Your Fiction &
Creative Writing
Courses
Page 2, Creative Writing Courses
Why Take Fiction Writing Courses?
1. Creative writing teaches techniques, skills, and writing proficiencies that develop excellence in all areas of writing…
2. Creative writing promotes deep levels of critical thinking, develops mental creativity, and increases a student’s overall communication skills…
3. Creative writing courses introduce competencies necessary for your student’s successful future in academics, relationships, career, and life
11-457
Live Course
Creative Writing & Literary Form
(Fiction Writing)
Part Two
Suggested Grade Level: 11th Grade
This LIVE course can be taken at any grade level
(middle and high school). See below for details.
Do you love stories? Do you want college writing to be easier? When you join this hands-on, high-interest creative writing course, you’ll learn exceptional fiction and literature must-haves and writing know-how for Theme, Style, & Point of View; Conflict & Creating the Breakout Novel; and Writing the Short Story…and learn how to transfer those skills into all of your writing!
Your Course Description
“What makes great fiction? And how can I use fiction writing to make all of my writing dynamic, interesting, and strong?” In this course (the second of two successive courses), you’ll learn what makes excellent fiction writing — and hone your writing skills through the elements and writing techniques of writing an excellent story. Whether you want to write a novel or want to be a dynamic, successful writer in all that you do — learning the elements of theme, writing style, point of view, creating conflict, and “what makes a short story great” allows you to write exceptionally well, raise your written communication skills, become skilled in the elements of literary analysis, and be fully prepared for college and beyond.
Your Course Outline
Theme, Style, & Point of View (Class 1 – 4)
In the first 4 weeks, the student learns how to create a dynamic theme, style, and point of view for fiction books of any genre for middle grade, young adult, and adult plots.
Class 1: What is theme and how to use it in your book
Class 2: What is style and how to develop your own style
Class 3: Point of view
Class 4: Integrating theme, style, and point of view to create a dynamic story
Conflict & Creating the Breakout Novel (Class 5 – 8)
In the next four weeks, students learn how to create conflict that drives any story forward as well as how to implement the Christian worldview into story conflict.
Class 5: What makes a great novel and “stakes” (personal and universal)
Class 6: Conflict in the setting, characters, and plot
Class 7: Playing the “what if” game– making your character do the unthinkable
Class 8: Cliffhangers, self-sacrifice, and turning points
Writing the Short Story (Class 9 – 12)
The final four weeks answers, “What makes a short story?” Using famous short stories and dynamic how-to content, students learn how to write a dynamic, publishable short story—including developing ideas for short stories, the similarities and differences between short stories and full-length book writing, and marketing short stories to publications.
Class 9: Defining short stories– micro fiction, flash fiction, short stories, novelettes, and novellas
Class 10: Characteristics of dynamic, saleable short stories
Class 11: Brainstorming, outlining, and forming your short story
Class 12: Who buys and publishes short stories? Short story markets and sales
Your Course Details
Total Number of Classes: 12
Prerequisite: Required: Writing Essentials 1: Essential Punctuation & Grammar I (HS 9-1) and High School Simplified Writing 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2). An alternative to the prerequisite: a passing assessment from the Aquinas Writing Advantage Assessment service. Please contact [email protected] for any questions on permissions.
Suggested Grade Level: 11th grade; however, this course can be taken at any grade level in high school.
Duration: 55 minutes
Suggested Credit: One (1) full semester’s credit for Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, or English
Course Materials: All learning materials are provided FREE in the course. Microsoft Word or the ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document is required. If you do not own Microsoft Word, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments with direct feedback from the instructor, with an estimated three (3) to four (4) hours per week for homework outside of class time that includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.
How this course fits with your other High School Writing courses...
** The 11-123 and 11-457 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full year of High School Writing at the 11th grade level, be sure to sign up for the 11-123 course when you sign up for the 11-457 course.
Your Instructors
Your Live, Interactive Courses
During the week, this LIVE course is offered in the Spring.
One Sign Up Option
One Live, Interactive Course
This 12-week course is only offered LIVE. Students attend a LIVE class in a virtual classroom on a specific day, at a specific time. After class (during the week), the student independently completes the weekly coursework. Your instructor is available for communication outside of class via email, to help answer questions. Homework time outside of class is estimated to be two to three hours per week.
Recorded Courses
This course is also offered in Unlimited Access recordings in three separate 4-week courses. The recorded course instructor is Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author Erin Brown Conroy/EB Conroy). Click here to find out more and sign up for the recorded courses.
Specific Course FAQs
Is this course required? Can I skip this course?
This course gives your student critical writing skills necessary for all writing success. Creative writing and fiction writing fully prepare your student for college literature courses, literary analysis, critical thinking, and college-level essay and paper writing. Creative writing also uses different areas of the brain than other types of writing — enhancing your student’s ability to reason and come up with creative solutions. The idea that a student doesn’t need creative writing “because he/she is going into engineering” (or mathematics, or another non-English area of learning) is not correct. The skills of creative writing are used in all writing — and help your student understand required subjects in college, cultural references, and communication strategies for life.
Can I start the 11-457 course in the Fall Semester?
The LIVE 11-457 course is only offered in the Spring Semester; the LIVE 11-123 course is only offered in the Spring Semester.
The recorded foundational Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses are ordered by number: 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and so on. Using Unlimited Access, you can take any foundational fiction writing course at any time; however, it is helpful to take recorded courses in numerical order.
Can I take an advanced Creative Writing/Fiction Writing course at the same time?
You can take any recorded foundational 11-Series Creative Writing/Fiction Writing course alongside any of the advanced creative writing courses (The Hero’s Journey, Screenwriting, Poetry, and Comedy Writing). However, taking the foundational writing courses first will allow your student the greatest success with the advanced level courses.
Is this course considered an English, Literature, or Writing course?
The answer is — it’s all three! This course teaches skills in English, Literature, and Writing together. Combining the learning (and practice) of all three areas of content, your student works on prewriting, drafting, and creating final versions of writing content.
RECORDED UNLIMITED ACCESS COURSES
11-4
RECORDED COURSE
Fiction Writing
Theme, Style, & Point of View
Suggested Grade Level: 11th Grade
This recorded course can be taken at any grade level
(middle school, high school, young adult/college learning, and beyond).
Learn story theme, point of view, and
how to develop a personal writing style
that captures readers’ hearts…
Your Course Description
What is the theme of a story? What are the different points of view in writing a story? What is style? In this course, learn how to create a dynamic theme and style — and understand the first, second, and third points of view for fiction writing in any genre. Develop themes in your own story, develop your style of writing as you learn how great authors use each of these important elements of writing to create amazing stories.
Your Course Outline
Class 1: What is theme and how to use it in your book
Class 2: What is style and how to develop your own style
Class 3: Point of view
Class 4: Integrating theme, style, and point of view to create a dynamic story
Your Course Details
Total Number of Classes: Four (4)
Grade Level Exceptions: Though this course is recommended for the 11th grade year of high school, skilled fiction writers in the 8th through 12th grades may take this recorded course.
Prerequisites: Students will be more likely to succeed in this course after completing the 9-Series courses. Take the 9-Series courses LIVE or through Unlimited Access.
Required Materials: All learning materials are included FREE.
Suggested Credit: One-third (1/3) semester of writing and English or literature and writing. Take two more 4-week recorded foundational Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses to create a full semester of learning.
Accompanying Courses:
Students seeking advanced college writing skills (or who are considering writing as part of a career) are encouraged to take additional fiction writing courses: 1) The Hero’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (Parts 1 and 2); 2) Screenwriting (Parts 1 and 2); and/or 3) Comedy Writing (Parts 1 and 2). The advanced courses can be taken during or after the completion of this course. If you want to know how to be an author, sign up for the Authoring a Book Part 1 course available LIVE in the Spring Semester (or anytime in Unlimited Access recorded courses), as a companion for the Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses.
How this course fits with your other High School Writing courses...
** The 11-1 through 11-7 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full year of High School Writing at the 11th grade level, sign up for the recorded 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5, and 11-7 courses together in Unlimited Access.
Your Instructors
RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
This four-week course is only offered in Unlimited Access. When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).
Two Sign Up Options
1. UNLIMITED ACCESS: RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lessons and complete the coursework in the learning management system. Parents grade the student’s work. There is an estimated two to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
2. UNLIMITED ACCESS WITH INSTRUCTOR ACCESS GRADING SERVICES
Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, during the week, your Instructor Access instructor will be available for interaction, answering questions and giving advice on the work through email. The instructor will give constructive feedback and grade the work submitted, and there is an estimated three to four hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like to get Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up for Instructor Access.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
Specific Course FAQs
Is this course required? Can I skip this course?
This course gives your student critical writing skills necessary for all writing success. Creative writing and fiction writing fully prepare your student for college literature courses, literary analysis, critical thinking, and college-level essay and paper writing. Creative writing also uses different areas of the brain than other types of writing — enhancing your student’s ability to reason and come up with creative solutions. The idea that a student doesn’t need creative writing “because he/she is going into engineering” (or mathematics, or another non-English area of learning) is not correct. The skills of creative writing are used in all writing — and help your student understand required subjects in college, cultural references, and communication strategies for life.
In what order should I take the 4-week recorded courses?
The recorded foundational Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses are ordered by number: 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and so on. Using Unlimited Access, you can take any foundational fiction writing course at any time; however, it is helpful to take recorded courses in numerical order.
Can I take an advanced Creative Writing/Fiction Writing course at the same time?
You can take any recorded foundational 11-Series Creative Writing/Fiction Writing course alongside any of the advanced creative writing courses (The Hero’s Journey, Screenwriting, Poetry, and Comedy Writing). However, taking the foundational writing courses first will allow your student the greatest success with the advanced level courses.
Is this course considered an English, Literature, or Writing course?
The answer is — it’s all three! This course teaches skills in English, Literature, and Writing together. Combining the learning (and practice) of all three areas of content, your student works on prewriting, drafting, and creating final versions of writing content.
11-5
Recorded Course
Fiction Writing
Conflict & Creating the
Breakout Novel
Suggested Grade Level: 11th Grade
This recorded course can be taken at any grade level
(middle school, high school, young adult/college learning, and beyond).
Learn how conflict is at the heart
of every great story -- and
create riveting storylines in your own writing…
Your Course Description
What is conflict — and why is it so important to all great stories? Learn how great authors create conflict with personal and universal stakes; learn how to find conflict within settings and characters; and increase the conflict in your own story, to get on the road to creating a breakout novel. Through the use of cliffhangers, self-sacrifice, and turning points, make your story memorable and exciting!
Your Course Outline
Class 1: What makes a great novel and “stakes” (personal and universal)
Class 2: Conflict in the setting, characters, and plot
Class 3: Playing the “what if” game: making your character do the unthinkable
Class 4: Cliffhangers, self-sacrifice, and turning points
Your Course Details
Total Number of Classes: Four (4)
Grade Level Exceptions: Though this course is recommended for the 11th grade year of high school, skilled fiction writers in the 8th through 12th grades may take this recorded course.
Prerequisites: Students will be more likely to succeed in this course after completing the 9-Series courses. Take the 9-Series courses LIVE or through Unlimited Access.
Required Materials:
All learning materials are included FREE.
Suggested Credit: One-third (1/3) semester of writing and English or literature and writing. Take two more 4-week recorded foundational Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses to create a full semester of learning.
Accompanying Courses:
Students seeking advanced college writing skills (or who are considering writing as part of a career) are encouraged to take additional fiction writing courses: 1) The Hero’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (Parts 1 and 2); 2) Screenwriting (Parts 1 and 2); and/or 3) Comedy Writing (Parts 1 and 2). The advanced courses can be taken during or after the completion of this course. If you want to know how to be an author, sign up for the Authoring a Book Part 1 course available LIVE in the Spring Semester (or anytime in Unlimited Access recorded courses), as a companion for the Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses.
How this course fits with your other High School Writing courses...
** The 11-1 through 11-7 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full year of High School Writing at the 11th grade level, sign up for the recorded 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5, and 11-7 courses together in Unlimited Access.
Your Instructors
RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
This four-week course is only offered in Unlimited Access. When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).
Two Sign Up Options
1. UNLIMITED ACCESS: RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lessons and complete the coursework in the learning management system. Parents grade the student’s work. There is an estimated two to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
2. UNLIMITED ACCESS WITH INSTRUCTOR ACCESS GRADING SERVICES
Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, during the week, your Instructor Access instructor will be available for interaction, answering questions and giving advice on the work through email. The instructor will give constructive feedback and grade the work submitted, and there is an estimated three to four hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like to get Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up for Instructor Access.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses —
AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
Specific Course FAQs
Is this course required? Can I skip this course?
This course gives your student critical writing skills necessary for all writing success. Creative writing and fiction writing fully prepare your student for college literature courses, literary analysis, critical thinking, and college-level essay and paper writing. Creative writing also uses different areas of the brain than other types of writing — enhancing your student’s ability to reason and come up with creative solutions. The idea that a student doesn’t need creative writing “because he/she is going into engineering” (or mathematics, or another non-English area of learning) is not correct. The skills of creative writing are used in all writing — and help your student understand required subjects in college, cultural references, and communication strategies for life.
In what order should I take the 4-week recorded courses?
The recorded foundational Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses are ordered by number: 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and so on. Using Unlimited Access, you can take any foundational fiction writing course at any time; however, it is helpful to take recorded courses in numerical order.
Can I take an advanced Creative Writing/Fiction Writing course at the same time?
You can take any recorded foundational 11-Series Creative Writing/Fiction Writing course alongside any of the advanced creative writing courses (The Hero’s Journey, Screenwriting, Poetry, and Comedy Writing). However, taking the foundational writing courses first will allow your student the greatest success with the advanced level courses.
Is this course considered an English, Literature, or Writing course?
The answer is — it’s all three! This course teaches skills in English, Literature, and Writing together. Combining the learning (and practice) of all three areas of content, your student works on prewriting, drafting, and creating final versions of writing content.
11-7
Recorded Course
Fiction Writing
Writing the Short Story
Suggested Grade Level: 11th Grade
This recorded course can be taken at any grade level
(middle school, high school, young adult/college learning, and beyond).
Learn famous short story writers’ works
and what makes a short story
memorable and powerful -- as you
enjoy writing your own short story…
Your Course Description
Have you ever wanted to write (and publish) a short story? This course will cover just that — how to write a dynamic, publishable short story — including imagining and building out ideas for your short stories. Discover the similarities and differences between short stories and full-length books, read famous short stories, and learn how to market your short stories to publication.
Your Course Outline
Class 1: Defining short stories: micro fiction, flash fiction, short stories, novelettes, and novellas
Class 2: Characteristics of dynamic, saleable short stories
Class 3: Brainstorming, outlining, and forming your short story
Class 4: Who buys and publishes short stories? Short story markets and sales
Your Course Details
Total Number of Classes: Four (4)
Grade Level Exceptions: Though this course is recommended for the 11th grade year of high school, skilled fiction writers in the 8th through 12th grades may take this recorded course.
Prerequisites: Students will be more likely to succeed in this course after completing the 9-Series courses. Take the 9-Series courses LIVE or through Unlimited Access.
Required Materials:
All learning materials are included FREE.
Suggested Credit: One-third (1/3) semester of writing and English or literature and writing. Take two more 4-week recorded foundational Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses to create a full semester of learning.
Accompanying Courses:
One-third (1/3) semester of writing and English or literature and writing. Take two more 4-week recorded foundational Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses Students seeking advanced college writing skills (or who are considering writing as part of a career) are encouraged to take additional fiction writing courses: 1) The Hero’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (Parts 1 and 2); 2) Screenwriting (Parts 1 and 2); and/or 3) Comedy Writing (Parts 1 and 2). The advanced courses can be taken during or after the completion of this course. If you want to know how to be an author, sign up for the Authoring a Book Part 1 course available LIVE in the Spring Semester (or anytime in Unlimited Access recorded courses), as a companion for the Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses.
How this course fits with your High School Writing courses...
** The 11-1 through 11-7 courses are consecutive courses. To create a full year of High School Writing at the 11th grade level, sign up for the recorded 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5, and 11-7 courses together in Unlimited Access.
Your Instructors
RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
This four-week course is only offered in Unlimited Access. When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the designer and Director of Aquinas Writing Advantage, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author EB Conroy/Erin Brown Conroy).
Two Sign Up Options
1. UNLIMITED ACCESS: RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE
When you take the Recorded course, you will independently view the recorded video lessons and complete the coursework in the learning management system. Parents grade the student’s work. There is an estimated two to three hours of homework/coursework per week outside of watching the weekly video lecture.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses — AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
2. UNLIMITED ACCESS WITH INSTRUCTOR ACCESS GRADING SERVICES
Instructor Access is an optional service, for an additional fee, that accompanies Unlimited Access. When you sign up for one-on-one tutoring with Instructor Access, during the week, your Instructor Access instructor will be available for interaction, answering questions and giving advice on the work through email. The instructor will give constructive feedback and grade the work submitted, and there is an estimated three to four hours per week for homework for your student outside of watching the video lecture. If you’d like to get Instructor Access, once you sign up for Unlimited Access, you’ll receive email instructions on how to sign up for Instructor Access.
When you get “Unlimited Access,” you get 24/7 access to ALL of the writing courses —
AND access to 400+ middle and high school courses, in all subject areas, for only $34.97 a month.
Specific Course FAQs
Is this course required? Can I skip this course?
This course gives your student critical writing skills necessary for all writing success. Creative writing and fiction writing fully prepare your student for college literature courses, literary analysis, critical thinking, and college-level essay and paper writing. Creative writing also uses different areas of the brain than other types of writing — enhancing your student’s ability to reason and come up with creative solutions. The idea that a student doesn’t need creative writing “because he/she is going into engineering” (or mathematics, or another non-English area of learning) is not correct. The skills of creative writing are used in all writing — and help your student understand required subjects in college, cultural references, and communication strategies for life.
In what order should I take the 4-week recorded courses?
The recorded foundational Creative Writing/Fiction Writing courses are ordered by number: 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and so on. Using Unlimited Access, you can take any foundational fiction writing course at any time; however, it is helpful to take recorded courses in numerical order..
Can I take an advanced Creative Writing/Fiction Writing course at the same time?
You can take any recorded foundational 11-Series Creative Writing/Fiction Writing course alongside any of the advanced creative writing courses (The Hero’s Journey, Screenwriting, Poetry, and Comedy Writing). However, taking the foundational writing courses first will allow your student the greatest success with the advanced level courses.
Is this course considered an English, Literature, or Writing course?
The answer is — it’s all three! This course teaches skills in English, Literature, and Writing together. Combining the learning (and practice) of all three areas of content, your student works on prewriting, drafting, and creating final versions of writing content.
