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Course Catalog

Creative Writing Classes


Creative Writing courses: Creative Fiction and Non-Fiction classes. Work to get published!


A Novel Experience
Writing a novel? Trying to finish one? Delve into beginnings, characterization, story development, and more, as well as the joys of revision. Students do not critique each other but will receive written feedback from the instructor if they submit up to eight pages (typed, double-spaced) and a one-page synopsis. We'll examine the art of marketing, too. Linda Clopton has received a PEN Syndicated Fiction award, among others, and been a finalist for the Katherine Anne Porter Prize and the River Oak/Hemingway Award. Her work has appeared in both American and Irish anthologies. Limited to 20.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
NOVELEXP (08JUL2013)
Learn More...		 Jul 8, 2013 Aug 12, 2013 Main Campus $225.00 Linda E Clopton
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Basics of a Writing Career
Have you ever dreamed of being a writer? Get a glimpse of a writing career and the life of a writer. You'll be immersed in creative exercises that stretch your ability to write, envision possibilities, and overcome writer's block. You'll be able to participate in stimulating class discussions that validate the writing process. The tips, techniques, and advice are invaluable as you discover the right niche for your work. Bring a sack lunch.

After this class, you will understand:

  • Have the tools and resources to affect a change to their approach from occasionally writing to thinking and acting like a writer.
  • Use practical modalities to stimulate their creativity and apply it to a specific genre being written.
  • Evaluate their individual strengths and disciplines and understand where additional assistance is needed.
  • Evaluate their individual strengths and disciplines and understand where additional assistance is needed.
  • Have the tools and resources to affect a change to their approach from occasionally writing to thinking and acting like a writer.
  • Use practical modalities to stimulate their creativity and apply it to a specific genre being written.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
BASICSWRITCAR (03AUG13)
Learn More...		 Aug 3, 2013 Aug 3, 2013 Briarcliff Campus $175.00 Bridget Anderson
Barbara Collier
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Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
BASICSWRITCAR (05OCT13)
Learn More...		 Oct 5, 2013 Oct 5, 2013 Alpharetta Campus $175.00 Bridget Anderson
Barbara Collier
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English Refresher
Your confidence level will soar as we learn the principles of effective writing, basic mechanics, and correct usage in this class. Through formal instruction, writing and grammar exercises, and group editing, you will improve grammar and punctuation skills by learning how they work in the context of your own writing and that of professionals. Learning how to edit, revise, and proofread will give you such an incredible sense of self assurance about writing that you will wish you had taken this class years ago. Textbooks not included in tuition.

After this class, you will be able to:

  • Use your increased knowledge of English grammar
  • Know the eight parts of grammar.
  • Use improved writing skills
  • Use improved vocabulary
  • Use increased reading skills.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
ENGREFRESH (09JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 9, 2013 Aug 13, 2013 Main Campus $195.00 Randall L Fair
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Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
ENGREFRESH (17JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 17, 2013 Aug 21, 2013 Alpharetta Campus $195.00 Lauren Anthony Paine
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Flash Fiction Workshop
How short can a story be and still qualify as a story? Author James Thomas ponders the question in his seminal 1992 collection, Flash Fiction: Seventy-Two Very Short Stories. The anthology helped create buzz for a “new” subcategory of literary fiction that even today continues to gain devotees among writers, editors, and readers. Also known as short shorts and micro fiction, flash fiction refers to stories intentionally rendered in miniature, squeezing character development and emotional intensity into only a few hundred words—sometimes far fewer. This course will give students the chance to write and workshop original pieces of flash fiction. Analysis of each piece will weigh strategies for creating stories in which every word must work overtime. Students will read and discuss flash fiction by modern masters including Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Tim O’Brien, and John Updike. By the end of the class, students will develop a deep understanding of the craftsmanship and ingenuity involved in writing nugget-sized narratives, insights that apply to compelling stories of any size.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
FLASHFIC (15JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 15, 2013 Sep 16, 2013 Main Campus $259.00 Tray Butler
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Graphic Novels as Literature
Do graphic novels deserve a place at the table of mainstream literature? In the past quarter century, a select group of artists and writers have graduated from the lowbrow episodic escapism of many comic books and achieved new levels of narrative craftsmanship in longer graphic novels. Critics and fans alike have noted the literary aspirations obvious in such titles, with complex themes and character development worthy of scholastic discussion. This course will consider the history of sequential art from the first comics through today, focusing on the graphic novelists who have successfully expanded the boundaries of the medium. Students will read and discuss critically acclaimed works by Will Eisner, Alan Moore, Charles Burns, Marjane Satrapi and Alison Bechdel. The class will investigate the unique storytelling challenges presented by graphic novels and give students a new appreciation for this fascinating, ever-changing narrative art form.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
GRPHNOVELS (14AUG13)
Learn More...		 Aug 14, 2013 Oct 2, 2013 Main Campus $259.00 Tray Butler
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Memoir: How to Write About a Life
This course on memoir addresses practical issues in a workshop format. Whether students are writing about their own experiences or capturing the history of a family, participants in this course will learn the basics of writing about a life. Through discussion and exercises, we will explore how to get started and how to build on memory through interviews and other forms of research, as well as the craft of story-telling.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
MEMOIR (11JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 11, 2013 Aug 8, 2013 Briarcliff Campus $225.00 Christal Presley
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Poetry Workshop: The Poem as Story
At the heart of almost every poem is a story, and the narrative poem has been a popular form of poetic expression for centuries. In this class we’ll focus on the different ways a poem can tell a story while still displaying the elements of poetic craft that distinguish poetry from prose—imagery, metaphor, musicality, and effective line breaks. We’ll read and discuss narrative poems by established poets, and you’ll be given writing exercises and assignments for each class. Join us as we explore the possibilities for poetry to be found in your personal experience, in the retelling of a myth or fairy tale, or in your own imagination. No previous background in literature required. Limited to 15.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
POETSTORY (08JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 8, 2013 Aug 12, 2013 Main Campus $259.00 Alexa Selph
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Proofreading & Copy Editing
Creating a PowerPoint presentation? Reviewing a document for potential new business? Are you responsible for content on the company website? Or is it a newsletter with large distribution? Are you the “final set of eyes” before material is uploaded, distributed, proposed, posted or emailed? Do you check and double-check the work to avoid errors and “embarrassments”? Proofreading and Copy Editing is a hands-on, two-day class that teaches critical skills in reviewing material in document and layout formats. You will learn proofreader/editor marks and how to use them. And you will work with tools that help you stay focused when you are interrupted or distracted. You will practice “marking up” documents clearly, and learn about handling projects electronically. Tuition includes lunch.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
PROOF_EDITING (19JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 19, 2013 Jul 22, 2013 Briarcliff Campus $425.00 Hani Stempler
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Survey - Creative Writing - The Art of Story
Whether you are writing a novel, short story, memoir, or play or you have always wanted to write, your aim is to tell the most compelling story possible, one that has readers turning page after page late into the night. Each week, we will focus on various aspects of great storytelling and practice applying them to our writing. Be prepared for engaging writing exercises and thoughtful yet lively discourse with your fellow writers as we explore the heart and soul of what makes a story great and the step-by-step bare bones of incorporating that greatness into your work.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
SURCREWRIT (16JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 16, 2013 Sep 3, 2013 Main Campus $259.00 Leslie Quigless
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Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
SURCREWRIT (23OCT13)
Learn More...		 Oct 23, 2013 Dec 18, 2013 Alpharetta Campus $259.00 Leslie Quigless
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Writing for Children and Teens
For those who long to be the next J.K. Rowling or Kevin Henkes, this course can get you started. We'll explore the core elements needed to write fiction for young readers: setting, characterization, dialogue, plot, and more. This intensive, information packed approach will conclude with what you need to know when you're ready to market your work, as well as advice on continuing to pursue your dream beyond the classroom. Also appropriate for teachers, media specialists, or fans of children's literature. Textbook is recommended, not required. Limited to 20.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
WRITECHILDTEEN (09JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 9, 2013 Aug 6, 2013 Main Campus $195.00 Kim Siegelson
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Writing Freelance
Magazine and newspaper articles, ads, speeches, even greeting cards--variety is the essence and joy of freelancing. Learn writing tips that catch an editor's eye, survival techniques, and the mysteries of marketing. Classes include shake-loose exercises/assignments. Your instructor writes and edits for magazines and other clients on topics such as decorative arts, health, travel, business, and human interest. Limited to 20.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
WRTGFRLNCE (23SEP13)
Learn More...		 Sep 23, 2013 Oct 28, 2013 Briarcliff Campus $225.00 Linda E Clopton
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Writing Your Book Proposal
Writing a great book is only half the battle! Now you have to sell your book — and the first person you’ll sell it to is either your agent or your editor. A book proposal is the “business plan” for your book, to help you to make that all-important first “sale.” Like a resume, your proposal will be the point of first contact with publishing professionals — which means it can make (or break) your chances for getting a contract. This class, taught by multi-published author Carl McColman, will guide you step-by-step through the elements of a proposal, and what you can do to make yours truly stand out.
Section Start Date End Date Campus Tuition Instructor Action
WRTPROPOSE (11JUL13)
Learn More...		 Jul 11, 2013 Aug 8, 2013 Briarcliff Campus $225.00 Carl Mccolman
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Advanced Poetry Workshop: Beyond the Basics
Designed for people who have taken one of Alexa’s basic poetry writing workshops (such as "Finding Your Way with Poetry"), this class will focus on critiques of student work with an emphasis on revision as an essential step in writing a good poem. We will review some of the basic elements of craft in poetry—form, meter, metaphor, imagery, and musical effects—and talk about how to make poetry a regular part of our busy lives. Tuition does not include textbook. Limited to 12. Prerequisite: Poetry Writing Workshop; Finding Your Way with Poetry OR university level poetry instruction

Click here to purchase course textbook

After this class, you will be able to:

  • Understand the importance of regularly reading good poetry to help develop your writing skills
  • See possibilities for poetry in everyday experience
  • Approach the revision process more systematically
  • Make poetry part of your life, through attendance at poetry readings, subscribing to literary journals, and sharing favorite poems with friends and family
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Creating a Buzz around your Book: Successful Book Marketing in the Internet Age
Join the growing community of authors who are using online promotional strategies to increase awareness of their books. Learn the fundamentals of creating the platform for marketing your work online. Don’t wait for others to promote your book, maximize your opportunities by taking action to create the relationships that are necessary for marketing your book. Lunch is not provided.

What will be covered:

  • What is a marketing platform: Elements of a successful marketing platform.
  • Creating a website
  • How to blog
  • Multimedia outlets

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Inspirational Nonfiction Writing
Books with spiritual themes — from traditional religious writing to more fluid “new age” literature — remain one of the most vibrant and popular of nonfiction genres. But writing about faith, belief and spiritual experience poses unique challenges for both aspiring and seasoned authors. How do you proclaim your message, without sounding preachy or dogmatic? What elements are necessary to make a book interesting, compelling, and spiritually nurturing? How do you navigate the challenges when writing about controversial or innovative ideas? What are the keys to making your work attractive to editors? As the author of more than a dozen inspirational books, Carl McColman will help you to define your mission, hone your voice, and prepare your work for submission to editors or agents. This class is taught from a non-sectarian perspective: any kind of inspirational writing is welcome here. And while it is oriented toward writers seeking publication, the principles of inspirational writing can be beneficial for bloggers and journal-keepers as well.
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Introduction to Arts Criticism

Are you seeking a deeper and richer experience with the arts? Arts criticism is a rapidly changing field, and the need for educated commentary is growing. In this class, students will learn the craft of writing about the arts in the context of today’s exciting debates over the purpose of arts criticism and the future of the practice. Students explore the language for evaluating visual art, dance, music, film, theater and other art forms, and practice constructing solid arguments. Students will attend events and learn to describe, analyze, interpret and review the works they encounter in a sophisticated and meaningful way. This class will be conducted partly as a workshop; students should be prepared to share work and discuss the work of fellow students. The instructor will alter the syllabus to reflect the interests of the students enrolled. Textbooks are recommended, not required.
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Poetry Workshop: Reading, Writing, and Revision
At the heart of almost every poem is a story, and the narrative poem has been a popular form of poetic expression for centuries. In this class we’ll focus on the different ways a poem can tell a story while still displaying the elements of poetic craft that distinguish poetry from prose—imagery, metaphor, musicality, and effective line breaks. We’ll read and discuss narrative poems by established poets, and you’ll be given writing exercises and assignments for each class. Join us as we explore the possibilities for poetry to be found in your personal experience, in the retelling of a myth or fairy tale, or in your own imagination. No previous background in literature required. Limited to 15.
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Principles of Dramatic Writing
In this course, students will explore the principles that underlie all dramatic writing—plays, TV scripts and movies. At its most basic, dramatic writing is about telling a story through scenes. This course will take students through a process for finding the heart of a story and crafting scenes that will surprise and move the audience. Because the scene is a fundamental building block of all stories, this course will also help writers of fiction or narrative nonfiction improve their scene-writing ability and sense of story structure. Books not included with tuition.

Click here to purchase course textbook

Click here to purchase the second course textbook


After this class, you will be able to:

  • Dig deeply into your character and find the heart of your story
  • Shape a scene effectively out of your basic story material
  • Create dialogue that is carefully crafted but reads as if it has been snatched from the mouths of real people
  • Construct scenes so that they build in suspense to a powerful conclusion
Inquire

Screenwriting
Emory Continuing Education is evaluating new Screenwriting classes beginning as early as late Summer 2013 for students who are interested in developing the skills and expertise necessary to write for film and/or television. If you are interested in receiving information regarding these classes as more details become available, please click on the Inquire link below and follow the next steps. Thanks for your interest!
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