Courses

Advanced Novel & Memoir Writing

Students will learn how to elevate their fiction novel or memoir by better understanding the five major components of a good plot, and the seven most successful types of conflict. We will cover how to make characters more relatable and how to write pertinent dialogue that is seamless. We will also examine the impact of easily visualized settings, poignant themes, and an accurate, tension-filled timeline.

February 18, 2020 to March 10, 2020, BEC 0152

Creative Writing Basics

Creative writing is any form of writing which is written with the creativity of mind: fiction writing, poetry writing, creative nonfiction writing and more. The purpose is to express something, whether it be feelings, thoughts, or emotions. If you have always thought you had a book or memoir in you, or just want to write for fun and relaxation, this is the class for you. We will explore different genres of writing using select readings and writing exercises and learn the principles of workshopping creative writing and share writing with one another.

Saturday, March 14, 2020, MDR 114

Creative Writing: A Dog's Voice

You love to write. You love dogs and notice most bestselling books and blockbuster movies are about dogs, and other animals. This workshop is a unique opportunity to go from working like a dog to writing like (and about) one. Writing from a dog's point of view requires empathy and research. Bring a dog to life on the page over two class sessions where students are exposed to literature written from the point of view of dogs and explore the writing process from the perspective of (hu)man's best friends.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Creative Writing: Beginnings, Middles & Ends

If a roller coaster went straight and level, it would just be a quick train ride. In this two-day workshop, you'll learn how to make your stories, fictional and nonfictional, interesting and exciting by exploring a variety of craft methods to hook, engage, and hold your readers, even after they've finished reading. Discover how to take your readers on an exciting ride!

Saturday, May 2, 2020, HCC 0260

Creative Writing: Flash!

Flash fiction and nonfiction (brief, succinct pieces) are increasingly popular and sought after literary forms in magazine and journal publishing. Students will better understand the genre by reading and discussing some samples, creating drafts of flash pieces using prompts and learn the background, elements and where to publish flash fiction. Choose from either a two-day workshop, or gain a deeper understanding with the four-week session. In both, students will create and edit original flash fiction.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Creative Writing: Following Your Character

Ray Bradbury said: "Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations." In this workshop, we'll learn how to create characters, wind them up, and let them go-our only job is to try to keep up with them. We'll learn techniques and exercises to let our characters do all the work for us.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Generative Writing Workshop: Love Letters

Generative writing workshops provide time and space to create new work inspired by writing prompts, craft discussions, and sharing work. In this session, "Love Letters," we will use the form of the love letters to explore objects, people, and places that are important to us.

Saturday, February 15, 2020, RDM3 306

Generative Writing Workshop: Magical Realism

Generative writing workshops provide time and space to create new work inspired by writing prompts, craft discussions, and sharing work. In this session, "Magical Realism," we will write about real world problems and challenges made new by the reveal of magical elements. Be inspired by prompts that intertwine everyday experiences with fairy tale and mythology.

Saturday, May 16, 2020, RTEC 126

Generative Writing Workshop: Making it New

Generative writing workshops provide time and space to create new work inspired by writing prompts, craft discussions, and sharing work. In this session, "Making it New," we will look at creative ways to employ revision to re-think and re-see our writing.

Saturday, March 21, 2020, RDM3 306

Generative Writing Workshop: Unexpected Forms

Generative writing workshops provide time and space to create new work inspired by writing prompts, craft discussions, and sharing work. In this session, "Unexpected Forms," we will look at examples of essays and poetry that take the shape of other texts like recipes, liner notes, to-do lists, and letters, and then we will try our hand at borrowing forms for our own writing.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Generative Writing Workshop: What's in a Name?

Generative writing workshops provide time and space to create new work inspired by writing prompts, craft discussions, and sharing work. In this session, "What's in a Name?," we will explore the power of names. Through a series of prompts about people's names, the names of things, and the names of places, we will investigate how naming can help writers with characterization, world building, and description.

Saturday, May 2, 2020, RTEC 136

Generative Writing Workshop: Writing Micro

Generative writing workshops provide time and space to create new work inspired by writing prompts, craft discussions, and sharing work. In this session, "Writing Micro," we play with prompts for micro writing (fewer than 300 words) across genres. Super short fiction and memoir and brief poetry forms have flourished in the age of social media and text communication. 

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Get Paid to Write: Creating Content that Sells

Do you dream of getting paid to write from home, but don't know where to start? Do you want to work on your own schedule and break loose from the shackles of hourly rates and fixed salaries? This unique workshop zooms in on exactly how to create content that sells. Get one-on-one advice from a seasoned professional writer who reveals the path to take and the dead ends to avoid. You can turn your writing dream into money in the bank. Come to class with a writing project in mind.

April 4-18, 2020, SCI 0190

Introduction to Poetry

Poems have the potential to provide fresh perspective, infuse our everyday language with music, and illuminate a path for self-expression and creativity - but where to begin? In this class, we will combine select readings with writing prompts to equip you with the tools to better appreciate the work of others and get a strong start, or re-boot, on your own poetry practice.

Saturday, February 8, 2020, CAS 115

Marketing for Writers

You've done the hard work of writing that article, short story, or book, but how do you go about getting paid for your labor? Where can you sell your creation and what's a fair price to ask? This unique two-part workshop will answer those questions and more. You don't need a finished project to take this class, or even a solid idea, just bring a desire to learn about the business of writing.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Marketing for Writers: Who Pays & How to Reach Them

Have you already started or even completed a writing project and want to take the next step and be paid for your work? If so, this class is for you! This workshop will help you with the basics of selling the unique content you have already created. Learn the major markets, how to price and promote your work and different tactics to get your work noticed. Bring your completed work or ideas, if you have one, or develop a project during the class.

May 30, 2020 to June 13, 2020, SCI 0190

Novel Writing: Fiction or Memoir

Explore the essential building blocks for fiction or memoir. Plot, setting, theme, characterization, point of view and dialogue will all be covered. What is the heroes' journey and how does a writer weave a tale into a page-turning best seller? Understanding these basics is the first step.

February 20, 2020 to March 12, 2020, RTEC 135

Outlining Your Way to Writing That Works

Whether you're writing a book, writing an article, or developing a website - failing to establish your idea by creating a rock-solid outline is one of the biggest causes of time overruns and unsuitable results. This three-session workshop will help you mold your ideas into a framework that leads directly to an effective, on-time completion. Bring a desire and leave with a solid plan to accomplish it.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Poetry Month: Environmental Poetry for Earth Day

Celebrate Poetry Month and Earth Day by writing and revising your own environmental poems. Join Irene Cooper for a three-week workshop in which you will grow new poems and learn techniques for how to shape and revise them. Read examples and practice some of the many ways you can capture the dynamics and issues of our world in a well-crafted poem.

April 4-18, 2020, HCC 0230

Poetry Works: Poetry Techniques for Prose

Good writing of any kind benefits from clarity, precision, and fresh language. Poetry can help! Perfect the well-crafted line, sharpen your imagery, and get the emotional impact you're after with prompts, exercises, and techniques borrowed from poetry to up your prose writing game.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Poetry Workshop

In this workshop, students will gain inspiration from contemporary poets who embrace a variety of forms. Learn to follow prompts to see where they will lead you and feed your fertile imagination sufficiently to fill a new notebook or MacBook with fresh and nourishing poems.

This course contains no sessions at this time.

Screenwriting Essentials

This class will explore the key elements of screenwriting along with some of the challenges of this craft. Topics will include story structure, character development, plot structure, dialogue and much more. This course is aimed at providing the basics to a new writer, but experienced writers who want to practice their craft are welcome.

February 15, 2020 to March 14, 2020, CAS 104
April 18, 2020 to May 16, 2020, CAS 104

Self-Publishing Basics: Ebooks & Print-On-Demand

Self-publish your novel, memoir, book of poetry or artwork. In this workshop series, you'll learn how to format your manuscript for a professional-looking interior, design covers that catch readers' eyes in print and online, and use print-on-demand (POD) services to distribute the finished product.

February 15, 2020 to March 7, 2020, BEC 0156
April 25, 2020 to May 16, 2020, RTEC 218

Songwriters Workshop

Do you have the music in you? Whether you are a singer, musician, writer, poet, or you have a combination of all those gifts, this could be the class for you. Each week, class will over a topic of the mechanics of songwriting so you can explore your creative songwriting skills. Class will cover the basics including structure, rhyming and phrasing, hooks, melodies and titles and provide the opportunity for writing and practice of the techniques taught. Come to class to encourage others and explore your own creativity in this fun and safe environment.

April 4-18, 2020, SCI 0190

The Creative Writing Process

Learn to employ the techniques of writing effective fiction and creative nonfiction, including story and plot, character development, narrative voice, scene and setting, beginnings and endings, and the use of symbols and metaphor. You will generate work through a series of exercises, prompt writing, and freewriting, and create the first draft of a story (fiction or nonfiction). Learn the principles of workshopping creative writing and share writing with one another.

January 29, 2020 to March 4, 2020, HCC 0140

Travel Writing

Travel Writing with Josh Savage focuses on what it takes to become an established travel writer. In the class, we will share and discuss our writing, develop effective query letters, network and explore other steps involved in the process of becoming a published travel writer.

March 7-21, 2020, HCC 0230

Writing Foundation Grants for Nonprofits

This one-day course is a step-by-step plan to take you from concept, to research, to a viable letter of inquiry, including techniques for clear and concise writing, presentation and use of appropriate agency. The course will include an overview of the 10 fundamental proposal elements and introduce participants to the proposal development process.

Monday, February 3, 2020, CHLAB 301