Success Stories
Success: Chris Prangley’s Debut Nonfiction Book
Former student Chris Prangley's first non-fiction book, The Tech Sales Warrior, has been a number one bestseller in multiple categories on Amazon. Regarding his experience in the Writers’ Program, Chris, “Credits UCLA Extension's creative writing program as an awesome...
Success: Instructor Kevin Kelton Publishes Two Novels
Screenwriting instructor Kevin Kelton recently branched out into fiction writing, writing not one but two novels out now! Kevin says, "Having written for television and film for most of my adult life, it had always been my secret ambition to write a novel. I started...
Success: Mary-Alice Wins Yale Poetry Prize
Former student Mary-Alice Daniel was recently awarded a huge honor. She tells us, "My first full-length collection of poems was selected as the winner of the 2022 Yale Younger Poets Prize, the longest-running poetry prize in the United States. Mass for Shut-Ins will...
Success: Instructor Aminah Mae Safi’s Newest Novel
Creative Writing Instructor Aminah Mae Safi recently published her latest YA novel. Aminah says, "My fourth book, Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix is out in the world! It was such a journey to publication on this one. It was the book I wrote during the...
Success: Zac Hersh Starts Production Company
Former screenwriting and Entertainment Studies student Zac Hersh has branched beyond writing to starting his own production company, producing his own films. His newest, Follower, is available on streaming. Of his experience at UCLA Extension, Zac says, "The two main...
Success: Ruthie Marlenée’s New Novel
Certificate alum Ruthie Marlenée's newest novel, Agave Blues, was recently published. Ruthie says, "Agave Blues originated as a screenplay that was accepted into Victoria Wisdom's Advanced Screenwriting class at UCLA Extension back in 2008. From there it won awards at...
Success: Gina Sorell’s New Novel
Gina Sorell is a graduate with distinction from the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. Publishers Weekly called her debut novel Mothers and Other Strangers “mesmerizing,” Good Housekeeping called it “riveting,” and it was one of Self and Refinery29’s best books of 2017....
Success: Sarah Amar’s Development Internship
Recent student Sarah Amar has landed an internship! She says, "I'm delighted to share that I've recently begun a development internship with Maven Screen Media." Of her experience in the Writers' Program, Sarah says, "As a working mother building a new career in film...
Feature Articles
Listen for Inspiration
Environment can play a large role in setting yourself up for productive writing. While in working toward being a professional writer it can be beneficial to be adaptable to varied writing conditions, knowing your ideal environment for being creative, and productive,...
Instructor Interview: Chris Atwood
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor Chris Atwood! Chris is teaching a section of Half-Hour TV I (reg# 386853) in our Remote Classroom format with weekly meetings on Zoom, starting Tuesday, July 5 this Summer. He sat down with us to offer some insight into creative...
NEW Courses for Summer 2022
Summer is often a time for rest and rejuvenation. However, UCLA Extension offers classes year-round to help you improve skills, craft, and achieve personal and professional goals. Our new classes for Summer include a lot of one-day seminars and shorter term virtual...
Tips for an At Home Writing Retreat
With spring here and summer just around the bend, many folks yearn to take to the road (or the skies, or the tracks) and get away for a bit. However, not everyone can afford the time, money, or effort to travel – whether for leisure or, for writers, a little creative...
It’s Shakespeare’s World; We’re Just Living in It
As is tradition, for Shakespeare Day/Week we’ve polled our staff in another round of Shakespeare-themed questioning. This year we asked everyone what ‘world’ in the Bard’s plays they would most want to inhabit and/or adapt, and resoundingly were met with a single,...
Welcome New WP Work Studies
Welcome New WP Work Studies Work studies are an integral part of the Writers’ Program team. They provide a lot of program support by assisting staff with various administrative, event, and social media tasks. We’re excited to introduce our newest work studies...
Instructor Interview: Sam Cohen
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor Sam Cohen! Sam is teaching a section of Short Story I (reg# 385461) in our Remote Classroom format with weekly meetings on Zoom, starting Tuesday, April 5 this Spring. She sat down with us to offer some insight into creative...
Instructor Interview: Kate Gale
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor Kate Gale! Kate is teaching Editorial Management II: Publication and Beyond (reg# 386108) in our Remote Classroom format with weekly meetings on Zoom, starting Tuesday, April 5 this Spring. She sat down with us to offer some...