Writing Program

Winona State’s Writing program is designed to give you both hands-on experience in the craft of writing and in-depth exposure to the contemporary writing scene.

We prepare students for a wide range of professions in writing, including literary writing and editing, journalism, technical writing, and more. 

Our writing faculty are scholars and working authors who have published novels, poems, plays, and creative non-fiction with national and regional publishers and journals. They pride themselves on mentoring young writers into the world of writing, publishing, and the literary arts.

Declare Your Major in Writing

Program at a Glance

The Writing major consists of 40 credits.

You’ll learn how to write compelling fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

We offer workshop classes in specific genres and lecture classes that will introduce you to a variety of literary traditions. 

You’ll also complete coursework and projects in literary history and theory, literature, syntax, technical writing, and other subjects that will expand your experience as a writer.

On top of all that, you’ll get to enroll in advanced seminars, allowing you to get additional experience in areas of your choice. 

Get Involved on Campus

English students enjoy visiting author events, guest talks, and extracurricular experiences such as:

• The Great River Reading Series
• The Frozen River Film Festival
• Faculty-led program courses in Northern England, London, and Italy

You can also write for, edit, or help publish Satori, the English Department’s annual literary journal, or WSU’s campus newspaper, The Winonan.

For even more experience outside the classroom, you can work as a tutor in the university’s Writing Center.

Students can also join the Winona Wordsmiths, a student-led reading group that meets weekly to read each other’s fiction and poetry.

Get a Job in Any Field

Our program’s graduates have careers as:

• children’s authors 
• editors
• literary publishers
• novelists
• poets

Other graduates work in digital media, marketing, and web writing.

Some alumni use their Writing degree to attend graduate school and study English, Philosophy, Law, and more.