The Creative Writing program at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts,

promotes the development of the art and craft of writing through instruction, collaboration, respect––and the hard work of reading and writing as serious artists. Created in 2001, the Creative Writing program offers a rigorous, accelerated discipline for highly motivated students who want to study the art and craft of writing. The department is currently comprised of 37 students and is part of the Department of Writing, which also houses our sister department, Spoken Arts.

As with all arts disciplines at Ruth Asawa SOTA, admission is by audition. Creative Writing classes take place in the afternoon, following the morning’s academic classes and lunch.

Creative Writing covers three main units: Poetry, Fiction, and Playwriting. CW students work closely with artists-in-residence and Visiting Writers––working writers representing these genres. Freshmen and Sophomore students will spend much of their time working directly with Emily Wolahan, Director of Creative Writing. Juniors and Seniors work with Visiting Writers during the Poetry and Fiction Units. The entire department collaborates for the Playwriting Unit.

Creative Writing has two main performances every school year: the Poetry Show and the Playwriting Show. Rehearsal time is part of the school day as well as after school the week before each performance.

Seniors in Creative Writing must complete a Senior Thesis. Working under the individual mentorship of an established writer in the community, each Senior will produce an original manuscript in their chosen genre. This manuscript is the culmination of a student’s time in Creative Writing and showcases their development as a writer. Manuscripts are transformed in chapbooks and celebrated with a community reading.

Creative Writing also partners with San Francisco Art & Film to expose student-writers to films and art museums and continue to expand their horizons. Along with field trips to museums and performances, these interactions with the art availabel in San Francisco are an integral part of the program. Many activities are mandatory.

---

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is SOTA a typical San Francisco high school, with admission by lottery?

No.  Admission to the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts and the Creative Writing department is by audition only. More information is available on our Audition page and in the Apply tab of the main SOTA website.

What kind of writing goes on?

Creative Writing focuses primarily on poetry, prose, and playwriting. However, many CW artists-in-residence work with innovative approaches that cross traditional arts boundaries.

Do I have to perform?

Yes. Performance is an important element of SOTA’s Creative Writing program. The department produces two shows each year, and students may also appear at off-campus readings and events throughout the city. We work hard as a community to make sure everyone is comfortable with their roles.

What if I have other talents and interests?

While the arts disciplines at SOTA, including Creative Writing, make significant demands on student time, many students continue to participate and excel in areas beyond their emphasis. Creative Writers have been dedicated dancers, musicians, and photographers; they have donated significant time to community groups; they have interned at museums throughout the city; they have participated in Mock Trial and the theater. These experiences can add perspective and depth to the work produced within the department.

Are Creative Writing students published?

Yes. Creative Writing students have had their writing appear in many literary journals and have won several awards for their writing (see Publications and Awards). Creative Writing students also run Umläut, the CW literary magazine in which many CW students are also published.

What are the expectations for involvement beyond the classroom?

CW students are expected to take part in field trips to readings, art installations, lectures, plays, etc. These excursions help students see themselves as part of a larger artistic community and expose then to new ideas and artists. There will be many opportunities during the school year and some of them will be mandatory.

The Creative Writing community is also important to nurture. There are pot lucks and a family camping trip that are highly encouraged to attend. They build the needed bond between students who are sharing their creative work with each other.

What can parents do?

1) Take your child’s choice to come to SOTA and work hard in the Creative Writing Department as seriously as they do. If you consistently prioritize their attendance to events and development of their creative lives, so will they.

2) There are many volunteer opportunities for family members in Creative Writing and SOTA at large. We need your help to build community through events like pot lucks; to help during rehearsal weeks for the shows when your student-writer will need to stay after school to rehearse; and to continue to build the financial resources of the department. We pay all our Visiting Writers and have opportunities for students to create department T-shirts and for student trips.

What about college?

Many parents wonder how college opportunities are affected by the intense, early focus of an arts school education. We can say that CW grads overwhelmingly go on to higher education, and do so at a wide range of national and international schools. The list of schools accepting SOTA Creative Writing graduates includes Harvard, Yale, Columbia, NYU, Princeton, Sarah Lawrence, McGill, University of Edinburgh, Mills, Bard, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UCLA and others. Individual effort always trumps program elements, of course, but Creative Writing applications certainly get a boost from the emphasis on high-level writing and analytical skills, from close contacts with working writers, and from four years of internship, community service, and performance experience.