The goal of this Creative Writing course is to identify the qualities of good fiction and poetry and to practice the skills necessary to write them.This is a writing course designed for students who are serious about writing and who are willing to work long and hard at the process. Reading as writers, we will examine the work of professionals, the work of our peers, and our own work in order to see how they solve the same problems all writers face: in fiction, plot, characterization, point of view, and dialogue. We will focus on the steps in the writing process, from discovering and developing an idea to drafting and revising. Frequent exercises will provide the opportunity to practice, to imitate, and to experiment. The class will be conducted as a workshop and will, therefore, focus on sharing and discussing your work with peers.