In this advanced writing and editing course, you’ll get specific time and focus that allows you to create the must-have documents needed to submit your written work to an agent and/or publisher, to publish your fiction book. If you’re taking the recorded course with Instructor Access, you’ll bring your query letter and synopsis that was created in Authoring a Book, Part 1, course. The LIVE class recordings include workshopping — so watching the recorded version of the course, you can use the student and Instructor comments to check over and polish your own work. Through the workshopping process, you can get your book’s documents submissions-ready!

Class 1: Analyzing excellent query letters
Class 2: Workshopping query letters
Class 3: Analyzing excellent synopses
Class 4: Workshopping synopses

Total Number of Classes: Four (4)
Prerequisites: Authoring a Book I (live or recorded)
Required Materials:

Document Creation
All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.

Suggested Credit: One-third (⅓) semester Creative Writing or English. Add other writing or literature courses for a full semester credit.

RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE

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). Instructor Access grading services are available with Ms. Robin Conley, MFA.

This workshop is an opportunity for writers who have a piece of fiction writing that they want to share to receive feedback from a professional editor/instructor and peers. Students wishing to take the workshop course will need 8 to 10 pages of an original story already created by the first day of the course. Each class, students receive a mini-lesson on an aspect of excellent story writing, and then the students and professional editor/instructor heavily analyze the student story submissions. Through in-class discussion of the stories together, detailed feedback is given to help improve writing skills and strengthen the story. Students are expected to submit a piece of their own work for feedback and provide/engage in feedback for others’ works. Each author is required to take notes as their story is discussed, listening intently. At the end of all feedback, there is a chance for the authors to respond to anything said during the critique and ask questions.

The most important consideration and requirement for all students taking this course is to be constructive when giving feedback, and to keep an open mind toward feedback that is received. After each class session, your instructor will have a short meeting with the one or two students whose work was read that day to check in and personally go over the feedback with the student(s).

In Recorded format, students will work individually to revise their stories using guided exercises to help them analyze their writing and improve it. Instructor Access is available for Recorded students who wish to receive feedback from the Instructor.

Class 1: Discussion – How to Give Feedback; Critiquing – Sample Story
Class 2: Discussion – Character; Critiquing — Student Stories
Class 3: Discussion – Dialogue; Critiquing — Student Stories
Class 4: Discussion – Plot; Critiquing — Student Stories
Class 5: Discussion – Setting & Tone; Critiquing — Student Stories
Class 6: Discussion – Good Writing Practices; Critiquing — Student Stories
Class 7: Discussion – What does it take to be a writer? Critiquing – Student Stories
Class 8: Discussion – What to do now and how to revise? Critiquing – Student Stories

*Note: The recorded version of this course in Unlimited Access is six (6) weeks in length and does not include Class 6 and Class 7 discussions (that are in the LIVE course).

Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: None, but some experience with fiction writing preferred. Students must have an 8-10 page original piece of fiction writing to submit for class.
Required Materials:

1) Document Creation
All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
2) Workshop Submission Piece
For the LIVE class, students must submit their Workshop Piece to Instructor Conley’s email ([email protected]) one week prior to the class start date. Recorded Course students do not need to submit their story unless taking Instructor Access.
Workshop Piece Requirements:
Students bring 8-12 pages of original fiction writing in a Word doc – rtf, .doc, or .docx format; the writing must be the student’s original work and can be an excerpt from a longer novel or a short story, as long as the text meets the length and formatting requirements. Student work is required to be labeled with the student’s name, the class name, and the story’s title or “Workshop Piece” (if the work doesn’t have a title yet). Document submissions are made no later than one week prior to the class start date.

Suggested Credit: One-half (1/2) semester of writing and English or literature and writing.

LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSES

This course is available for multiple sessions in the Spring and Summer of each year. Sign up for the time that best meets your needs. Sign up for a LIVE workshop here with the professional editor, instructor, and creator of the course.

RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE

When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the creator of the course.

This workshop is an opportunity for writers who have a piece of screenwriting that they want to share to receive feedback from a professional editor/instructor and peers. Students wishing to take the workshop course will need 8 to 12 pages of an original screenplay (TV or Movie) already created by the time the course begins. Each class, students receive a mini-lesson on an aspect of excellent story writing, and then the students and professional editor/instructor heavily analyze the student story submissions. Through in-class discussion of the stories together, detailed feedback is given to help improve writing skills and strengthen the story. Students are expected to submit a piece of their own work for feedback and provide/engage in feedback for others’ works. Each author is required to take notes as their story is discussed, listening intently. At the end of all feedback, there is a chance for the authors to respond to anything said during the critique and ask questions.

The most important consideration and requirement for all students taking this course is to be constructive when giving feedback, and to keep an open mind toward feedback that is received. After each class session, your professional editor/instructor will have a short meeting with the one or two students whose work was read that day, to check in and go over feedback.

Class 1: Discussion – How to Give Feedback; Critiquing – Sample Story
Class 2: Discussion – Character; Critiquing – Student Stories
Class 3: Discussion – Dialogue; Critiquing – Student Stories
Class 4: Discussion – Plot; Critiquing – Student Stories
Class 5: Discussion – Setting & Tone; Critiquing – Student Stories
Class 6: Discussion – Good Writing Practices; Critiquing – Student Stories
Class 7: Discussion – What does it take to be a writer?; Critiquing – Student Stories
Class 8: Discussion – What to do now and how to revise?; Critiquing – Student Stories

Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: None, but some experience with screenwriting preferred. Students must have an 8-10 page original piece of screenwriting to submit for class.
Required Materials:

1) Document Creation
All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
2) Workshop Submission Piece
Students must submit their Workshop Piece to Instructor Conley’s email ([email protected]) one week prior to the class start date.
Workshop Piece Requirements:
Students bring 8-12 pages of original fiction writing in a PDF screenplay format. If you do not know the standard screenplay format, please email Instructor Conley after you sign up at [email protected]. The writing must be the student’s original work and can be an excerpt from a longer film, short film, or television show, as long as the text meets the length and formatting requirements. Student work is required to be labeled with the student’s name, the class name, and the story’s title or “Workshop Piece” (if the work doesn’t have a title yet). Document submissions are made no later than one week prior to the class start date.

Suggested Credit: One-half (1/2) semester of screenwriting, writing and English or literature and writing.

LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSES

This course is available for multiple sessions in the Spring and Summer of each year. Sign up for the time that best meets your needs. Sign up for a LIVE workshop here with the professional editor, instructor, and creator of the course, Robin Conley, MFA.

RECORDED, INDEPENDENT-LEARNING COURSE

This course is not available in Unlimited Access, however, there is a Fiction Writing Workshop available in Unlimited Access that can easily be used to revise screenplays. When you sign up for Unlimited Access and take this recorded course, your instructor is the creator of the course, Robin Conley, MFA.

Why do we enjoy comedy? Why is laughter so much fun? And how does comedy and literature relate to life in general — and your success as a writer? Through in-class learning and practical writing exercises each week, discover the joy of writing with comedy in all of its forms — including literature, short and sketch comedy, stand up, and how-to forms (satire, puns, wit, and more) that can be used in both nonfiction and fiction. If you want to expand your writing skills in an enjoyable, practical course (with English, literature, and writing credit), then this is the course for you!

Class 1: “What is Comedy?” / Your Sense of Humor as a Gift from God / What Makes Something Funny? / Comedy and Humor in Writing vs. Speaking (“Is there a Difference?”)
Class 2: “Where is Comedy?” Using Comedy in Literature, Story, and Online Writing, and More; Famous American Humorists: Literary Giants, from Mark Twain to the Present
Class 3: “Short Comedy” and Comedy as Laughter: Jokes, Puns, Wit, and Wry Humor
Class 4: “What is Satire?” The Biting Edge of Comedy’s Sword
Class 5: Comedy Writing in Plays, Novels, and Stories; Examples of Comedy from Famous Works
Class 6: Sketch Comedy: What it Is, How it Works, Where it’s Used, and How it’s Effective to Connect with an Audience
Class 7: Stand-up Comedy: What it Is, Why it’s So Popular, and Stand-Up Comics as Personalities
Class 8: Comedy in Your Own Writing; Writing with Humor, Laughter and Smiles in Mind

Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-1) and SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2). Take the prerequisite courses LIVE or through Unlimited Access. Students who have tested out of the prerequisite skills via the Aquinas Writing Advantage Program’s Assessment are welcome to join the course
Required Materials:

1) Document Creation
All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or alater version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.

Suggested Credit: One (1) full semester of Comedy Writing, Creative Writing, or English.

LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSES

This course is offered LIVE with instructor Kevin O´Brien in the Fall of 2020. Sign up for the LIVE course here.

Become a great writer as you expand beyond the traditional writing course. Get hands-on writing practice using comedy as a springboard for perfecting your writing skills. In an interesting yet challenging way, this course takes the forms, methods, and genres of comedy learned in Part 1 to help you become a better writer. Continue to explore comedy in literature, short forms, sketches, stand up, satire, and more in this enjoyable and practical course for all writing students. Learn how comedy and humor can enrich all academic and creative writing. If you want to extend your writing.

Class 1:  In the steps of Literary Humorists: Analyzing and practicing in the form and style of literary giants (Mark Twain, Dave Barry, and more); learning how the writer uses his/her particular talents and skills to make people laugh; choosing one famous person and writing a humorous story for silent reading in his/her style (quiz, reading/examples, assignment rough draft is turned in).
Class 2: Feedback on Assignment 1 Rough Drafts; analyzing the characteristics, styles, and tips for improving your own writing
Class 3: Final Draft of Assignment 1 Due; presenting our writing/humorous work in-class
Class 4: In the steps of the Writers of Spoken Comedy (sketches and standup): analyzing and practicing in the form and style; learning how to write for an audience who will be listening/for a “live” performance (quiz, reading/examples, assignment is a rough draft).
Class 5: Feedback on Assignment 2 Rough Drafts; analyzing the characteristics, styles, and tips for improving your own writing
Class 6: Final Draft of Assignment 2 Due; presenting our writing/humorous work in-class
Class 7: Writing for Public Speaking and Personal Communications: We will write a speech that could be delivered in a “live” setting (awards, after-dinner speeches, commencement addresses, business presentations, business pitches, and more); learning how to verbally present what’s written with pacing, body language, pitch/tone/inflection, and more.
Class 8: Editing and Finalizing your Work; final presentations!

Total Number of Classes: Eight (8)
Prerequisites: Comedy Writing: Comedy and Humor in Literature and Life, Part One (HS X-17);
Take the prerequisite courses LIVE or in Unlimited Access recording.
Required Materials:

Document Creation
All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.

Suggested Credit: One (1) full semester of Comedy Writing, Creative Writing, or English.

LIVE, INTERACTIVE COURSES

This course is offered LIVE with instructor Kevin O´Brien in the Fall of 2020. Sign up for the LIVE course here.