Success Stories
Success: Lena Nelson’s Debut Book
Former student Lena Nelson’s first book, America’s Youngest Ambassador: The Cold War Story of Samantha’s Smith Lasting Message of Peace, releases in the US on June 1, 2023. “The tale of ten-year-old Samantha Smith, who in the fall of 1982 wrote to the Soviet leader...
Success: Hillary Yablon’s Upcoming Novel
Student and 2020 winner of the Allegra Johnson Prize, Hillary Yabon, has recently sold her novel! It will be published in 2024. Hilary says, “The fact that this book is going to be out in the world is one of the great honors of my life. I never thought I would be...
Success: Instructor Koji Steven Sakai’s Films in Production
Screenwriting instructor Koji Steven Sakai currently has not one but TWP films in production. He says, “I’m super excited and honored that I have two films currently in production, Damaged, featuring Samuel Jackson, which is being shot over in Scotland, and, Boneyard,...
Success: Kristen Hamilton’s Essay Publication
Certificate alum Kristen Hamilton recently had a personal essay published. She says, “Getting my piece, “I finally found a home I can afford in the Bay Area. It’s a leaky boat named Lucinda,” published by the San Francisco Chronicle in March 2023 was a thrill and...
Success: Gabino Cabanilla’s Short Story Placement
Current Creative Writing Certificate student Gabino Cabanilla recently placed in the top 10 for the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival’s Short Story Contest for the story “Anglia’s Garden.” Gabino says, “Receiving this honor would not be possible without the...
Success: Kathleen Guthrie Woods Featured in Katie Couric Reading List
Former student Kathleen Guthrie Woods wrote her memoir-with-a-message to help herself make peace with being childless, and she published it in 2021 hoping it would help other women. So, what a thrill when this UCLA alumna (BA, English) learned in March 2023 that Katie...
Success: Fallon O’Dowd’s Writing Staff Placements
Former Writers Studio and Television Writing student Fallon O’Dowd wraps her time as a Staff Writer on Netflix’s Splinter Cell season two and is immediately picked to write on NCIS: Hawai‘i season three. She says the following about her time with the...
Success: Instructor Cole Kazdin’s New Book
Creative writing instructor Cole Kazdin recently had a new book published. Cole says, “What's Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety is part personal, part investigative reporting on the eating disorder crisis in the US. I weave my own story with...
Feature Articles
Instructor Interview: Ruth Fowler
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor Ruth Fowler! Ruth is teaching a section of One-Hour TV I (Reg# 392709) in person this Summer. She sat down with us to offer some insight into creative life and her upcoming course. What sparks your creativity? Many things, but...
NEW Courses for Summer 2023
The warmth of Summer approaches us here in California as it does in many places on this side of the globe. As we gear up for outdoor activities and finding some ease in the sunnier weather, we also know that those writing projects and goals won’t move themselves. With...
Instructor Interview: William Badgley
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor William Badgley! William is teaching a NEW course, Writing for Documentary (Reg# 392623) this Summer in person at UCLA. He sat down with us to offer some insight into creative life and his upcoming course. What sparks your...
Instructor Interview: Kerry Cohen
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor Kerry Cohen! Kerry is teaching a section of Memoir I (reg# 392498) this Summer. Kerry is teaching in our Remote online format on Wednesdays starting July 5. She sat down with us to offer some insight into creative life and her...
WP Feature: Writing Apps
Most writers are familiar with the big players in writing apps: Final Draft, Scrivener, and Microsoft Word among others. While we believe everyone should explore and use what works best for them, we also know that some of these high profile apps and services can be...
Having Fun with Shakespeare
For many, Shakespeare is a great writer – perhaps the greatest. For others, Shakespeare is a literary hurtle they struggle to get over, memories of dull readings in high school or college in language left unexplained and themes left unexamined (or worse, a poor...
Instructor Interview: Naz Kutub
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor Naz Kutub! Naz is teaching Story and Plot (Reg# 391128) this Spring in person at UCLA. He sat down with us to offer some insight into creative life and his upcoming course. What sparks your creativity? I've been a huge fan of...
Welcome New WP Staffer: Mijoe Sahiouni
The Writers’ Program is thrilled to add a new Program Representative to our team! Mijoe started at the beginning of the Winter term, and will be working as a Program Representative in the Writers’ Program, after previously filling in as a student advisor last year...