Creative Writing

Lewis and Clark College has one of the longest standing creative writing programs among small colleges in the West. The distinguished poet William Stafford spent most of his teaching career at Lewis & Clark and is now honored in the Stafford Room in the Watzek Library, which displays several manuscripts and editions of his poems. Vern Rutsala, recipient of numerous poetry awards, also taught poetry writing here for forty years. Today, Lewis & Clark offers a full menu of courses for students interested in developing their skills as creative writers. These include classes in poetry and fiction writing offered annually by poets Mary Szybist and Jerry Harp, and Pauls Toutonghi, novelist.

While creative writers often major in English, students from majors as varied as art, biology, psychology, and music regularly take writing courses. English majors with a concentration in creative writing seek a balance of courses in literature and writing to strengthen their background for graduate study or for professional careers in publishing and writing.

Lewis and Clark also provides many opportunities for students to grow as writers and enrich their understanding of creative works outside of class.  Students from many different majors edit or contribute to student-run journals, attend on-campus fiction and poetry readings, participate in creative writing contests, and submit their work to be considered for creative writing awards.