- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
- Art and Design
- Art and Materials Conservation
- American Sign Language – English Interpretation
- Audio Arts and Acoustics
- Creative Writing: Nonfiction
- Creative Writing: Poetry
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Majors and Concentrations
- Fiction Writing (BA, BFA)
- Playwriting (BA, BFA)
- More about Fiction Writing
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Related Events
- November 3: Fall Open House
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Other Programs to Consider
- Creative Writing: Nonfiction
- Creative Writing: Poetry
- Film and Video
- Journalism
- Television
Welcome to the largest and most exciting creative writing program in the country—the Fiction Writing Department at Columbia College Chicago! Here we seek to prepare students for independent work as writers of literary and genre fiction, creative nonfiction, plays, and electronic applications, as well as for careers in teaching and teaching-related professions.
With exceptionally wide and comprehensive range of classes, the Fiction Writing Department features the acclaimed Story Writing® method in sequenced core fiction and nonfiction classes, along with a variety of other complementary approaches in two other strands designed to achieve both depth and breadth to students’ education. These courses enable students to discover the power of their own voices and foster the development of skills and capabilities crucial to success in any professional endeavor. Graduates of the fiction writing program are publishing widely in a variety of genres and forms; and among them are winners of the National Book Award, the Nelson Algren Award, the Midland Society of Authors Award, Columbia University Scholastic Press Association awards, and many others.
The Story Workshop approach differs from the approaches of most other colleges and universities by being a dynamic, highly interactive, process-based method that draws fully upon students’ diverse backgrounds and experiences. Emphasizing permission for and development of students’ unique voice and story content, the Story Workshop approach enables students to tap into their creative potential as they explore the interrelated processes of reading, listening, perceiving, experiencing, oral telling, critical thinking, creative problem solving, and writing—all in an intimate, small-group setting that stresses close individual attention and positive feedback from faculty.
Along with courses on campus, the Fiction Writing Department offers exciting learning opportunities for study abroad in Prague, Florence, and Bath, England. Students may also apply for our Semester in L.A. Program, run in conjunction with the Film Department’s Adaptation program.
Randy Albers
Chairperson, Fiction Writing
Columbia College Chicago is the largest and most diverse private non-profit arts and media college in the nation with more than 120 academic programs and nearly 12,500 students. Because of our size, we offer an unparalleled array of courses with exceptional technological resources in the heart of one of America's greatest cities.
Located in downtown Chicago's vibrant South Loop neighborhood, Columbia is a non profit creative academic community that takes a practical approach to arts education. Our programs in the visual, performing, and media arts are firmly rooted in a rigorous liberal arts and sciences curriculum, which provides students with the essential context in which to practice their craft, develop their voice, and launch a sustainable career.
Columbia is an eclectic, urban community located in the city’s Education Corridor. Close by are several other colleges and universities, the Art Institute, Navy Pier, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, the Chicago Symphony, the main branch of the Chicago Public Library, Lake Michigan, and the Goodman Theatre. Convenient public transportation allows Columbia’s faculty and students to use the entire city as a social, cultural, educational, and professional resource, effectively turning all of Chicago into our campus.
Just about every corner of Chicago speaks of our involvement in the community. Competitions, awards, and professional forums are sponsored by Columbia College Chicago. Current students, faculty, and alumni broadcast over the local television and radio airwaves, perform in our city venues, and publish writing available in our city bookstores. Every student at Columbia is a part of Chicago’s vibrant and inspiring urban life—as well as a critical player in the burgeoning growth of its world-class social and cultural scene.
Columbia College Chicago believes in the power of your creativity. Join our community of outstanding faculty and alumni by applying to become a fellow Columbia student today.
We pioneered the concept of developing a faculty of working professionals, believing that no one can teach better than those who have been there and done that and are still doing it. As a result, our programs stress the career outcomes of a higher education, and our staff of award-winning professionals produces alumni who, in turn, become award-winning professionals themselves.
Notable alumni working in the field of fiction writing follow below. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this field, some names may be re-listed in other programs.
David-Matthew Barnes
Author, Playwright, Poet, Writer: Slam Boston Award Winner, Carrie McCray Literary Award Winner, Elly Award Winner
Johnny Ramirez Really Wants To Kiss Me, Bracelets and Boyfriends, Better Places To Go
Karyn Bosnak
Author
Save Karyn, 20 Times a Lady
Larry Heinemann
Author: National Book Award Winner, Guggenheim Fellow, National Endowment of the Arts Grant Recipient, Fulbright Scholar
Paco's Story, Black Virgin Mountain, Cooler by the Lake
J. A. Konrath
Author: Barry Award Nominee, British Dagger Award Nominee, Bob Kellog Humanitarian Award Winner, Derringer Award Winner
Bloody Mary, Whiskey Sour, The Big Guys
Stephanie Kuehnert
Author
Ballads of Suburbia
Josefina Lopez
Screenwriter, Playwright, Author: Humanitas Award Winner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez Award Winner
Real Women Have Curves
Joe Meno
Author: Great Lakes Book Award Winner, The Story Prize Finalist, Society of Midland Authors Award Winner, Nelson Algren Award Winner
The Great Perhaps, Hairstyles of the Damned
Sharon Mesmer
Poet, Author: MacArthur Fellow, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow
The Virgin Formica, Ma Vie a Yonago, Annoying Diabetic Bitch
Earl Sewell
Author
Kimani Tru
In 2011, nearly half of new freshmen received scholarship support from Columbia College with awards averaging $5,000–$10,000 per student. Scholarship awards were based on the student’s admission application date, high school GPA, and receipt of the student’s FAFSA. The earlier you apply, the better.
Columbia also awarded Presidential Scholarships—competitive merit-based programs based on academic achievement and demonstration of talent, ability of accomplishment in the student’s intended major.
Learn more about scholarships at Columbia College Chicago.
Amazon Listmania
Columbia College Chicago Alumni Authors, Vol. 1
Columbia College Chicago Alumni Authors, Vol. 2
Columbia College Chicago Faculty Authors
Online Articles
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August 2010 |
Express.co.uk | Books :: The Time Traveler's Wife: A brief history of its creator |
British newspaper DailyExpress recently profiled best-selling author and Columbia faculty member Audrey Niffenegger, capturing the research and writing process involved in Her Fearful Symmetry, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and tentatively-titled The Chinchilla Girl in Exile: “A lot of writing is thinking it over. As I’m at the thinking stage it’s not that great a hardship.” |
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August 2010 |
Fiction Review: “How We Move the Air” by Garnett Kilberg Cohen | Newcity Lit |
Book critics are weighing in with glowing reviews for author and Columbia English professor Garnett Kilberg Cohen and her recently released collection of stories, “How We Move the Air.” Newcity Lit reviewer Ella Christoph explains, “Cohen knows how rich, how loud, the written word can be. Her writing makes a subtle sound, but it’s one that doesn’t hit any wrong notes.” |
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July 2010 |
What's the best and/or worst experience you've had at a writers' conference? |
Columbia alum Stephanie Kuehnert (I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, Ballads of Suburbia) recounts her experience attending our Fiction Department's annual Story Week Festival of Writers as a student, meeting other authors and her future agent: "Caren read the first chapter of what would become I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone and I entered the office she occupied hesitantly with a notebook at the ready. The first words out of her mouth were, 'I loved this. I want it. When can it be done?'" |
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July 2010 |
I Have a Character in My Head: Michael Kimball Interviews Gina Frangello |
Critically-acclaimed author and Columbia Fiction faculty member Gina Frangello was interviewed by Michael Kimball of The Faster Times about the craft of story development and the pursuit of being a writer: "I just have no frame of reference for what it would be like to not be a writer, to not hear the voices, to not see the shimmery lines of light on the gracht through both my lens and a character’s lens simultaneously. There is no 'other' way for me. I think like most writers, I chose writing less than it chose me, and that it was a compulsion long before it became a profession." |
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April 2010 |
Jim DeRogatis leaves Sun-Times on a solid note | Feder | blogs.vocalo.org |
Renown music critic of the Chicago Sun-Times and co-host of NPR’s popular “Sound Opinions” will be joining our faculty this fall as a full-time instructor in the English Department of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences: “Journalism and cultural criticism are in a period of radical reinvention, and their futures will be shaped in part by the students in Columbia’s desks right now. After 15 years at Chicago’s best daily newspaper, I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity and the challenge to help guide those students, whose diverse interests, rampant love of the arts, and pervasive enthusiasm has been unmatched at any other school I’ve ever visited.” |
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March 2010 |
Associated with Columbia University in NYC, Columbia Scholastic Press Association this past weekend awarded our Hair Trigger 31 with a Gold Crown, “making this recent award its fifth Gold Crown in as many years and its seventeenth Gold or Silver Crown since the Fiction Writing Department first entered Hair Trigger into the annual CSPA competitions.” Hair Trigger 31 was one of the few to win the award out of the 1,558 magazines, newspapers, yearbooks, and digital media sites entered to review. |
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March 2010 |
Talking about her life as a Young Adult novelist, Stephanie Kuehnert, who received her BA and MFA in creative writing from Columbia, is presently featured on the popular “It Happened in Chicago!” book blog. The Chicago Sun-Times has praised Kurhnert’s books (I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone and Ballads of Suburbia, both on MTV Books), saying, “Like a good ballad, she keeps the stories taut and precise, with a touch of heart thrown in for good measure.” |
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February 2010 |
Chicago Lit: Nami Mun's novel informed by street smarts :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Books |
In heralding “her stunning debut novel,” Miles From Nowhere, our Fiction Writing faculty member Nami Mun is profiled in the Chicago Sun-Times: “It’s not the kind of autobiography most people think of when reading the book. Mostly, people just want to know if the sordid details are true.” |
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January 2010 |
Our Fiction Writing Department is pleased to announce that two of our recent publications have been given top awards by the Columbia University Scholastic Press Association in New York City: |
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January 2010 |
Joe Meno: Algren Award and family love provide validation - chicagotribune.com |
To highlight the new call for entries for the Nelson Algren Award, the Chicago Tribune turned to 2003 award winner and Columbia faculty member Joe Meno to pen about his experience: “It's a moment artists, people, everyone probably all dream of, when something you've committed yourself to, given yourself over to answers back: like signaling in the dark with a flashlight, something suddenly flashes back.” |
"You chose your major because you had to. It was your passion: a strong and genuine desire to make the arts and media your life's work. That passion will serve you well." - Warrick L. Carter, President of Columbia College Chicago
Our students come from all walks of life, from a variety of backgrounds and from a multitude of experiences, but however different they may appear, a common ground exists: our students are passionate.
Columbia College Chicago offers an academically rigorous creative learning environment for students eager to study the visual, performing, media, and communication arts. At Columbia we wed theory and practice. Throughout their studies, students are firmly rooted in coursework in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as the fundamental theories and histories that shape their chosen disciplines. Equally important, they get their hands dirty by creating work of their own, collaborating with students from other disciplines, making industry contacts, and working alongside faculty who provide the context and expertise to guide their work.
By their final year Columbia students have developed a Body of Work that gives voice to their talent and personal vision. The countless hours logged at consoles, the late hours spent in practice rooms, the miles ran across stages, and the dog-eared pages of their notebooks demonstrate a unique passion not found on any other campus in the nation.
With nearly 100 student organizations, Columbia College Chicago offers students myriad opportunities to independently organize events, clubs, and initiatives that give voice to their passions, politics, and creative interests. Whether you have a passion for fashion (Columbia College Fashion Association) or comedy (Droppin' $cience) or softball (Columbia Renegades), each one of the clubs, groups, and organizations on our campus is proudly student-created, student-run, and student-promoted. We happily give you the venues and the resources you need to organize and execute.
Official student organizations relevant to this program
Fictionary Magazine
Japanese Anime and Manga
Department publications
F Magazine
Hair Trigger
Outside organizations featuring Columbia students or Columbia-based chapters
Silver Tongue
Columbia’s urban campus is home to some of the most innovative student housing available. Our four residence centers are centrally located on campus, each with their own unique vibe, and provide ideal settings for creative students. Each building features its own unique set of amenities (from music practice rooms, fitness centers, bicycle storage, to a graffiti room), and each uniquely embodies the innovative mindset of the College. Columbia’s residence centers are a hub of social activity—actively building strong communities by providing the events, social support, and resources that truly make it their home-away-from-home.
Those interested in an immersive residential environment are encouraged to explore the Writertypes Living Learning Community, which brings together writers of all types: poets, journalists, novelists, playwrights, and anyone else who finds words the most interesting way to communicate.
Additionally, the Loud Speaker Living Learning Community is open to students who have something to say via slam poetry, spoken word, and rap battles.
Of note, Columbia’s on-campus housing is situated in the heart of the “South Loop Education Corridor” of Chicago, among the safest neighborhoods in the third largest city in the United States with steps-away access to mass transit. The adventurous will appreciate the numerous cultural, career and social opportunities awaiting them at the nearby clubs, theatre companies, and media agencies; the homesick will take comfort in experiencing that a short walk or brief ride will take them to a meal as good as mom made, be it a classic American diner in the Loop or a beloved pho restaurant in Little Vietnam.
How to Apply for Housing
Students who apply for Admission using Columbia’s Online Application should complete the On-Campus Housing section of the application. Students who apply for Admission using the Common Application will be asked to complete an On-Campus Housing application separately.
Important Note: Housing is assigned on a first-come first-served basis, and we do our best to match students with the “room-type” and/or roommate preference they indicate on the application. Housing assignments are made exclusively by room-type, and not by building. More information about residence life and housing are available here.
Thank you for your interest in applying to Columbia College Chicago. We welcome applications from all students interested in becoming part of our diverse and uniquely creative community. We look forward to reviewing your application!
Ready to apply?
Visit our Apply page to begin.
For all domestic students, there are three key parts to Columbia’s application:
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1 of 3 |
Application, including housing portion, essay and application fee |
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2 of 3 |
Letter of recommendation |
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3 of 3 |
Official transcript(s) |
Regarding test scores: If you have taken the ACT or SAT, and your scores are not on your transcript, please arrange to have your test results forwarded separately to the Admissions Office. Although the ACT or SAT is not required for admission to Columbia College Chicago, these tests are valuable tools for advising new students. In many cases ACT scores may be used as an alternative to the college's assessment test. All students are strongly urged to complete one of these tests while they are in high school.
Detailed information about the application process is available on the Apply page.
International applicants are welcome: please view special instructions to ensure your application is completed properly.
Full-time tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year is $20,094. For a comprehensive list of fees and costs, as well as information about financial aid and scholarship opportunities, please visit Student Financial Services.
Application fee for domestic students: $35.00
Application fee for international students: $100.00
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Spring 2012 Applicants |
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November 15, 2011 |
General deadline for Spring 2012 applications |
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December 15, 2011 |
Final decision date for Spring 2012 applications |
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Fall 2012 Applicants |
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January 1, 2012 |
FAFSA Application process opens |
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May 1, 2012 |
General deadline for Fall 2012 |
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July 31, 2012 |
Final decision date for Fall 2012 |
Columbia’s Admissions Review Committee evaluates all completed applications for admission to the College. Students will be notified of their admissions decisions by mail or email within three to four weeks of the completion of their admissions file.
Students whose application materials suggest they are likely to be under prepared to meet the College’s standards will be required to participate in the College’s Summer Bridge Program. Students who are required to participate in the Bridge Program must successfully complete the program before they can be admitted to the College. Students whose application materials suggest that they would be inordinately challenged by the College’s curriculum and/or students who, in the College’s sole determination, do not demonstrate the maturity and commitment necessary to be successful in our rigorous programs will be denied admission.
Admission to Columbia College Chicago is offered for a specified term of entry. Students who are offered admission to Columbia but are unable to enroll in the specified term of entry may request to defer their admission for one year by contacting the Undergraduate Admissions Office in writing. Application materials for students who are granted deferred admission are retained for one year.
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
- Art and Design
- Art and Materials Conservation
- American Sign Language – English Interpretation
- Audio Arts and Acoustics
- Creative Writing: Nonfiction
- Creative Writing: Poetry
- Cultural Studies
- Dance
- Early Childhood Education
- Fashion Studies
- Fiction Writing
- Film & Video
- Interactive Arts and Media
- Journalism
- Marketing Communication
- Music
- Photography
- Radio
- Television
- Theatre