Online Class: Creative Writing for Beginners

This creative writing course is designed to teach you the tools and mechanics of creative writing as well as provide exercises, ideas, and strategies for thinking more creatively in your writing.

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  • 15
    Lessons
  • 32
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 5,849
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 14
    Hours
    average time
  • 1.4
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

Unleash Your Inner Wordsmith: A Journey into the Heart of Creative Writing

In a world punctuated by visual and auditory marvels, the eloquence of words remains timeless. Just as an artist delicately strokes the canvas and a sculptor molds life into clay, a writer weaves dreams and realities on the blank slate of paper. And in this digital age, the dance of fingers over a keyboard becomes a symphony of creativity. Our comprehensive course is a sanctuary for both budding and seasoned writers, serving as the compass to navigate the boundless seas of creative writing.

Why This Course Resonates:

  • Diverse Palette: Dive deep into the myriad realms of fiction, poetry, screenplays, and immersive nonfiction.

  • Foundations & Flourishes: Whether you're penning your first word or your thousandth page, master the basics and nuances that make your writing resonate.

  • A World of Forms: Understand the quintessence of diverse writing styles, from captivating memoirs and revealing biographies to incisive articles for newspapers and dynamic blogs.

  • Break the Shackles: Battle and conquer the daunting demon of writer's block, ensuring your creativity flows unhindered.

  • From Creation to Celebration: Not only nurture your creation but also learn the art of showcasing it to the world, understanding the avenues to get your masterpiece recognized and published.

Course Highlights:

  • 15 Engaging Lessons: Each lesson, a stepping stone, builds upon the last, ensuring a holistic grasp of creative writing.

  • Hands-On Exercises: Post-lesson exercises designed to solidify your understanding and hone your skills.

  • Innovative Assignments: Fuel your creativity with tailored writing assignments that ignite inspiration and set your imagination aflame.

This course isn't just an introduction; it's an odyssey into the enchanting universe of creative writing. It celebrates the spirit of expression, empowering even the greenest novices to seamlessly translate their thoughts into words. So, whether you're scribbling in hidden notebooks or longing to ink your thoughts for the first time, this course promises to be the wind beneath your literary wings.

Join us, and be astounded by the symphony of words you can orchestrate. Embark on this journey, and etch your own legacy in the annals of creative writing!

Course Motivation

About this Course
 
Creative writing is a form of artistic expression. While the painter uses canvas and the sculptor uses clay, the writer uses pen and paper – or computer and keyboard -- in today's world. These lessons are designed to teach you the tools and mechanics of creative writing. You'll learn about writing fiction, poetry, screenplays, and even non-fiction. It doesn't matter if you're already writing, or if you want to learn more about it so you can start. This course teaches you the basics, and gives you the skill sets you need to start creating your written works of art.

There are 15 lessons in this course. Each lesson is broken down in order to address a form of creative writing, and to explore the tools and mechanics that pertain to it. After each lesson, you will find exercises. These are simply a way to gauge what you have learned and help you reinforce what was covered in the lesson. The exercises are mandatory, and they are what you will be graded on for this course.

After some of the lessons, you will also find a lesson assignment. Each lesson assignment was created to get you started writing. You will be asked to write using the tools and mechanics taught to you in the previous lesson. Unlike the exercises, these assignments are optional and do not have to be turned in.  However, practicing what you have learned always helps to "concrete" it in your brain, so you are encouraged to complete every assignment just as you would an exercise.

About Creative Writing
 
There are thousands of creative writing courses out there today. You can take them at almost any college or university, online schools, and even through other organizations that offer them to aspiring writers. But with that said, the most important thing you can learn about creative writing is this: No one can teach you how to be a writer.   Moreover, no one can teach you how to be creative, and how to use that creativity to write.The best English professor on this planet cannot teach you how to be a writer. Only you can do that – for yourself.
 
They, like this course, can only teach you the tools and mechanics professional writers use.  It's then up to you to practice, to write all the time -- every day, even – and to hone your craft. Not everyone who likes to write will become a professional writer. That said, writing is something you have to enjoy. You have to want to do it a lot.  And, most importantly, you must read at least twice as much as you write.  It's only through learning from successful professional writers and practicing your own writing that your "creative writing" endeavors may start to turn into the kind of stuff that made John Grisham or Stephen King household names. Still, it's only a maybe. It's a competitive world.

Creative Writing Defined
 
Oftentimes, the term creative writing is given more weight than it actually deserves. Any type of writing that you might do is creative writing.  If you write articles, nonfiction books, poetry, memoirs, screenplays, or fiction – this is all creative writing.  In the last section, we talked about the fact that nobody can teach you to be a writer, yet creative writing classes are offered at most universities and hundreds of places online.The problem with this is creative writing covers every kind of writing you can do. Most creative writing courses tend to focus on fiction, but fiction is just the start. 
 
Creative writing is defined as the imaginative creation of drama, fiction, or nonfiction, especially as a course of study. In this course, you're going to learn about the most popular forms of creative writing. We may not be able to teach you to be a writer, but we can give you the skill sets you need to be well on your way. All you have to add is practice.

The Different Types of Creative Writing
 
You can also go through this list and maybe determine which types interest you the most.  
  • Fiction . Of course, fiction is the most recognized form of creative writing since the stories begin in your imagination.
  • Journals and diaries .  Most people don't think of this as creative writing, but keeping a journal or diary (for personal or family history reasons) is just as much creative writing as any other form.
  • Blogs .  Let's face it. Blogs have changed the way we read the news and also given us insight into the things that interest us and the lives of those people who interest us.
  • Articles . Articles may contain facts, but creativity is put into constructing and writing them in a way that will interest the reader.
  • Screenplays .  What's the funniest movie you ever watched? Did you ever think about the writer who created the screenplay?
  • Nonfiction . It's the same as it is with articles. The facts inside a nonfiction book or story may be true, but a lot of creativity goes into making it fun and interesting to read. It's a safe bet that you've never read a nonfiction book that put you to sleep.  
  • Memoirs .  Whether you're writing your own or someone else's, this is another form of creative writing.
  • Poetry .  Poems are probably one of the most artistic forms of creative writing, because of the imagery they evoke when written well.

The Value of Creative Writing
 
Too many people start out writing with the hopes of becoming liked by readers and published by some big, glamorous publishing house. However, the people that have the eyes on the prize are often the ones that forget the true value of creative writing.

It's a great thing if your goal is to become a published writer, or even a well-read blogger or journalist. But that should not be your only reason for writing. The writing world is highly competitive, and it's extremely critical. Even the best-known, most popular authors papered their walls with rejection slips, or lived as an unknown for years before they rose to popularity. That said, anyone who starts creative writing simply because they think their writing is so different or special that everyone will instantly fall in love with their words is headed for heartbreak.  It's a long road to that point, and it's filled with potholes.

The real value of creative writing lies in the enjoyment you get from it, as well as the enjoyment the people closest to you will get from it. You can publish you own blog and only have 20 people who read it faithfully.Guess what? That makes you successful if you enjoy writing it, and those that read it (no matter how many or how few) enjoy it as well.  

Creative writing is our escape from our worlds. It's also a way to document the things that go on around us. Even a short story you write, then cram into a drawer, will have value to those who read it years from now. It will tell them a story about you, the things that were on your mind, and the world around you at that time. Think of the classic books from writers such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Think of nonfiction biographies like that of Ann Frank.  Even if your work is never widely read or published, it will have value to those who read it now – and even more value later as a historical account. 

But more than anything, as we said before, the true value of creative writing is the enjoyment that you get from it. 

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.5 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(4,722 votes)

Lesson 1: Introduction to Creative Writing

This course teaches you the basics, and gives you the skill sets you need to start creating your written works of art. Additional lesson topics: What Is Creative Writing? 36 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Writing; Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: An Introduction
  • Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam

Lesson 2: Exploring Creative Writing

People write for many reasons.Some write for their own personal enjoyment. Others write as gifts to others. 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam

Lesson 3: Secrets of Creative Writing

When you learn to use the tools that professional writers use, you truly master creative writing. Additional lesson topics: Clauses 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam

Lesson 4: Elements of Short Story and Fiction Writing

In this lesson you'll learn components you need to write a narrative. 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam

Lesson 5: Dialogue

Dialogue is defined as a conversation between two or more characters or people. Additional lesson topics: Stories told in dialogue; Writing Dialogue 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam

Lesson 6: Point of View

The point of view that you choose in your writing will depend on what you want to accomplish, your story itself, and how much influence you want a character to have over each scene. Additional lesson topics: Point of View; Point of View for Short Stories 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Point of View
  • Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam

Lesson 7: Writing Nonfiction

In this lesson, we're going to focus on the three types of nonfiction that appeal to most creative writers. Additional lesson topics: 10 Tips for Nonfiction Writers 35 Total Points
  • Complete: Lesson 7 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam

Lesson 8: Writing Poetry

Poetry is a beautiful art, and it's an art that you're going to learn about in this lesson. Additional lesson topics: Writing Poetry 34 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam

Lesson 9: Writing Articles, Blogs, and Journalistic Pieces

What you learn in this lesson can be used to write articles for article banks, blogs, or newspapers, both online and off. Additional lesson topics: Effective Internet Article Writing 34 Total Points
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam

Lesson 10: Writing Dramas, Scripts, and Screenplays

Writers who write dramas are often called screenwriters, and sometimes scriptwriters, because the words they write will often be acted out on stage, instead of just read from a book. Additional lesson topics: How to Write a Movie; How to Write a Play 34 Total Points
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam

Lesson 11: The Importance of Editing

Editing is the process of arranging, revising, and preparing work for publication. Additional lesson topics: Rewriting and Editing 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Exam

Lesson 12: Overcoming Writer's Block

Writer's block is a phrase that's used when someone who wants to write can't. Additional lesson topics: Stephen King's Tips; Tips for Overcoming Writer's Block 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 12 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Writer's Block
  • Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Exam

Lesson 13: Unlocking Your Creativity

This lesson is full of creative writing prompts you can use to unlock your creativity to produce ideas, then flesh them out once you come up with them. Additional lesson topics: 25 Creative Writing Prompts; Creative Writing Prompts; Submissions 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 13 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 13 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Exam

Lesson 14: Resources for Writers

Most people who write on a regular basis want to publish their work. 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 14 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 14 Exam

Lesson 15: Publishing Your Writing

You're going to learn the various ways you can build a name for yourself and publish your work, as well as the best ways to make money from your writing. Additional lesson topics: 7 Publishing Tips 106 Total Points
  • Lesson 15 Video
  • Lesson discussions: What do you think about this course?; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
  • Complete: Lesson 15 Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 15 Exam
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
594
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Describe the creative writing process.
  • Define elements of short story and fiction writing.
  • Demonstrate dialogue.
  • Demonstrate point of view.
  • Demonstrate writing nonfiction.
  • Demonstrate writing poetry.
  • Demonstrate writing articles, blogs, and journalistic pieces.
  • Demonstrate writing dramas, scripts, and screenplays.
  • Describe the importance of editing.
  • Describe techniques overcoming writer's block.
  • Recognize new ways to unlock your creativity.
  • Describe ways to publish your writing.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Creative Writing for Beginners
Course Number: 9770561
Lessons Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars (4,722 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.
Last Updated: October 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 1.4 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: Dana Kristan
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "I have a B.A. in Creative Writing and let me tell you, this course was both incredibly helpful and very fun. I have honestly learned more from this course than most of my college classes. The assignments were engaging and immensely helpful. I went in thinking this course would be a refresher for me, but I am genuinely blown away by just how much I have learned." -- Kaitlyn W.
  • "This course was helpful for me. I learned a considerable amount about writing in general as well as gaining insight into the creative aspect. I thoroughly enjoyed every assignment, in particular, that they were assessed, marked, and issued with comments. The turnaround time for the assessments provided was exceptional. I was encouraged by the regularly updated grading and having a report card for reference. The course content provided me with what I was wanting and more. Recommending your course will be a pleasure for me and I will take on another in the, not too distant future. Many Thanks." -- Peter P.
  • "I found this course very helpful. I learnt a lot about the different types of writing and which forms/genres I hope to pursue. The writing prompt exercises were especially helpful, as they are a good practice to keep yourself writing when you can't think of any original ideas yourself." -- Lisa K.
  • "I really enjoyed this course! I have loved writing my whole life, but I still learned a lot about different writing techniques and styles. I loved receiving the positive feedback from my tutor too. I found some of the writing assignments appropriately challenging and they forced me to put into action what I was being taught...Thank you for all of the work that went into creating this course!" -- Michaela D.
  • "It really helped with positive feedback from the instructor and her quick response to my assignments." -- Deborah D.
  • "Thank you so much, I feel like I've gained a lot from this course. I definitely consider it a great starting point for me to build upon and hone my craft further. Thank you, and you'll most likely see me in another writing course soon." -- Michele C.
  • "I really enjoyed doing this course and the help and advice from the instructor." -- Tammy P.
  • "The instructor was very fair and very timely in getting my assignments/exams back." -- Mary lee S.
  • "The instructor is a blessing and was so encouraging." -- Daphne B.
  • "The instructor was extremely prompt in grading assignments and provided valuable feedback." -- Randy E.

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