What's new in English, E.S.L. and Reading?

Creative Writing 

We currently offer English 32 (College Literary Magazine Editing) every Spring semester.  We also offer English 127 (Creative Writing)  and English 240 (Analyzing Screenplays).

Register for Fall 2025, English 127 Creative Writing today!

Section #15972:
Thursdays, 6:50-10:00pm, Professor Lorena Madrigal, room E3-411 (9/1/25-12/21/25)
Section #16168:
Monday/Wednesday, 5:15-6:40pm, Professor Obed Silva, room E3-407 (9/1/25-12/21/25)

About the Voice of ELAC’S Milestone Literary Magazine

The poetry, nonfiction and fiction and artwork are submitted for our Milestone Literary Magazine, which has been around since 1950, solicits submissions from across the campus from all disciplines. Students in numerous academic departments and who are studying a wide range of majors submit poetry, nonfiction and fiction, art and photography as do faculty and staff. Our hope is that more ELAC campus members will continue to contribute in the future, and that Milestone will represent the diverse and beautiful voices of our entire campus. 

English 127 Creative Writing Students Fall 2024: 

Workshop Exercise 

What is your focus in writing, and what does writing do for you? 

Students in Dr. Nadia Swerdlow’s English 127 Creative Writing utilized the article, The Duality of Writing and Identity: Adaptation and Reclamation, to reflect on their intention and goals as creative writers. Below are some of their reflections on creative writing subjects, approaches, and how writing impacts their lives. 

“Writing has given me an opportunity to be honest. When I look onto a blank paper or a blank screen with the curser tapping at me it's like a finger tapping at my brain. Remember, remember the facts, remember the feelings, remember. A mirror without distortion, nobody else’s words to explain me. Giving a shot at writing without any formal training, I was able to dip my foot into the pool of self-exploration and expression. When I had finally decided to just jump in and take a writing class I didn't know what to expect but I can say I am thankful I didn't pass the opportunity up. I have gained confidence and become more trusting of others and myself. I have admiration for my classmates and professor, all of whom have been open and themselves exposed raw wounds at times. My mind and heart has been opened to seeing more in depth into the words that I read. I have experienced connection with people of so many differences, through writing I have merged back in to the world unafraid of differences, unafraid learning about myself. Unafraid of judgement and judging others. Freedom, I have found freedom in writing.” 

“At the moment I resonate with : Identity Formation through Cultural Narratives. These last few years, I have been writing about culture, but culture outside my own. I have written about French, Japanese, and now I am diving into almost anything Asian as I explore more of the East. Interestingly enough, having to write about cultural groups outside my own has been a journey where I can appreciate where others come from. As I study what makes their culture unique, I am amazed by their philosophy, their everyday conduct, their culinary arts, and the way they see life on a daily basis. Somehow, as I learn more about them, at the same time, I learn about myself. I get to see how my culture differs from theirs, but also, how much of it is the same. I also learn to break cultural boundaries, and in the process understand that we are all human. I know there is more to life out there, I just need to find it. Therefore, there has to be more to life than what I already know about it. And so I dive into different cultural worlds and discover new ways of living. It's quite remarkable to see the many sides of humanity express through various cultural lenses.” 

“Writing for empathy and understanding resonates with me right now. I love reading a story that gives me a perspective that I might not have had before. One of my favorite types of stories (at least with movies/shows I've seen, I've yet to read something written this way) is when something happens and we see it from one character's perspective, then we back up and see it from another character's perspective and that helps us understand the motivation of that characters and how different perspectives clash. I think this is a great example of life, because we usually see things from our own perspective easier than other people's perspectives. So I love when a story challenges our ideas of perspectives and helps to develop empathy for other peoples. This is why I love the idea of writing for empathy and understanding. To help share other people's perspectives so that people can maybe see that one perspective is not the only way to see things.” 
 

“The part that resonated with me the most is writing as self-discovery: unraveling the inner landscape. I have kept diaries and journals all my life but have only taken it seriously these past few years to write down my thoughts and emotions. It's like a form of therapy to me, just instead of a stranger helping me analyze my feelings, I am helping myself. This form of writing has really helped me understand myself better and has helped me analyze and process situations and events I have gone through. What is also great about writing is looking black and reflecting on how much you have grown. Of course, this does not just apply to journaling since I believe when someone writes, whether it be fiction, non-fiction, or poetry about a topic not related to them, they always add a piece of them inside the story. And that is another thing I like about writing, you get to step into the shoes of others and learn how to empathize and understand (or not) in their eyes. Creative writing allows you to be someone else and bring that person to life.”