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Literary Arts: Including Fiction, Poetry, Playwriting, and Nonfiction

Westinghouse Arts Academy allows writers to immerse themselves in a variety of styles of composition.  Through workshops, readings, and publication opportunities, writers are trained and supported in a flexible program that tailors to their talents. Literary Arts majors take a range of classes to prepare for the writing life. Our classes are concentrated around four areas of focus: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Playwriting. 

Initially, students study four areas of literary arts. The ability to specialize in fiction, poetry, playwriting, or nonfiction comes during the junior year, when students can choose to concentrate more intensively on their favorite track. School publications, external contests, and participation in the Quill and Scroll Honor Society are just some of the ways students can stretch their abilities as writers.

Graduating seniors leave with a compendium of their work, comprised of published pieces that can be shown to agents, used for college admissions, or form the basis of a professional portfolio.

waacs.writers

Courses

  • Poetics
  • Baroque and the Bard
  • Writing for Young Readers
  • Editing and Publishing
  • Spoken Word
  • Journalism Intensive

Our Faculty Includes…

Josette Kurey

Josette Kurey

Josette Kurey’s original children’s play Just Imagine was recently performed in the Pittsburgh area.  Josette was Associate Director of Publicity for a major children’s book publisher where she worked with celebrities and award-winning authors. She also currently works part time for a literary agent evaluating manuscripts, and volunteers with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival as a script evaluator

Bob Pajich

Bob Pajich

Bob Pajich has worked as a community newspaper reporter in towns around Pittsburgh since 1999, and was managing editor and lead news writer for the world’s largest magazine dedicated to the game of poker. His poems appeared in The New Yinzer, Nerve Cowboy, Chiron Review, The Post Gazette and many others. His poetry chapbook Everyone, Exquisite took second in Nerve Cowboy‘s annual chapbook contest. He publishes chapbooks from local writer through his Zigler Press.

Amanda Bateman

Amanda Bateman

Amanda Bateman is the author of “Tie Dye Tuesday,” a collection of nonfiction essays, and her favorite writers are Celeste Ng and David Sedaris. She is also a co-advisor for the WAACS chapter of the National Honor Society. She holds an M.Ed in secondary English from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor’s degree in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh.

Josette Kurey

Josette Kurey

Josette Kurey’s original children’s play Just Imagine was recently performed in the Pittsburgh area.  Josette was Associate Director of Publicity for a major children’s book publisher where she worked with celebrities and award-winning authors. She also currently works part time for a literary agent evaluating manuscripts, and volunteers with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival as a script evaluator

Bob Pajich

Bob Pajich

Bob Pajich has worked as a community newspaper reporter in towns around Pittsburgh since 1999, and was managing editor and lead news writer for the world’s largest magazine dedicated to the game of poker. His poems appeared in The New Yinzer, Nerve Cowboy, Chiron Review, The Post Gazette and many others. His poetry chapbook Everyone, Exquisite took second in Nerve Cowboy‘s annual chapbook contest. He publishes chapbooks from local writer through his Zigler Press.

Amanda Bateman

Amanda Bateman

Amanda Bateman is the author of “Tie Dye Tuesday,” a collection of nonfiction essays, and her favorite writers are Celeste Ng and David Sedaris. She is also a co-advisor for the WAACS chapter of the National Honor Society. She holds an M.Ed in secondary English from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor’s degree in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh.

Josette Kurey

Josette Kurey

Josette Kurey’s original children’s play Just Imagine was recently performed in the Pittsburgh area.  Josette was Associate Director of Publicity for a major children’s book publisher where she worked with celebrities and award-winning authors. She also currently works part time for a literary agent evaluating manuscripts, and volunteers with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival as a script evaluator

Bob Pajich

Bob Pajich

Bob Pajich has worked as a community newspaper reporter in towns around Pittsburgh since 1999, and was managing editor and lead news writer for the world’s largest magazine dedicated to the game of poker. His poems appeared in The New Yinzer, Nerve Cowboy, Chiron Review, The Post Gazette and many others. His poetry chapbook Everyone, Exquisite took second in Nerve Cowboy‘s annual chapbook contest. He publishes chapbooks from local writer through his Zigler Press.

Amanda Bateman

Amanda Bateman

Amanda Bateman is the author of “Tie Dye Tuesday,” a collection of nonfiction essays, and her favorite writers are Celeste Ng and David Sedaris. She is also a co-advisor for the WAACS chapter of the National Honor Society. She holds an M.Ed in secondary English from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor’s degree in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh.

Evaluation Requirements

Prepare a collection of at least five pieces of your best work. You can submit your work as a hard copy (in a folder or binder), or in a digital format (thumb drive, cd, or link to an online portfolio) that you will leave with your evaluator. Be prepared to discuss your writing and your goals as a student and writer.

Portfolios should include selections from the following list:

  • Poems
  • Short stories
  • Play scripts or screenplays
  • An excerpt from a longer work of fiction
  • Essays, articles, or other works of non-fiction

Want to Learn More?

Next Steps

Admission to Westinghouse Arts Academy is offered to students who successfully audition for one of our six arts focus areas. If you’re interested in audition and enrollment information, sign up to learn more about the process, schedule a tour or shadow day, and secure an evaluation date to audition. Or, support our programs with a financial gift.

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