Make Your Words Dance and Sparkle!

In this semester long creative writing class learners will learn the elements of creative writing. They will also develop skills for making their writing more impacting. The instructor (Prof.  Carter) has a MFA in Creative Writing and knows how to break down the complex creative writing process such that beginning and developing writers grasp ideas easily Learners will discover how to make their writing sparkle such that their words dance on the page and sparkle in the dark. 

This course is for high school learners (ages 13-18) who want to develop their creative writing skills to the point of mastery. The class will require weekly creative writing assignments, that most learners find fun to do, but can be a bit time consuming , nonetheless. The class has significant creative writing projects that will challenge and develop young writers’ abilities and creativity.
Learners are encouraged to obtain journals to map their creative writing growth over the course of a semester and to purchase a binder to keep the instructional pdfs their instructor will provide. Although all assignments will receive commentary, learners will compose/ create a writing portfolio for their final grade. 

The final creative writing project will be based on each learner’s best work but will generally include: (1) writer’s autobiography, (2) speculative, popular or historic fiction, (3)  flash fiction, (4) narrative poetry (5) creative nonfiction essay (6) and revised weekly creative writing assignments. 


This class should ideally follow Introduction to Creative Writing, although serious writers may be able to dive into the assignments without delay.


Format:
Each week learners will read the material provided in a pdf,  watch a technique video (posted in the Outschool classroom) and complete the written assignments. 

Each class will:
Review the creative writing concept (generally relative to the assignment)
View the teacher-made assignment and participate in a creative writing exercise germane to the weekly lesson.
Discuss the creative writing  topic and view examples
Review the upcoming homework for understanding and application

Weekly Schedule and Topic Covered: 
Week 1: The Evolution of the creative writing process 
Week 2: Elements of Fiction and how to write a great story.
Week 3: How to show not tell and when to tell not show.
Week 4: Building believable characters
Week 5; Creating settings, moods and atmosphere
Week 6: Writing dialogue that actually tells the story.
Week 7: How to choose the best point of view
Week 8: Understanding poetry
Week 9: Figures of speech in poetry and fiction
Week 10: How to peer review a work of fiction or poetry.
Week 11: Revising your creative writing works
Week 12; Reviewing grammar and  punctuation and 

For homeschool parents who want to record the class on their yearly or quarterly reports: 
Creative writing is designed to aid students in their creative expression, as well as delivery of one’s writing. Students will read and discuss articles on the craft of writing. The class primarily will focus on fiction. Students will read and evaluate the effectiveness of fiction of varying styles. They will write and workshop short stories to complete a final portfolio. They will also examine poetry. Students will learn poetic vocabulary and read interpret poems of varying styles. Students will write and workshop each other’s poetry to complete a final portfolio  Students will be expected to deliver their writing to an audience. This audience may be the class, parents or other venue.