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Continuing Education

Continuing Education

Writing Online Classes

 

Grammar Refresher
Revive your lost or forgotten knowledge of English grammar and gain confidence in your ability to produce grammatically correct writing. Whether you are a student or professional, a published or beginning writer, this course will help you navigate and master the linguistic twists and turns inherent in English grammar. Grammar is fun if you know the rules. A patient instructor will support you throughout the course, and plenty of interactive exercises will give you ample opportunity to put into practice everything you learn.

Effective Business Writing
Do you have a nagging suspicion that a small improvement in your writing skills might also improve your career prospects? Don't let small gaps in your business writing skills prevent you from reaching your full potential! It doesn't matter whether you're a clerical worker, an engineer, or an executive. If you communicate with others in writing, this course can help you identify and eliminate problem areas. By the end of this course, you'll know the secret to developing powerful written documents that immediately draw readers in and keep them motivated to continue until your very last, well-chosen word.

Beginning Writer's Workshop
If you've dreamed of writing creatively, this course is a great place to start. Get a taste of the writing life, improve your writing skills, and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles. This isn't school as you know it. It is an in-depth writing experience filled with challenging hands-on exercises, expert advice, and plenty of direct support and encouragement.

Writeriffic:  Creativity Training for Writers
Do you have a novel, essay or legacy to share in writing? Have you thought of writing, but don't know how to stay motivated? Are you stumbling with writer's block? Wonder how to capture characters and plots to make them marketable? This class will ignite your creative energies in simple, fun and easy steps. In just six weeks, you'll be a liberated, imaginative and versatile writer ready to tackle or finish that book that is inside you. The class is G-rated in content and language. In the next few weeks, you'll quickly put to use the tools published writers utilize for novels, memoirs, short stories or articles. If you've ever dreamed of hearing your writer's voice and writing what's in your heart and head, this class will make it happen.

Writeriffic 2:  Advanced Creativity Training for Writers
Increase writing confidence, beat writer's block, manage time, negotiate writing fees, write, and live your dreams. Learn advanced methods to create and write like the professionals--whether you are launching a career or seeking personal satisfaction through writing. In Writeriffic 2, you'll learn to be the writer you've always wanted to be and have fun, too.

The Craft of Magazine Writing
Ever read a nonfiction magazine article and said, I can write better than that? With this fun, interactive class you can learn the ropes from a pro and turn your dream of becoming a freelancer into a bright future as a magazine writer. It's fun, it's easy, and a great source of extra income whether you're retired, planning for the future or staying close to the kids. If you're a determined new writer, or if you haven't written for magazines in years, this class will jump start your career. You'll learn plenty of powerful brainstorming techniques designed to practically write every article for you.

Fundamentals of Technical Writing
Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing. You'll discover the secrets of successful technical writers, including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, documentation management, publishing and formatting techniques, and how to get your first job as a technical writer.

Writing Great Technical Documents
Do you write technical documents? Would you like to learn how to write them better? This course will teach you how to polish your writing and improve the effectiveness of your technical documentation. You'll learn how to choose the right words, write powerful sentences and paragraphs that flow, use technical terms, improve your grammar and punctuation, use graphics, and format your technical documents to get results.

Introduction to Adobe FrameMaker 7.1
If you want to be a technical writer, you need to learn Adobe FrameMaker, the gold standard for publishing technical documentation. In this practical, hands-on course, a seasoned professional will show you how to take advantage of FrameMaker's renowned ability to handle large, complex documents for both print and online.

The Keys to Effective Editing
Ask any published writer and you will hear that a good editor is not just helpful, but essential. If you aspire to be an editor, this course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction. If you are already working as an editor, you'll not only brush up on your skills, but will also learn about recent advances in your chosen profession. If you're a writer, you will learn essential self-editing tools to give your manuscripts the professional look that publishers like to see.

Business and Marketing Writing
This fun, introductory course will teach you to write or identify copy that achieves business and marketing goals. Improve your work, your knowledge, your company's image, and your chances of getting hired, promoted or applauded! Designed for writers, marketers and anyone interested in these exciting fields.

Writing for Children
Join a published children's author and discover how you can touch the hearts of children by creating books for them. In this highly interactive, hands-on course, you'll take pen to paper and begin work on your first fiction or nonfiction manuscript. In the process, you'll explore the changing world of children's literature and understand the various formats--from baby's first books to novels for young adults. You'll get insights from guest authors and editors to gain a better understanding of the needs of today's market. By researching the genre and recognizing niche players, you'll open doors of opportunity, many of which you may not have previously considered. By the time you finish this course, you'll have all the tools and resources you'll need to continue to grow as a writer for children.

Mystery Writing
From Dan Brown to Dennis Lehane, mysteries are hot items on today's bestseller lists. Using vivid examples from bestselling mystery novels, this course will teach you the techniques you need to become a successful author. Topics include three-act structure, the difference between plot and story, theme, premise, characters and viewpoint, plus much more. Develop your original story idea and then brainstorm with the instructor and your fellow students in each lesson's discussion area.

Write Your Life Story
It's your story. It's time write it so you can tell history, share your secrets and successes, and better understand yourself. Learn what it takes to write essays, a legacy letter (sometimes called an ethical will), a memoir, an autobiography or the story of a loved one's  life in simple, easy steps that will get you ready for whatever you want to tell. It's fun, it's exciting and it's your truth. The step-by-step process begins with capturing ideas and ends by providing all the tools to tell the stories in your life.

Beginner's Guide to Getting Published
Your success in the writing game will be determined by the amount of credibility publishers attach to you and your work. This course, taught by a published author, will help you gain that credibility. You'll discover powerful shortcuts most other writers still haven't learned after many years of trying to get published. This course will help you properly format manuscripts, write irresistible query letters, and submit your work to the publishers who want it. If you really want to be a writer, this step-by-step course will give you all the tools you need to get published--again and again and again.

Correcting Oral and Written Errors
This course will address common oral and written errors in a non-threatening and, for the most part, in a non-grammatical manner. The ample examples and explanations, as well as the chatty tone, will help you avoid embarrassing mistakes and frustrating moments of indecision. The course will address four principal areas of common errors: usage, punctuation, spelling, and pronunciation & slang. Once you complete this course, you'll instinctively speak and write with assurance that your word choices, punctuation, spelling, and pronunciation are correct.

Travel Writing
Dream of traveling the world, writing about the places and people you meet? For fiction writers who want to capture the landscape and feelings that are translated into novels or for the magazine writer who longs to write on travel, this class will help you translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books ands novels. You'll understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market (including the how-to's of technical aspects of lead paragraphs, descriptive passages and the uses of interviews, quotes and facts). By the end of the course, you'll have the ability to write for the travel market. So pack your sense adventure, organize your determination and put your keyboard in a comfortable position. If you have a desire to write and a yen to travel, you're a perfect candidate to become a travel writer. Let's get going. Topics include popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers. Other topics of the workshop include how to write query letters, how to produce articles, essays and books, trends in types of articles and books, grammar and writing skills refreshers, and marketing information.

Write Fiction Like a Pro
Do you have an idea for a novel or short story burning in your mind, but can't seem to get it on paper? This is a common experience for anyone who tries to write fiction using creative intuition alone. What you need is a structure to guide you. In this course, you'll develop your own original story, beginning with your passion and theme. From these you'll discover your characters, their flaws, and the inner struggles that will bring them to life. Then, you'll structure your story, from start to finish. Once you have mastered the techniques taught in this course, you'll be prepared to . . . write fiction like a pro.

Your Screenwriting Career
Learn how to write and sell professional-quality screenplays from a Hollywood veteran. Master the secrets to selecting a genre, building strong characters, writing memorable dialogue, and developing powerful storylines. Avoid common formatting mistakes that mark you as an amateur and gain the marketing skills you’ll need to sell your screenplay.

Creating a Sense of Place
It is said that the best writing comes when you write what you know. And what better place to begin than your own backyard? This practical course is filled with hands-on exercises that will help you create fascinating and truly unique works of fiction or nonfiction. You'll begin by learning how to improve your powers of observation and description. Then, you'll become skilled at gathering and organizing important facts about the people, places, foods, customs, and events in your community. Next, you'll find out how to incorporate the physical, historical, spiritual, and other characteristics of your present location into your writing to give it a realistic sense of place. By the time you finish this course, you'll be well-prepared to convert your everyday observations and experiences into believable characters, memorable settings, and vivid descriptions.

Pleasures of Poetry
If you want to write poetry, this course will help you create your best possible work, whether you're looking to be published or simply wish to craft a beautiful poem as a gift for a friend. In this course, you will discover formal elements of craft, explore poetry topics, learn how to prepare a manuscript for publication, and receive guidance in a constructive and nurturing environment.

Research Methods for Writing
Attention all writers! Learn how to efficiently and effectively conduct research for any writing project: fiction, nonfiction, business . . . even term papers and dissertations. Research has progressed far beyond a visit to the library. Today, myriad sources provide almost anything a writer might need to know on any subject. Learn how to identify and access every information source imaginable.

Introduction to Journaling
This insightful course will help you discover an exciting new way to express yourself and enhance your creativity. You'll learn to use powerful journaling techniques to develop a deeper and more spiritual understanding of yourself and explore your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and values. You'll also discover how to use journaling to ease the stress of unwanted change, improve your physical and emotional health, and achieve a greater level of professional success.

Publish It Yourself:  How to Start and Operate Your Own Publishing Business
Convert manuscripts into extra income by starting your own publishing company. Avoid common pitfalls that can slow the growth of your publishing enterprise. Learn how to format your works in a way that will save you hundreds of dollars. Find out everything you need to know to profit from your own publishing company: how to plan and design a cover, select paper, register your works, choose a printer, price your products, acquire barcodes, market your books, establish distribution channels, fulfill orders, and more.

Demystifying Forensic Science:  A Writer's Guide
Ready to add a new level of intrigue, characters, depth, zest, and marketability to your fiction? This course will provide you with a quick education in forensic science, revealing all the secrets you'll need to know in order to write about crimes and crime-solving with knowledge and confidence. You'll get to know the key players in a criminal investigation--the first responder, the lead investigator, and the crime scene experts--just the sort of people who make great characters. You'll explore how investigators analyze physical evidence, including blood, DNA, fingerprints, hair, documents, ammunition, and corpses. And you'll discover historical highlights and common misconceptions about forensic analysis that will help you avoid introducing errors that have sabotaged other films and novels.

Introduction to Internet Writing Markets
Ignite your writing career with the power of the Internet. Learn how to make the Internet work for you from a writer who has spent a decade discovering its potential. The Internet is the writer's fastest source for locating publishers, research material, and submitting, but even better, it offers unlimited opportunities for writers to publish and create content. This comprehensive course will help you promote your print-published books and e-books online, as well as sell new books, articles, stories, and even poetry. Got copyright and contract questions about publishing on the Internet? Look no further--sign up today!

Resume Writing Workshop
Create an effective resume, or improve the one you already have. Transform your resume into a powerful tool that will get you interviews. This workshop will lead you through a self-assessment series so you will have extensive knowledge about the product you are marketing YOU! Learn different resume formats, how to write an employment objective, and tricks to writing persuasive cover letters. Make the most of your work experience. Know what to reveal in a resume, and what to keep to yourself. This course also covers the use of on-line resumes and Internet Resume Secrets.

A to Z Grant Writing
A to Z Grant Writing is an invigorating and informative course that will equip you with the skills and tools you need to enter the exciting field of grant writing! You'll learn how to raise needed funds by discovering how and where to look for potential funders who are a good match for your organization. You'll also learn how to network and develop true partnerships with a variety of funders, how to organize a successful grant writing campaign, and how to put together a complete proposal package.

Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant
Good grant writing consultants are always in demand. Learn how you can use a basic knowledge of grant or proposal writing to become an expert in the red-hot grant consulting field. This is one field where your creative writing skills can touch thousands of people and literally make a difference in their quality of life.

Writing Effective Grant Proposals
Learn to prepare grant proposals that get solid results for your favorite organization or charity. Over $200 billion annually is available for worthy causes and most people don’t know how to prepare the application that will deliver needed funding. Avoid the mistakes that get applications for wonderful projects tossed into the wastebasket! Learn how to write professional proposals that actually succeed.

Advanced Grant Proposal Writing
Do you know the best way to present information in a grant proposal? In this course, an experienced grantwriter will show you how to research and write winning proposals that get funded. Learn what to do--and, more importantly what not to do--on every part of your proposal. Gain a full understanding of the criteria funders use to determine whether your grant proposal gets funded or rejected. You'll become expert at ferreting out corporate, foundation, and government grantmakers, and you'll know how to tailor your responses to information found in the peer review criteria. You'll also discover a number of significant finishing touches that can give your project the edge over others. You'll know the best type of paper to use, which buzzwords to include, which fonts work best, and which types of graphics and formatting techniques will make your proposal more competitive.

Technical Writing
This nationally recognized Technical Writing online training program is designed for anyone who wishes to develop their technical writing abilities to a professional level. Students will learn research methods, audience considerations, style, drafting and revision techniques, how to work in a collaborative environment, and more. A variety of media and formats will be studied, including websites, emails, proposals, memos, and instructions. This Technical Writing online certificate program is only offered in partnership with major accredited colleges and universities.

A Writer's Guide to Descriptive Settings
It is said that the best writing comes when you write what you know. And what better place to begin than your own backyard? This practical course is filled with hands-on exercises that will help you create fascinating and truly unique works of fiction or nonfiction. You'll begin by learning how to improve your powers of observation and description. Then, you'll become skilled at gathering and organizing important facts about the people, places, foods, customs, and events in your community. Next, you'll find out how to incorporate the physical, historical, spiritual, and other characteristics of your present location into your writing to give it a realistic sense of place. By the time you finish this course, you'll be well-prepared to convert your everyday observations and experiences into believable characters, memorable settings, and vivid descriptions.

 

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