The Langara College English Department offers a rotating selection of courses in five different genres of creative writing:

These courses typically involve intensive writing workshops, and are taught by instructors who are published and/or are active members of the local literary community. See below for current and upcoming Creative Writing courses being offered.

Students are encouraged to work towards publication of their writing in Langara’s W49 Magazine or other publications, and they are also encouraged to read their work at the English Department’s Strangers on a Train reading series.

All our Creative Writing courses are fully transferable to UBC and SFU. For information about transfer credit and articulation of these courses, please visit the BC Transfer Guide.

For more information, feel free to contact the individual instructors or the English Department Chair.

Download PDF of all Fall 2024 second-year English and Creative Writing courses.

Creative Writing Courses for Fall 2024

English 2236: Creative Writing – Fiction

The “secret” to becoming a better writer is to read broadly and write regularly. We will read stories to understand how they operate and to analyze the decisions their authors made to take them from good-to-great. We will examine some of the craft elements of fiction and write in short bursts. You will write two short stories that will sizzle with such intensity that the words will burn up the paper, stories that bubble and melt your printers from the sheer heat of them. We’ll aim for that, anyway, and dry out your ink cartridges in the effort.

Instructor: Daniel Poirier dpoirier@langara.ca | Tuesday/Thursday 12:30 - 14:20 

View Course Outline | Register for ENGL 2236 (CRN: 31099)

English 2256: Creative Writing – Screenplay

Ever imagine your work on the big screen? Do the voices of your characters keep you up at night? If yes, you might be a screenwriter! In this class, you’ll learn the basics of writing for screen including formatting, plotting, character development, story structure, and visual storytelling. This is a workshop-heavy class with some initial lectures to get you started. During the semester, you’ll work on a series of exercises leading up to the completion of a short (+/- 30 page) screenplay that you’ll get to hear your peers read aloud. You’ll receive feedback, re-write, and bring those characters and stories you’ve been dreaming up to life.

Instructor: Jill Goldberg jgoldberg@langara.ca | Tuesday/Thursday 14:30 - 16:20 
View Course Outline | Register for ENGL 2256 (CRN: 31100)

English 2276: Creative Writing – Non-Fiction

Students will study the forms and techniques of the personal essay. While we will analyze samples from a variety of published writers, the focus of the course will be on the development of the students’ own writing abilities. In addition to participating in writing prompts in class, and a few "field trips" around campus, students will be expected to produce two personal essays and participate in writing workshops.

Instructor: Sarah Richards srichards@langara.ca | Monday/Wednesday 10:30 - 12:20 
View Course Outline | Register for ENGL 2276 (CRN: 311101)

Creative Writing Courses for Spring 2025

ENGL 2236: Creative Writing - Fiction | Sarah Richards | srichards@langara.ca

ENGL 2256: Creative Writing - Screenplay | Aaron Bushkowsky | abushkowsky@langara.ca

ENGL 2266: Creative Writing - Poetry | Thor Polukoshko | tpolukoshko@langara.ca

ENGL 2276: Writing Lives: The Residential School Memoir Project Part Two | Jill Goldberg | jgoldberg@langara.ca