Creative Writing - Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Poetry
Program Overview
Humber’s Creative Writing – Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Poetry graduate certificate program helps you improve your writing from the comfort of home. You’ll work one-on-one with a professional writer-mentor to improve your short stories, poems, memoir, or novel-in-progress, learning how to develop plot, character, dialogue, style and more through feedback on your own manuscript. The program is intended for those working on book-length projects, and you'll have the satisfaction of completing a large body of work which may include all or part of a novel or memoir, a volume of short stories, or a book of poetry.
Humber is noted for its exceptional creative writing mentors, including authors of world stature. Past mentors include Martin Amis, Peter Carey, Miriam Toews, David Mitchell, Esi Edugyan, Nino Ricci, Margaret Atwood, Lawrence Hill, Anne Michaels, Edward Albee, Ha Jin and Alistair MacLeod. Recent international authors have included Jenny Offill, Nell Freudenberger and Samantha Harvey.
This is a project-based program in which you meet the learning outcomes by working through your own manuscript.
This program is not available to international applicants.
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:
Reflect on editorial feedback to determine core strengths and weaknesses of one’s own work.
Self-evaluate written work focusing on key elements of creative writing such as character, dialogue, plot, theme, setting, imagery and structure/form.
Apply techniques and strategies acquired through editorial feedback, self-evaluation, reading and self-directed learning to revise and improve one’s own writing.
Employ conventions of grammar, punctuation, spelling and other aspects of technical style within the context of narrative/poetic traditions to write in a clear and professional manner.
Revise and improve elements of literary style such as detail, diction, syntax, active voice, rhythm and tone to sustain reader engagement at the level of the sentence/line.
Manage point of view and associated issues of narrative/poetic voice such as the sociocultural identity and reliability of the narrator/speaker to create a consistent, convincing reading experience.
Employ a variety of research methods to support authentic, convincing writing in narrative/poetic forms.
Explore techniques and strategies used in published works to assess for application to one’s own writing.
Identify prevailing genres, forms and submission requirements present in the publishing industry and literary community to discover professional options for writers.
The Humber Advantage
Watch the "Power Up Your Credential!" Info Session to learn more about the Creative Writing program.
Learn from industry professionals while earning your credential online!
Apply early to increase your chance of being paired with your preferred mentor.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions section or read more on How to Apply.
Since 1992, the School for Writers has offered an immersive, focused workshop to jump start your creative writing. Mornings are spent in classes with one of Humber’s esteemed writing advisors, and afternoons are devoted to craft and industry talks by faculty, publishing experts and special guests. Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced writer, there’s something for you in this six-day workshop! In 2019, the Workshop in Creative Writing runs from July 7 to 12 at Humber's Lakeshore Campus.
Workshop Rebate
The Creative Writing by Correspondence Program is a complement to the Humber Summer Workshop in Creative Writing, the two together comprising a flexible and affordable alternative to a standard low-residency MFA.
Winter 2019 through Fall 2021 Humber School for Writers alumni are eligible for a 15% discount.
“Humber School for Writers was one of my first experiences with writing workshops. I was amazed by how my work jumped to a new level in such a short period of time due to the generosity, experience, and intelligence of my peers and mentors. I said I’d do it again, and I did! Two summers in a row.”
- Madhur Anand, Author, A New Index for Predicting Catastrophes
Graduates Offered Advanced Standing in University of Gloucestershire Distance MA in Creative Writing
Humber Creative Writing by Correspondence graduates can work towards a master’s degree from the comfort of their own homes! Thanks to a new arrangement, graduates are eligible for advanced standing in the highly regarded University of Gloucestershire (U.K.) distance MA Creative Writing program. Furthermore, this pathway may lead to a PhD for those who qualify.
Scholarship Support for Aspiring Authors
All scholarships are available to Canadian residents only, and Appel scholarships are available to Ontario residents only. Scholarship applications become available in August and December. Information on how to apply can be found at the link below.
If you are awarded a scholarship, payment will come some weeks after the program begins. You must make payment up front and be reimbursed later.
Expert Faculty
David Bezmozgis
David Bezmozgis is an award-winning writer and filmmaker. He is the author of the story collections Immigrant City and Natasha and Other Stories and the novels The Betrayers and The Free World.
David’s stories have appeared in numerous publications including The New Yorker, Harper's, Zoetrope All-Story, and The Walrus.
His books have been nominated for the Scotiabank/Giller Prize, The Governor General's Literary Award, the Trillium Book Award, and won the Amazon.ca First Novel Award and the National Jewish Book Award.
In the summer of 2010, David was included in The New Yorker's 20 Under 40 issue, celebrating the twenty most promising fiction writers under the age of forty.
A graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, David's first feature film, Victoria Day, premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. His second feature was an adaptation of his story "Natasha."
David is a professor and the creative director of the Humber School for Writers where he also hosts the writing podcast Love & Defiance.
Alissa York
Alissa York has been mentoring writers for over a decade, and has been full-time faculty at the Humber School for Writers since 2017. Her internationally acclaimed novels include Effigy (shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize), Fauna and, most recently, The Naturalist (winner of the Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction). Stories from Alissa's short fiction collection, Any Given Power, have won the Journey Prize and the Bronwen Wallace Award. Her essays and articles have appeared in The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, Brick magazine and elsewhere. In 2018, she won the Writers' Trust Engel Findley Award for a Writer in Mid-Career. Having lived all over Canada, Alissa now makes her home in Toronto.
Your Career
The main goal of the program is to improve your writing, and publication is a possibility for some. Graduates of this program may use their writing and editing skills in a wide variety of careers and professions in addition to writing books. Some of our graduates write for the web, newspapers, magazines, television and other media.
More than 300 Humber School for Writers alumni have published books. Dr. Vincent Lam, who won the 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize for his literary debut, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, is just one of our distinguished former students. Other alumni have been on the bestseller lists in Canada: Suzanne Desrochers for Bride of New France, Cathy Marie Buchanan for The Painted Girls, Shari Lapena for The Couple Next Door, and Eva Stachniak for The Chosen Maiden.
Program Availability
| START DATE | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
| January 2023 | Online | Open |
| START DATE | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
| September 2023 | Online | Opening Soon |
| START DATE | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
| January 2023 | Online | Open |
| START DATE | LOCATION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
| September 2023 | Online | Opening Soon |
News Feed
From classroom to boardroom: Humber student launches eco-friendly business
Thu, April 15, 2021
Xana Mills is a graduating Bachelor of Digital Communications student. We caught up with Xana via email to hear more about her business and how it developed over her time at Humber.
Grad Feature: Alfredo Films - Alexander, Holly and Shivam
Wed, April 07, 2021
Alexander Henry, Holly Rowden, and Shivam Pandya graduated from the Bachelor of Film and Media Production in 2016.
No news at this time.
News Feed
Senior Dean Update: Media & Creative Arts Anti-Racism Action Plan
Fri, October 15, 2021
In June 2020, I committed the FMCA to seven action items to address the attitudes, behaviours and structures that act as barriers for students from Indigenous and equity-deserving communities.
No news at this time.
Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.
On October 21, 2019, the Provincial Government of Ontario announced the renaming of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU). Both names may appear on this website.
Post-Admission Requirements
Once you have been accepted, and have confirmed your offer, you may need to complete a further set of requirements related to your program (Post-Admission Requirements).
Fees
The 2022-2023 fee for two semesters was:
- domestic: $3,670.14
- international: $17,618.00
Fees are subject to change.
Scholarships
Humber Scholarships
Find out more about scholarships and bursaries that you may be eligible for, visit Student Scholarships. International students can visit International Student Scholarships.
Humber Bursaries
Bursaries are available for Certificate, Diploma and Degree programs primarily based on financial need, visit Humber Bursaries.
External Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships
Find out more information about external scholarships and bursaries, visit External Awards.
Indigenous Student Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships
Humber offers a variety of bursaries and scholarships for Indigenous students, visit Indigenous Student Awards.
Explore Opportunities through Humber Pathways
Humber Pathways include:
- Opportunities to build on your college education and complete your diploma or degree at Humber.
- Degree and graduate study opportunities at other institutions in Ontario, Canada and abroad.
How to Apply
Applications to Humber are made through ontariocolleges.ca. Be sure to submit your application by the equal consideration deadline of February 1. You may apply after February 1, however, post-February 1 applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the availability of the space in the program. To check program availability refer to the Campus/Availability listing on Humber's program pages or ontariocolleges.ca.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
If you’re an international student, you can apply directly to Humber via our International Centre.
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Open House
Nov 12, 2022