Classes/Workshops/Conferences
September 18-November 26, 
SNHU MFA Online
Contemporary Fiction Writing
MFA-624 is the Genre II course focusing on Contemporary--which, at SNHU, consists of just about every type of fiction other than Speculative, Romance, or YA. Yes, it's a big category! But we want to give our students as much freedom as possible to write what moves them. In this course, students will write and workshop scene sequences, refine their understanding of genre tropes and craft elements, build strong antagonists and secondary characters, and flesh out subplots and plot complications.
September 20-December 12, UCLA Extension, Online
Clear and Descriptive Writing (11 Weeks)
This class focuses on the basics of sentence and paragraph, providing tools to enable clear, focused, and descriptive essays and other writing objectives. Starting with focused sentence exercises, you move toward creating clear, thoughtful, and organized paragraphs that employ tone, voice, and diction. As well as completing exercises and writing assignments, you collect examples of writing—both effective and ineffective—to present to the class in order to share and examine writing strategies. Toward the end of the class, students develop one essay-length piece of writing. In workshop groups, you hone this piece and help classmates improve their work. You leave with skills you can apply in various settings and with different writing projects.
October 4-December 12, UCLA Extension, Online
Novel Writing One
That novel is inside you waiting to emerge, but knowing how and where to start can be daunting. This course provides you with weekly assignments, group interaction, and instructor feedback to help you explore various methods of writing your first novel while learning the key craft points of plot, structure, characterization, point-of-view, sense of place, and voice. The goal is to complete the first chapter of your novel by establishing an intimacy with your characters as you artfully shape their journey and to develop an overall concept to guide you through your story. Required for students considering the long-fiction sequence.
December 4-February 18, SNHU MFA Online
The Business of Writing
Explore the many methods and strategies that professional writers employ to leverage their creative talents into financially sustaining work. Investigate the many types of writing opportunities available beyond book publishing, and learn how to start and grow a successful freelance business. Research freelance opportunities, learn how to manage a sole proprietorship, and find resources about various industry tools and conventions.
January 17-March 26, UCLA Extension, Online
Novel Writing Two
Armed with your overall concept and first chapter, you continue to develop your knowledge of craft by writing scenes using characters and situations from the projected novel and workshopping your in-progress work. Mini-lectures on the art of the novel, intuitive creative process, and conventional vs. non-conventional approaches to novel structure also are covered. The goal is to complete 50 pages of your novel.
January 10-March 26, UCLA Extension, Online
Clear and Descriptive Writing (11 Weeks)
This class focuses on the basics of sentence and paragraph, providing tools to enable clear, focused, and descriptive essays and other writing objectives. Starting with focused sentence exercises, you move toward creating clear, thoughtful, and organized paragraphs that employ tone, voice, and diction. As well as completing exercises and writing assignments, you collect examples of writing—both effective and ineffective—to present to the class in order to share and examine writing strategies. Toward the end of the class, students develop one essay-length piece of writing. In workshop groups, you hone this piece and help classmates improve their work. You leave with skills you can apply in various settings and with different writing projects.
April 10-June 18. UCLA Extension, Online
Novel Writing Three
For those with a minimum of 50 pages of a novel-in-progress, this workshop guides you to generate at least 50 new pages, as well as learn essential self-editing techniques with the instructor and peers reviewing each participant's project in detail. Refinements of character, structure, emotional content, and the development of the writer's voice are also explored. The goal is to produce a substantial portion of your novel.