Community Creative Center

Writing is an act of individual expression, but writers in community can nurture and support one another, fueling the creative spirits of all who participate. Writing in community provides greater perspective on our own writing.

This course focuses on various elements of creative writing, in-class experimentation with prompts, and the opportunity to share your work in a safe and supportive space. Whether you’re an experienced writer looking for a fresh perspective, or if you’ve been wanting to try your hand at writing but haven’t had the opportunity or courage, we are here to meet you where you’re at. We will provide a safe space to sharework and inspire one another to keep writing!

Week 1: Character. Building believable, interesting and fully-developed characters your reader will careabout. Giving and receiving feedback.

ACTIVITY: Character interviews and setting your character in a scene.

HOMEWORK: 1-2 page character sketch + add scene.

Week 2: Setting. Shaping mood, conflict, and story.

ACTIVITY: Explore sensory details, time period and location, mood and atmosphere. Describe the sameplace in two different moods.

HOMEWORK: Write a scene where setting creates tension or emotion.

Week 3: Scene. How the building blocks of your story create movement and momentum.

ACTIVITIES: Analyzing scene structure and pacing. Practice entering late and leaving early.

HOMEWORK: Develop a scene with clear conflict and change.

Week 4: Dialogue. Improving dialogue to bring life to your story, add credibility to your characters, andcontrol pacing. Discuss subtext and external factors that inform dialogue.

ACTIVITIES: Dialogue with unspoken tension (subtext), Lottery Winner conversations.

HOMEWORK: Dialogue only conversation between two people with opposing goals; optionaleavesdropping activity.

Week 5: Plot and Conflict. Moving your story forward while keeping your reader hooked. Internal vs.external conflict, raising the stakes, basic story structure and turning points.

ACTIVITIES: 1. Story arc - plotting your chapters. 2. What could go wrong? 3. Conflict arises fromcharacter desires.

HOMEWORK: Write a short story using everything we’ve learned so far.

Week 6: Revisions and Readings! Finding the heart of your story, cutting unnecessary material,strengthening beginning and endings.

ACTIVITY: Workshop and in-class revision.