I just can’t get enough of helping people on their journey as writers. Fortunately the fine folks at the University of Victoria have recognized people love these writing courses and have agreed to run more of them in the new year.
We have a few new writing classes and there’s a repeat of some of the more popular classes.
Note these will not be live on the site until late 2021.
2021 UVic Creative Writing Classes
Navigating the Novel
Learn the finer points of what goes into a novel. It starts with finding your true writer’s voice and from there gets into the nitty gritty of the novel. Learn how to create captivating characters and plan the perfect plot. Timelines, character and plot arcs, and cliffhangers are all looked at. Crank up the conflict in your novel and keep readers turning the page. Finally, you’ll learn how to finish off your novel so it satisfies the reader. Wrap it all up with editing and finding and agent/publisher
- 12 hours / 6 x 2-hour classes
- Tuesdays, Jan. 18 to Feb. 22, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Get Paid to Write What You Love
This interactive course covers myths on writing for pay, recognizing your passion and knowledge for profit, how to promote yourself online, how to create a portfolio and bio, negotiating price, your pitch, editing, etc. Day four is novel specific.
- 6 hours / 4 x 1.5-hour classes
- Thursdays, Jan. 27 to Feb. 17, 6:30 to 8 pm
Short Shorts
Writing short stories is an art unto itself. You need to develop characters, create a plausible plot, throw in a twist and entertain your reader thoroughly, all in just a few words. This course focuses on micro, flash and short shorts from 100 to 2,000 words. You’ll also learn where to submit your short stories. Interactive class with sharing and critique.
- 6 hours / 4 x 1.5-hour classes
- Tuesdays, March 1 to 22, 6:30 to 8 pm
Romancing the Keyboard
Romance is the most popular (sales wise) of all the genres. Learn what sub-genre works best for you and how to create a great story line. Discover the importance of settings, character development, and satisfying the reader. Learn about tropes and how to use them, as well as creating tension through action and dialogue. Interactive class with sharing and critique.
- 9 hours / 6 x 1.5-hour classes
- Thursdays, Feb. 24 to March 31, 6:30 to 8 pm
Self-publishing Your Book
Learn to navigate the world of self-publishing. Learn how the book publishing industry has changed, where the money goes, how to organize your book, where to publish, who to use for help (editors, illustrators, proofreaders), and why you need an online presence. There are also handouts to help with budgeting and pricing, with information on how to market your book.
- 6 hours / 4 x 1.5-hour classes
- Saturdays, March 5 to 26, 9:30 to 11 am
Go to the continuing studies section of the UVic website and search for the exact name of the course you are interested in.