WRITING BASICS

In this series, writers learn fundamentals of crisp, clean, marketable writing—including paragraph and theme development.

NONFICTION

Nonfiction includes "how to," essays, autobiography, memoir--anything that is NOT fiction. This series is divided into Places or Things, People, and Events.

ESSAYS AND ARTICLES

The writer chooses three from these options: autobiographical essay, letters, humor and satire, persuasive essay, and informal essay.

STORY (Fiction)

The writer completes and revises three stories with different narrative points of view: first person, omniscient, and third person limited omniscient.

DEVOTIONS

The devotions series consists of five short assignments, each one asking the student to write a single devotion according to certain requirements similar to those specified by devotional magazines. A more challenging sixth assignment calls for the writing of five devotions developing a single theme.

DRAMA

This series includes “A Brief History of the Drama.” The writer completes a dramatic monologue, a dialogue, and a drama for three or more players.

POETRY

This series addresses the relationship between poetry and prose. It emphasizes the writing of modern poetry which uses the cadence of modern speech, modern language, and modern subjects.

CHRISTIAN WRITING

This series cuts across all genres. It includes worship materials, clown mime scripts, lyrics, choral speaking, sermon substitutes, children’s sermons, and many other possibilities.

WRITING FOR CHILDREN

This series also cuts across genre boundaries. Each of the three age categories includes assignment choices in nonfiction, fiction, drama, or poetry.

METAPHOR

This series is organized in three sections, increasing in complexity in the use of metaphor. Choose one assignment from each section or three from the same section.

MYTH & METAPHOR

Writers examine the myth/metaphor relationship -- how metaphor sometimes becomes myth and the significance of myth in our lives.

MEMOIR

Have you thought about wanting to share your life story? Have you wondered if some of the stories you tell at family gatherings might be publishable in magazines? Are you interested in leaving a legacy for your loved ones? If so, this course will inspire you, educate you and start you on the right track.

INDIVIDUAL WRITING PROJECT

Design your own! This project may be any genre. It might be a long essay, a collection of short stories, a book-length manuscript.

Note: Writers may be assessed additional critiquing fees for manuscripts that are longer than the average series.