Literary Arts

Writing Sample Process for Workshops

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Writing Sample Process for Workshops

The classes listed here will require writing samples. Any Brown or RISD undergraduate may apply to take below-1000 level workshops.

LITR 310O, LITR 1010A, LITR 1010B, LITR 1010H, 1151Q, and 1152T will NOT meet on 4, 5 & 6 September (as the class list will not yet be determined). These classes will begin to meet on Monday, 9 September.
 

Deadline

Writing samples may be submitted starting on Tuesday, 3 September and are due by 5 pm ET on Wednesday, 4 September 2024 (some instructors may accept writing samples through 5 pm ET on 5 or 6 September; those links will remain active until that time). Instructors will notify those who've applied of the results by day's end on Monday, 9 September 2024.

Submission

All writing samples will be submitted electronically. From the list below, select the course(s) to which you wish to apply. Starting on 3 September you'll find an electronic mail address or a link to an online form to which you should send a writing sample. 

Classes

  • LITR 0310O, Sec. 1 --  This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1010A, Sec. 1  --   This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1010B, Sec. 1  --    This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1010E, Sec 1 --  This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1010H, Sec. 1  -- Please send to John_Cayley@brown.edu a link to a sample of your cross-disciplinary work; or bring to the first workshop meeting with either a link or a hard copy of the sample itself. Please attend the first meeting – class list posted thereafter.
  • LITR 1110N, Sec. 1  -- This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1110U, Sec. 1 --  This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1151Q, Sec. 1 --  This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1152T, Sec. 1-- This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1152X, Sec. 1 --  This section is no longer accepting writing samples
  • LITR 1152Z, Sec. 1 -- Attend first class, selection based on seniority and/or experience.
  • LITR 1153A, Sec. 1 –  This section is no longer accepting writing samples

Frequently asked questions

Intermediate Sections

Fiction: 5-15 pages of prose fiction  
Poetry: 4-8 pages of poetry  
Digital/Cross-Disciplinary: A story, 4-6 pages of poetry, a cross-genre literary work or a computer-based creative work

Special Topics: A writing sample 4-15 pages -- if possible, relevant to the topic (but any creative work will be considered)

Advanced Sections

Fiction: 10-20 pages of prose fiction  
Poetry: 6-12 pages of poetry  
Digital & Cross-disciplinary: One or more cross-disciplinary or digital creative projects, or a writing sample as above, ideally from a project for which the artist can envisage a compositionally integrated cross-disciplinary or digital dimension
Screenwriting and Script to Screen: Send a message to the designated course email address for sample instructions.
Translation: 8-20 pages of material, in translation or not  

Special Topics: 8-20 pages of original literary material, relevant to the topic

If you meet the criteria, you may register for intermediate creative writing workshops. If you are able to register, you need not submit a writing sample at the beginning of the semester. If you cannot (or do not) register, then you should submit a writing sample at the beginning of the semester.

Apply to any section that you would like to take – advanced and/or intermediate. The more to which you apply, the more likely you are to get into one; but don't apply to a section where you know you have a time conflict. Once you've been accepted in one section of a particular genre, you will NOT get into any other.

Any undergraduate student may submit writing samples to intermediate and advanced workshops, regardless of the courses previously taken. In certain fields (screenwriting, digital language arts), by applying, the instructor will assume that you have familiarity with the related software and basic techniques of the field.

Any graduate student may submit writing samples to 1000-level workshops, regardless of the courses taken previously. In certain fields (screenwriting, digital language arts), by applying, the instructor will assume that you have familiarity with the related software and basic techniques of the field.