Course Syllabus: Creative Writing for Beginners

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.    This course was 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 that you need to know and gives you the skill sets you need to start creating your written works of art.

You'll learn:

• About the different forms of creative writing
• The true value of creative writing
• Reasons why you should write – and frequently
• The tools you need to use to write excellent fiction
• The different types of nonfiction
• How to write memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies
• How to write articles for newspapers, blogs, or journals
• How to overcome writer's block
• How to write poetry
• And how to get your work recognized and published

There are fifteen lessons in this course. Each lesson is broken down to talk about a form of creative writing and the tools and mechanics you need to know that pertain to it.   After each lesson, you'll find exercises that help you review what you've learned.   You'll also find a dozen writing assignments that you can use to get the ideas flowing and start writing.

This course is the perfect introduction to creative writing.   It will teach even the newest writer how to successfully take their ideas and put them onto paper.   Even if you've never written anything before, this course will get you started – and you'll be amazed at how well you can actually do once you've finished. 

Lesson 1: Introduction to Creative Writing

About this Course

About Creative Writing

Creative Writing Defined

The Different Types of Creative Writing

The Value of Creative Writing

Lesson 2: Exploring Creative Writing

Why People Write

Why People Don’t Write

Having Fun Writing

Lesson 3: Secrets of Creative Writing

Figurative language

Parallel structure

Repetition

Diction

Wit

Voice

Style

Lesson 4: Elements of Short Story and Fiction Writing

Writing Narratives

Creating a Plot

Creating Conflict

Characterization

Lesson 5: Dialogue

About Dialogue

When to Use Dialogue

Writing Effective Dialogue

Common Mistakes with Dialogue

Lesson 6: Point of View

First Person Point of View

Omniscient Point of View

Third Person Point of View

Lesson 7: Writing Non-Fiction

About Non-Fiction

Memoirs

Biographies

Autobiographies

Lesson 8: Writing Poetry

About Poetry

The Purpose of Poetry

Free Verse

Rhyming Verse

Meter

Rhythm

Lesson 9: Writing Articles and Journalistic Pieces

Know Your Readers

Style and Flow

Content

The Inverted Pyramid

Lesson 10: Writing Dramas, Scripts, and Screenplays

Basics of writing plays

Basics of writing for film / different film genres

Basics for writing a script

Biggest markets for script writers

Lesson 11: The Importance of Editing

Introduction to Self-Editing

Hiring an Editor

Lesson 12: Overcoming Writer’s Block

What Causes Writer’s Block

How to Overcome Writer’s Block

How to Avoid Writer’s Block

Lesson 13: Unlocking Your Creativity

The Golden Rule of Creative Writing

Writing Prompt #1: Index Cards

Writing Prompt #2: Five Paragraphs about Five Things

Writing Prompt #3: The Dictionary

Writing Prompt #4: Journaling and Story Ideas

Writing Prompt #5: Observation

Writing Prompt #6: Freewriting

Writing Prompt #7: Webbing

Lesson 14: Resources for Writers

Before You Publish

The Importance of Reading

The Educated Writer

Writing Communities

Lesson 15:   Publishing Your Writing

Building Credibility for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers

Building Credibility as a Journalist or Article Writer

Blogs and Personal Websites

For Article Writers and Journalists

For Fiction and Nonfiction Writers

E-zines and Other Sites

Publishing Your Work

All course materials will be online and no outside purchases will be required.