FOUNDATIONS OF
Foundations of Creative Writing
A haven for writers of all genres and ambitions
December 3, 2024
The course will pause on December 23, 2024, and will resume on January 3, 2025.
*Flexible payment available
Enroll this week to receive a 5% tuition reduction
Imbue your writing with imagination and range.
Craft writing that is distinct and well-developed..
Stories are timeless and eternal. They are touchstones, formed by time and place, which reflect upon the human experience. Creative writing is an asset in all professional fields throughout diverse positions. The ability to craft intriguing, memorable prose remains one of the most enduring forms of human expression. Learn to conceive and develop integral elements of a story, including plotline, characters, symbolism, setting, and atmosphere.
Our Approach to Online Learning
Optimize your time with a mode of study that allows you to explore content and complete tasks at your own pace.
Interactive
Our interactive content includes videos from instructors at the University of Chicago as well as materials that enable you to learn through real-world examples.
Personalized
Throughout the program, the teaching assistant will serve as a valuable resource to clarify any questions and provide feedback on your work.
Meet Your Instructor
Sarah Terez Rosenblum, MFA
Sarah Terez Rosenblum’s work has appeared in literary magazines such as The Normal School, Prairie Schooner (shortlisted for the publication’s Summer 2020 Creative Nonfiction Prize), Diagram , Brevity, Third Coast , and Carve. In 2022, Rosenblum was shortlisted for StoryQuarterly ’s annual fiction contest. She has written for sites that include Salon, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Satirist, and Pop Matters .
Pushcart Prize-nominated, she earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Rosenblum is a creative coach and developmental editor. She also teaches creative writing at Story Studio, where she was voted 2022 Teacher of the Year, and at the University of Chicago Writer’s Studio. Rosenblum’s novel, Herself When She’s Missing , was called “poetic and heartrending” by Booklist .
Unique Program Features
Live sessions and workshops.
Engage in live sessions and workshops that provide the opportunity to pose questions and exchange ideas.
Practical application
Practice specific craft points and explore the drafting process through weekly writing exercises.
Personalized guidance
Receive feedback from your instructors about the development of your writing.
Create a strategy for your organization that makes use of AI to accomplish business goals
Build a team for success in an AI world
Choose the best areas for early-stage development and understand how to scale AI solutions
Earn a certificate of completion from the University of Chicago and become part of the UChicago network
Learning Outcomes
- Reveal character through action.
- Establish setting through characters’ physicality.
- Write dynamic scenes.
- Create dialogue that reveals character and furthers plot.
- Recognize and use imagery and symbolic language.
After completing the course, you will be able to:
Course modules, introduction to writing and crafting character.
- Things to Consider Before Writing
- Introduction to Character
- Description
- Internal Response
Point of View
- Introduction to Point of View
- First Person
- Third Person
- Less Common Points of View: Second Person
- Less Common Points of View: First Person Plural
- Focalization
- Writing Practice
Setting and Mood
- Starting with Setting
- Creating Setting
- Analysis of Setting in The Road
- Introduction to Workshop
- Introduction to Plot
- Basic Plot Arcs
- Denouement and Resolution
- Conflict and Tension
- Change and Imagery
- The Hero’s Journey
- Introduction to Dialogue
- Dialogue and Action
- Creating Tension with Dialogue
- Dialogue and Subtext
- Issues in Dialogue
Voice and Tone
- Introduction to Tone and Voice
- Authorial Voice and Character Voice
- Finding Your Voice
- Strong Story Starts
- Writing Practice: Drafting
Imagery, Symbolism, and Theme
- Introduction to Imagery and Theme
- Figurative Language
- Systems of Imagery: “In the White Night”
- Building Your Own Systems of Imagery
Time Movement and Literary Magazines
- Simple Scene Movement
- Introduction to Flashbacks
- The Mechanics of Flashbacks
- Writing Practice: Submitting Your Work
- Writing Practice: Beyond this Course
- Things to Consider
- Before Writing
- Introduction to
- Writing Practicen
Participant Experiences
This course is designed for:.
Individuals with diverse aspirations, backgrounds, and skills interested in exploring writing in an easily accessible way.
Learners from all walks of life with curiosity and enthusiasm toward writing, communication, literature, and the art of crafting a story.
Experienced writers looking to hone their skills and elevate their expression.
Flexible Payment Options Available
PROGRAM FEE
Any discounts will be applied at checkout.
Pay in Full
Pay in 2 installments.