Creative Writing (BA) Portfolio Process

About Creative Writing at ASU

The Creative Writing Program encourages all interested students, regardless of their field of study, to join our community of writers through

• beginning and intermediate workshops in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction,
• diverse special topics courses, 
• internships with Hayden’s Ferry Review, ASU’s national literary journal, 
• and by participating in the many exciting writing events held on campus. 

About the Creative Writing Concentration

Interested students who have already taken the beginning and intermediate workshops in their genre of specialty, and who are committed to continuing their study of Creative Writing, have an opportunity to develop their skills in supportive, highly focused workshops through the Creative Writing Concentration. 

Please note that acceptance into the Creative Writing Concentration is restricted. Students must submit a portfolio for review and be offered a seat in the advanced workshops.

Students interested in pursuing more than one genre at the 400-level must check with their academic advisor to ensure that the necessary courses will fit their degree plan. Dual-genre students must submit two portfolios—one in each genre—to be considered for admittance into advanced coursework in both areas. 

Students pursuing the Creative Writing Concentration must either have selected as their major the bachelor's in English with a concentration in creative writing upon being admitted to ASU or, after entering the university, meet with an English advisor to change to this major and concentration. Non English-majors will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• To complete the concentration, English majors completing the concentration in creative writing must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher in their major.
• Concentration students must complete the two advanced courses in their genre. Note that enrollment into these courses is restricted. Spaces are limited. Students must have submitted a portfolio and been selected to move forward. Completion of the concentration in creative writing is open only to those who pass through Portfolio Review. 
• Transfer students must seek advisement as to whether they will be able to successfully fulfill the creative writing concentration requirements.
• PLEASE NOTE:  Students admitted to begin 400-level coursework through Portfolio Review will start their coursework in the following semester. Workshop classes cannot be taken simultaneously. 
• Students are only allowed to apply for the creative writing concentration twice during their time at ASU.

Portfolio Submission: How to Apply

Fall 2024 Creative Writing Concentration Portfolio Submission (Fiction Only)
We will be accepting Poetry Submissions in Spring 2025

Submission Period Opens: October 7, 2024
Submission Deadline: November 1, 2024 @ 5:00pm

SUBMIT HERE: PORTFOLIO FALL 2024
You will need log into your ASU Gmail account to connect to the portfolio submission form.

Your portfolio should include:

1. COVER SHEET
2. CREATIVE WRITING SAMPLE
   1. Poetry Sample: 5 poems
   2. Fiction Sample: 1 piece of fiction of at least 5 double-spaced pages and not longer than 10 double-spaced pages
   3. Creative Nonfiction Sample: 1 piece of creative nonfiction of at least 5 double-spaced pages and not longer than 10 double-spaced pages 
3. PERSONAL STATEMENT (2 double spaced pages or 500 words)
   1. Discuss your interest in the relevant genre
   2. What do you hope to gain from the creative writing concentration
4. CRAFT ESSAY (2 double spaced pages or 500 words)
   1. Submit an essay on a single poem, short story, or short creative nonfiction work, focusing on an element of craft you identify in the piece, how that craft element works within the piece, and how this aspect of craft is pertinent to your own writing.
   2. Please provide textual examples (quotations) from the creative piece in your essay and make sure to closely read/explain their relevance. 
5. SUBMIT
   1. A link will be provided each semester to students enrolled in the major and/or registered for the prerequisite creative writing workshops each term to submit for Portfolio Review. Specific submission dates will be included. 
   2. Fall: October-November
   3. Spring: March-April

For further information please see the .pdf linked below
[AY 2024-25 Portfolio Review Information]