journalism, reviewing, and writing for the theatre.

For English literature we start by covering topics such as how to analyse a poem and how to read a novel as a literary critic, introducing you to key skills in critical-creative ways of reading and writing.

We then move on to historical surveys of literature, before exploring in more detail many of the periods, movements, and topics previously covered.

• This course will be taught by the faculty of the Dundee School of Humanities

Why Study this Degree

English and creative writing are adaptable subjects which open up a flexible range of career options. A wide-ranging knowledge of the arts, literature, and culture produces well-rounded individuals with a broad frame of reference.

Many of our graduates enter roles in: teaching publishing journalism book festivals arts administration library and information services writer-in-residence positions management consultancy the civil service the creative industries

Some of our creative writing graduates also go on to publish novels, short stories and poetry with a range of publishing houses and magazines.

Your Pathways

International stage one.

The IS1 is the first year of a four year International Incorporated Bachelors. And its designed to strengthen your English language abilities and introduce core concepts and knowledge required at university study level.  Once you have successfully completed your studies you will continue the remaining stages of your degree directly with the University of your choice.

Ranked in The Guardian's Top 20 UK Universities in 2021, the University of Dundee prides itself on three things: Impactful research, an excellent student experience and a community campus in the city.

Situated beside the majestic River Tay, Dundee is Scotland’s sunniest city. It also has the highest student ratios per head of population anywhere in the UK so there is an exciting and diverse range of nightlife, leisure activities and culture.

Available Pathway Courses

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We are Clype

We're a group of writers who met at Dundee University. We kept in touch to continue the support we found on the course. Now, we want to make that sense of creative community available to others. 

Hannah Whaley

Hannah Whaley is a Scottish writer, essayist and award-winning children’s author. In her creative writing, the uncanny intersects with thematic interests of domesticity, trauma, motherhood and society. Her work has featured in print and online literary magazines, anthologies, and public exhibition in Scotland. Hannah was also Managing Editor for These Windows: a collection of writing and art created in collaboration with the V&A Museum Dundee published in 2021. She works in academic library management, is General Editor for Dundee University Review of the Arts and holds an MBA from Durham University and an MLitt in Writing Practice and Study from Dundee University, both with Distinction.

Wanda McGregor

Wanda McGregor is a writer and poet with a natural ability to write in the vernacular which celebrates the dynamism and character of her Scottish working-class background. In 2020 she completed the MLitt Writing Practice and Study at the University of Dundee, graduating with distinction. She has since been published online and in anthologies and is currently working on various projects. Wanda believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to express themselves creatively and to have their story heard. A trustee of Meigle and Ardler Community Development Trust, where she lives, Wanda is leading a subcommittee focused on developing access to the arts, literature and music.

Collette Cowie

Collette Cowie is a writer and artist currently studying Contemporary Art Practice at Grey’s School of Art Aberdeen. She’s a mental health worker for NHS Scotland and a recent graduate of Dundee University MLitt Writing Study and Practice at Dundee University. Collette believes in the transformative power of the arts and runs creative workshops aimed at convincing the unconvinced that they are an artist too. 

Victoria Lothian

Victoria Lothian is a published writer of fiction, memoir and poetry, and holds an MA (Hons) degree in English Literature and a recently completed Master’s Degree in Writing Practice and Study, with Distinction. She lives in Dundee with her family and is currently working on her first novel, exploring the impact of poverty on expression. As a mother of Dyslexic children, Victoria is passionate about providing creative outlets for those who live in disadvantage. The lack of creative opportunities within today’s educational framework has ignited Victoria’s commitment to establish safe, joyful and nurturing spaces for both children and adults to explore and embrace creativity through words.

Ellie Julings

Ellie is a writer, editor and community development worker from Leeds. She holds a MLitt Writing Practice and Study from the University of Dundee and is a contributing editor for Dundee University Review of the Arts (DURA). Ellie was a Book Week Scotland emerging programmer in 2021 with a workshop titled 'Queer the Record' and is the editor of Meeting Spaces: a Gathering to Celebrate 85 Years of the Saltire Society , a collection of creative responses to items in the Saltire Society archives. 

Dundee's Creative Writing Group

We are a group of writers and poets in Dundee who meet to share and discuss our work and provide support and encouragement. We have stories available for you to sample, and if you'd like to visit one of our meetings   please follow the link or contact us at [email protected]

Latest Stories and Poems

Easter Island

The Understanding Stranger

December at the Theatre Royal

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Meet the Nethergate Writers

We meet every fortnight on alternate Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm. Find us at St Andrew’s Brewing Co., 2-3 Shore Terrace, Dundee DD1 3AH (Behind Caird Hall). Please see our meetings page for further details.

World Poetry Day

Teaching,a giving that rewards twice.They gain the knowledge,which of course, is power. And then, in scaffoldingthe dull thick, factsinto a cathedral,I pause and appreciate the marvelof how nature works. Poetry too, is about making meaning.And the polishing of a mirror that distorts just enoughto reflect something interesting foreveryone. In teaching,that crystallisation of random factsinto diamond […]

• Meeting Archive

Minute of 08/03/23

Nethergate WritersFortnightly Meeting: Wednesday 8 March 2023at St Andrews Brewing Co. and on Zoom Chaired by Rhoda; Minutes by Mike Present: Colm, David C., George, Mike, Rhoda, Tess,and Zusana (via Zoom)Apologies: David F., Richard, Roddie, Sandra Work Presented Enjoy Your Bacon – by Mike (short story)Mike thanked members who had given him feedback (Rhoda, Zusana […]

Minute of 26/01/23

Present: Mike, Colm, Roddie, Daniel, Sue, Richard Apologies: David C, David F, Sandra, Suzanna, Rhoda Roddie opened the meeting by asking Richard to read his poem called Chaos Rains. This a poem that rather plays fast and loose with the English language as the title alludes to and tends run away than towards anything that […]

Minute of 23/02/23

Nethergate Writers’ Meeting Thursday 24 February 2023 at St Andrews Brewing Co and by Zoom Chaired by Daniel, minutes by Zusana Present: Colm, Daniel, George, Mike, Rhoda, Richard (via Zoom), Roddie, Zusana Apologies: David C, David F, Sandra, Sue Previous Minutes: accepted WORK PRESENTED Emeritus by Zusana (extract from a novella) Zusana thanked the company […]

Zusana Storrier’s chilling, supernatural story of murder on the cliffs of Arbroath racks up the suspense until the end.

An aging recluse contemplates the end of the world in F.R. Malaney’s haunting, heart-breaking account from a dystopian future.

A chance meeting with an understanding strange in a railway carriage changes everything in a story of mystery and suspense.

Sue Baxter’s Christmas ghost story captures the spirit of 1960s Dundee. Read on for an extract when things start to get spooky…

A family of meat eaters have reason to feel unsettled in Zusana Storrier’s Venus Cafe. Find out more here.

Apr. 22, 2024

Empowering voices: the future of creative writing at rice university.

Creative writing transcends conventional academic boundaries, serving as both a discipline and a practice that invites diverse perspectives and influences. According to Ian Schimmel, associate teaching professor of English at Rice University, creative writing is characterized by its openness to exploration and expression.

“It does not define the scope of what a thought project should be,” Schimmel said, adding that creative writing encompasses a wide range of forms and styles, from traditional genres like fiction, poetry, nonfiction and drama to emerging mediums that shape contemporary discourse. “It’s very permeable to other parts of the university that want to participate in it.”

Extending beyond mere poetic imagery or storytelling, creative writing delves into the depths of human experience, capturing the rhythm, themes and pauses that define individual narratives.

“We’re all an amalgamation of stories,” said Kiese Laymon, the Libbie Shearn Moody Professor of English. “The rigor of having to explore your imagination and memory with these tools we have is hard work. We try to make it enjoyable work, but it’s definitely hard work.”

Creative writing plays a pivotal role in understanding and interpreting societal narratives, Schimmel pointed out, highlighting the significance of studying hybrid forms that blend elements of journalism, memoir and personal reflection, reflecting the multifaceted nature of contemporary storytelling.

“I prefer the term ‘imaginative writing’ or ‘public writing,’” said Justin Cronin, writer-in-residence in English. “‘Creative writing’ pays less attention to the idea that this is a discipline. It really is a very particular kind of discipline that you need to learn to do.”

At its core, creative writing is about having something to say — a point of view or an urgency that compels expression.

“We are equipping students with the tools to say what they feel is most important and urgent,” Schimmel said. “That’s where the fulfillment comes from.”

For Cronin, teaching creative writing is a dynamic process of self-discovery and exploration.

“Anyone who teaches creative writing is teaching themselves, full stop,” Cronin said. “We are doing both all the time.”

He emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the discipline, drawing connections between literature, film and societal trends. Cronin’s spring 2024 course titled “The End of the World as We Know It: Writing (and Reading) Apocalypse” exemplifies this interdisciplinary approach, blending literary analysis with creative expression to explore existential themes.

“There is a lot to learn about craft, about how to make a good sentence, how essays really work, how stories or novels work,” Cronin said. “But then there are also the broader questions: Why do we do this? Where does it come from, and where does it go?”

‘It feels like home’

It’s worth reflecting on the latter question in relation to Rice’s creative writing program. Of the current faculty, Cronin has the longest institutional knowledge. He came to Rice in 2003, effectively doubling the program’s full-time faculty.

“It was just me teaching fiction and one poetry professor,” Cronin said. “That was creative writing in 2003.”

A couple of years later when he sold a partial manuscript of what evolved into his trilogy “The Passage,” Cronin stepped down from his full-time teaching role to focus on the series.

Schimmel later joined Rice during a two-year fellowship starting in 2011. After his first year, the two other creative writing faculty members retired.

“I was one of only one or two other people teaching creative writing at Rice in 2012,” Schimmel said.

Associate professor Amber Dermont joined the faculty followed by assistant professor Paul Otremba then Lacy Johnson in 2016, which is when Cronin returned to teach at Rice.

“We made a strategic plan that involved investing in creative writing, trying to make Rice the best undergraduate creative writing program in the country,” said Lacy Johnson, associate professor of creative writing and director of undergraduate studies in English. “We proposed hiring a few more writers so that we could continue to grow.”

And they did, adding Laymon, professor in the practice Andrea Bajani, assistant professor Bryan Washington and associate professor Tomás Q. Morín.

“When I saw the job posting at Rice, every writer I knew was applying for the job,” Morín said. “Every writer I knew wanted to work at Rice because it was a dream job.”

Morin said his desire to join the faculty only grew after visiting the campus during the interview process when he got to meet the people he’d be working with and the students he’d be teaching.

“I felt like this job could be my last stop in terms of my academic career,” Morín said. “This is a place where I could retire. Once I actually did start teaching here, all of that was affirmed. I don’t want to ever teach anywhere else again. This doesn’t feel like a job. It feels like home.”

“With Lacy Johnson, Ian Schimmel, Kiese Laymon, Bryan Washington, Tomás Morín, Amber Dermont, Andrea Bajani and Justin Cronin, Rice boasts some of the most significant writers in the United States,” said Kathleen Canning, dean of the School of Humanities, in sharing her assessment of the creative writing faculty she calls “amazing.”

“Spectacular” is the word Cronin choses to describe his colleagues.

“The amount of raw achievement in so many areas is unparalleled,” Cronin said, pointing to Laymon’s selection as a MacArthur Fellow and Johnson’s creation of the Houston Flood Museum. “We have short story writers, essayists, novelists, poets, screenwriters. We have it all.”

Laymon, who started teaching at Rice in January 2022, expressed that he’s been impressed by how dynamic and thoughtful his colleagues are.

“Our ability to work together is one of the reasons why the creative writing program is growing at such an incredible rate,” Laymon said.

"The learning and the doing"

The program’s not growing just in terms of faculty; the academic powerhouse has captured the imagination and enthusiasm of students, sparking a surge of interest that far exceeds available capacity. Most creative writing classes have waitlists at least 20 students deep, while the waitlists for intro workshops are closer to 75.

“I’ve never worked anywhere where there was such a tremendous curiosity, passion and interest in creative writing at the undergraduate level,” Morín said.

“The desire on the part of these students to use creativity to explore critically and intellectually, I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” Laymon said, adding that he believes the interest is connected to the strength of the faculty. “You don’t find creative writing programs with any sort of growth unless the students are being taught well.”

Laymon suggested the program’s success also lies in its ability to attract students from diverse disciplines, including computer science, biology and engineering.

“There is such a hunger on our campus to make things and to take what you learned in the classroom and apply it,” Schimmel said. “There’s often a gulf between the theoretical and the practical in an education setting. What’s powerful about creative writing, and the arts in general, is the connectivity between the learning and the doing.”

Faculty members say they appreciate the diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary collaborations that emerge from such a dynamic student body.

“There are so many different kinds of expertise for students to use Rice and Houston as a laboratory to think about the issues that are facing us today,” Johnson said. “Thinking about climate, about science, about community, about culture, where better than Houston to come to learn to write about those things?”

"Experimenting with words"

The creative writing program is a catalyst for that exploration and discovery, empowering students to engage with a myriad of topics and formats while honing their skills as storytellers.

For example, on the nonfiction side, Laymon’s spring 2024 course titled "Verses/Versus: Miseducation of Lauryn Hill v. good kid m.A.A.d. city (or 1998 vs. 2012)” allows students to reflect on how music influences their lives, whether through personal experiences or the albums discussed in class. “Nonfiction Nature Writing,” taught by Johnson, merges writing and environmental philosophy.

“We’re giving consideration to the ways that we think about and talk about the environment as well as practicing writing about our relationship to the environment,” Johnson said. “Students often come to that class from the sciences. I have a lot of students from environmental sciences, geology, physics, ecology and evolutionary biology.”

The class is a different application of science, Johnson added, explaining that it provides students an opportunity to apply and translate what they’ve learned in their other classes in creative ways.

Schimmel, meanwhile, teaches podcasting courses, challenging students to report on stories beyond the hedges of Rice. By interviewing real-life characters and crafting compelling narratives, students gain valuable storytelling skills while exploring the power of audio storytelling.

“We deconstruct the narrative structures of radio storytelling to understand how a large amount of material can be condensed into something that is manageable, enjoyable and informative for an audience,” Schimmel said.

Central to the creative writing experience at Rice is the workshop. Through peer critique and experimentation, students refine their writing and gain insights into audience engagement and narrative structure.

“A workshop environment helps you compare your intentions with the realities of your audience,” Schimmel said. “It pulls you out of yourself. It makes you conscious of how form and technique affect your reader’s desire to interact with your work.”

Laymon underscored the importance of experimentation in creative writing. By encouraging students to explore literary traditions and experiment with language, the program fosters a culture of innovation and self-expression.

“We all have these 26 letters. How do we create a story with them?” Laymon said. “We need young people out there experimenting with words and to be encouraged to do that.”

"A unique opportunity"

As Rice’s creative writing program has evolved, its faculty have remained dedicated to fostering a culture of creativity, expression and intellectual inquiry, shaping the next generation of writers and thinkers.

“One of our goals is to broaden the public’s understanding of what creative writing is and how it can serve as a public utility for all,” Schimmel said.

The next step for the program, according to Cronin, is to elevate from a strong program to a national leader in undergraduate creative writing education.

“We want to be the best undergraduate creative writing program in the country, which means students come to Rice specifically for that,” Cronin said. “We want to build the kind of program that people deliberately seek out. Students apply to a university for a thing, and we want to be that thing.”

Faculty members are exploring the possibility of establishing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing, which reflects the program’s commitment to furthering its impact and engaging with a broader community of writers.

“There’s a lot of interest,” Johnson said. “We have a really unique opportunity at Rice to build something from scratch.”

“That feels incredibly exciting to me,” Morín said, explaining that the goal is to create a program that addresses the shortcomings of the traditional MFA model while offering a fresh and dynamic approach. “It gives me a lot of energy, because as a group, we can offer the kind of experience that a graduate student in creative writing can’t find anywhere else.”

For more information about Rice’s creative writing program, click here .

Ashleigh F. Streiff B. 2000, Maryland, USA.

“Juried Undergraduate Exhibition,” Ridenbaugh Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID At Invitation, University of Idaho’s President’s House, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID “In Medias Res,” Ridenbaugh Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

At Invitation, “Painting Show,” Ridenbaugh Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID “VAC is Back!”, Reflections Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID “Pens, Pencils & Paint,” Ridenbaugh Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID At Invitation, University of Idaho’s President’s House, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. 2023-2024 “Palouse Plein Air,” Moscow City Council, Moscow, ID. (Winner: City Purchase Award) “Mirage,” Reflections Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. At Invitation, “Painting Show,” Moscow City Council, Moscow, ID. Fall 2023-Spring 2024

“Figures”, Downtown Arts Center, Honolulu, HI “Palouse Plein Air”, Moscow City Council, Moscow, ID. (Winner: Best Watercolor) At Invitation, “Student Painters,” Moscow City Council, Moscow, ID. At Invitation, “Student Printmakers,” Ridenbaugh Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. “Clay?!”, Ridenbaugh Gallery, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID.

At Invitation, “Student Show”, Iolan’i Gallery, Windward Community College, Kaneohe, HI.

“Foundations Juried Exhibition”, The Looking Glass Gallery, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.

“Student Show”, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC.

Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Painting and Ceramics, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. (Forthcoming)

Extracurriculars and Honors

2022 - 2024

President of Visual Arts Community (VAC), University of Idaho President of Vandal Print Guild (VPG), University of Idaho Volunteer Artist, Vandaljacks, University of Idaho Dean’s List, University of Idaho Alumni Award for Excellence, University of Idaho

2019 - 2020

Resident Artist, Cannon Hall, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.

Work Experience / Training

2021 - 2022

Gallery Attendant, Iolan’i Gallery, Windward Community College, Kaneohe, HI.

Studied Under:

Kelly Oakes, Durham, NC. 2019-2020. William Zwick, Honolulu, HI. 2020. Mark Brown, Honolulu, HI, 2020-2022. Daunna Yanoviak, Kailua, HI. 2021- 2022. Mark Norseth, Honolulu, HI. 2021-2023.

“Introduction to Figure Drawing,” Stacey Leanza, Class, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC. 2018. “Printmaking; Mono-prints,” Stacey Leanza, Class, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC. 2018. “Mixed Media,” Stacey Leanza, Class, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC. 2018. “Introduction to Portrait Drawing,” Kelly Oakes, Class, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC. 2019. “Painting Portraits in Alla Prima,” Kelly Oakes, Workshop, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC. 2019. “Demystifying the Modern Portrait,” Marie Rossettie, Class, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC. 2019. “Intuitive Painting,” Heather Gerni, Workshop, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC. 2019. “Oil Painting Crash Course,” Vanessa Murray, Workshop, The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC. 2019. “Live Portrait Sessions,” Alla Parsons, Downtown Arts Center, Honolulu, HI. 2023. “Introduction to Watercolor,” Dwayne Adams, Class, Downtown Arts Center, Honolulu, HI. 2023.

Creative Writing:

“Writing the Killer Mystery,” C1121, Central Carolina Community College, 2019. “Flash Fiction Made Easy,” C1058, Central Carolina Community College, 2019. “Charting Your Path To Publication,” C1060, Central Carolina Community College, 2019.

Newspapers and Articles

Long, Maryanne, “Windward Artists Turn Impression Into Expression,” Windward O’ahu Voice, February 9th, 2022.

University of Notre Dame

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2024 MFA in Creative Writing Final Thesis Reading

Time: Sat Apr 20, 2024, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location: Philbin Studio Theatre (View on map )

Join us in celebrating the work of our graduating second-year MFA students! Readers will include Gussie Beaver, Rose Darline Darbouze, Tim Fab-Eme, Alaina Johansson, Chibuike Ogbonnaya, Jamjun Rorsoongnern, and Taylor Thomas.

This is a free, but ticketed, event. 

Get Tickets

Gussie Beaver received her B.A. in English from Duquesne University in 2022, Summa Cum Laude. She was the 2021 recipient of the O’Donnell Undergraduate Research Award and the Carroll Creative Writing Scholarship. This enabled her to attend the Elk Rivers Writer’s workshop in Livingston, Montana. She was a Duquesne University Writing Center consultant. Gussie was featured in Duquesne’s alumni magazine Much Ado and was the treasurer of the Duquesne Poet’s Society. Her work has been published multiple times in the literary magazine Lexicon. She is interested in the personification of animals and objects and experimenting with formation. Her favorite poets are Emily Dickinson and e. e. cummings.

Rose Darline Darbouze   is from Béraud, Haiti. She is an MFA candidate in creative writing and is a recipient of a grant from the Graduate School Professional Development Awards at the University of Notre Dame. She was the 2022-2023 Sparks Editorial Fellow at Notre Dame Review , and her work is forthcoming in the Birmingham Poetry Review .

Tim Fab-Eme is an engineer and poet who experiments with poetic forms on environmental and social justice themes. He’s the Issue 7 poetry editor of Reckoning: Creative Writing on Environmental Justice , and Cove Park’s 2022 funded writer-in-residence on climate action. Tim loves exploring nature, gardening, and fishing in the mangrove swamps of his island home, Egun-Okom (Ogonokom). His work has appeared in The Malahat Review , The Fiddlehead , Magma , New Welsh Reader , About Place Journal , Reckoning: Creative Writing on Environmental Justice , Channel: Ireland’s Environmental Literary Journal ; apt , Planet in Crisis Anthology , Deep Wild Journal: Writing from the Backcountry , Land and Territory Anthology , Delmarva Review , FIYAH , and The Future of Black: An Afrofuturism & Black Comics Poetry Anthology , Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review , FU Review , The Maine Review , etc. His other projects center on the lore, myth, and experiences of marginalized folks and communities.

Alaina Johansson  lives in Indiana with dogs, Brigit and Søren. Previous work is published in Early American Literature , Psaltery & Lyre , and 3:AM Magazine . An MFA student studying Poetry at the University of Notre Dame, Johansson works as an editorial assistant at Action Books.

Chibuike Ogbonnaya writes stories that explore humanity, gender and sexuality. They obtained combined honors in English and Literary Studies and History and International Studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Their unpublished collection of thematically linked short stories featuring women, feminine gay men, and gender queer was a finalist for the Iron Horse Literary Review First Book Prize. Chibuike is an alumni of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Workshop. Their work has appeared or is forthcoming in Green Mountains Review, The Forge Literary Magazine , Taint Taint Taint Magazine , Stellium , Akuko Magazine , Black Femme Co , and elsewhere.

Jamjun Rorsoongnern is a ลูกครึ่ง (Thai american) writer gripped by the musings of nondiscursive knowledge building. At times, their writing dons normative white religious aesthetics in a subversive exploration/queering of sensuality & disidentification. Admittedly a theory nerd, she finds herself fangirling over Barthes, Vuong, Muñoz, Baldwin, & Derrida. Jam writes towards literary/linguistic openings in hopes of creating liminal utopias/liberation/depths with their reading/cultivated communities.

Taylor Thomas (she/her) is a biracial emerging writer from Indiana. Her work has been published in Bayou Magazine , Salt Hill Journal , The Journal , So to Speak Journal , and many more. She was the runner-up for the 2024 Nicholas Sparks Prize Fellowship. Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. She lives in South Bend, Indiana with her husband, Herschel, and her dogs, Bella & Buster. Website: taylornoellethomas.com

Originally published at english.nd.edu .