ONLINE CREATIVE WRITING

ABOUT THIS CLASS

Class Times:  Students do not meet at regularly scheduled class times. However, posts are made by the instructor every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to teach the material and explain assignments. Assignments are due once or twice a week.

Class Dates: Spring Semester (CLOSED)

Fall Semester (September 6  – December 15)

• All major holidays are observed.
• All classes follow Central Standard Time (CST). Daylight Savings Time is observed.

Student Placement: Any high school student (9th-12th grade, or 14-19 years old) may register for this course; however, it is best suited for students who have completed Level 9, Level 10, or Level 11 of Essentials in Writing or other fundamental composition curriculum. *Students in 8th grade or lower, or 13 years old or younger, are not permitted to take this class.

Course Description: A course in creative writing that provides instruction and practice in short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Course requirements include critically analyzing published works of creative writing, weekly participation in class discussions, critiquing the work of fellow classmates, and submitting original creative works.

Compositions:  At least 5 poems, 2 works of creative nonfiction, and 1 fully developed short story (with 5 optional compositions)

Class Itinerary:  This course requires online interaction between the student, their peers, and the teacher through Canvas. In an online classroom, students will view/read instruction, submit assignments, and interact with their classmates through discussion. Students will learn the foundational concepts of fiction and apply them in a semester project: a five- to ten-thousand-word original short story. Students will be required to turn in multiple drafts of their original short story throughout the semester for feedback and guidance. Additionally, students will write at least five original poems, compose two works of creative nonfiction, and identify creative writing concepts in published works of fiction and poetry. Extra credit assignments will give students additional writing opportunities. The instructor will be available through email and Canvas Monday-Friday. Learn more about using Canvas here.

Technology Requirements

• Students will need an up-to-date computer or laptop that can access the internet.
• Students will need an email address to send completed assignments through Canvas.
• Essentials in Writing does not provide technology support.

Other Details:

• This is not a basic composition course. This course focuses on applying creative writing concepts. Students taking this course should already have at least intermediate mastery of English language mechanics, punctuation usage, and basic written communication skills. Additionally, students taking this course should enjoy writing creatively (fiction, poetry, non-academic nonfiction, etc).
• Classes fill up quickly

HOW DOES THE COURSE WORK?

• Learn about short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry
• Read posted material/instructions every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Identify creative writing concepts in published works
• Apply creative writing concepts to original works
• Submit Discussion Question responses and comment on classmates’ responses
• Create a portfolio of at least 5 poems, 2 nonfiction works, and 1 fully developed short story

The goals of this course are to expose students to great works of creative writing, to equip them with the tools they need to create their own works, and to encourage them to be confident in their own creative writing abilities.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS COURSE?

• This class offers hands-on instruction in the field of creative writing, which is not widely offered in many homeschool curricula
• This class offers students interaction with not only an instructor but also other students without the need to enroll in a college course

REFUND/CANCELLATION POLICY:

PayPal or credit card accepted.
Refunds for the Online Classes are granted based on the following criteria:
Refunds for the Registration Fee and for the First Month’s Tuition are granted if requests are received within 14 days of the first class of the season. The Registration Fee can only be refunded during this initial 14-day window, beginning on the class start date. After this 14-day period, refunds for the current month’s tuition are granted only if the request is received within 10 days of each subsequent billing cycle. Any previous month’s tuition cannot be refunded.