Classes/Workshops/Conferences
July 7-September 10, 
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..
July 29-October 6, SNHU MFA Online
MFA 701--Thesis Class Two
MFA-701 is the halfway point in the three-course sequence leading to the submission of a publishable novel in satisfaction of MFA requirements. The structure of the course is the same as MFA-700, with two student workshops. Students are expected but not required to add an additional twenty thousand words to their novel before moving on to MFA-702. It is anticipated that they will have a rough draft of their novel by the end of the course.
September 25-December 10, UCLA Extension, Online
Clear and Descriptive Writing (11 weeks)
Clear and Descriptive Writing 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 2-December 10, 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.
October 4-6, Write on the Sound
Will be presenting a session on POV and working with folks one-on-one. Here is the conference information.
January 8-March 18. 2025, 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..