Course Objectives

This course is designed to introduce students to the craft of creative writing across a variety of forms and genres, including short stories, poetry, creative non-fiction, and scriptwriting. Whether you are looking to find your unique voice or sharpen your storytelling skills, this course will provide you with the tools and guidance needed to explore and express your creative potential. Through weekly writing exercises, peer discussions, and instructor feedback, you will learn how to craft compelling characters, develop engaging plots, and refine your personal writing style.

Elements of this course include:

1. Story Arcs and Coming Up With Ideas
2. Elements of Storytelling - Creating Engaging Settings
3. Character Development
4. Exploring Genres: Short Fiction
5. Dialogue and Voice
6. Exploring Genres: Poetry
7. Exploring Genres: Short Fiction
8. Exploring Genres: Creative Non-Fiction
9. Worldbuilding and Setting
10. Revising and Editing 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the fundamental elements of fiction, poetry, and scriptwriting.
2. Create original written pieces that showcase character development, plot structure, and dialogue.
3. Explore creative approaches to writing and experimenting with different genres.
4. Engage in constructive peer feedback and revision techniques.
5. Develop confidence in sharing and presenting creative work to an audience.

Students are encouraged to complete weekly writing assignments and actively participate in class discussions. The final project (a short story, poem, script, or creative non-fiction piece) will be presented during the last week of the course. Feedback will be provided on all submissions to aid the creative development of each student.

Requirements
• A passion for writing and a willingness to explore new ideas
• No prior writing experience necessary
• A computer with a camera or webcam, microphone, and speakers, or a smart device such as an iPad, iPhone, or other smartphone/tablet.