Online Courses 

For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn. Ernest Hemingway’s famous six word story captures how a
compelling story can be told in just a few words. It should come as no surprise that in the fast-
paced, Twitter-dominated society we live in today, micro stories/flash essays/short-shorts are all
the rage and in demand by publishers. For creative writers, flash prose is often a rewarding form
in which to write. Generally under 1000 words and often under 500, flash prose pieces can
provide a welcome break from longer projects while keeping our writing muscles active. In
addition, producing material appropriate for publication in a relatively short time can foster a
sense of tangible accomplishment. In this 9 week workshop, you’ll learn how to craft short prose
(nonfiction and/or fiction) for maximum effect through the use of helpful prompts, exchange
critiques to help you polish your flash stories and essays for potential publication, and read
examples of effective flash prose for class discussion about the craft elements that make them
successful. By course end, you’ll be able to identify the elements of a successful flash prose
piece, and apply learned techniques to your own creative work effectively. Expect to produce
several flash stories and/or essays in this class and to have a lot of fun! 395 euros (can be paid in dollars at the exchange rate.) Limited partial scholarships available for students with demonstrated need. Click here to enroll.

Maybe you let your writing practice slip, or maybe it's time to embark on a new project and you just need some structure, encouragement, and feedback to get you going. This is the jumpstart you need! In this six week narrative nonfiction course, you will render your true stories artfully on the page. Guided by an experienced instructor,  the course aims to provide you with a constructive environment to creatively explore the craft of writing narrative nonfiction, giving it cohesion and form. Whether you are working on a memoir, writing personal narrative essays, or exploring other subjects, you will be encouraged to look at your deeper themes and structure, develop sensory description, character development, and voice, and identify the most effective craft tools to move your reader, all from within a supportive, safe group environment. Each week, we will discuss craft in our writing, look at examples for inspiration, submit new work, and have a virtual workshop on our course site on the platform Canvas. Then we will meet for an optional weekly Zoom session as a group to discuss what came up that week and ask questions. This course is a replica of the course I taught for many years at UCLA Extension's Writers' Program, with the bonus addition of a weekly meeting on Zoom (date/time to be arranged with class participants) and a one-on-one conference with the instructor for each participant. 550 euros (can be paid in dollars at the exchange rate.) Limited partial scholarships available for students with demonstrated need. Click here to enroll. 

The competition to get into a good college is stronger than ever these days. Students work hard at getting good grades and cramming for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. But they often overlook one of the most important elements of a college application: The personal essay or personal statement. This element of an application can make or break a student’s chances of admission, and often is the weak point in an application package. In this workshop, students will build an admission essay from the ground up over the course of 4 weeks, emerging from the process with a polished essay to maximize their potential of gaining admission to the college of their choice. 

Every individual has a unique and valid story to tell. People write personal narratives for a number of different reasons: as a form of creative expression, to create a permanent record for others, to examine emotions, to find communities of shared experience, and more. In this creative nonfiction course, you will give your unique life experiences shape through your writing. Guided by an experienced instructor,  the course aims to provide you with a constructive environment to creatively explore your life experiences on the page, while giving it cohesion and form. Whether you are working on a memoir or writing personal narrative essays, you will be encouraged to look at your deeper themes and structure; develop sensory description, character development, and voice; and more, all from within a supportive, safe group environment. Each week, we will focus on a different craft element in our writing, submit work, and have a virtual workshop on our course site on the platform Canvas. This course is a replica of the course I taught for many years at UCLA Extension's Writers' Program, with the bonus addition of a weekly meeting on Zoom (to be arranged with class participants) and a one-on-one conference with the instructor. $530. Limited partial scholarships available for students with demonstrated need. Click here to enroll. 

Many nonfiction book projects are sold on proposal. But even seasoned writers are often unclear about what an effective book proposal actually includes. Book proposals are not short pitches. They are detailed and thorough, with many pages of information to help a prospective publisher see the vision for a book, from the writing itself to the marketing plan. In this three week workshop, you'll learn from an author who successfully sold her book on proposal to a major publisher and craft your own nonfiction book proposal to maximize your chance of landing a book deal!