Writing & Literature courses

This course focuses on the general trajectory of book publication from the launch of the book on, specifically the role of editor in the modern iterations of publishing. It covers the entire process, from a book being sold into the market to release, PR and…

Designed for both aspiring story analysts and screenwriters who want to accelerate their careers, this course helps you master the methods used by story analysts who evaluate submissions to production companies, agencies and studios. You learn how to do an…

Memorable stories are grounded by great characters. The core of who those characters are drive the story, but characters need to take action, and those actions need to ring true to their core as they move from one plot point to the next. Why is your character…

Animation is a fully creative universe without limits on sets, costumes, or special effects. All it takes is your imagination and the willingness to jump into a field friendly to new talent. This course guides you through the entire TV and Internet animation…

This workshop focuses on writing a solid draft of an original television pilot, whether half-hour or one-hour, building from an outline completed in the previous course. You begin by reworking and refining your story idea and outline as needed, addressing…

A new television show has exactly one shot at survival: its pilot episode. If the viewer isn't grabbed in the first hour, they're gone forever. But what is a pilot? How is it different from all other forms of screenwriting? What makes a good one work and a…

This workshop guides you to write a solid draft spec script from your half-hour comedy outline and move as far ahead as you can in polishing it. You begin by reworking your outline to simplify your story, nail down the essence of your characters, focus and…

Mirroring the process that professionals undergo in current episodic series production, this course guides you to write a solid first draft of your script of an existing series and work on polishing it. You begin by refining your story idea and outline as…

Dialogue may seem to be the easiest and most fun aspect of screenwriting (look at all those pages fly by, and with so much white space!), yet it's often the most difficult thing for the aspiring screenwriter to do well. Great dialogue is a vital vehicle for…

Modeled directly on how writers write in the real world of one-hour dramas, this course focuses on what is most central to creating a strong script as well as the largest piece (40 percent) of the writer's deal with any show: the story and outline. You learn…

This course teaches you how to create an airtight story and outline--the critical first step in writing a strong half-hour comedy script of an existing series and a process that makes writing your script much easier, faster and more successful. You begin by…

This advanced workshop is intended for 12 serious writers who want to turn good scripts into great ones. You first work closely with the instructor to analyze your script's overall strengths and weaknesses. Every week, you turn in pages and receive back…

This workshop guides you to complete your current project. You focus on developing a successful second and third act with special attention given to structure, character development, emotional content and cinematic style. You also acquire self-editing…

Designed for writers with at least one screenplay under their belts, this workshop guides you to launch and make significant headway on a new project. The goal is to develop a strong premise that sustains your entire script, create and refine the story…

This second in a four-part sequence in writing a feature film script has you hit the ground running. You begin by pitching your story based on your outline and revising it to make sure the premise can carry the entire movie. Armed with a workable outline, you…

In the last of a four-part sequence in writing a feature film screenplay, you reach FADE OUT. In the process of completing your script, you hone in on structuring conversations, explore how to maximize your story's visual implications, deepen scene writing…

The third in a four-part sequence in writing a feature film screenplay, this course focuses on writing a significant portion of Act II. You also refine your story outline; flesh out main and secondary characters; continue to develop the art of the scene as it…

The first in a four-part sequence designed to take you through the full process of writing a feature film screenplay, this course grounds you in the key craft elements of story structure, plot, scene development, character, theme, genre and dialogue and shows…

Women’s stories are as diverse as women’s experiences. In this course, we focus on finding our voice on the page and allowing our writing to emerge naturally, without judgment, all in a nurturing, women- and female-identifying-empowered environment. The class…

Short, well-focused articles provide one of the surest pathways for breaking into publication. It's easier than you might think--if you know how the print and online publishing worlds work, understand the needs and demands of particular markets and put some…

Reality is frequently inaccurate. Why not accurately depict that? This workshop is dedicated to kick-starting your imagination with the help of visualization and acting exercises, Oulipo writing prompts, and other creative techniques. We take a leap beyond…

This course is designed to develop the writer's individual theatrical style through the writing of scenes and a one-act play. You explore the dimensions of writing for the stage through key areas of craft, including language, dialogue, the essentials of…

This four-week workshop explores psychologist Carl Jung’s writings about dreams as examining x-rays of the spiritual state. Dreams are powerful engines to turn complex or unconscious ideas into vivid images. This workshop teaches writers and other creatives…

You’ve completed a draft of your drama or comedy pilot script, but there is still room for improvement and you need help in the rewriting process. You want to rewrite your pilot from an informed industry perspective so that your script can go the distance in…

The most important step in selling an idea or script is creating the perfect pitch document. This document can serve as a guide for yourself during your verbal pitch, but it can also be a roadmap for your pilot and series once it is sold. In this workshop,…

Some of the best and most successful movies and series of all time are “Based on” or “Inspired by” true stories or events. These can be adapted from historical/true events, real people, true crime or non-fiction books. Popular examples include Titanic, The…

Mentorships provide individualized support to advanced writers who seek specific and focused guidance in their work. Students select a mentorship focus from a pre-determined list of options provided by the instructor as part of their application process.…

Science writing tells true stories about scientists and research to a variety of audiences. Learn what it takes to translate scientific concepts and discoveries into prose that readers can understand — and enjoy! This course emphasizes science newswriting as…

From Oppenheimer to Bridgerton, many great films and television series are adaptations. Adaptation is the craft of taking existing source material and creating a new work in another medium. Virtually every story -- from novels to newspaper columns to video…

With over 100 M.F.A. in Creative Writing programs available to choose from across the country (and beyond) each with its own application system and offers, this 3-hour webinar will help narrow the choices down for those looking to submit applications to…

It’s been demonstrated that by using improvisational techniques, television writers can go deeper into character and story development. In addition, improvisation can enhance the writing of the script and is a great tool for fine-tuning pitches for episodic…

If structure is the skeleton of a story, theme is its heart and soul. It’s what makes your story universal and what raises it above all those that simply entertain. If your goal is to craft a story that resonates emotionally with a global audience, this…

Unlike fiction, personal essay offers an opportunity to explore the choices you've made, whether life-changing moments or those little decisions that set us on a new course. Through this exploration, you come to a better understanding of family dynamics and…

"Personal Essay" is a broad term that encompasses essays, opinion pieces and mini-memoirs—but which always details the writer's journey through a specific experience. This workshop teaches aspiring personal essayists how to be a compelling first-person…

Designed for those who have already begun to explore memoir or other narrative nonfiction genres, this workshop guides you to take your skills to the next level by focusing on a collection of essays, a single project or other types of nonfiction prose;…

The pursuit of poetry is a sustained, often lonesome, practice. Students who complete early creative writing courses can feel that they miss the pressures of workshop, of having and meeting a deadline, and of participating in conversations about their poems.…

As a writer, you can make the perfect splash at a birthday, wedding, or other event with a poem specially written for the occasion. Come with an occasion in mind (it can be made up!) and learn what makes these poems different from poems we write for…

Writing out of your life can be a process of self-revelation, a way of discerning the pattern of your life even while you're in the midst of living it. Whether you want to write a memoir or transmute your life into fiction or poetry, this workshop helps you…

In this dynamic course, you explore art as a force for social change and justice. Through brief screenings and powerful examples—from Gordon Parks and Raoul Peck to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera—you learn how, through the years, artists have challenged…

Have you ever wondered what it takes to write a great movie script? Have you studied your favorite films to discover what makes them so magical? This seminar helps you break free from the conventional “Hero’s Journey” approach to storytelling and uncover the…

This course demystifies the Limited Series in television, a genre that has become wildly popular over the last decade with international hit series such as “Adolescence,” “Big Little Lies” and “Chernobyl,” and acclaimed anthological limited series, such as…

This intensive 11-week advanced course is for writers who are done talking about their screenplay and ready to write it. Genre doesn’t matter—drama, thriller, horror, comedy, or sci-fi—as long as you are committed to completing a first draft of a feature…

A monthly community write in that is designed to support writers who crave creative momentum, connection, and a nurturing community. Rooted in the values of UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, this monthly meetup offers space to write, share, explore, and engage…

How do you create a narrative series, sell it, get it produced, and retain your vision throughout the creative process - without going insane and mortgaging your soul? In this course you uncover methods to preserve your sanity, (almost) but additionally you…

This workshop is designed to help you develop an original one-hour television or half-hour pilot that demonstrates a strong voice, compelling characters, and professional-level storytelling. Television executives, agents, and showrunners expect polished…

Middle-grade novels are an anomaly. They are beloved by readers of all ages, yet primarily written by adults, who utilize the wisdom obtained through life experience to offer perspective, guidance, and adventure to kids discovering the world, the people…

This lecture course is an introduction to Eastern storytelling that opens readers’ minds to radically different ways of telling a satisfying story. Discussions in the West around diversity in the arts often focus on the identities of characters and creators.…

Joseph Campbell once described psychologist Carl Jung’s writings about dreams as examining x-rays of the spiritual state. This workshop introduces writers to techniques to replicate the ability of dreams to turn complex or unconscious ideas into powerful…

Too often writers value the completion of a new work over the process itself. In this intensive workshop, you study and celebrate the creative process of writing through a series of weekly and in-class writing exercises. From the development of…

This seminar is for the “translation curious” — readers and writers interested in translating literature or bringing a particular piece of writing into English. Designed for all language fluencies and experience levels, the session will introduce translation…