Online Course: How to Write a Short Story 101 - Certificate and CEUs
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Online Class: How to Write a Short Story 101

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Enroll today! This is a self-paced, online course. You have 6 months to finish. An instructor will monitor your progress and assess your body of work at course completion.
Course Cost: 6 Month Subscription
Basic Course (no certificate)   =   $30.00
Course with Certificate & CEUs   =   $55.00
Earn a certificate (both hard copy and electronic) upon successful completion (additional charges apply). UniversalClass™ offers many wonderful learning tools to help you get the most out of your online course, including an online portfolio service that manages all your course completions.
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Course Description

Writing

If you're a reader and thought you might like to try your hand at short story writing but just don't know how to get started, this basic course will help.
 
 
This online class takes you through the entire process…preparing your mind, getting ideas on paper, and helps you through the editing and proofing process. You'll learn new skills, and find new ways to express yourself.
 
As you advance through this course, you're going to learn the correct way to write a short story.  More than that, you're going to learn the aspects of every good short story as well as learn how to create your own wonderful works!
 
Amateur short story writers try to write their stories like miniature novels. Their stories read as either an excerpt or a condensed novel. Unfortunately, undisciplined writers do not write short stories that are complete. They overlook the fundamentals--such as--what sets the short story apart from a novel, and why one can never be substituted for the other. 

This course will show you how to write effectively and creatively. So join us today! And let's write some short stories that people want to read!

Course Lessons

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Lesson 1: The Differences between a Short Story and a Novel

To write short stories it's important that one have a good understanding of what one is and how they differ from novels. This lesson examines in detail what they are and how they differ from and novels.

Lesson 2: Starting a Short Story

While novels may have lengthy introductions with background information, short stories do not. With short stories you need to jump right in and work to advance the plot. This lesson explores all the ins and outs of starting a short story.

Lesson 3: Writing a Catchy First Paragraph

The first paragraph of a short story is the biggest determining factor as to whether or not the reader will continue reading or not. This lesson looks at what goes into writing a great opening paragraph.

Lesson 4: Developing Characters

While a strong opening to a short story is essential, the characters are the glue that hold it together. In this lesson you will learn about what should go into developing a character.

Lesson 5: Choosing a Point of View and Tense

The point of view your story will take is an important factor. This lesson explains the differences in points of view and tenses and when it's appropriate to use each of them.

Lesson 6: Dialogue

Dialogue is one of the most important and interesting things that goes on in a short story. But how do you write it correctly? This lesson looks at the rules of writing good dialogue.

Lesson 7: Setting, Context, and Plot

In this lesson you will learn about how to go about writing the setting, context, and plot of the story. A lot of what you have learned so far starts coming together with this lesson.

Lesson 8: Conflict and Tension

Conflict and tension are key elements to any short story. This lesson breaks down and explains the rules of how to use it in writing short stories.

Lesson 9: Building to a Climax

All good short stories must build to a climax. This lesson explains what the climax is and when it's ideal to reach it.

Lesson 10: The Resolution

This lesson focuses on the resolution to the conflict in the short story. It covers what it is and how it's used.

Lesson 11: Tips for Writing Your Short Stories

This lesson covers information about writing short stories, finding fresh ideas, and finding a market to get them published.

24 Answers Every Writer Should Know

24 Answers Every Writer Should Know

Optional Certificates Awarded

  1. Certificate of Class Participation
  2. Certificate of Merit
  3. Certificate of Academic Excellence
Certificates may be awarded by the instructor at his/her own discretion and are based on student merit. To save your award and have a hard-copy delivered, there is a $30.00 processing fee that covers the customization, printing, and delivery of the award, as well as access to the UniversalClass™ Portfolio Service that documents your achievements online. Official awards have a serial number that verifies the authenticity of the award (great for employers to verify your achievement).
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Additional Information

Course Title : How to Write a Short Story 101
CEU Value :

1.0 (Continuing Education Units)

Course Number : 7550055
Course Type : How To
Course URL :

http://shortstory.onlineclasses.com

Course Rating : Excellent Course! 4 Star Rating
Instructor :

Ann Burlington

Syllabus :

View Syllabus

Duration : Continuous: Enroll anytime!
Course Fee :

Basic Course: $30

   

with CEUs & Certificate: $55

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, or educational requirements.

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