Offerings

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Writers

Many people are talking about the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), but few know how to use it in their work. This course will not only give you a better understanding of AI in general, but will show you how to leverage AI in your writing (and how to not get into trouble for using it). This two-session course, with online course forum between sessions, will unlock the mysteries of AI, then it will show you exactly how to use AI as your personal research and writing assistant.

July 10-17, 2023, ONLINE ZOOM

Comic Book Creation with Anime

Students will learn step-by-step comic book creation process from story, script, page layout, drawing, inking, color and tone addition, and dialogue, with a focus on Japanese Anime.

May 6-27, 2023, BEC 0152

Creative Nonfiction: Literary Journalism

What is creative nonfiction, and why is it so popular these days? This class introduces students to writing creative nonfiction, emphasizing literary journalism on such topics as science, nature, travel and cultural criticism. Experience this dynamic genre with Greg Lyons, a long-standing and popular COCC faculty member, and write some creative nonfiction of your own. All skill levels welcome!

March 28, 2023 to April 25, 2023, PIO 200B

Creative Writing: "What Did I Just Write?"

In this two-hour workshop, join local writing instructor Mike Cooper to look at theme, intent, significance, and purpose, and explore how to accomplish your goal in your writing. Bring some written work of your own (fiction, nonfiction, or poetry). Open to writers of all levels and genres.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023, BEC 0152

Creative Writing: Beginnings, Middles, & Ends

If a roller coaster went straight and level, it would be a quick train ride. In this workshop, join local writing instructor Mike Cooper and look at how to draw your reader in at the beginning, sustain their interest through the middle, and leave them thinking at the end, even after the story is over. Open to writers of all levels and all genres.

Thursday, April 20, 2023, CHLAB 301

Creative Writing: Exploring Emotion

"Plot is physical; story is emotional." In this workshop, join local writing instructor Mike Cooper to explore the importance of emotion in creative writing. Develop the skills to bring emotion into your work, and help readers connect to your writing more fully. Open to writers of all levels and all genres.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023, CHLAB 301

Fictional Character Building

The best narratives are the ones with complex and compelling characters that stick with us long after we've finished the story. There are characters that we instantly fall in love with, characters that terrify us, and characters that are so flawed and misguided that they must quest to the far reaches of space in order to earn our forgiveness. In this class, we will explore basic approaches that will help develop our skills for crafting character attributes. We'll work hard to avoid tired clichés by engaging in various exercises and writing prompts to inspire originality and perhaps a little of the unexpected! You will walk away from this class with some great new ideas for your fictional characters!

Thursday, May 25, 2023, RDM3 306

Fictional World Building

Setting is an important aspect of every story. No matter the genre, landscapes provide more than just contextual information about time and place. A thoughtfully crafted landscape-whether it be a haunted forest, the inside of a 1968 VW Beetle, or the fiery surface of a meteorite-can work to create dimension and atmosphere. During class, we will employ the use of various techniques and writing prompts to help create textured worlds in which to root our narratives. You will leave this class with some great material for your writing project in any medium or genre!

Thursday, May 4, 2023, RDM3 306

Get Paid to Write: The Complete Series

Whether you're hoping to earn your first money as a writer or you're already freelancing but want to earn more, these workshops will help you get further down the road FAST. The principles of the popular Get Paid To Write series lay the foundation, but this course takes the process deeper.

April 18, 2023 to May 4, 2023, ONLINE ZOOM

Great Novels: Short Story to Film - New Titles

Literary adaptations on the big screen are more popular than ever. This class acts as a reading club and will explore the genre of short stories adapted to film. Each week will focus on material for the students to read, then watch the film. The class will discuss elements of each of the written works and films and identify the different media affect and impression on the reader/viewer.

July 11, 2023 to August 29, 2023, ONLINE ZOOM

HUM 266 : Popular Culture-Travel Literature

This course is a cross-cultural study of travel as exploration, personal narrative, anthropological inquiry and social criticism of places and peoples represented as "other" or "exotic." Examines popular culture as depicted in genres such as travel memoirs, journalism, advertising, educational videos and feature films that critique touristic assumptions.

April 4, 2023 to June 15, 2023, MDR 114

Novel & Memoir Writing

In this course, learn essential building blocks for fiction and memoir including plot, setting, theme, characterization, point-of-view and dialogue. What is the hero's journey, and how does a writer develop a story concept into a page-turning best seller? Award-winning author and college educator Kathryn Mattingly will inspire you to begin your novel, complete your first draft, or reassess what you have written so far. Open to novel and memoir writers of all levels!

March 28, 2023 to May 2, 2023, BEC 0153

Poetry Workshop: Inspiration to Completion

Take a poem (or three or four) from inspiration to completion. Learn techniques that will help generate ideas, begin the writing process and shape it into what you want. This two-part workshop includes a mid-week, one-on-one revision consultation with Irene, as well as a celebratory reading of students' work during the final session.

April 23-30, 2023, ONLINE ZOOM

Poetry Workshop: Let's Write!

Poetry is a powerful tool for connecting to the world through something we share - language - as well as an act of courage and creativity. In this poetry workshop, we'll stock our kit bags with the craft and encouragement we need to walk a poetic line with confidence.

November 11-18, 2023, ONLINE ZOOM

Self-Publish Your Book

Bypass the gatekeepers, publish your work on your own schedule, and keep a larger portion of the profits! This course focuses on self-publishing via Amazon, but much of the information will apply to publication on any platform and in any genre. Students who do the work will be able to self-publish a book by the end of the class!

May 19, 2023 to June 9, 2023, ONLINE ZOOM

Self-Publishing for Writers

Not too many years ago writers needed an agent and a publisher to (eventually) see their book in print. Today you can bypass the gatekeepers, publish your work on your own schedule, and keep a larger portion of the profits by learning to self-publish. In this course you will discover how to navigate every step in the self-publishing process. Whether you're just thinking of writing a book or you have a manuscript ready to publish, this interactive workshop series will save you time, save you money, and give you a huge head start on the process.

October 23, 2023 to November 13, 2023, ONLINE ZOOM

Short Stories & Flash Fiction

In this class, learn the basic elements of short story and flash fiction writing with award-winning author and college educator, Kat Mattingly. As part of the class, you will have a chance to practice skills for developing plot, character, setting, voice, and dialogue while writing short fiction pieces. Kat will also discuss avenues for publishing your short stories and flash fiction, whether written in this class or otherwise. Open to writers of all genres and levels!

August 3, 2023 to September 7, 2023, CHLAB 207

The Editorial Process for Writers

Over this six-week course, we will cover why authors need to self-edit and give you the opportunity to practice editing your own work. Discover why diversity, equity, and inclusion are an important part of all writing and learn what developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading mean, and how to give and receive critiques and "workshop" your piece. No matter what you're writing, this class will help it be better!

April 5, 2023 to May 10, 2023, CHLAB 207

WR 243: Creative Writing - Scriptwriting

This course introduces students to dramatic writing for both stage and screen. Essential learning processes in the course include scene and dialogue craft exercises, developing strong characters and viable narrative structures, critical reading of plays, screenplays, and/or teleplays, and responding constructively to other student work. Requires regular access to a computer for writing and editing.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

You Can Get Paid to Write

Whether you're hoping to earn your first money as a writer or you're already freelancing but want to earn more, this course will help you get further down the road FAST. This course is taught by a professional writer who can show you how to navigate the stumbling blocks and get your work the attention and pay it deserves.

September 25, 2023 to October 11, 2023, ONLINE ZOOM