Cuyahoga Community College
ZPDI1310 - Introduction to Writing (Online)
Course Description
Do you have exciting stories, plots or characters dancing around in your head? Do you have a life experience or lesson to share, but don't know where to begin? This workshop is designed for those interested in entering the realm of creative writing for the first time. Our emphasis is on introducing you to the creative writing process. We'll explore topics such as setting up your writing environment, creating plots, building characters, writing dialogue and editing your work.Course Outline
Lesson 1: Getting Started
First things first! This lesson introduces you to the basic tools of the trade and environment for writing. Learn about different types of writing instruments, ways to capture story and how to choose a writing environment.
Lesson 2: Letting Creative Juices Flow
Staring at a blank page can be unsettling if you're new to writing. Discover ways to get those creative juices flowing in preparation for a writing session and learn the value and process of setting writing goals.
Lesson 3: Building the Plot and Story
Think of plot and story as the meat and potatoes of writing. Explore the difference between these two terms, how they work together and how we create them.
Lesson 4: Characters Are Everything
No amount of ingenious plot and story can pull in a reader if the characters are dull, lifeless and unlikable. Discover ways to create well-developed, multi-layered characters.
Lesson 5: Writing Dialogue for the Reader
Writing compelling dialogue that fits perfectly with a character is an art. It's more than putting words on a page — it starts with listening and requires developing a good ear. We'll reveal some rules, pitfalls and tips that can help you master writing realistic dialogue.
Lesson 6: The Magic of Words
Discuss the value of word economy, how to write with description and how the way you put words together can evoke all types of feelings and pictures in the mind of the reader.
Lesson 7: The Power of Editing
In this final lesson, the focus is on taking your story to the next level or next draft through editing. Many successful authors go through two or three revisions of a story before finalizing it. Those editing sessions are crucial and address plot, story, character, dialogue and, of course, grammar and formatting.
Notes
Participants will have 12 months to complete this mentor-supported online course.
All necessary materials are included.
System Requirements:
Internet Connectivity Requirements:
Cable and DSL internet connections recommended for best experience.
Hardware Requirements:CPU: 1 GHz or higher
RAM: 2 GB or higher
Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
Speakers / Headphones
Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)
Operating System Requirements:Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
Mac OSX 10 or higher.
Latest Chrome OS
Latest Linux Distributions
NOTE: While our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online-based courses.
Web Browser Requirements:Latest Google Chrome recommended for best experience.
Latest Mozilla Firefox
Latest Microsoft Edge
Latest Apple Safari
Basic Software Requirements (Recommended software):Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice or LibreOffice)
PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
Courses may require other software denoted in above course outline.