A graduate creative writing course will study books that began as MA theses
By Kate Hargreaves
When professor of English and Creative Writing Nicole Markotić was selecting books for the department’s final graduate-level creative writing class, she knew she wanted to make a big splash.
“We wanted a course objective that would both celebrate past achievements and project our current student cohort into their own literary futures,” she explains.
In conversation with colleague and associate professor Louis Cabri, Dr. Markotić decided that the course would consist of teaching published books that had started as the master’s theses of former students.
“Not only are all these books unique to the writer and incredibly well written, but I think it’s heartening for emerging writers to get concrete evidence of the publishing triumphs of our grad students as well as to read these texts critically, seeing how each one stands up to a scholarly analysis,” says Markotić.
For Fall 2025, the first term of two back-to-back graduate courses, Markotić selected a range of poetry, short fiction and novels for students to study.
In Winter 2026, the cohort will select from 13 options which books they would like to explore further.
“Because our program is so successful, the number of books will exceed what we can cover in these two semesters,” Markotić acknowledges. “These are still only a selection.”
Midway into the first course, students have responded positively to the syllabus.
Ryan McLaughlin, a student in the class, calls the experience of exploring the writing of former students “incredibly inspiring.”
“We get a sense of the pedigree of the program while also realizing that our own creative projects are possible,” he says.
Fellow student Rabia Munir echoes this, saying, “it has stirred my motivation to write.”
For Margaret Todoroska, who came to Windsor from Toronto for the program, studying MA theses-turned-books has helped her feel a sense of connection to the local community.
“I felt very disconnected when I came to Windsor,” she explains.
“Dr. Markotić’s syllabus became the prescription that helped me orient myself. Not only because the books were often set in Windsor but also because they were written by people who once sat in my position, and evidently, found their path and success. In the loneliness of the first weeks here, I had Dr. Markotić’s syllabus to thank for some companionship.”
As part of the course, Markotić has also brought in authors whose books appear on the syllabus to speak to her class about their experiences in writing and publishing, and she plans to continue this with remote presentations from out-of-town authors next term.
Marissa Reaume, a learning specialist in English and creative writing at the University of Windsor, visited the class to discuss her thesis-turned-book Shallow Enough to Walk Through, published by NeWest Press.
“Visiting Dr. Markotić’s class as a guest speaker was truly a rewarding experience,” says Reaume.
“Having the opportunity to discuss my MA thesis-turned-published novel with current graduate students allowed me to reflect on how my experiences in the MA creative writing program contributed to publishing a novel and teaching writing at the University of Windsor.”
The engagement of the students also offered Reaume some direction with her ongoing writing endeavours.
“The questions and insights students offered during our discussion allowed me to see my novel from their unique creative perspectives as well as inspired new ideas for my current writing project,” she says.
While Markotić is proud to feature the work of graduates of the program, she also acknowledges the success of former students who have gone on to thrive as lawyers, teachers, publishers, as well as in academia.
“I am exceedingly proud of our past and current graduate students,” she says.
Program alumna Hollie Adams, now an associate professor of English at the University of Maine, was surprised and honoured to have her novel Things You’ve Inherited from your Mother, also published by NeWest Press, featured in the course.
Dr. Hollie Adams, author of Things You’ve Inherited from Your Mother, is a faculty member at the University of Maine (photo courtesy of Hollie Adams)
“When I learned that Nicole had assigned my book, my first reactions were surprise and disbelief, but given some time to reflect, I realize it shouldn't have come as a shock at all,” says Dr. Adams.
“Nicole is the biggest supporter and champion of her students—current and former.”
During her MA, Adams was supervised by Markotić and credits her project’s success to Markotić’s "generous, insightful and motivational feedback.”
"Without her encouragement to submit the manuscript to NeWest Press and her advocacy to the editorial board, this book would not exist—and without her serving as its tireless editor, this book would not be the novel it is.”
For Adams, it is Markotić’s unwavering support that drives students toward success.
“She treats her students as serious writers and sees their work not just as class assignments or thesis projects but publishable manuscripts,” Adams says.
"I think this is why so many of them have seen publication. It is one thing to receive a high grade on a creative writing project; it is another to receive mentorship on how to revise that project for publication—and for a professor to make you feel that's possible!”
Even fifteen years past graduation, Adams still credits Markotić for being in her corner, recently volunteer-editing her upcoming book with NeWest Press.
"It really is hard for me to imagine being a published author and a tenured professor without her years of support,” Adams says.
Students study a novel by Hollie Adams in Nicole Markotić's graduate creative writing seminar
For her part, Markotić has high praise for students current and past.
“The UWindsor English department attracts gifted, hardworking, brilliant and dedicated writers and scholars who are always eager to learn and to push themselves past ever widening horizons,” she says.
“Many of our past graduates have published third or fifth books, so it’s wonderful to examine their early work, and celebrate this abundance of emerging literary talent.”
Markotić selected 13 books for her graduate creative writing students to choose from (photo courtesy of Nicole Markotić)
Those interested in reading along with Markotić’s two-part course can check out the following books, all initially written as MA theses in the UWindsor English and creative writing program:
Things You’ve Inherited from your Mother by Hollie Adams (MA ’10) (NeWest Press)
Paper Caskets by Emilia Danielewska (MA ’15) (NeWest Press)
The Greatest Films by Faizal Deen (MA ’14) (Mawenzi House )
You are Among Monsters by Jon. R. Flieger (Palimpsest Press)
Tales for Late Night Bonfires by G.A. Grisenthwaite (MA ’20) (Freehand Books)
Leak by Kate Hargreaves (MA ’12) (Book*hug Press)
Echoes from the Other Land by Ava Homa (MA ’09) (Mawenzi House)
Boldface by Nasser Hussain (MA ’03) (Burning Eye Books)
A Description of the Blazing World by Michael Murphy (MA ’07) (Freehand Books)
umbilical discord by Rawand Mustafa (MA ’23) (University of Arkansas Press)
Shallow Enough to Walk Through by Marissa Reaume (MA ’09) (NeWest Press)
is/was by Jenny Sampirisi (MA ’06) (Insomniac Press)
Anomia by Jade Wallace (MA ’21) (Palimpsest Press)