CREATIVE NONFICTION

English 91 Stanford University

Sarah Frisch,

Office 320, Margaret Jacks Hall (Building 460)

“How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” - E. M. Forster

“Nowadays I know the true reason I read is to feel less alone, to make a connection with a consciousness other than my own.” – Zadie Smith

91 explores the art and craft of telling true stories in a wide variety of forms. In this class we will focus on learning and practicing the craft elements of creative nonfiction, exploring form, getting to know ourselves and each other as writers and readers, taking creative risks, and growing artistically within a supportive community of fellow writers. We will read essays with a range of voices, styles, and structures, and examine how writers create vivid nonfiction prose using a variety of techniques, including those commonly found in fiction. We will complete writing exercises in class, read and discuss each other’s work, explore the writing process, and discuss effective techniques for drafting and revising. The writing workshop is an essential part of the course, and students will submit work for three workshops during the quarter: two small groups workshops, and one whole-class workshop where we’ll discuss each student’s quarter project. Whether you’re trying out creative writing for the first time, or you’ve been writing your whole life, this class will allow you to learn new skills, grow your craft, and participate in a working creative community.

Texts and Materials:

  • A journal or notebook for note-taking.
  • A budget for making multiple copies of your work for workshops.
  • Class Reader, ~$45. (See “Reading Assignments” below for some of the authors included in the reader.)

Course Requirements:

Class Participation (45%)

The success of a writing workshop depends on student participation. Your peers will be looking to you to engage with them in class and to read and discuss their work with thoughtfulness and generosity. Your participation grade will be based on the following criteria:

  • Attend all classes and arrive on time.
  • Participate fully in class discussions.
  • Complete readings and writing assignments with real thoughtfulness and commitment.
  • Write detailed response letters to other students and make comments in the margins of their manuscripts.
  • Help create a thoughtful, supportive environment for sharing work.
  • Thoughtfully respond to reading assignments and Creative Writing events on Canvas.

Your Creative Work (45%)

This class features two short writing assignments (1-3 pp.), and a larger nonfiction project (9-12 pp.) that we will workshop as a class. Revision of one of your short assignments and your final essay are due at the end of the quarter. Your grade depends on your ability to complete all your creative work on-time and to put real thought and energy into your drafts and revisions. I’d like you to push yourself to take artistic risks, and therefor I do not grade on creative quality.

Readings Attendance (10%)

Attend 3 readings in the Creative Writing Program (poetry, fiction, or nonfiction) and post a brief response to each on Canvas.

CLASSWORK

Reading Assignments:

We’ll read a variety of essays over the quarter and discuss them in class and on Canvas.Our reading list includes work by authors such as James Baldwin, Anne Carson, Alexander Chee, Joan Didion, Randa Jarrar,Yiyun Li, George Orwell, Claudia Rankine, George Saunders,Zadie Smith, Rebecca Solnit, Justin Torres, Jesmyn Ward, and Tobias Wolff.

Writing Assignments:

  • Two short writing assignments (1-3 pp. double-spaced, copies for everybody in class)
  • Your quarter project (9-12 pp., double-spaced, copies for everybody).
  • Final portfolio: 1) A revision of one short assignment; 2) A revision of your quarter project; 3) A reflection letter

Program Readings:

A list of Creative Writing events can be found at and You can also attend a Poet’s House or Art of Writing workshop in lieu of one of the readings.

Online Discussion:

We’ll be posting some of the work for class on Canvas, including twice-weekly responses to published essays and Creative Writing events. Responses to published essays will be due the night before class.

Final Portfolio:

Your final portfolio is due at the end of the quarter and includes revisions of your quarter

project and one of your short exercises, as well as a reflection letter. Revisions are major

overhauls ofyour essays using the feedback you’ve received in class.

POLICIES

Attendance Policy:

Consistent, on-time attendance is essential for the success of our workshop. Two absences will affect your participation grade, and every absence beyond this will lower your final grade by a third. Students with five or more absences will be asked to leave the course. Every incidence of lateness beyond the first two will count as half an absence.

If you miss a class, you will need to obtain and complete the work you missed before the next class. Please be in contact with me if you have to miss class because of illness or personal problems.

Late Assignments:

Any assignment (including Canvas posts) submitted after the due date will receive an automatic grade of “C” unless we have made other arrangements prior to the assignment’s deadline.

Formatting:

All manuscripts should be double-spaced in 12 point Time New Roman with

1.25-inch margins. Paragraphs should be formatted for print (i.e. not in web style, but with

each paragraph indented, no line breaks between them). Make sure that anything more than one page is stapled, and your pages are numbered. Manuscripts may be graded down for poor formatting.

Laptop Policy:

Laptops shouldn’t be used in class with two exceptions: you may use laptops to complete in

class writing exercises, and you may take notes on your laptop when your story is being

workshopped by the class. All other note-taking should be done by hand.

Cell phones and other electronics need to be silenced and placed out of sight during class. If you need to use your cell phone during our class break, please step out of the room.

CALENDAR

We will spend the first half of the quarter studying elements of craft, completing writing exercises, giving feedback on short assignments, and discussing published readings. The second half of the quarter is spent workshopping students’ quarter projects. We’ll also continue to complete writing exercises and discuss the published essays we read. A detailed calendar will be available on the first day of class.

MISCELLANY

Office Hours:

Office hours are listed at the top of the syllabus. I love talking with students individually about their work and look forward to seeing you in office hours. If my office hours don’t work for you, let me know and we can schedule an appointment at another time.

Academic Advising:

Academic advising is available throughout the year. Please stop by the Creative Writing office to learn more about the program or to ask questions or make suggestions. For this quarter's hours and location, visit

Creative Writing Listserve:

All students will be automatically signed up for the Creative Writing Events Listserve. If you aren’t receiving CW emails after a week, please go to and join “cw-undergrad”.

Students with Documented Disabilities: Students who may need an academic accommodation based on the impact of a disability must initiate the request with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE). Professional staff will evaluate the request with required documentation, recommend reasonable accommodations, and prepare an Accommodation Letter for faculty dated in the current quarter in which the request is being made. Students should contact the OAE as soon as possible since timely notice is needed to coordinate accommodations. The OAE is located at 563 Salvatierra Walk (phone: 723-1066, URL:

The Honor Code: The Honor Code is the University's statement on academic integrity written by students in 1921. It articulates University expectations of students and faculty in establishing and maintaining the highest standards in academic work. You can find the full text of the honor code at the following link:

Plagiarism: Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, using ideas, information or quotes from published work or online sources without providing proper citations; copying all or part of an assignment from someone else; and turning in work you did for other classes.

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