April 21, 2022 by Alyson Smith

When Lila Denton entered Cal Poly as an English major, she was looking forward to taking creative writing courses. She had taken creative writing courses in high school and wanted to enroll in similar classes as soon as she arrived at the Cal Poly campus — but that turned out to be easier said than done.

Denton, now a senior, was unable to enroll in any creative writing courses during her first two years at Cal Poly. While she enjoyed the creative writing courses she took her junior year, she wishes she could have taken them earlier in her college career. 

“It’s kind of unfortunate that you have to wait so long to enjoy these classes,” Denton said. “That’s been a bit of a bummer.”

Cal Poly is reputed as a top science, technology, math and science (STEM) school, with several College of Engineering (CENG) programs ranking among the best in the nation. Many people don’t realize the university also houses several renowned liberal arts programs, including one of the best undergraduate creative writing programs in the western United States.

Cal Poly creative writing courses are popular with not only English majors like Denton, but with students from across campus. However, creative writing courses are limited, which leaves several students who want to take the classes unable to do so.

Professor Katrina Prow, who teaches Fiction Writing (ENGL 387) at Cal Poly, caps her classes at 24 students each quarter. 

Fiction Writing students learn how to create short-form creative writing pieces. The class is taught in workshop format, which allows students class-time to write and improve their own short stories. 

It is a highly collaborative process, Prow said. Students will read parts of their stories aloud, then talk with one another about how they can better their work. Prow also provides feedback, but that feedback is not representative of a student’s grade, she said.

“As long as students are willing to engage in the process and share their work, they pass the class,” Prow said.

Prow said she enjoys the intensive nature of the course, and she values the opportunity to dedicate class-time to each of her Fiction Writing students — which is why her class size is so limited.

“I would love to take every student in the world, but the more students I add, the more time I take away from their peers,” Prow said. “I’m actively petitioning for more sections all the time because my classes have very high waitlists.”

It isn’t uncommon for students to spend several quarters on the Fiction Writing waitlist, Prow said. 

The class is worth the wait, though, according to Denton. The course “really opened doors” for Denton by teaching her “to be intentional in [her] writing” in order to shape her stories. She also learned how different writing techniques can be applied to different genres of stories.

The small class size also allowed Denton to develop a close relationship with Prow, as well as her classmates.

“You form a pretty intense community with your classmates because you’re getting so intimate with their work, and they’re getting so intimate with yours,” Denton said. “You’re getting close with your professor and classmates, and you’re really getting to know yourself and your own voice better.”

The skills students leave this course with are applicable to all majors, according to Denton. The course allows students to exercise creative freedom in a way that many — especially STEM majors — are not always afforded during their higher education experience.

“To have a pen and paper and be able to do whatever you want, to run free with it — I think it’s something that everyone needs at some point in college,” Denton said.

Prow also encouraged non-English majors to consider enrolling in creative writing courses. 

Fiction Writing is an introductory course, and students do not need creative writing experience in order to enroll. In fact, Prow said she teaches the course as if none of her students “have ever written anything creatively in their entire lives,” so that all students are learning at the same pace.

The course is sometimes nerve-wracking for STEM majors since it is so different from traditional lectures and labs, Prow said, but she tries to create a comfortable environment where her students can improve as writers and creative thinkers. STEM majors are some of Prow’s most enthusiastic students by the end of each quarter.

“My STEM students are always grateful,” Prow said. “They always say they’ve never talked this much in a class, never been so vulnerable, learned how to give critique. And all those things are really important to be a well-rounded human being out in the world.”