Date of Award
Spring 5-10-2022
Degree Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW)
Department
English
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Lara Smith-Sitton
Co-Chair
Andrew Plattner
Abstract
The worlds of genre fiction and literary fiction frequently merge, but in practice, they tend to be taught and published separately. My work attempts to show that the two spheres function best when combined. A writer can use widely popular fiction to promote positive change and reflect on important aspects of the human experience (YA authors like Tracy Deonn do this particularly well).
To demonstrate, I've created a writing portfolio that contains pieces from both before and after my time in the MAPW program. I've composed intertexts that track each piece's conception and development, with the goal of providing a helpful reference for future students. At the end, I've included a chapter of the novella I drafted during my last two semesters in the program: All the World Shall Know. In it, I hope to use the popular fiction format to reflect on systemic injustice in the United States in front of a wide audience.