Creative Writer Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

Pool for Part-time lecturer - 435/535 for a Directed Writing (Creative Nonfiction and Poetry) Undergraduate and Graduate level
Job no: 560096
Work type: Instructional Faculty - Temporary/Lecturer
Location: Sonoma
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Faculty - Letters/Humanities, Temporary, Part Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)
English Department
Faculty Employment Opportunity - Lecturer
The University
Sonoma State University's beautiful 274-acre campus is located in Sonoma County wine country, an hour north of San Francisco. The campus offers the ideal setting for teaching and learning and access to a community of rich cultural, environmental, and recreational opportunities. Founded in 1960, SSU is one of the 22 campuses of the California State University System. As members of the largest public higher education system in the nation, we provide accessible, high-quality education.
The Department
The English Department has a long history of providing students of diverse backgrounds with the chance to study composition, literature, and rhetoric and to practice creative writing with a faculty dedicated to quality education and personalized support and instruction. We are committed to serving students from all backgrounds, and are proud that our department and Sonoma State provide access to all residents of California (and beyond). Our faculty are expected to teach in the general education program and to be flexible in terms of meeting the needs of the department. Lecturers who teach in our program teach primarily composition, although this is an opening for specific Creative Writing courses taught as part of the department's Creative Writing concentration in the BA.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to see the department's web page at: https://english.sonoma.edu/
Duties of the Position
Teach up to 4 WTU of Directed Writing courses in English 435 (Directed Writing: Undergraduate) or English 535 (Directed Writing: Graduate Level). Work assignment/compensation for 435/535 will depend on WTU number reached by semester census date (September 15, 2026). The 435 and 535 are individualized instruction in creative writing genres, one-on-one with a published writer. For this position, the genres of both Poetry and Creative Nonfiction are needed. The instructor will work with students on a variety of individualized projects in either Poetry or Creative Nonfiction, some of which serve as the students' capstone experience in the undergraduate Creative Writing major track and others of which are the curricular equivalent of taking a writing workshop course in that genre.
- Follow university Syllabus polices
- Hold office hours (typically 1 hour per 3-unit course)
-Depending on needs and availability, there is a possibility that the instructor hired for this course could be eligible to be hired to teach an Advanced Poetry Workshop and/or other Poetry or Creative Nonfiction course in the spring.
Required Qualifications
Qualifications for this Creative Writing course focused on Poetry and Creative Nonfiction include:
1) an MFA or PhD degree in Creative Writing (sometimes designated by genre: poetry, creative nonfiction).
2) publication of a book (poetry or creative nonfiction) with a nationally distributed publisher, as well as significant publications in journals with national prominence.
3) publications demonstrating the ability to work in the genres of both poetry and creative nonfiction.
4) previous experience teaching creative writing workshops or one-on-one creative writing tutorial courses.
Preferred Qualifications
Publication of two books with nationally recognized and distributed publishers.
Rank and Salary
Full-time is a 15-unit workload per semester. Actual salary is dependent upon the number of units assigned, educational preparation, and availability of funds subject to any CSU system faculty contract salary increases.

• Salary commensurate with degree level and experience.
• Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $5,507 - $6,677 per full-time month.
• The full-time (15 units per semester) monthly base salary range indicated above is prorated to the number of units worked and are paid in six monthly payments for each full semester.
• Selection as a candidate in the applicant pool, does not guarantee employment. Temporary Faculty appointments are made on a part-time, temporary basis and contingent upon department needs and funding.
• Temporary Faculty appointments are made on a semester-by-semester basis.
• Relocation expenses will not be provided for temporary faculty appointments.
• Expenses incurred to attend an interview for temporary faculty positions are not reimbursed by the University.

Required Application Materials

• Cover letter indicating your general approach to teaching the 435/535 Directed Writing Course and your general approach to creative writing pedagogy.
• Unofficial transcripts (Official transcripts may be required of the selected candidate)
• Contact Information for 3 References

Application procedures for temporary faculty already teaching in the department:

• Temporary Faculty with three-year appointments do not need to reapply.
• Temporary Faculty who had a paid appointment during the prior academic year with your department (either one or both semesters); this includes Lecturers on the Re-Employment list are not required to apply through the Recruitment Pool unless they would like to be evaluated to teach additional courses, not currently designated as qualified to teach.

How to Apply
To apply for this position, go to jobs.sonoma.edu and click on the Staff & Faculty Career Opportunities link. Find and select the faculty position you are applying for to view the description and select Apply Now. If you have not previously applied, you will be prompted to create an account. You can use this account to apply to multiple positions. Once you have submitted the application, a confirmation email will be automatically sent to you. Please do not send materials to facultysearch@sonoma.edu. If you encounter difficulties during the application process, please email facultysearch@sonoma.edu
Contact Information
Questions concerning the application process may be directed to: facultysearch@sonoma.edu
Questions concerning this position may be directed to:
Dr. Brantley Bryant, English Department Chair at brantley.bryant@sonoma.edu
Please refer to the requisition job number on all correspondence and inquiries regarding this position.
The ADA Coordinator is also available (hraccomodations@sonoma.edu) to assist individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation during the hiring process.
Our Commitment
Sonoma State University is a federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution, as such we are committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and we endeavor to employ faculty and staff reflecting the linguistic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the region and state.
Guided by our core values as a university: diversity, sustainability, community engagement, and adaptability, Sonoma State University (SSU) offers an education that fosters intellectual, social, and personal growth. SSU is a public liberal arts and sciences university. As the only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges in the state of California, we are committed to preparing students for a life of active citizenship and public service. We have a vibrant campus life characterized by a lively co-curriculum that fosters broad-based intellectual and artistic opportunities in which the campus as a whole is actively engaged.
Sonoma State University is committed to creating a community in which bias and intolerance have no place. It is our expectation that all students, faculty, and staff work together to honor this commitment and hold each other accountable to create an open and inclusive environment.
We are committed to facilitating spaces in which all can grow by building on our students' assets as they explore new knowledge. These efforts include fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, experimentation, empathy, and communication. The successful candidate will be one who can collaborate with faculty, staff, administration, and students to achieve these goals. We are especially interested in candidates committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Equal Opportunity & Mandated Reporting
The University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status. Mandated Reporting: This position may be considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Employment Eligibility & Conditions
CSU Out of State Policy - Sonoma State University, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022 the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current employees who apply for this position.
Sonoma State University hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent upon presentation of documents demonstrating the appointee's identity and eligibility to work, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Sonoma State University does not facilitate the process of applying for an H1B Visa for temporary positions.
Education Code 89521
Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Annual Reports & Safety Information
Sonoma State University's Annual Security Report includes summaries of institutional policy relating to campus safety, drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, and other matters. The report is published in compliance with the Clery Act and includes three years of certain crime statistics that occurred in Clery Act defined geography. A paper copy of the report may be requested in person by emailing the Clery Compliance and Safety Office at clery@sonoma.edu.
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Advertised: Jul 17 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:
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