Online Class: Writing the Great American Short Story
no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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7Lessons
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11Exams &
Assignments -
814Students
have taken this course -
5Hours
average time -
0.5CEUs
Course Description
Crafting the Quintessential American Short Story
The allure of a riveting short story remains timeless. As you sit before a blank canvas, with fingers poised over the keyboard, there's a palpable desire to craft a narrative that reverberates through the annals of American literature. The legacies of Poe, Cheever, and Welty serve as a testament to the power of this genre. Yet, the question remains: Can you pen a story that leaves an indelible mark on its readers?
Introducing our comprehensive course, designed for budding writers like you, yearning to weave tales that resonate deeply and linger long after they've been consumed.
Why Choose This Course?
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Vast Literary Exploration: Delve into a myriad of genres, analyzing the nuances that distinguish each one, thereby equipping you with the versatility to maneuver seamlessly across different narrative styles.
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Master-Class Techniques: Engage in an immersive study of literary giants, dissecting the elements of plot, style, flow, voice, and tone that made their stories stand out, and learning how to infuse these into your own writing.
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Practical Application: Writing is as much about practice as it is about theory. Our course ensures you get ample opportunities to pen your thoughts, revise, and learn to handle feedback constructively.
Course Overview:
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The Short Story Landscape in America: Gain a historical and contemporary overview of American short stories. Understand the cultural and societal nuances that have shaped this literary form over the decades.
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Answering to the Muse: Every writer has a unique muse. This module helps you tap into your inner inspirations, fostering a deeper connection with your creative self.
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Developing a Main Character: Characters drive narratives. Learn the art of creating compelling characters, ensuring they're multifaceted, relatable, and capable of evoking empathy.
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Telling the Story: Structure and Plot: A good story isn't just about what is told, but how it's told. Delve deep into crafting intricate plots and maintaining a consistent narrative structure to keep readers engaged from start to finish.
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Styling the Words You Write: The choice of words, sentence structures, and linguistic devices can profoundly impact a story's tone and mood. Master the stylistic tools that elevate prose from ordinary to extraordinary.
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End Your Story Like a Master: A story's ending can make or break its impact. Learn the techniques of concluding your tales in a manner that leaves readers yearning for more.
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Revising Your Writing: Writing is rewriting. Understand the significance of revision, refining your drafts to perfection, and ensuring every word serves a purpose.
Conclusion:
Behind every remarkable story is a writer who dared to dream, dared to write, and dared to revise. With our course, you don't just learn to write; you learn to narrate tales that have the potential to become classics. Your stories harbor the promise of reaching countless hearts and minds. It's time to unlock that potential.
If you've ever felt the pull of the written word, if tales dance in your mind waiting to be told, then this course might just be the key to setting them free. Enroll today and set forth on a transformative literary journey.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs
Course Lessons
Lesson 1: The Short Story Landscape in America
- Lesson 1 Video
- Lesson discussions: Who Will Read Your Short Story?; Reasons for Taking this Course
- Complete: Assignment 1A: Class Forum Postings
- Assessment: The Short Story Landscape
Lesson 2: Answering to the Muse
- Lesson 2 Video
- Lesson discussions: Inspiration
- Complete: Assignment 2: Write the First Page of Your Story
- Assessment: Answering to the Muse
Lesson 3: Developing a Main Character
- Lesson 3 Video
- Lesson discussions: The People Around You
- Complete: Assignment 3: Character Profile Worksheet
- Assessment: Developing a Main Character
Lesson 4: Telling the Story: Structure and Plot
- Lesson 4 Video
- Lesson discussions: Approaches to Storytelling
- Assessment: Telling the Story: Structure & Plot
Lesson 5: Styling the Words You Write
- Lesson 5 Video
- Lesson discussions: What's Your Flavor?
- Assessment: Styling the Words You Write
Lesson 6: End Your Story Like a Master
- Lesson 6 Video
- Lesson discussions: The Easy Way Out
- Complete: Assignment 4: Finish Your Short Story
- Assessment: End Your Story Like a Master
Lesson 7: Revising Your Writing
- Lesson 7 Video
- Lesson discussions: Receiving Feedback; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
- Assessment: Revising Your Writing
Learning Outcomes
- Summarize the short story landscape in America.
- Describe developing a main character.
- Summarize telling the story.
- Describe styling the words you write.
- Summarize ending your story like a master.
- Revise and edit the story.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information
- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Choose Your Subscription Plan
No Certificate / No CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | X |
Includes CEUs | X |
Self-paced | |
Instructor support | |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | |
Includes CEUs | |
Self-paced | |
Instructor support | |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate | |
Includes CEUs | |
Self-paced | |
Instructor support | |
Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate | |
Includes CEUs | |
Self-paced | |
Instructor support | |
Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "Precise information and easy to read format. Instructor is very prompt and responsive." -- Siewleng T.
- "I've had the pleasure of having this instructor before, she's GREAT!!" -- Joy K.
- "Great Course. Great Instructor." -- Kyle B.
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