The creative writing curriculum at Full Sail University provides a diverse, career-focused education for the modern writer. Courses cover traditional entertainment writing skills like scriptwriting and world-building as well as practical skills in areas like copywriting, marketing, and multimedia.

We spoke with Full Sail’s Creative Writing Program Director, Noelani Cornell, and Department Chair and Instructor, Tom Lucas, to talk about what creative writing students can expect, what makes our courses unique, and why they love them.

Write for entertainment and so much more

Full Sail University is a school known for its educational offerings in the world of entertainment. When you think of studying creative writing at Full Sail, you might first think of screenwriting, game writing, TV writing, and comics. With many classes, students will spend their days workshopping with their peers: having their work read, reading other people's work, and providing feedback.

Courses cover the professional workflows and best practices in these entertainment writing areas, but they also cover a lot more. For example, you'll explore copywriting, copy editing, marketing, and multimedia communication. At the heart of it all is the art of storytelling, whether that's through prose, copy, images, streaming video, social media, and even podcasts.

Make your writing skills more marketable

"We cover almost everything," says Noelani. The diversity of the writing curriculum is a big differentiator, from entertainment to copywriting, press releases to games, short-term to long-term career options.

"To be a successful professional writer in the 21st century, that means content creation," says Tom. That's why we also teach students to use critical software like Adobe Creative Suite, site publishers like WordPress, and other new media technology to make their portfolio stand out.

At Full Sail, creative writing is not solely focused on literary pursuits. We're eager to show students other avenues in their writing to help them find broader career opportunities at every level. For instance, in professional development seminars, students are encouraged to explore current trends in the writing industry, learn how to connect with a professional mentor, and to create a career strategy map.

Nerd out with a purpose

If you're interested in pursuing a creative writing education because you love science fiction, fantasy, or creating your own fictional world, you're not alone.

Tom says that one of the reasons he enjoys teaching his class, Developing New Worlds, is that he's a big believer in student choice. That means, to a certain extent, students are given the opportunity to determine their course of study – what kind of story they're going to write, the creative voice they'll develop, the type of portfolio they'd like to build – it's all personalized to their own interests and goals. "So, I never quite see the same thing twice," Tom says. "Every student project is unique, and so it's always fresh and interesting."

Plus, he explains, "There's a lot of high nerdery in that class. We get to really nerd out about the things that we love, but with a critical eye, trying to figure out, well, 'Why do people love this stuff so much, and how can I create similar qualities in my own work so that I too can find an audience?' It's nerdery with a purpose."

However, it's important to remember the creative writing curriculum is about much more than just "nerding out" on your one interest. You'll learn to gather research, organize information, synthesize, and present it. You'll also learn how to broaden your skills in the professional world and make yourself a more marketable writer.