certification in creative writing

Creative Writing

Develop creative writing skills in multiple genres of interest including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and more. This customizable program culminates in a capstone project in which students make significant progress on a polished collection of work. This certificate can be completed online or in the classroom.

This program is perfect for...

• Those new to writing who want to explore various genres while cultivating their skills
• Writers looking to hone their craft and develop a solid portfolio of work in a particular genre
• Writers considering graduate-level writing study, including those who wish to polish pieces for submission to MFA programs
• Individuals who want to become part of a vibrant and supportive community of artists who share their passion

What you can learn.

• Identify your creative writing goals and develop a plan to achieve them
• Deepen your practice within a chosen genre, or explore various forms of creative writing
• Discover techniques of powerful storytelling, craft compelling characters, and write memorable scenes and stories
• Receive guidance from successful writers and workshop in a group of supportive peers

Achieve results and reach your writing goals.

Whether you are new to writing, have a specific project you'd like to get off the ground, or are preparing to apply to an MFA program, the Certificate in Creative Writing is an immersive program for developing professional writing skills.

Our fully customizable certificate honors each individual student’s journey, allowing you to pursue the coursework that is most meaningful to your specific writing goals and level of expertise. 

The program offers the opportunity to specialize in genres like poetry, short stories, novel writing, essay writing, memoir writing, or to explore writing across genres, hybrid genres, and new forms without the limitation of a prescribed curriculum. 

The only required course, the Creative Writing Certificate Capstone , allows you to compile and further refine your writing from prior coursework into a final portfolio representing the finest examples of your craft. 

Taught by a prestigious roster of instructors who are published writers and active professionals, courses in this certificate program can be taken onsite, online, or a combination of both. 

Expect more from your education.

MFA, fiction writer, author of the story collection Once Removed (UGA Press) and winner of the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction. 

4-DAY IN-PERSON INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS

Writers Studio 

Join a community of aspiring writers and jumpstart your creativity. Choose from 9 workshops taught by professionals in the fields of feature film, television, fiction, and creative nonfiction writing.

August 1 - 4, 2024 THURSDAY-SUNDAY, 10am-6pm

My UCLA Extension coursework, teachers, and colleagues have shaped my writing life, fueled the creation of my novel, and provided continual inspiration.

Certificate Curriculum

The Certificate in Creative Writing is fully customizable. You may follow a Writers’ Program sample curriculum plan based on specific writing goals, or design your own program of study.

Students must complete 21 total units comprised of the 3-unit Creative Writing Certificate Capstone course and 18 units of 400-level Creative Writing coursework.

Sample Program Tracks:

Novel I WRITING X 411.1

Novel II WRITING X 411.2

Novel III WRITING X 411.3

Novel IV WRITING X 411.4

Novel V WRITING X 411.5

Dialogue and Point of View WRITING X 462.1

Creative Writing Certificate Capstone WRITING X 460

Personal Essay I WRITING  X 422.1

Personal Essay II WRITING X 422.2

Personal Essay III WRITING X 422.3

Storytelling for Social Justice WRITING X 424.21E

Writing the Thinkpiece WRITING X 424.15E

The Art of Creative Research WRITING X 461.23

Poetry I WRITING X 431.1

Poetry II WRITING X 431.2

Poetry Toolbox WRITING X 432.10E

Prose Poetry WRITING X 432.11E

Reframing the Form WRITING X 432.7E

The "F" Word: Innovative Poetic Forms WRITING X 432.8E

Cuento Poems WRITING X 432.32E

Click below to view the required and elective courses, if applicable, for this program.

Students must complete 18 units of elective coursework. Select from courses numbered WRITING X 400-499 in the following areas:

Students may select courses in the following area with advisor approval:

Editing and Publishing

How to Get Started

Courses in this program are open enrollment, and each course is paid for individually.

Sequential courses should be taken in numerical order, starting from the lowest course number and progressing to higher numbers.

You may take Creative Writing courses without committing to the entire program.* However, by establishing candidacy in the program, you will receive  many benefits exclusive to our certificate students such as priority placement on waitlists and access to the UCLA Career Center's job board. Creative Writing Certificate students can also receive a customized curriculum tailored to your writing goals.

Need assistance? If you have any questions or need advice on course selection, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] .

Benefits exclusive for Writers' Program certificate students:

• Advising : Receive a 30-minute, one-on-one goal-setting consultation with a Writers’ Program advisor. During this consultation, the advisor will customize a certificate program curriculum tailored to your experience, interests, and writing goals.
• Enrollment Advantages : Receive quarterly notice when Writers’ Program courses open for enrollment each quarter and receive preferential placement on wait lists.
• Manuscript Consultation : Within six months of completing certificate program coursework, receive 50% off a one-on-one manuscript consultation with a Writers' Program instructor. Learn more .

Advanced standing at Antioch University*

Students who complete the Certificate in Creative Writing can receive Advanced Standing in Antioch University Los Angeles’s MFA in Creative Writing .

Advanced Standing allows a student to enter the MFA program with the equivalent of one semester completed. In addition, you may be eligible for Antioch’s fellowships and scholarships.

Additional benefits exclusive to all UCLA Extension certificate students:

• Career Resources : Access UCLA Extension’s Career Resources including online career coaching, workshops, networking events, and other resources.  Learn More .
• Handshake Access : Explore thousands of job and internship postings through UCLA Career Center’s online job board. Learn More .
• UCLA Alumni Association Membership : Upon completing your certificate, join the nationwide Bruin family as a member of the UCLA Alumni Association. Learn More .
• Graduation Celebration : Attend the annual UCLA Extension Graduation Ceremony on campus to celebrate your achievements. Learn More .
• UCLA Recreation Facilities : Enjoy access to UCLA Recreation facilities as a student affiliate. Learn More .
• Bruin ID Card : Obtain an affiliate/Guest UCLA Bruin ID Card for additional student-related benefits. Learn More .

How to Apply - Establish Certificate Candidacy

• Click the Apply Now button below
• Login or create a new student account
• Once you are logged into the student portal, you can select “My Applications” from the left side menu at any time to return to your application. Click the yellow “Start” button to proceed.
• On the Certificate Application page, follow the instructions and click save. Then submit your application. 
• Proceed to checkout and pay the nonrefundable candidacy fee to finalize your application. 

Estimated Cost Breakdown

All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.

Application & Candidacy Fee

Estimated program tuition, estimated program textbook/materials.

*The Application & Candidacy Fee establishes your candidacy in the program for a period of time covering normal progress toward completion and may allow you to access a variety of program benefits.

Internships Available

Approved for International Visa

VA Benefit Eligible

Federal Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities to disclose certain information for any financial aid eligible program that, “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. This information includes program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; on time completion rate; and for the most recent award year: the number of students who have completed the program, the number of students who complete the program within the estimated duration, the job placement rate, and the median Title IV and private loan debt incurred by those who complete the program. For gainful employment information for this program, visit our  Financial Aid page.

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Certificate Program in Writing

Natalie Lynn Harrison has published work in independent literary journals.

Graduate, Certificate Program in Writing Read Natalie Lynn Harrison's story .

Getting Started

We recommend beginning with The Craft of Reading ENGLISH X429, The Craft of Writing ENGLISH X421 or Writing Skills Workshop ENGLISH X13.

Online Availability

Courses in this certificate are offered online and in the classroom.

Duration of Study

8 courses for a minimum of 16 semester units (240 hours of instruction).

Estimated Cost

Calling all writers: join our community and get serious about your craft. Ready your work for publication or simply gain formal training. You'll read exemplary literary works and learn from published writers who provide structure, support and thoughtful feedback.

Directors of several San Francisco Bay Area M.F.A. programs helped develop the UC Berkeley Department of English–approved curriculum. Whether your goal is publication or landing a coveted spot in an M.F.A. writing program, this flexible program can meet your needs and schedule.

Required Courses

3 Course(s)

0 Course(s)

You may enroll in individual courses without registering for the certificate.

We recommend beginning the certificate with the following required courses.

Not Available

Electives (Literature)

2 Course(s)

Electives (Writing Workshop)

Courses of related interest, certificate and program policies.

• Substitutions and Waivers
• Financial Aid
• Transcripts and Records

Contact Information

To contact the department office, email [email protected] .

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for the Certificate Program in Writing, but a bachelor's degree is recommended.

Curriculum Requirements

The Certificate Program in Writing comprises 8 courses for a minimum of 16 semester units (240 hours of instruction), which includes 3 required courses and 5 restricted electives selected from 2 categories: literature (2 courses) and writing workshops (3 courses). Candidates must pay a nonrefundable certificate application fee.

All courses must be taken for a letter grade. To receive the certificate, you must maintain an overall minimum 2.5 grade point average, with a grade of C or better in each course. All coursework must be completed within five years. The completion of two courses per year is recommended in order to maintain sufficient academic progress in the certificate.

How to Register

By registering, you declare your intention to complete the curriculum. To register online for the Certificate Program in Writing, complete these two steps:

• Submit the online registration , and complete your student account profile if you are a new student.
• Pay the nonrefundable registration fee through your shopping cart. Please allow 3–5 business days for the registration to appear in your student account.

Each course is priced individually, and you pay the course fee at the time of enrollment. The certificate has an estimated total cost of approximately $6,000 (not including course materials or registration fee). Course fees are subject to change.

Certificate and Award Request

Once you have completed the certificate coursework, notify UC Berkeley Extension that you have completed the curriculum and request your certificate. Send an email to [email protected] . After your records have been reviewed, verified and approved, your certificate will be sent to you in the mail. The review of your records is usually completed within six to eight weeks after you request the certificate.

Advisory Board

To ensure that your professional certificate is of the highest quality, UC Berkeley Extension turns to experienced writers, outstanding teachers and published authors for advisers and instructors.

Stephen Albert , M.F.A., University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, also holds an M.A. from the University of Iowa School of Journalism and a teaching credential from the UC Berkeley School of Education

Lewis Buzbee  is the author of eight books of fiction and nonfiction. He also teaches in the M.F.A. in Writing Program at the University of San Francisco.

Thaisa Frank , award-winning author and instructor in the creative writing graduate programs at San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco, as well as at UC Berkeley Extension

Deborah Lichtman , Ph.D., author, teacher, curriculum instructor and former director of the University of San Francisco creative writing graduate program

Lynn Mundell , M.F.A., American University, creative writer, co-founder/co-editor of  100 Word Story , an editorial professional with 30 years of experience working in newspapers, the arts and corporations

Jane Anne Staw , Ph.D., author and teacher in the University of San Francisco creative writing graduate program, as well as an honored instructor at UC Berkeley Extension

Hertha Sweet Wong , Ph.D., associate professor in UC Berkeley's English Department and chair of UC Berkeley's Department of Art Practice

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Courses & Schedule

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Waitlist/course, withdrawals and refunds, more resources you may be looking for:, professional creative, nonfiction writing.

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At a Glance

Classes Begin June 17

Term Length 10 Weeks

4 Course Certificate Tuition $13,344

6 Course Certificate Tuition $20,016

Format Asynchronous and Hybrid Online

  Admission No GRE or GMAT

  Duration As few as 6 months

  Duration As few as 12 months

Top-Ranked University

U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Talk to an Enrollment Manager

Chris Heriza 303-871-4785 Schedule an appointment Email me

Free Application

University College is committed to educational access, and given the difficult circumstances currently impacting millions of people, we are waiving application fees.

Skills You’ll Learn

Annual Schedule 5

Which certificate is right for me?

• 4-Course Certificate
• 6-Course Certificate

Concentration Courses

Focus on a specific professional area within the larger industry sector and master the skills needed to excel in that area.

Elective Courses

Popular electives for students in the Professional Creative Writing program include:

Electives may be chosen from among all courses in the Professional Creative Writing program. You may also select courses from other University College graduate programs with approval from the academic director.

Your academic advisor will help you select electives that align with your career and personal goals, and your advisor will obtain any necessary approvals from the academic director.

MORE ELECTIVES

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Featured Instructors

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Patricia Dubrava Keuning

Linda Sanders

L.A. Jennings

Joseph Hutchison

Jonah Bornstein

Jenn Zukowski

Jeff Schwartz

Hilary Leftwich

Sample schedule.

Plan out your schedule and determine your preferred timeline for completing your master's degree—finish in as few as 18 months or take up to five years.

Interested in a master’s degree?

Take a course before you apply, career outcomes, predicted outcomes for graduates of professional creative nonfiction writing, writer and author salary​: national average, (u.s. bureau of labor statistics), get ahead with career services.

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Professional Creative Writing

Flexible online classes.

We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.

Accreditation

University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.

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Penn's Certificate in Creative Writing An Ivy League Certificate Designed to Unlock Your Creativity

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The online Certificate in Creative Writing from the University of Pennsylvania offers an innovative and collaborative opportunity to enhance your creative expression within a liberal arts education. Both the basic and advanced certificate courses are designed as hands-on, intensive workshops exploring the subtleties and power of language.

A Penn Tradition of Excellence

A hallmark of a Penn education and valued by students and employers, the cultivation of excellent writing skills represents an opportunity for both career advancement and lifelong self-expression.

The online Certificate in Creative Writing offers both basic and advanced workshops for students new to creative writing as well as students with writing experience who want to learn new skills.

Results-Focused

Courses are designed to enhance your writing and storytelling skills and provide a framework for a creative process that can be applied to a myriad of professional roles.

Both basic and advanced online courses are scheduled at times to accommodate working adults, so you can easily enhance your creativity while still pursuing your career.

University of Pennsylvania online certificates—a flexible, Ivy League educational experience with immediate career impact.

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Certificate in Creative Writing

Certificates.

The Certificate in Creative Writing offers an innovative, collaborative course of study for those who have always wanted to unlock their creativity. Each online course is designed as a workshop in which you explore new ideas, tackle new writing tools, generate original insights and discover your own powers of expression. You create, collaboratively discuss and revise your original writing with feedback from your instructors and your peers. You also engage with a range of assigned readings and multimedia that inform and grow your innovative practice.

The lifelong learning division of Penn Arts & Sciences

3440 Market Street, Suite 100 Philadelphia, PA 19104-3335

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Creative Writing Certificate | Northwestern SPS - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

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Program Overview

Creative Writing

Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing

The writing certificate introduces students to the small-group workshop format and features individual attention from published, award-winning faculty . Flexible scheduling – with courses offered evenings and weekends on Northwestern’s Chicago and Evanston campuses as well as online and in hybrid format – gives students the opportunity to balance their professional, personal and writing lives. While earning their certificate, students will likewise have the opportunity to connect with other writers at readings and events in an artistic community that extends beyond the University into Chicagoʼs vibrant literary scene.

START MY APPLICATION Request Information ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION

STACKABLE CERTIFICATE

Complete this four-course certificate and apply your credit to Northwestern’s MA in Writing or MFA in Prose and Poetry programs.

About the Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing

Graduate certificate in creative writing learning outcomes, creative writing curriculum, creative writing courses, creative writing admission, creative writing tuition, registration information for creative writing, creative writing faculty.

• Applying Credit to the MA in Writing or MFA in Prose and Poetry

After successful completion of the certificate, students will have the knowledge, skills, and aptitude to:

• Determine the strengths and areas for improvement in their writing, and learn how to evaluate critical feedback of their work
• Revise work, re-think it, and re-imagine it
• Experiment with different styles and forms
• Read literature as a writer and a critic

Students will also be introduced to:

• Tools for teaching creative writing, informed by current pedagogy and classroom experience
• The vibrant literary community at the university, in the city of Chicago, and environs

Students are required to complete the following four courses to earn the certificate: 

• 2 Writing Workshops in the genre in which they are accepted (list of available workshops below)
• 1 Literature Course (may be any 400-level LIT Course; some 400-level IPLS courses may apply)
• 1 Elective (may be any MCW 490 Elective Course, MCW 575 The Publishing Industry: Literary Presses and Journals, any Publishing and Professional Development Course, any additional Literature Course)

Writing Workshops

• MCW 411 - Poetry Workshop
• MCW 413 - Fiction Writing Workshop
• MCW 417 - Popular Fiction Writing Workshop
• MCS 461 - Nonfiction Writing Workshop

Literature Courses

• LIT 405 - Topics in Literature (topics vary - see course schedule)
• LIT 410 - Introduction to Graduate Studies in Literary and Cultural Analysis
• LIT 480 - Topics in Comparative Literature (topics vary - see course schedule)
• LIT 492 - Special Topics (topics vary - see course schedule)

Review curriculum details while you consider applying to this program. Current students should refer to the curriculum requirements in place at time of entry into the program.

Explore Creative Writing Courses. You can narrow your course search by day, location or instructor.

A variety of factors are considered when your application is reviewed. Background and experience vary from student to student. For a complete list of requirements, see the  Graduate Certificate Admission  page.

Tuition for this program at Northwestern is comparable to similar US programs. Complete details can be found on the Creative Writing Certificate Tuition page.

Already accepted into the Graduate Certificate in program name program? Get ahead and register for your classes as soon as possible.

Instructors in the Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing program at Northwestern are leading scholars and practitioners in their field. They bring real-world experiences to the classroom and engage with students on a personal level. Get to know the instructors on the Creative Writing Faculty page.

Applying Credit to the MA in Writing or MFA in Prose and Poetry Programs

Students that are interested in the option of applying their credit to the SPS MA in Writing or MFA in Prose and Poetry programs must submit an online application and submit all required application materials .

Students that elect to apply to a master's program before completing a graduate certificate will be able to count completed courses toward the applicable master's degree, but there will be no certificate conferred.

If you are interested in exploring this option, please contact the SPS graduate advising team for information on how to pursue a master's degree at SPS.

Find out more about Northwestern's Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing

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Required Courses

Students must complete all 5 courses listed below. Classes can be taken in any order.

Grammar Lab WCWP-40234

Units:  3.00

Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234)10 Weeks | OnlineThis ten-week online Grammar Lab course is skillfully designed to meet the needs of all students. It is beneficial for those with little grammar experience and...

Upcoming Start Dates:

The art and craft of creative writing wcwp-40107.

The Art and Craft of Creative Writing 10 Weeks | Online Course Description/Goals: Creative writing begins when the spark of an idea ignites the fuel of language. The writer picks up a pen or presse...

Developing Unforgettable Characters WCWP-40245

Units:  2.00

Whether you are writing short fiction, a novel, or memoir, characters are what draw your reader in and make them care enough to read on. This course offers methods for creating three-dimensional chara...

Finding Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Part I WCWP-40142

Within you there dwells an innate sense of storytelling and a unique voice with which to tell your stories. In this course you will explore writing techniques to help you locate and refine the natura...

Writers' Workshop: Read and Critique WCWP-40252

­­­Literary criticism is not a form of negatively critiquing a writing piece, but rather conscientiously and carefully analyzing written works through various lenses. Reading and critiquin...

Students must choose minimum 2 units of Literature from any of the classes below

Women and Madness LIT-40069

In the 19th century, a strange marriage of art, literature, science, and psychology catapulted society’s obsession with the archetypal madwoman into the mainstream. Pathologies that had once been used...

Gender Identity and Literature: Him, Her, Us LIT-40071

Gender is infinitely more intricate than the biological question of sex. Uncover the cultural, social and political implications of gender identity in three powerful works. Kiss of the Spider Woman, b...

Ernest Hemingway: Titan of American Literature LIT-40064

Ernest Hemingway wrote “All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwar...

American Literature: Stories of Immigration LIT-40022

Explore this Unique Take on Immigration Stories Immigration has once again taken center stage in the national spotlight, giving artists, writers and thinkers another opportunity to consider and help r...

Glittering Wit: Three Works by Oscar Wilde LIT-40099

Famous, and infamous, for his brilliant turn of phrase, seething social commentary and flamboyant personality, Oscar Wilde was the toast of the literary world throughout the 1880’s and 1890’s. Join us...

History of Children's Literature LIT-40093

Gain a deep understanding of the history of children s literature by studying classics of post-enlightenment writing for children. This course provides children s book writers, illustrators and enthus...

Students must choose 12 units of electives from any of the classes below

Novel Writing I WCWP-40187

The greatest challenge to writing a first novel may be deciding where to start. This course will help you write an engaging first paragraph and a draft of at least the first chapter. You may also work...

Novel Writing II WCWP-40297

Are you ready to develop a significant portion of your novel? This workshop will bring you valuable feedback on your work, including suggestions for revision. Class discussion will focus on the struct...

Novel Writing III WCWP-40254

This class will prepare you for the big picture review of your novel. With the use of contemporary and classic novels as examples, you will evaluate the progress on the plot arc and character developm...

Creative Non-Fiction

Memoir writing wcwp-40200.

Many of us have had fascinating lives, whether lived inwardly or outwardly, during childhood long ago or in the past decade. But when it comes to writing a memoir, where do we begin? The day of our bi...

Self-Editing and Publishing for the Web WCWP-40313

The ability to edit your own written work is a skill that s highly valued by employers and publishers. This class focuses on strengthening your writing for the web using journalistic techniques. Wheth...

News and Feature Writing WCWP-40276

The goal of this course is to introduce you to the purpose of journalism and the fundamentals of news and featue writing. In this ever-changing media landscape, one thing can remain constant: an indiv...

The Writer's Art of Interviewing WCWP-40123

Effective interviewing techniques translate to writing that is clear, lively, and depending on the writer s mission instructive or entertaining. This course will encompass all the integral compone...

Finding Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Part II WCWP-40338

This course is a continuation of Finding Our Voices, Telling Our Stories: Part I. In this course students will continue to build upon the story they created in the first section of this series of clas...

Children's Writing

Writing children's picture books wcwp-40261.

Let the wild rumpus begin! Do you dream of imaginary lands and mythical creatures? Learn how to inspire a child s imagination by giving them the tools necessary to explore the world around them. The ...

Writing for Children I: Introduction WCWP-40186

Have you ever told yourself that someday you will write a children s book? Now s your chance! Join us as we demystify the writing process and examine the wide variety of books offered to children: pi...

Writing for Children II: Intermediate WCWP-40315

Revision is the key to improving your work to reach the next level: publication. But often the hardest part is to figure out which words to cut, which to leave in, and how to tighten up the rest. Thi...

Writing for the Middle Grade/YA Reader WCWP-40274

Discover how successful middle grade and young adult books are crafted, and begin to plot out and write a tale of your own. In this course, we will consider how a plot works, what makes a compelling ...

Writing Non-Fiction and Informational Books for Children WCWP-40327

The market for children s nonfiction and informational books and articles has never been better. In this course, which can be taken by those familiar with writing for children and those just beginnin...

General Electives

Forms of poetry wcwp-40308.

Amy Lowell wrote, "No one expects a man to make a chair without first learning how, but there is a popular impression that the poet is born, not made, and that his verses burst from his overflowing he...

Nature Writing: The True Muse WCWP-40342

Nature Writing: The True Muse (WCWP-40342)6 Weeks | Online As writers, we are the witness and voice of our time, and as such, we are invited to translate what we experience to share and celebrate wit...

The Business of Writing

Building a business around writing wcwp-40321.

Units:  1.00

There a many avenues to building a business around writing. In this short course we will briefly discuss various possibilities including becoming a book author, freelance writer for hire, or journal...

The Art and Business of Blogging WCWP-40334

In this course students will learn the art of writing for an online audience, how to create a basic Wordpress site, insert blog posts, edit, and brand their blog. This course will also touch on how to...

Conditions for Admission

Students should have a native level of fluency in English and be able to write clear, logical and grammatically-correct sentences.

Certificate Guidelines

The program consists of earning at least 28 quarter units in Creative Writing and related courses. Students should be able to complete the entire certificate program in 2.5 years or less depending on their work load.

Students must pass all 14 units of required classes, 2 units of Literature, and choose 12 units from our listed electives in order to receive the certificate.

Advisory Board

Benjamin Doller

Professor and Author

UC San Diego

Author and Professor Emerita of Writing and Literature

University of CA, San Diego

Judy Reeves

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Creative Writing, Certificate

The Certificate in Creative Writing offers an innovative, collaborative course of study for those who have always wanted to unlock their creativity. Each course is designed as a workshop in which you explore new ideas, tackle new writing tools, generate original insights and discover your own powers of expression. You create, collaboratively discuss and revise your original writing with feedback from your instructors and your peers. You also engage with a range of assigned readings and multimedia that inform and grow your innovative practice.

The Certificate in Creative Writing offers both basic and advanced workshops and appeals to students new to creative writing as well as students with writing experience who want to learn new skills. Through a series of courses in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting, the Certificate in Creative Writing focuses on creative writing as a form of critical thinking as a way to reimagine audience and as a space of innovation. Taught by professionals in the field, our courses cultivate both individual and group learning, providing an overview of the field as well as deep dives into literary genres. These courses are designed as hands-on, intensive study of the subtleties and power of language.

The Certificate in Creative Writing is a 4-course, 4 course unit program of study taught by University of Pennsylvania faculty. To earn a certificate, students complete any four courses offered, in any order. Students who complete the basic certificate may pursue an advanced certificate (6-course, 6 course unit) by adding two additional courses from the advanced course list.

Penn LPS Online courses in the Certificate in Creative Writing are offered on accelerated (8-week) and classic (11- or 12-week) schedules. Courses in the certificate program are largely asynchronous with some optional synchronous sessions to be scheduled by the instructors. For more information about specific course dates, please visit the Course Schedule  page.

You have the option to enroll in individual courses without committing to the entire certificate, enjoying the flexibility and expertise offered by Penn LPS Online to suit your schedule and interests.

For more information: https://lpsonline.sas.upenn.edu/academics/certificates/creative-writing

The Certificate in Creative Writing prepares you to:

• Understand how text conveys meaning across a variety of literary genres and styles
• Explore how to use innovation, flexibility, and collaboration to cultivate a creative writing practice
• Create, revise and edit your original writing in multiple literary genres, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and screenwriting

Certificate students who complete four of the online courses listed below earn a Certificate in Creative Writing. Those students are then eligible to pursue an Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing by taking two additional courses.

Courses are subject to change.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

The Advanced Certificate in Creative Writing is a 6-course, 6 course unit program of study taught by University of Pennsylvania faculty. To earn a certificate, students complete any four courses offered, in any order. 

Penn LPS Online courses in the Certificate in Creative Writing are offered on accelerated (8-week) and classic (11- or 12-week) schedules. Courses in the certificate program are largely asynchronous with some optional synchronous sessions to be scheduled by the instructors. For more information about specific course dates, please visit the  Course Schedule  page.

For more information:   https://lpsonline.sas.upenn.edu/academics/certificates/creative-writing

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Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot

This course is part of Creative Writing Specialization

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

Instructor: Brando Skyhorse

Financial aid available

294,093 already enrolled

(4,741 reviews)

Skills you'll gain

• Short Story Writing
• Fiction Writing
• Copy Editing

Details to know

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There are 4 modules in this course

In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to perhaps the most elemental and often the most challenging element of story: plot. We will learn what keeps it moving, how it manipulates our feelings, expectations, and desires. We will examine the choices storytellers make to snag our imaginations, drag them into a fictional world, and keep them there. We will learn how to outline and structure a plot, discuss narrative arc, pacing and reversals and reveal the inevitable surprise: connecting the beginning, middle and end.

Plotting a Course

In this module, we'll learn essentials about plot definitions and mechanics. What is plot? How does plot shape a narrative? What makes a strong plot? How is plot different from a story? We'll also discuss how plot works in actual books you're probably familiar with, such as the Harry Potter series, how character and action equals plot, and the five key questions you should ask yourself when creating a dynamic character.

What's included

4 videos 2 readings 1 peer review

4 videos • Total 26 minutes

• What Is Plot? • 7 minutes • Preview module
• How Plot Works in Harry Potter • 8 minutes
• Character + Action = Plot • 7 minutes
• Feedback Expectations for the Specialization • 2 minutes

2 readings • Total 4 minutes

• A Note on Assignments • 1 minute
• Promo Codes • 3 minutes

1 peer review • Total 60 minutes

• The Escalator • 60 minutes

The Power of Structure

In this module we're going to learn what story structure is and how by understanding structure you can learn how to sequence the events in your plot to help maximize your own storytelling abilities.We'll talk about Freytag's pyramid, the five act structure, how that structure can be found in works of classic literature, and have a conversation about how structure and outlines can help organize the stories you want to tell.

3 videos 1 peer review

3 videos • Total 22 minutes

• What Is Structure? • 7 minutes • Preview module
• ABDCE Structure Examples from Famous Works of Literature • 7 minutes
• Visiting Writer: A Conversation with Douglas Martin • 7 minutes
• What's Up, Doc? • 60 minutes

A Scene in Motion

Scenes are the building blocks of storytelling. But what is a scene? And how does a scene move plot forward? In this module we'll learn about the difference between telling and showing, the five key elements each scene should have, offer some examples of effective scenes, and have a conversation about how setting and description can make a scene come alive.

3 videos • Total 26 minutes

• What Is a Scene? • 7 minutes • Preview module
• Examples of Effective Scenes • 8 minutes
• Shop Talk with Amity Gaige • 10 minutes
• Show, Don't Tell • 60 minutes

This modules deals with the specifics of editing and revising your work. This process of revision starts with the first draft (which will now become your second draft) and continues until the manuscript’s ready to send to an agent. Included here are a twenty-one point checklist on what to do once you have a completed first draft, and conversations about creating characters with strong motivations, and how to define language that gets rewritten vs language that gets cut.

4 videos 1 peer review

4 videos • Total 31 minutes

• Editing and Revision • 7 minutes • Preview module
• Shop Talk with Amy Bloom • 10 minutes
• Shop Talk with Salvatore Scibona • 10 minutes
• The 21st Point • 3 minutes
• The Whole Story • 60 minutes

Instructor ratings

We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand. With our distinctive scholar-teacher culture, creative programming, and commitment to interdisciplinary learning, Wesleyan challenges students to explore new ideas and change the world. Our graduates go on to lead and innovate in a wide variety of industries, including government, business, entertainment, and science.

Recommended if you're interested in Music and Art

Wesleyan University

Creative Writing: The Craft of Character

Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description

Creative Writing: The Craft of Style

Creative Writing

Specialization

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Learner reviews

Showing 3 of 4741

4,741 reviews

Reviewed on Mar 10, 2019

It was a good course. It was a good grading method, I was a little opposed in the beginning but I now I understand the value of having more than a teacher read your work.

It is very much worth it.

Reviewed on Mar 14, 2016

Good material. Brando Skyhorse is a very talented lecturer. The exercises look simple but are actually very difficult, so set aside more time than you expect to complete them within the parameters.

Reviewed on Dec 6, 2020

Course is great, very clear and focused tips to improve one's writing. The peer-review is not that good and there is no instructor's evaluation and feedback. I understand that would be a lot of work.

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Frequently asked questions

When will i have access to the lectures and assignments.

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

What is the refund policy?

If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy Opens in a new tab .

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions

Creative Writer Certifications

Explore the top Creative Writer certifications that are important to a successful career.

Getting Started as a Creative Writer

• What is a Creative Writer
• How To Become
• Certifications
• Tools & Software
• LinkedIn Guide
• Interview Questions
• Work-Life Balance
• Professional Goals
• Resume Examples
• Cover Letter Examples

Getting Certified as a Creative Writer

Top creative writer certifications, best creative writer certifications, copywriting for creatives.

• Basic understanding of marketing principles
• Interest in writing and content creation
• Access to a computer and internet for online course materials and participation
• Proficiency in the English language
• Commitment to complete the coursework and assignments
• No formal education or experience in copywriting required, but beneficial

Copywriting Essentials Certificate

• A high school diploma or equivalent as a basic educational requirement
• Proficiency in the English language, both written and verbal
• Access to a computer and the internet to complete online course materials
• A commitment to complete the coursework and assignments within the stipulated time frame
• No prior experience in copywriting is necessary, making it suitable for beginners
• An interest in marketing, advertising, and writing compelling content

Conversion Copywriting 101 Certificate

• Basic understanding of digital marketing concepts
• Proficiency in written English
• Access to a computer and internet for online course materials and certification exam
• Interest in learning copywriting techniques for online sales and marketing
• No formal education or previous copywriting experience required, but may be beneficial
• Completion of any pre-course work or introductory materials provided by Copyhackers, if applicable

Professional Copywriting Certification

• Access to a computer and the internet for online course materials and assignments
• Basic computer literacy and word processing skills
• No previous experience in copywriting is required, making it suitable for beginners
• A commitment to complete the coursework, including assignments and evaluations

Copywriting Certificate

• No prior experience in copywriting is necessary, but a keen interest in writing and marketing is beneficial
• Completion of all course modules and assignments for certification
• Payment of the course fee to The Blackford Centre for Copywriting

Certified Professional Copywriter (CPC)

• Membership with the American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI)
• Completion of the AWAI's Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting or equivalent coursework
• Understanding of core copywriting principles and direct-response marketing
• Submission of a professional copywriting portfolio for review
• Passing the Certified Professional Copywriter (CPC) examination
• Adherence to the AWAI's Code of Ethics

SEO Copywriting Certification

• Basic understanding of digital marketing and content creation
• Proficiency in written English and strong writing skills
• Familiarity with SEO principles and practices
• Access to a computer and internet for online course materials and exercises
• Completion of any required registration process with the SEO Content Institute
• Payment of the certification fee

Digital Copywriter Certificate

• Access to a computer and internet for online course materials and assignments
• Completion of any application process as required by Success Works
• Payment of any applicable fees for the certification program
• Commitment to complete all coursework and pass any required examinations

Certified Content Marketer

• A basic understanding of marketing principles and strategies
• Experience in creating and distributing content across various platforms
• Professional experience in a marketing role is recommended but not always required
• Completion of any foundational courses offered by the Content Marketing Institute or equivalent knowledge
• Membership with the Content Marketing Institute may be required to access certification materials and exams
• Willingness to complete rigorous coursework and pass a final exam to demonstrate content marketing expertise

Copywriting Mastery and Sales-Thinking Bootcamp

• A genuine interest in pursuing a career in copywriting and direct-response marketing
• Basic writing skills and command of the English language
• Ability to commit to the duration of the bootcamp for active participation and completion of exercises
• No formal education or experience in copywriting is required, making it suitable for beginners
• Payment of the course fee, as it is a paid certification program

A Better Way to Present Certifications

Benefits of having a creative writer certification, how to choose the best creative writer certification.

• Identify Your Specialization: Determine the genre or medium you are most passionate about, whether it's fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, or another form. Look for certifications that specialize in your area of interest to deepen your expertise and make your work stand out in that niche.
• Assess Skill Level Enhancement: Evaluate how a certification will build upon your existing skills. If you're a beginner, seek foundational programs that cover the basics of creative writing. For more experienced writers, advanced certifications that challenge and refine your craft can be more beneficial.
• Examine the Curriculum's Breadth and Depth: Scrutinize the curriculum to ensure it covers a range of topics that are crucial to your development as a writer, such as character development, plot structure, dialogue, and editing. A comprehensive curriculum can provide a well-rounded skill set that is applicable across various writing projects.
• Consider the Instructors' Expertise: Research the qualifications and background of the instructors leading the certification program. Instructors with a strong reputation in the writing community and a track record of published works can offer invaluable insights and mentorship.
• Networking and Community Engagement: Opt for certifications that offer access to a community of writers and industry professionals. The opportunity to receive feedback, collaborate, and build connections can be instrumental in your growth and success as a creative writer.

Preparing for Your Creative Writer Certification

Certification faqs for creative writers, is getting a creative writer certification worth it, do you need a certification to get a job as a creative writer, can creative writer certifications help pivoters make the transition into content from another career path.

Creative Writer Tools & Software

Related Certification Lists

Crafting compelling narratives, engaging audiences with powerful words and ideas

Crafting compelling narratives to drive brand engagement and consumer action

Shaping narratives, refining content to captivate audiences and uphold brand voice

Bringing sports stories to life, capturing the thrill and passion of the game

Translating complex tech jargon into clear, user-friendly content, bridging knowledge gaps

Start Your Creative Writer Career with Teal

Online courses in creative writing

Part-time study in creative writing

Develop your creativity with an Oxford University short course or award programme.

Need an extra push to finish your novel, poem or play? Completely new to the world of creative writing? Want to improve your analytical reading skills? No matter where you are in your writing journey, or where you are in the world, there is a part-time course to suit you.

Short online courses

Our short online courses in creative writing include live-time weekly classes, day and weekend schools and flexible online courses.

Credit earned from our short online courses is transferable towards our Certificate of Higher Education - a part-time undergraduate course in which you study a main subject discipline but also undertake study in other academic subjects.

Browse short online courses in creative writing

Diploma in Creative Writing

Our two-year, part-time Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing allows you to strengthen your ability in four major areas of literary activity — prose, poetry, drama and analytical reading — as well as the chance to specialise in the medium of your choice. You can now opt to take this course mostly online.

Find out more about the Diploma in Creative Writing

Upcoming courses

Fantasy literature.

• Sat 08 Jun 2024
• 9:45am – 5:15pm

Advanced Creative Writing (Online)

• Mon 09 Sep 2024 – 22 Nov 2024

Advanced Writing Lives (Online)

Fiction by victorian women: george eliot, elizabeth gaskell (online), writing lives (online).

Literature, creative writing and film studies

Online courses in literature, rita mccormick, tessa fenley, student spotlights.

• Request Info
• Check Status

Creative Writing Graduate Certificate

Graduate Certificate

Do you have a story to tell? Are you interested in developing your creative writing skills? If you want to be actively engaged in graduate-level creative writing classes and hone your talent as a writer, then the Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing might be for you.

Start Your Bold Future

By submitting this form, I agree that UTSA may contact me by email, voice, pre-recorded message and/or text message using automated technology.

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Why Pursue a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing

UTSA’s Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing adds interdisciplinary breadth to a student’s course of study while increasing the depth and coherence of a student’s work in creative writing. Given the growing interest in creative writing in liberal arts as well as non-traditional disciplines like medicine, sociology, and psychology, many students find this formal recognition of their work in creative writing to be a valuable credential in both academic and non-academic job markets. Students who are pursuing the Graduate Certificate also receive first consideration for graduate workshop registration.

Earn a Master's Degree

Are you ready to take your career and academic journey to the next level? Combine this program with another eligible certificate to earn a master’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies! Take advantage of the opportunity to customize your degree to align with your professional and educational goals.

• Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Funding opportunities, career options, admission & application requirements.

Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application . Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline. For international students, please note that student visas are not issued at UTSA for non-degree-seeking students, including certificate programs. For more information, visit our international students admission page .

Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.

UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below is data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.

Certificate Advisor of Record

David Vance, PhD

210-458-4374

Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing – Journalism Captivate Your Readers

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total

Expand Your Reporting and Writing Skills with an Online Journalism Degree from Liberty University

Have you ever wanted to write for a magazine, news journal, or website? If so, then this program might be for you! At Liberty, you can learn how to compose original text with your own creative flair. Our journalism degree can help you gain the research and writing skills needed to craft compelling pieces that captivate your reader and move them emotionally.

Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Creative Writing – Journalism is an exciting and dynamic degree program that can help prepare you for a career in the media industry. With a focus on writing for social media, news and print, and multimedia storytelling, this journalism major can help equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to excel in a variety of fields.

Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America

• What Sets Us Apart?
• Private Nonprofit University
• 600+ Online Degrees
• No Standardized Testing for Admission
• Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
• Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Why Choose Liberty’s BS in Creative Writing – Journalism Degree?

There are many reasons why you might choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing – Journalism. One of the main benefits of this degree is that it is 100% online, making it convenient and accessible for students with busy schedules. Additionally, this program is designed to be completed in just 120 credit hours, allowing you to earn your degree quickly and start your career sooner.

Furthermore, the Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing – Journalism program is unique in its focus on both creative writing and journalism. This means you’ll gain a well-rounded education that can provide a great foundation to begin a career in news media and content writing. Whether you want to be a journalist or branch out into other areas of writing, this degree can provide a pathway to accomplishing your goals.

Liberty’s online journalism degree is taught by experienced writers and journalists who have a wealth of knowledge to share. They’ll provide you with guidance and feedback as you develop your skills and work on your writing.

What Will You Study in Our Online Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism?

In the Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing – Journalism program, you can learn competencies that are essential for success in a variety of journalism and creative writing industries. From writing novellas to writing for theater and film, you have the opportunity to develop many abilities that can help boost your marketability. Some of the skills you can develop include:

• Writing and Storytelling : You can learn how to craft compelling stories that engage and inform your audience, whether writing news articles, feature stories, or multimedia content.
• Journalism Fundamentals : You will explore the basics of journalism, including how to conduct interviews, fact-check information, and write in a style that is appropriate for different types of media.
• Print and Digital Publishing : In today’s media landscape, digital skills are essential. You can learn how to use a variety of digital tools and build platforms that focus on maturing your writing skill and brand.
• Professional Skills : In addition to creative and technical skills, you can also develop the professional skills you need to succeed in the workplace – including teamwork, communication, and project management.

Additionally, you can learn how to write for cultural engagement and convey nuanced meaning in your work. Your studies will culminate in a senior capstone that will synthesize the knowledge and training you have gained over the course of this journalism degree.

Potential Career Opportunities

• Professional blogger
• Social media coordinator

Featured Courses

• WRIT 201 – Introduction to Creative Writing
• WRIT 400 – Editing for Publishing
• WRIT 404 – Print and Digital Publishing*
• WRIT 417 – Writing for Cultural Engagement*

*Course guide coming soon

Degree Information

• This program falls under the College of Arts and Sciences .
• View our Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides (login required).

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)

Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

• Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education,  electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!

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Admission Information for Undergraduate Online Degrees

Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of an unofficial high school transcript and our High School Self-Certification Form .
• Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form .

Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.

Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.

Transcript Policies

High school transcript policy.

Applicants may submit an unofficial high school transcript with a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.

• Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.

Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.

The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and unofficial high school transcript with a High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.

Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

• Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
• Cumulative GPA
• A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
• Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Military Transfers

If you have military-only transfer credits (completed basic training and enlistment), you must request an official military transcript. Please go to the Military Transfer Credit webpage to request your military transcript.

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES .

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Available Benefits:

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• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
• Potential college credit for military training

*Not applicable to certificates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does liberty partner with and bestselling authors.

Liberty University has partnered with New York Times bestselling author and Christian novelist, Karen Kingsbury, to create the Karen Kingsbury Center for Creative Writing. Your curriculum includes content developed by Karen Kingsbury herself.

Is Liberty University accredited by anyone?

Liberty University holds institutional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ( SACSCOC ).

Who teaches the classes in this degree program?

This online journalism bachelor’s degree is taught by experienced professionals who are experts in the fields of journalism and creative writing.

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The English departmental honors major offers an opportunity for motivated and capable students to engage in more extensive interaction with faculty and to complete challenging individual research or creative writing projects that will further their personal and professional goals. These majors are supervised by the honors project coordinator. Individual projects are mentored by a faculty member whose expertise guides the students through the project.

Application to the Departmental Honors Major: To be accepted in the program, students must have an overall GPA of 3.50 and a GPA in the major of 3.70 by the end of winter quarter of the junior  year. Interested students should apply to the department Honors Project Coordinator in spring quarter of the junior year or fall quarter of the senior year. A Change of Program form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

Completion of the Major: During senior year, departmental honors students will complete 10 credits of independent study under the supervision of their faculty mentor. These 10 credits must be taken as ENGL 4890  Departmental Honors Directed Reading and ENGL 4895  Departmental Honors Thesis Supervision. From these courses during the senior year, students will complete an honors project consisting of a major research paper or long creative text. Students who commit themselves to the honors project must complete their project (with a grade of at least A-minus) one month prior to the end of their final quarter at Seattle University and present the project orally in an appropriate context to be determined by the honors project coordinator. Students who complete departmental honors must earn a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 3.50.

See the University Honors Program    section of this catalog for honors course requirements.

I. Innovations Track

Graduates of the University Honors Program    Innovations track may earn an English/Creative Writing major with departmental honors by completing 55 additional credits, including:

Requirements:

• ENGL 2000 - Literary Studies
• ENGL 2050 - Encountering Creative Writing

3000-4000 level ENGL, 35 credits including:

• ENGL CW courses (20 credits)
• ENGL 3000-level CT course (5 credits)
• ENGL 3000-4000 level (5 credits)
• Senior Synthesis/Capstone (5 credits)

Departmental Honors courses:

• ENGL 4890 - Departmental Honors Directed Reading
• ENGL 4895 - Departmental Honors Thesis Supervision

II. Intellectual Traditions Track

Graduates of the University Honors Program    Intellectual Traditions track who have completed all five of the literature courses in that program may earn an English/Creative Writing major with departmental honors by completing successfully 45 additional credit hours in English, including: 

• ENGL 3000-4000 level Creative Writing (20 credits)
• ENGL 3000-4000 level American Literature (5 credits)
• ENGL 3000-4000 level Intercultural/Intersectional Literature (5 credits)

III. Society, Policy, and Citizenship Track

Graduates of the University Honors Program    Society, Policy, and Citizenship track may earn an English/Creative Writing major with departmental honors by completing 55 additional credits, including:

• ENGL 3000-4000 level Creative Writing electives (20 credits)
• 5 credits ENGL 3000-level CT course
• 5 credit Senior Synthesis/Capstone

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Creative Writing Workshops

Creative writing workshops offer students the chance to explore their creativity and experience the writing process among fellow writers. Students have the choice to focus on different genres: poetry, fiction or literary nonfiction.

These courses are offered through the English Department in the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall and spring semesters.  

The courses are offered in the fall and spring semesters.

Academic Credit

Each course is worth 3 credits.

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• The Writer's Desk
• Creative Writing MFA
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• Current Students

Courses: Spring 2024

All CWL courses 4 credits unless noted otherwise. FLM courses 2-3 credits.

Regularly scheduled classes for the Spring 2024 semester begin on Monday, January 22 nd and end on Saturday, May 4 th . The semester ends Wednesday, May 15.   For other important dates about registering, adding or dropping, etc. please check the Graduate School calendar here:  

https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/registrar/calendars/_graduate-calendar-spring-2024.php

GRADUATE COURSES IN SOUTHAMPTON (in-person)

CWL 510.S01 #54121 Forms of Fiction: The Short Story in Particular

Mondays 5:30 - 8:20 p.m., 4 credits

Members of this short story workshop will submit two-three stories that feature some of the narrative strategies we will discuss, including ways to strengthen a reminiscence, how far the use of voice can go, and the language of the workplace. The aim is to amplify what a story can be, what it can do. Weekly supplemental reading will include contemporary stories and poems from writers including E.C. Osundu, Ayse Papatya Bucak, Kimberly King Parsons, Nami Mun, Danielle Evans,, Sharon Olds, Davy Rothbart, Sherry Sonnett, and many more.

CWL 520.S01 51964, Forms of Poetry: The Sentence; Prose Poetry; Flash Fiction

Christine Kitano                                                                                                              

 Thursdays 2:30 – 5:20pm, 4 credits

In this course, we will focus on the expressive possibilities of the sentence. The first part of the semester will be dedicated to studying the sentence as both grammatical unit and aesthetic tool. Then, we’ll see how to build prose poems and flash stories by wielding syntax to further the imaginative vision. Many of us learned to write “by ear,” so don’t worry if you never learned to diagram a sentence or are unsure about the difference between a phrase and a clause. This course is designed for both grammar nerds and skeptics, and for both poets and prose writers. We can all benefit from deeper investigation into the structures of language as we continue to hone our craft.

CWL 540.S01 54166 Forms of Creative Nonfiction: Ways of the Memoir

Lou Ann Walker

Mondays, 2:30 – 5:20, 4 credits

We could even retitle this course “Life: A Story.” In addition to reading new masters of the memoir form, you’ll be writing in order to discover themes in your life. We'll be touching on narrative subjects such as the reliability of memory, point of view, the accuracy of dialogue, as well as portraying other characters in your life—memoir is not just about the “I.” You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish during this semester.

Our reading list will be finalized at the beginning of the class depending on what will be most useful to you as writers, but some of the works we’ll be considering include: Solito by Javier Zamora; All that She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tina Miles; Women We Buried, Women We Burned by Rachel Louise Snyder; The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom; Out of Egypt by André Aciman; Educated by Tara Westover; The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer; The Color of Water by James McBride; Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey; The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls; Why Be Happy When You Could be Normal by Jeanette Winterson; When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanith; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou; Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates; Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah.

CWL 550.S01 54201,  Forms of Professional Writing: The Business of Being a Writer

Emma Walton Hamilton

Wednesdays, 2:30 - 5:20P, 4 credits

 “I’m a writer, not a business-person!” So says every new writer who hopes to avoid the challenges of marketing, promoting and otherwise managing their work. But being a professional writer is 50% writing and 50% business, and without the business part, the chances of being a successful writer are few and far between.

 The Business of Being a Writer   course is an overview of what it takes to be a professional writer in today’s world, from submissions to agents and editors through book deals, the publication process, marketing and PR for authors, and more. The focus is on demystifying the business side of being a writer, finding the creativity within it, and maybe even learning to enjoy the process. Coursework includes lectures, readings and discussion on the various topics, plus writing assignments, presentations, and feedback on fellow students’ written material. 

CWL 560.S01 54144, Topics in Literature for Writers: Experimental Literature

Susan Scarf Merrell  Tuesdays, 2:30 - 5:20 pm , 4 credits Nothing great ever comes from following the rules. Or does it? What is experimental literature? How can we think about it as writers, in terms of craft “lessons” that we can learn to use in our own work? This class will examine risk-taking in literature, with a very heavy reading load, weekly annotations on craft, the writing of responsive short fiction, and student presentations. Texts include Moby-Dick , Herman Melville,  As I Lay Dying , William Faulkner, The Waves , Virginia Woolf, Invisible Man , Ralph Ellison,  Labyrinths , Jorge Luis Borges, Beloved , Toni Morrison, The Underground Railroad , Colson Whitehead, and some experimental short stories.

CWL 580.S01 51934, Practicum in Arts Administration

Christian McLean

Thursdays, 11 am – 1:50 pm , 1 – 4 credits

This course teaches important skills in arts/event management. It provides education in marketing, design and software that will boost your résumé and increase your workplace skill set. We’ll examine work/volunteer opportunities in local arts organizations and you will design an MFA event from the ground up. Learn the basics in Photoshop, Mailmerge, Google Docs/Sheets, Constant Contact, plus Facebook and Twitter ads. Completion of at least 6 program credits or permission of instructor required.

CWL 581.S01 54145, Practicum in Teaching Writing

Julie Sheehan

Wednesday, 10:00am – 12:50pm, 3 credits

This course is being taught at the West, Main Stony Brook, Campus and will meet in the Melville Library, N3060

See the WEST CAMPUS course list for the description.

Practicum in Publishing & Editing

Lou Ann Walker & Scott Sullivan

Tuesdays, 11:00am – 1:50pm, 1 – 4 credits 

NOTE: One instructor will be in Southampton and the other in Manhattan. This course will be taught jointly. You may take this course in either location, or online.

CWL 582.S01 51932 (use this section and class number if you’ll be taking the course either   In person in Southampton or online)

CWL 582.S60 56239 (use this section and class number if you’ll be taking the course In person in Manhattan )

Under the guidance of editors and advisors, students will be exposed to the hands-on process of editing and publishing TSR: The Southampton Review. Yes, the P& E Practicum is designed to give you experience in editing a literary and arts review. But here’s the secret: This practicum also provides an excellent means for you to build your skills as a writer. For example, as you read submissions in Submittable, you’ll be seeing what works and doesn’t work in cover letters. You’ll be examining successful structures in fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and poetry. You’ll be acquiring editing diagnostic tools. And you’ll be drilling down to what works line by line throughout a creative piece. We’ll discuss word choices, juxtapositions, imagery, symbolism, all that good stuff.

CWL 510.S60 54167, Forms of Fiction: Re-Visioning Your Story

Karen Bender

Tuesdays, 2:30 – 5:20pm, 4 credits (Limited Hybrid)

Revision is a writer's superpower, and this class will be a workshop/lab in which you work on one story, chapter or essay throughout the semester. Students turn in a first draft of their work, we'll workshop it, and each student will get a personalized revision exercise to start the process going. Students turn in a fully revised second draft of the work as a second submission. We'll look at revision as a process that happens in stages--from creating the architecture of the story, to deepening characters, to creating scenes vs. summary, to honing language at the end. We will also be reading different drafts of published writers' work and do in-class writing that will help you explore your work in progress. We'll see how re-visioning can be as playful and creative as a first draft. We'll also research magazines that could be a good fit for your project and send the work out the last day of class.

CWL 535.S61 51961, Writing in Multiple Genres: Humor Writing                         

Patricia Marx    

Tuesdays, 5:30 – 8:20 pm, 4 credits

• “Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.”—James Thurber
• “Comedy has to be based on truth. You take the truth and you put a little curlicue at the end.” —Sid Caesar                                                                                                                     
• “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.” —Mel Brooks                                                                                                                                              
• “. . .An amateur thinks it's really funny if you dress a man up as an old lady, put him in a wheelchair, and give the wheelchair a push that sends it spinning down a slope towards a stone wall. For a pro, it's got to be a real old lady.”—Groucho Marx
• “What is comedy? Comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke.” —Steve Martin                                                                                                                        
• “You know, crankiness is the essence of all comedy.”—Jerry Seinfeld              
• “Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.” –E.B. White                                                                                                         
• “Patty Marx is the best teacher in the Creative Writing Program.”—Patricia Marx

One of the above quotations is false. Find out which one in this humor-writing workshop, where you will read, listen to, and watch comedic samples from well-known and lesser-known humorists, and complete weekly writing assignments. Students already working on projects are welcome to develop them. You will learn a thing or two and you will have fun - or else!

CWL 535.S62 53282, Writing in Multiple Genres: Flash Fiction and Nonfiction Writing

Robert Lopez

Wednesdays 2:30 – 5:20pm, 4 credits

Brevity is the soul of wit, so said Polonius. We will aim to write narratives that deliver an emotional impact inside very strict parameters. Every writer will come up with flash pieces of 300, 600, and 1000 words and we will see how much we can achieve within these constraints, which are often liberating. We'll read flash writers like Kim Chinquee, Kathy Fish, Jamaica Kincaid, Diane Williams, Abigail Thomas, Eula Biss, Justin Torres, and others. 

FLM 550.S60 #54161 Teaching Practicum

Karen Offitzer

Thursdays, 2:20-5:10pm, 3 credits

Prerequisite: Six credits of writing workshops or permission of program/instructor.

This is a weekly seminar in teaching at the University level, with special emphasis on teaching in the creative arts, specifically creative writing and filmmaking. This course plunges into the basics of pedagogy, exploring learning styles, discovering a teaching philosophy, designing syllabi for undergraduate courses, creating assignments and rubrics for grading assignments, and practicing these skills in a classroom setting. You’ll get hands-on experience and mentoring through visits to undergraduate classes and teaching opportunities, and will gain an understanding of what works best for helping undergraduate students learn. Particular focus will be on discussing issues that arise when teaching creative endeavors such as writing and filmmaking.

CWL 565.S61 Special Topics in Writing: Infinite New Yorks

Tim Horvath

Every Other Saturday, 11:00am – 4:50pm, 4 credits   (Seven Class Sessions: 1/27, 2/17, 3/2, 3/30, 4/13, 4/27, 5/4)

Another story/novel/poem/play set in New York? In this class, we’ll see how the city has been refracted in innumerable ways in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama, and we’ll find the angles and interstices from which to add our own visions of the city to the infinite array. By reading passages from works such as Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man , Nicholson Baker’s The Mezzanine , Toni Morrison’s Jazz , Daphne Palasi Andreades’s Brown Girls , Teju Cole’s Open City , Weike Wang’s Joan is Okay , Siri Hustvedt's The Blazing World , Jamel Brinkley's Witness , Jonathan Lee’s The Great Mistake , and Kim Stanley Robinson's New York 2140 , we’ll wander through fictional New Yorks past, present, and even future. We'll also dive into poetry, including Langston Hughes, Frank O'Hara, Federico Garcia Lorca, and Eileen Myles, a play, and nonfiction from writers such as Philip Lopate and Prudence Peiffer. We'll go on field trips and do site-specific writing, exploring art galleries and food markets, the High Line, the theater district, and perhaps an outer borough. In all, as have so many before us, we'll triangulate ourselves, language, and this mesmerizing, consuming, infuriating, exhilarating city.

CWL 582.S01 51932 (use this section and class number if you’ll be taking the course either In person in Southampton or online)

CWL 582.S60 56239 (use this section and class number if you’ll be taking the course In p erson in Manhattan )

CWL 535.S60 51965, Writing in Multiple Genres: Creating Stories When You Can’s Stay Silent

Thursday, 2:30-5:20

Matthew Klam

Most writers need multiple drafts, and when the work succeeds it does so because the author is entangled, involved, a little obsessed. Creative writing, both fiction and nonfiction, uses all sorts of techniques and tools, uses the intimacy and intensity of great memoir, the confessional power of a first person essay, the disruptive surprise of humor. It uses lists, and stretches of pure dialogue, and plenty of straight up reportage and hard-won observation. The best writing can and should come right at us, should defy our expectations. It can be structured in a classical or experimental way, or a mix of approaches to fit the subject.

We'll look at examples of the form by fiction writers and non fiction writers like by Jo Ann Beard, Jon Krakauer, Justin Torres, Adam Haslett, Jhumpa Lahiri, Mary Karr, Mary Gaitskill, Kiese Laymon, John Jeremiah Sullivan, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and many others. We'll examine their structure in the way a carpenter might study a beautiful house. We'll look at half page essays and eyewitness accounts, masterworks of longform journalism, essays, chapters of books, comics by Allison Bechdel and Adrian Tomine, sections of plays, and whatever else inspires us. How is it that some writers are able to create real character development and tension in a few lines or pages? We'll talk about that too. In this class we'll write, read, and discuss, while also workshopping your pieces-in-progress in a helpful, constructive manner. 

CWL 565.S01 54202, Special Topics in Writing: The Post-Novel

Jennifer Solheim

Thursdays, 5:30 – 8:20pm, 4 credits

“Post-” refers to “after,” often in terms of the aftermath of a social disaster or revolution. “Post” can also be defined as a stake or stay in the ground, meant to offer support. In this course, we will look at novels that offer grounding in the wake of collective trauma and social transformation to consider how elements of fiction can orient and stabilize readers within a fictional universe that is inherently unstable. In considering works such as Nella Larsen’s Passing (1929), Georges Perec’s W: Or The Memory of Childhood (1972), Leni Zumas’s Red Clocks (2018), Albert Camus’ The Stranger (1942) and Kamel Daoud’s The Meursault Investigation (2015), students will write toward a grounded post- narrative for workshop, along with response questions and leading discussion about setting, character, action, plot, and narrative strategy to support their aims for their own work.

WEST (MAIN) CAMPUS

Melville Library N3060

This course plunges into the basics of pedagogy, including designing writing assignments, sequencing them, grading them, and creating syllabi for creative writing, composition and literature courses. You’ll get hands-on experience and mentoring through visits to undergraduate writing classes taught by your colleagues.  You’ll get a preliminary overview of writing pedagogy on your way to devising your own. Most importantly, you’ll ask and ask again, “What is teachable about writing, and who am I to teach it?” (You need permission of the director and at least 6 program credits under your belt to take this class.)

CWL 599.V01 51933 Julie Sheehan

CWL 599.V02 51907 Matthew Klam

CWL 599.V03 51940 Christine Kitano

CWL 599.V04 51941 Kaylie Jones

CWL 599.V05 51942 Carla Caglioti

CWL 599.V06 51943 Genevieve Crane

CWL 599.V07 51944 Robert Lopez

CWL 599.V08 51945 Paul Harding

CWL 599.V09 51946 Susan Merrell

CWL 599.V10 51947 Susan Minot

CWL 599.V11 51948 Robert Reeves

CWL 599.V12 51949 Lou Ann Walker

CWL 599.V13 51950 Amy Hempel

CWL 599.V14 51951 TBA (Molly Gaudry)

CWL 599.V15 51953 Robert Reeves THESIS PLANNING

CWL 599.V16 51954 Magdalene Brandeis

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Ringling college, fla., launches ai certificate for creative majors, whether they major in creative writing, fine arts, film or virtual reality development, students at the ringling college of art and design can add an ai certificate and develop a project portfolio for job searches..

The AI undergraduate certificate program is a proactive response to the rapid technological changes reshaping the creative landscape. We want our students to be equipped to shape the future of art with AI, not simply be shaped by it.

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Book News & Features

Ai is contentious among authors. so why are some feeding it their own writing.

Chloe Veltman

The vast majority of authors don't use artificial intelligence as part of their creative process — or at least won't admit to it.

Yet according to a recent poll from the writers' advocacy nonprofit The Authors Guild, 13% said they do use AI, for activities like brainstorming character ideas and creating outlines.

The technology is a vexed topic in the literary world. Many authors are concerned about the use of their copyrighted material in generative AI models. At the same time, some are actively using these technologies — even attempting to train AI models on their own works.

These experiments, though limited, are teaching their authors new things about creativity.

Best known as the author of technology and business-oriented non-fiction books like The Long Tail, lately Chris Anderson has been trying his hand at fiction. Anderson is working on his second novel, about drone warfare.

He says he wants to put generative AI technology to the test.

"I wanted to see whether in fact AI can do more than just help me organize my thoughts, but actually start injecting new thoughts," Anderson says.

Anderson says he fed parts of his first novel into an AI writing platform to help him write this new one. The system surprised him by moving his opening scene from a corporate meeting room to a karaoke bar.

Authors push back on the growing number of AI 'scam' books on Amazon

"And I was like, you know? That could work!" Anderson says. "I ended up writing the scene myself. But the idea was the AI's."

Anderson says he didn't use a single actual word the AI platform generated. The sentences were grammatically correct, he says, but fell way short in terms of replicating his writing style. Although he admits to being disappointed, Anderson says ultimately he's OK with having to do some of the heavy lifting himself: "Maybe that's just the universe telling me that writing actually involves the act of writing."

Training an AI model to imitate style

It's very hard for off-the-shelf AI models like GPT and Claude to emulate contemporary literary authors' styles.

The authors NPR talked with say that's because these models are predominantly trained on content scraped from the Internet like news articles, Wikipedia entries and how-to manuals — standard, non-literary prose.

But some authors, like Sasha Stiles , say they have been able to make these systems suit their stylistic needs.

"There are moments where I do ask my machine collaborator to write something and then I use what's come out verbatim," Stiles says.

The poet and AI researcher says she wanted to make the off-the-shelf AI models she'd been experimenting with for years more responsive to her own poetic voice.

So she started customizing them by inputting her finished poems, drafts, and research notes.

"All with the intention to sort of mentor a bespoke poetic alter ego," Stiles says.

She has collaborated with this bespoke poetic alter ego on a variety of projects, including Technelegy (2021), a volume of poetry published by Black Spring Press; and " Repetae: Again, Again ," a multimedia poem created last year for luxury fashion brand Gucci.

Stiles says working with her AI persona has led her to ask questions about whether what she's doing is in fact poetic, and where the line falls between the human and the machine.

read it again… pic.twitter.com/sAs2xhdufD — Sasha Stiles | AI alter ego Technelegy ✍️🤖 (@sashastiles) November 28, 2023

"It's been really a provocative thing to be able to use these tools to create poetry," she says.

Potential issues come with these experiments

These types of experiments are also provocative in another way. Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger says she's not opposed to authors training AI models on their own writing.

"If you're using AI to create derivative works of your own work, that is completely acceptable," Rasenberger says.

Thousands of authors urge AI companies to stop using work without permission

But building an AI system that responds fluently to user prompts requires vast amounts of training data. So the foundational AI models that underpin most of these investigations in literary style may contain copyrighted works.

Rasenberger pointed to the recent wave of lawsuits brought by authors alleging AI companies trained their models on unauthorized copies of articles and books.

"If the output does in fact contain other people's works, that creates real ethical concerns," she says. "Because that you should be getting permission for."

Circumventing ethical problems while being creative

Award-winning speculative fiction writer Ken Liu says he wanted to circumvent these ethical problems, while at the same time creating new aesthetic possibilities using AI.

So the former software engineer and lawyer attempted to train an AI model solely on his own output. He says he fed all of his short stories and novels into the system — and nothing else.

Liu says he knew this approach was doomed to fail.

That's because the entire life's work of any single writer simply doesn't contain enough words to produce a viable so-called large language model.

"I don't care how prolific you are," Liu says. "It's just not going to work."

Liu's AI system built only on his own writing produced predictable results.

"It barely generated any phrases, even," Liu says. "A lot of it was just gibberish."

Yet for Liu, that was the point. He put this gibberish to work in a short story. 50 Things Every AI Working With Humans Should Know , published in Uncanny Magazine in 2020, is a meditation on what it means to be human from the perspective of a machine.

"Dinoted concentration crusch the dead gods," is an example of one line in Liu's story generated by his custom-built AI model. "A man reached the torch for something darker perified it seemed the billboding," is another.

Liu continues to experiment with AI. He says the technology shows promise, but is still very limited. If anything, he says, his experiments have reaffirmed why human art matters.

"So what is the point of experimenting with AIs?" Liu says. "The point for me really is about pushing the boundaries of what is art."

Audio and digital stories edited by Meghan Collins Sullivan .

• large language model
• mary rasenberger
• chris anderson
• sasha stiles
• authors guild

Winning Big with Federal Funding: How Grant-Writing Trainings Are Yielding Big Results

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• Katie Dailinger
• Infrastructure
• Sustainability & Resilience
• Transportation

What do three mayors from Athens, Ohio; Maywood, Illinois; and Fairfax, Virginia , all have in common? Their participation in the Local Infrastructure Hub’s free training programs, led by the National League of Cities (NLC) , has resulted in substantial federal funds to tackle local projects. These small towns and mid-sized cities all faced challenges when applying for federal funds—from tight resources to limited staff—but still decided to take the leap and utilize the Local Infrastructure Hub’s training. These small towns and mid-sized cities are now witnessing the tangible results of their efforts.

Athens, Ohio: Expanding EV Charging Infrastructure

When the $1.2 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) took effect, Mayor Steve Patterson of Athens, Ohio, envisioned his city becoming a regional hub with an expansive electric vehicle charging network. By participating in the Local Infrastructure Hub’s free training program, Mayor Patterson and his staff learned that a coalition-based application would receive a higher score among federal grant reviewers. That vital information led the City of Athens to form the Southeast Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC), a coalition of municipalities across southeast and southwest Ohio. Not too long ago, the city learned that SOPEC secured $12.5 million in federal funding to install roughly 50 charging stations.

“For the City of Athens, there was strength in numbers, and we’ve been able to forge important connections across southeast and southwest Ohio to fill critical gaps in the region’s EV charging network,” shared Mayor Patterson in a recent op-ed .

Maywood, Illinois: Strengthening Local Infrastructure

Mayor Nathaniel George Booker of Maywood, Illinois, viewed the training as a “no-brainer,” empowering his staff to participate in building resilient infrastructure, Brownfields, and safe drinking water programs. In March, Maywood found out they secured nearly $980,000 for infrastructure projects through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, an application they worked on with the Local Infrastructure Hub. The city was also able to repurpose this grant application to win more than $4 million through the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Cook County for water infrastructure.

“It’s the world of you don’t know what you don’t know, and it’s the world of you’re not thinking about what you’re not thinking about,” reflected Mayor Booker on the complicated grant application process. “If you are not a part of the Local Infrastructure Hub, you’re doing yourself and your community a disservice because it really is the factor that brings everything that’s in your brain to put it on paper … to actually have pen to paper saying we are ready to apply—that’s what the Local Infrastructure Hub is there for.”

Fairfax, Virginia: Connecting Various Transportation Methods

While the City of Fairfax, Virginia, had a director of transportation on staff, Mayor Catherine Read knew they’d need support to craft a winning grant application. Through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program training, the city refined its application and was able to effectively push it across the finish line. Fairfax was awarded $400,000 with a $100,000 match from the city to build an action plan to ensure all transportation operates cohesively—from their electric scooters, Capital Bikeshare, fare-free bus, and the cars of hundreds of students, faculty, and staff living in the city.

“In order to be more effective in how we’re going to invest our taxpayers’ tax dollars, I would absolutely recommend the boot camps,” said Mayor Read. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 1,700, 70,000, or 7 million—everybody’s going after funding. If you don’t have the people on your staff, then you need to go to the organization, NLC. They can offer you the expertise you need to get the funding that is sitting there waiting for you.”

Register for Free Grant-Writing Training

Don’t miss your chance to sign up for the Local Infrastructure Hub! Communities that have participated in the training have already secured more than $200 million in funding, and your community could be next. Registration ends May 15, 2024.

About the Author

Katie Dailinger is the Project Director of the Local Infrastructure Hub at the National League of Cities.

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