CREATIVE WRITING

For help in choosing a course or determining if a course fulfills certificate requirements, call our main line at 310-825-9415 or email writers@uclaextension.edu.

Basics of Writing

These basic creative writing courses are for students with no prior writing experience.  Instruction is exercise-driven; the process of workshopping — in which students are asked to share and offer feedback on each other’s work with guidance from the instructor — is introduced.

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Special Topics for All Writers

Courses in this section are open to students at all levels and in all genres who want a deeper understanding of a specific craft issue or area of study.

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Fiction (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced)

Beginning Fiction

Courses in this section are recommended for students with some prior writing experience.  Instruction is a mix of lecture and workshopping. With the close guidance of the instructor, students share and offer feedback in a supportive environment focused on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their work.  Those new to writing should consider courses in the Basics of Writing section.

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Intermediate Fiction

These courses are designed for students who have fulfilled the prerequisites stated in each description. Instruction includes lectures as appropriate, but the focus is on workshopping. Students continue to share and offer feedback in a supportive environment.

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Advanced Fiction

A manuscript submission is required for entry into these workshops. Courses are primarily workshop-driven. It is recommended that students take intermediate level courses prior to submitting their work to an advanced-level course.

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Creative Nonfiction (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced)

Beginning Creative Nonfiction

Courses in this section are recommended for students with some prior writing experience.  Instruction is a mix of lecture and workshopping. With the close guidance of the instructor, students share and offer feedback in a supportive environment focused on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their work.  Those new to writing should consider courses in the Basics of Writing section.

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Intermediate Creative Nonfiction

These courses are designed for students who have fulfilled the prerequisites stated in each description. Instruction includes lectures as appropriate, but the focus is on workshopping. Students continue to share and offer feedback in a supportive environment.

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Advanced Creative Nonfiction

A manuscript submission is required for entry into these workshops. Courses are primarily workshop-driven. It is recommended that students take intermediate level courses prior to submitting their work to an advanced-level course.

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Writing for Young Readers

Courses in this section offer opportunities for writers to specialize in the full array of books for children, including picture books, easy readers, chapter books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels.

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Writing Picture Books

Writing for Kids and Middle Grade Readers

Writing for Young Adults

Poetry

These workshops are tailored to students with specific levels of experience in poetry writing. Please review course descriptions carefully or call an advisor to determine which course will best help you reach your writing goals.

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Editing and Publishing

These courses are designed for writers who want to improve their editing skills or develop competencies toward a career in editing and publishing. Some courses help advanced writing students prepare and submit their work for publication.  Call a Writers’ Program advisor for more information.

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Written Communication

Courses in this area are designed for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills but aren’t interested in working on a creative project. Courses focus on practical skills applicable to daily life, including clear expression of ideas in writing, persuasion, and writing for specific audiences. Adults who want to improve their ability to write for work purposes will find helpful skill development here as well.

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SCREENWRITING

For help in choosing a course or determining if a course fulfills certificate requirements, call our main line at 310-825-9415 or email writers@uclaextension.edu.

Revised Screenwriting Course Titles

To simplify our sequenced core courses, we have renumbered and titled them starting the summer quarter of 2021.  This way you know exactly how to follow our curriculum and set yourself up for success in learning the craft! Please see the grid below to see the new naming of our core curriculum.  Course numbers remain the same.

Feature Film Writing Core Sequence

Course # Original Title Course # New Title
SCRIPT X 410.1 Writing the First Screenplay I SCRIPT X 410.1 Feature Film I
SCRIPT X 410.2 Writing the First Screenplay II SCRIPT X 410.2 Feature Film II
SCRIPT X 410.3 Writing the First Screenplay III SCRIPT X 410.3 Feature Film III
SCRIPT X 410.4 Writing the First Screenplay IV SCRIPT X 410.4 Feature Film IV
SCRIPT X 411.1 Feature Film Writing: Outline and Act I SCRIPT X 411.1 Feature Film V
SCRIPT X 411.2 Feature Film Writing: Acts II and III SCRIPT X 411.2 Feature Film VI

 

Television Writing Core Sequence

Course # Original Title Course # New Title
SCRIPT X 421.1 Beginning Writing for the Half-Hour Spec I SCRIPT X 421.1 Half-Hour TV I
SCRIPT X 421.3 Beginning Writing for the One-Hour Spec I SCRIPT X 421.3 One-Hour TV I
SCRIPT X 421.1N Half-Hour TV Spec Script Writing in a Month: Part I SCRIPT X 421.1N Half-Hour TV Intensive I
SCRIPT X 421.2N Half-Hour TV Spec Script Writing in a Month: Part II SCRIPT X 421.2N Half-Hour TV Intensive II
SCRIPT X 421.2 Beginning Writing for the Half-Hour Spec II SCRIPT X 421.2 Half-Hour TV II
SCRIPT X 421.4 Beginning Writing for the One-Hour Spec II SCRIPT X 421.4 One-Hour TV II
SCRIPT X 421.3N One-Hour TV Spec Script Writing in a Month: Part I SCRIPT X 421.3N One-Hour TV Intensive I
SCRIPT X 421.4N One-Hour TV Spec Script Writing in a Month: Part II SCRIPT X 421.4N One-Hour TV Intensive II
SCRIPT X 422.1 Writing the Half-Hour Pilot I SCRIPT X 422.1 Half-Hour TV III
SCRIPT X 422.3 Writing the One-Hour Pilot I SCRIPT X 422.3 One-Hour TV III
SCRIPT X 422.1N Half-Hour TV Pilot Script Writing in a Month: Part I SCRIPT X 422.1N Half-Hour TV Intensive III
SCRIPT X 422.2N Half-Hour TV Pilot Script Writing in a Month: Part II SCRIPT X 422.2N Half-Hour TV Intensive IV
SCRIPT X 422.2 Writing the Half-Hour Pilot II SCRIPT X 422.2 Half-Hour TV IV
SCRIPT X 422.4 Writing the One-Hour Pilot II SCRIPT X 422.4 One-Hour TV IV
SCRIPT X 422.3N One-Hour TV Pilot Script Writing in a Month: Part I SCRIPT X 422.3N One-Hour TV Intensive IV
SCRIPT X 422.4N One-Hour TV Pilot Script Writing in a Month: Part II SCRIPT X 422.4N One-Hour TV Intensive IV
SCRIPT X 422.7 Writing the Dramedy Pilot I SCRIPT X 422.7 Dramedy TV III
SCRIPT X 422.8 Writing the Dramedy Pilot II SCRIPT X 422.8 Dramedy TV IV

 

For advisement on courses call (310) 825-9415 or email writers@uclaextension.edu.

Special Topics for Film and Television

Courses in this section are open to students who want a deeper understanding of a specific craft issue or area of study.  These courses fulfill the elective requirement for screenwriting certificates.

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Feature Film (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced)

Beginning Feature Film

Recommended for beginning students, these courses build on one another in a four-part sequence. With the close guidance of the instructor, students share and offer feedback in a supportive environment focused on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the work.  By the end of the sequence, students have a completed draft of their first feature film script.

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Intermediate Feature Film

Courses in this section are for students who have completed at least one screenplay.  A new project is begun with an emphasis on craft issues such as structure, character development, and emotional content.  Self-editing techniques are introduced.

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Advanced Feature Film

A script-submission is required for these advanced-level courses which are primarily workshop driven. It is recommended that students take courses at the intermediate level prior to submitting their work to an advanced-level course.

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Television (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced)

Beginning Television

Recommended for beginning students who are writing a spec script of an existing comedy or drama series. With the close guidance of the instructor, students share and offer feedback in a supportive environment focused on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the work.

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Intermediate Television

Courses in this section are for students who have completed at least one draft of a spec script of an existing series.  The focus is on writing and polishing a solid first draft of an original pilot.  Students also gain a better understanding of the business of writing for television.

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Advanced Television

A script-submission is required for these advanced-level workshop-driven courses. It is recommended that students take courses at the intermediate level prior to submitting their work to an advanced-level workshop.  Students write original pilots or further refine their existing projects.

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