Online Class: Nonfiction Writing 101
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 | | | Learn to Write Nonfiction that Sells!
| | Course Cost: 6 Month Subscription Course (no Certificate) = $40.00 Course with CEU Certificate* = $65.00 | * Instantly download, print, and share your CEU Certificate at course completion (additional shipping/handling charges apply for hard copy delivery).
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 Course Description The famous Ayn Rand once wrote, "Like every human activity, [writing] requires practice and knowledge. But there is nothing mystical about it. Any person who can speak English grammatically can learn to write nonfiction." This is as true today as when Ms. Rand first penned it, and you will find it true for you as well as you begin to venture into the world of writing. Nonfiction writing is the most common and broadly dispersed form of writing known to mankind. Nonfiction is based in truth, experience, events or in all of them. It is what the reporter reports; what the biographer writes; what the course writer explains. Everything that is not imagination and invented by the creative mind is nonfiction. This course is designed to take you beyond the basics and to guide you through the writing process to the finish line. In the course, you will learn how to think like an editor, how to choose your subject matter and examine your competition. You will learn how to structure your writing and what to do when you inevitably hit the infamous "writer's block." If you have basic writing skills and if you follow the course content, you should be ready to submit your writing by the end of the course material. You will know what to do with your article or book when you are finished and how to polish it for presentation to a publisher. Remember, "Writers Write" – so get to writing! Learning Outcomes By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Summarize how to think like an editor.
- Define article, project and book.
- Identify subject, title and subtitles.
- Research your subject.
- Review your competition.
- Identify structure and organization.
- Write.
- Summarize what to do when you hit a block.
- Identify what needs to be polished for your audience.
- Perform spelling and grammar check.
- Edit and edit again.
- Fact check and provide proper notation.
- Demonstrate layout, proper spacing and format, and submit your finished product, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Course Lessons |  | Lesson 1: Before You Start, Think Like An EditorTo do anything well in life you must begin by knowing what the critics of your work will object to, what they will turn away from, and what they will buy. Nonfiction writing is no different. | Lesson 2: Article, Project or Book?Before you begin writing you must have a clear understanding of what type of writing you are setting out to accomplish. This is far more important in nonfiction writing than in fiction or creative writing. | Lesson 3: Subject, Title and SubtitlesThe subject, title and subtitles of your book or article are the guts of your work and its basic skeleton respectively. Without them you cannot create structure, content or sense of your material. | Lesson 4: Researching Your SubjectThis lesson is about the references and material available to you to properly write about your subject. | Lesson 5: Reviewing Your CompetitionBefore you bid on a nonfiction writing project and before you begin writing your material, you must review your competition. | Lesson 6: Structure and OrganizationIt doesn't matter how bright or educated you are, if you cannot keep your manuscript together so that others easily understand it when they read, then you are not producing salable nonfiction work. | Lesson 7: Writers Write; Getting Comfy in Your Own SkinWhen you are comfortable with yourself, and as a writer, your personal writing style will flow naturally. The best way to get there is to practice your art. | Lesson 8: Get To The Finish Line; What To Do When You Hit A BlockAs an editor, one of the questions I am most often asked is, How do I get my work finished? This question is common, especially among new or first time writers. | Lesson 9: Rewriting and Rhythm; Polishing for Your AudienceAs an editor, one of the first things I tell writers is to consider your audience. Always consider your reading audience. | Lesson 10: Spelling, Grammar and Proper PunctuationSpelling, grammar and punctuation are important finishing touches that will make the difference in whether your manuscript gets off of the editor's desk to the press or into the "never" basket. | Lesson 11: Edit and Edit AgainWhile the nonfiction writer must be prepared for the inevitable changes to his or her manuscript when submitting to an editor or client, it is of utmost importance to edit your work before submission. | Lesson 12: Fact Checking and Proper NotationIf you do not get your facts correct, then you lose credibility as a nonfiction writer and you soon become someone that editors and publishers are not interested in publishing. | Lesson 13: Layout, Proper Spacing and Format - Your Finished ProductWhile it is easy to understand the intention, most editors and clients want the finished product delivered in a very plain form. The reasons have to do with publishing rather than your manuscript's content. |
Additional Information | Course Title | : | Nonfiction Writing 101 | | CEU Value | : | | | Standard | : | Course Adheres to the ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard | | Accreditation | : | | | Languages | : | English - United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other English speaking countries | | Course Number | : | 7550291 | | Course Type | : | General Education | | Course URL | : | | | Course Rating | : |  | | Instructor | : | | | Syllabus | : | | | Grading Policy | : | Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive a CEU Certificate documenting CEUs earned | | Assessment Method | : | Lesson assignments and review exams | | Duration | : | Continuous: Enroll anytime! | | Requirements | : | View Technical Requirements | | Course Fee | : | Basic Course: $40.00 (no CEU Certificate) | | | | | NOT FOR COLLEGE CREDIT This is a non-credit course, and is provided for your personal enrichment.
This course is not intended to be a substitute for any state, government, licensing, certification or educational requirements.
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