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This is a noncredit, online writing classes through UW-Madison Continuing Studies.

Creative nonfiction

Creative nonfiction is not the tedious essays you might have suffered through learning to write in school. Instead creative nonfiction allows you to use all of the tools of the fiction writer to develop factual material, whether that is material based on your own life or on someone or something else.

This course helps you develop or refine your nonfiction writing skills through one-on-one guidance from an experienced writing instructor. This nonfiction writing course is entirely online; you will communicate with your instructor via email. You get to go at your own pace, working when and where you wish.

In 7 lessons we’ll cover:

1. Gathering Material
2. The Personal Essay
3. Writing about Family
4. Writing about Place—Home and Away
5. Literary Journalism
6. Research
7. Continuing Your Life as a Writer, including tips on publishing

Each lesson includes an excerpt (sometimes more) from the top writers in creative nonfiction today. We’ll guide you through reading these excerpts as a writer, seeing what you can glean for your own work from each. A final optional writing assignment involves a 250-word excerpt from either your own work or someone else’s that illustrates what we’ve been studying.

How it works

You can start this writing course anytime, and there are no required hours to participate. It's all done with one-on-one correspondence with the instructor using email. We have writers from around the world participating in our workshops, and we have success stories. A lot of great writing gets accomplished via email. Because of the one-on-one nature of our workshops, you'll find them an excellent "coaching" or mentoring situation that will keep you going. And if you want to just work on your own-hey, that's fine too. Of course you can do the suggested exercises on your own without the feedback if you'd rather do that. We're also here throughout the year if you have questions.
 
Review the current technical requirements for students in Learn@UW online courses.

Costs

Registration is just $175, which includes the seven lessons, email access to your instructor, and a thorough critique of 2,000 words of your creative nonfiction. You will earn 2.1 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) when you complete the course. Work at your own pace and take up to a year to finish the course. Register any time.

Your contact

Your contact for more information about Creative Nonfiction is Laurie Scheer. 608-265-3972 or lscheer@dcs.wisc.edu.

For more information about online learning contact Lori O'Neill at 608-263-6322 or toll-free 877-336-7836 or email LSAonline@dcs.wisc.edu.

Also of interest

Explore other online writing classes.

The same writing staff that bring you these great online classes also provide individualized writing critique services. Learn more by visiting our writing critique services web page.

Subscribe to the Writing News, our free e-mail newsletter and 3-4 times a year you will receive a detailed e-mail with information about our upcoming writing programs, and news about student achievements or opportunities for writers. To subscribe send a blank join-writing-news@lists.wisc.edu.