Creative Writing
Creative Writing at ETSU
We're pleased to offer students rigorous and diverse coursework in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, as well as a variety of electives in drama, publishing, and screenwriting. Over the years we've been proud to host many great writers on campus, including Rita Dove, Natasha Threthewey, Jeff VanderMeer, Joy Harjo, Charles Wright, Tayari Jones, Ron Rash, Fred Chappell, James Dickey, Cris Mazza, Li-Young Lee, Robert Bausch and many others. Each spring ETSU sponsors a creative writing festival, ETSU Celebrates Creative Writing, which features workshops and readings from writers around the country. As of Fall 2025, English majors at ETSU can pursue a concentration in creative writing. We also offer a minor in creative writing open to students in any discipline. Students in our program may go on to a variety of careers, including publishing, editing, advertising, business, content development, teaching, and more.
The new creative writing degree path is listed in the catalog as English Major, B.A. (Creative Writing Concentration). Check out the official catalog listing here.
We have several scholarship opportunities available.
- Out-of-state creative writing students should check out our Creative Arts Scholarship.
- ETSU offers Fine & Performing Arts Scholarships for creative writers through the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts.
The Department of Literature and Language sponsors:
- ETSU Creative Writing Society
- The Mockingbird, our student-run literary journal
- Aethlon: The Journal of Sport Literature, an international journal featuring writing on the intersection of sport and literature.
The minor is open to students majoring in any discipline. We will update this space regularly with news on events and opportunities in creative writing here at ETSU and across the region.
Feel free to contact the Director of Undergraduate Creative Writing, Dr. Mark Baumgartner, if you have any questions.
News and Events:
Meet the Faculty
Monday, September 8th from 2-4 PM in the Culp's East Tennessee Room (272)
Come meet the creative writing faculty here at ETSU, including Dr. Mark Baumgartner, Dr. Michael Cody, Dr. Jesse Graves, Prof. Valencia Robin Grice, Prof. Lacy Snapp, and Dr. Amy Wright. There will be refreshments provided.
Legendary poet Li-Young Lee will be our Fall Feature on September 24
From 1:40-3 PM in the Culp's Forum Room (311), Lee will join us for a conversation with Jesse Graves. Audience Q&A and booksigning to follow.
In the evening, at 7 PM in the Bud Frank Theatre (Gilbreath 118), Lee will read from his work.
Both events are free and open to the public.
Black American Writers Series featuring Gregory Pardlo
On Wednesday, October 22nd, in the Culp's East Tennessee Room (272) from 1:40 to 3
PM, join us for a roundtable discussion with Pardlo and Valencia Robin. Hosted by
Amy Wright, with an audience Q&A to follow.
From 3:15 to 4:30 PM, Pardlo will give a reading of his work alongside Robin as she
debuts her new book.
"Monsters: Literature, Ethics and Values" featuring Nathan Ballingrud and Julia Elliott
On Tuesday, November 25 in the Culp Forum (311)
Session 1: 11:45 - 1:05 PM, Roundtable and Audience Q&A
Session 2: 2:30 - 3:30 PM, Reading
This will be a two part event featuring the writers Nathan Ballingrud with Julia Elliott.
They will have a conversation about "Monsters: Literature, Ethics and Values" and
hold a reading, followed by a Q&A.
Find more about writing events at ETSU here at the The Bert C. Bach Written Word Initiative website.
On November 14th, 2013, poets from across East Tennessee gathered at the Carroll Reece Museum, ETSU, to celebrate the release of The Southern Poetry Anthology Volume VI: Tennessee.