Creative Writing Support

Undergraduate students interested in developing their skills may choose from a variety of course options. Visit our page on Writing Courses at U of T.

Students interested in developing their skills as creative writers can take advantage of opportunities outside of their courses:

  • Choose a course in creative writing from the wide range of certificate courses offered at the School of Continuing Studies.
  • An excellent way to learn the craft of writing poetry and fiction is to meet with others also interested in improving their craft. The Hart House Literary and Library Committee offers a number of activities for meeting up with other writers. Open to all U of T students.
  • The University of Toronto’s Jack McClelland Writer-in-Residence leads a creative-writing seminar each year. Check the English Department website for more information.
  • Students enrolled at University College or in a UC program course may sign up to meet with UC’s Barker Fairley Distinguished Visitor.

You may also be eligible to enter your creative writing in one of the following competitions:

  • Hart House hosts two annual literary contests: its annual Short Fiction and Poetry Contest. Both contests are open to Hart House Members in good standing, excluding professional writers of fiction and non-fiction and poets who have published a book of poetry. Deadlines are usually early to mid January. Check the website for exact dates. Winning stories and poems will be published in the Hart House Review
  • University College students and students in UC programs may submit work in the categories of Poetry, Drama, Novel, Short Story, and Other Prose to the Norma Epstein Foundation Awards in Creative Writing. The competition is annual; the deadline is May 1. All students currently registered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program may enter the biennial Norma Epstein National Award for Creative Writing, Past UC and National Norma Epstein award winners include David Adams Richards, David Cronenberg, Janice Kulyk Keefer, Anne Michaels, Michael Ondaatje, James Reaney, and Miriam Waddington.
  • U of T students and alumni may enter the U of T Magazine Short Story and Poetry Contest. First prize in each category is $750 plus publication in U of T Magazine.