Writing   

Published writer shows you how to give yourself the credibility you need to get your books and articles published.

Do you know the five most common reasons why manuscripts are instantly rejected? If your goal is to become a published freelance writer of fiction or nonfiction for books or magazines, this comprehensive course will help you guide your work directly into the hands of an editor and onto the shelves of your favorite stores.

Your success in the writing game will be determined by the amount of credibility publishers attach to you and your work. This course will teach you how to give yourself the kind of credibility you need to succeed. This course will provide you with instant access to critical information most other writers don't discover for years and will walk you through every step of the publishing process. If you really want to be a writer, this course will give you all the tools you need to get published.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Get your writing directly into the hands of an editor and on the shelves of your favorite stores. This course, taught by a successful journalist and author, will help you understand every step of the publishing process and how to give yourself the credibility publishers notice.

Becoming a Published Writer

As an unpublished writer, what you don't know could hold you back. What you learn here in this first lesson will help you understand what to look for and what to avoid in the publishing industry, as well as how to reach your publishing goals. By learning how to get published quickly and often, you should be well on your way to a lifetime of publishing success!

Breaking in and First Markets

In this lesson, you'll learn why it's difficult to break in to the world of publishing, why publishers prefer to work with published writers, and why editors can be as choosy as they want to be. It'll also teach you about five of the easiest publishing markets.

Writing Contests and Credibility

In this lesson, you'll learn how to use writing contests to gain publishing credibility. It'll provide you with examples to steer you away from contest scams, and show you how to find legitimate writing contests. Then it'll discuss how to retain some rights to your work and resell your contest submissions.

Manuscript Mechanics and Formats

In this lesson, you'll learn how to format a manuscript for submission to a publisher. You'll find out how to narrow down your chances of rejection by making sure you follow all the submission guidelines. You'll learn all the basic manuscript mechanics, from paper to font choices. Then you'll go over all the formatting rules, including the importance of saving your work.

Proofreading, Printing, and Submission Logs

In this lesson, you'll learn the final steps to prepare your manuscript for submission. If publishers perceive you as careless or sloppy in any way, they may reject your manuscript without ever reading it. Publishers don't need to waste their time with writers who submit unpolished material. You'll also learn how to create a submission log to track your manuscripts for future reference.

Copyright, Rights, and Pseudonyms

This is perhaps the most important lesson of all. Before submitting your work to a publisher, make sure you take the necessary steps to protect your work against copyright infringement. That means ensuring your work has copyright protection, as well as maintaining rights to sell the work again and again if desired. This lesson will tell you everything you need to know about that. You'll also learn about using pseudonyms.

Mainstream, Subsidy, and Self-Publishing

Once you've completed your manuscript—that is, finished writing, editing, proofreading, formatting, and printing it—you've reached the halfway point of your publishing process. Finding the right publisher and publishing method for your work can mean the difference between a novel on the best-seller list and a garage full of unsold books. This lesson will teach you how to do that and also go over the pros and cons of subsidy publishing and self-publishing.

All About Query Letters

A query letter is a very important part of the submission process. In this lesson, you'll learn what a query letter is and why it's important to your submission. You'll see how to format a query letter, including what information you should include and what you should leave out. You'll also learn when and how to submit your queries to a publisher.

Submissions, Offers, and Rejections

Your manuscript must be packaged and delivered to a publisher in a professional manner. In this lesson, you'll learn how to mail your manuscript, including how to submit photos and illustrations with your submission. You'll also learn what a simultaneous submission is and when you can use this method of submission. This lesson will also show you how to evaluate the offers and rejections you receive from publishers following your submissions.

All About Agents and Contracts

You'll learn all about literary agents in this lesson. An agent isn't a necessity for most submissions, but one is recommended for certain publisher contract negotiations. You'll learn when, where, and why to get an agent to represent you. You'll discover why finding a reputable agent is just as important as finding a reputable publisher. You'll also explore agent contracts, fees, and publisher contract terms.

Clubs, Conferences, and Writer's Block

In your writing and publishing efforts, it's important to remember that you aren't alone in this venture. There are millions of other writers out there who can offer you information, inspiration, and encouragement when you need it. In this lesson, you'll learn how to connect with other writers. You'll also learn what to do when you're face to face with that dreaded writer's block. If you can't think of anything to write, how will you ever get published?

The Future of Publishing

In the last lesson, you'll learn that there are certain publishing taboos that you should avoid. Neither talent nor determination will help you if you fail to follow simple publisher guidelines. You'll also learn how to format the items that publishers request following acceptance of your manuscript. In addition, you'll learn about the future of publishing.

Self-Study

Published writer shows you how to give yourself the credibility you need to get your books and articles published.

Do you know the five most common reasons why manuscripts are instantly rejected? If your goal is to become a published freelance writer of fiction or nonfiction for books or magazines, this comprehensive course will help you guide your work directly into the hands of an editor and onto the shelves of your favorite stores.

Your success in the writing game will be determined by the amount of credibility publishers attach to you and your work. This course will teach you how to give yourself the kind of credibility you need to succeed. This course will provide you with instant access to critical information most other writers don't discover for years and will walk you through every step of the publishing process. If you really want to be a writer, this course will give you all the tools you need to get published.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Get your writing directly into the hands of an editor and on the shelves of your favorite stores. This course, taught by a successful journalist and author, will help you understand every step of the publishing process and how to give yourself the credibility publishers notice.

Becoming a Published Writer

As an unpublished writer, what you don't know could hold you back. What you learn here in this first lesson will help you understand what to look for and what to avoid in the publishing industry, as well as how to reach your publishing goals. By learning how to get published quickly and often, you should be well on your way to a lifetime of publishing success!

Breaking in and First Markets

In this lesson, you'll learn why it's difficult to break in to the world of publishing, why publishers prefer to work with published writers, and why editors can be as choosy as they want to be. It'll also teach you about five of the easiest publishing markets.

Writing Contests and Credibility

In this lesson, you'll learn how to use writing contests to gain publishing credibility. It'll provide you with examples to steer you away from contest scams, and show you how to find legitimate writing contests. Then it'll discuss how to retain some rights to your work and resell your contest submissions.

Manuscript Mechanics and Formats

In this lesson, you'll learn how to format a manuscript for submission to a publisher. You'll find out how to narrow down your chances of rejection by making sure you follow all the submission guidelines. You'll learn all the basic manuscript mechanics, from paper to font choices. Then you'll go over all the formatting rules, including the importance of saving your work.

Proofreading, Printing, and Submission Logs

In this lesson, you'll learn the final steps to prepare your manuscript for submission. If publishers perceive you as careless or sloppy in any way, they may reject your manuscript without ever reading it. Publishers don't need to waste their time with writers who submit unpolished material. You'll also learn how to create a submission log to track your manuscripts for future reference.

Copyright, Rights, and Pseudonyms

This is perhaps the most important lesson of all. Before submitting your work to a publisher, make sure you take the necessary steps to protect your work against copyright infringement. That means ensuring your work has copyright protection, as well as maintaining rights to sell the work again and again if desired. This lesson will tell you everything you need to know about that. You'll also learn about using pseudonyms.

Mainstream, Subsidy, and Self-Publishing

Once you've completed your manuscript—that is, finished writing, editing, proofreading, formatting, and printing it—you've reached the halfway point of your publishing process. Finding the right publisher and publishing method for your work can mean the difference between a novel on the best-seller list and a garage full of unsold books. This lesson will teach you how to do that and also go over the pros and cons of subsidy publishing and self-publishing.

All About Query Letters

A query letter is a very important part of the submission process. In this lesson, you'll learn what a query letter is and why it's important to your submission. You'll see how to format a query letter, including what information you should include and what you should leave out. You'll also learn when and how to submit your queries to a publisher.

Submissions, Offers, and Rejections

Your manuscript must be packaged and delivered to a publisher in a professional manner. In this lesson, you'll learn how to mail your manuscript, including how to submit photos and illustrations with your submission. You'll also learn what a simultaneous submission is and when you can use this method of submission. This lesson will also show you how to evaluate the offers and rejections you receive from publishers following your submissions.

All About Agents and Contracts

You'll learn all about literary agents in this lesson. An agent isn't a necessity for most submissions, but one is recommended for certain publisher contract negotiations. You'll learn when, where, and why to get an agent to represent you. You'll discover why finding a reputable agent is just as important as finding a reputable publisher. You'll also explore agent contracts, fees, and publisher contract terms.

Clubs, Conferences, and Writer's Block

In your writing and publishing efforts, it's important to remember that you aren't alone in this venture. There are millions of other writers out there who can offer you information, inspiration, and encouragement when you need it. In this lesson, you'll learn how to connect with other writers. You'll also learn what to do when you're face to face with that dreaded writer's block. If you can't think of anything to write, how will you ever get published?

The Future of Publishing

In the last lesson, you'll learn that there are certain publishing taboos that you should avoid. Neither talent nor determination will help you if you fail to follow simple publisher guidelines. You'll also learn how to format the items that publishers request following acceptance of your manuscript. In addition, you'll learn about the future of publishing.

Self-Study

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Some of the best works of fiction and nonfiction were crafted in a writer's workshop. This online course will help you write your own creative piece. Like a true writing workshop, you will learn literary techniques, peer review a classmate's work, and receive constructive criticism on your work.

In addition, you will learn how to move your work from the prewriting stage to editing and final revision. You will also learn how to use literary devices, meaningful dialogue, and imagery in your different drafts. By the end of this online workshop, you will have a thoroughly developed creative writing piece. You might even be ready for publication!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word is recommended (not included in enrollment).
• QuickTime.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Preparing to Write

Sometimes getting into the mood to write can be the hardest part! Learn how to build your confidence as a writer and create an environment conducive to writing.

Brainstorming

Now that you're in the mood to write, you need to figure out what you're going to write about. This lesson will offer a variety of ways you can be inspired.

Literary Devices

Good writers know how to sprinkle similes, metaphors, and other forms of figurative language into their prose to help their language reach readers. Learn about common and uncommon figurative language in this lesson.

Genres

Fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, personal essays. Some are genres, others subgenres. This lesson will help you sort through the different categories of genres.

Peer Review/Workshop

Every writer has an editor – actually, writers have several editors. Peer editing is an effective way to gain feedback on your work while creating a writing community. This lesson will teach you the basics on peer editing and connect you with other writers.

Story, Plot, and Narrative

Story, plot, and narrative are the same things, right? Think again. In this lesson, you will learn that all three are different, even though these words are often used interchangeably.

Characters and Dialogue

What is a story without good characters? Learning to develop the protagonist and antagonist, and characterizing them directly and indirectly is the theme of this lesson. You will also learn about archetypes in literature.

Points of View and Tense

Deciding whether you want your piece to be written in the first, second, or third person is crucial. Similarly, choosing to write in the past or present tense is another decision you have to make as a writer. This lesson will help you choose wisely.

Descriptive Writing

Painting a picture in the mind of a reader is every writer's goal. Having the reader hear, smell, touch, and even taste the words on the page takes imagery to a whole new level. In this lesson, you will receive the tools necessary to make it happen.

Overcoming Writer's Block

Writer's block is frustrating and can lead to inertia. In this lesson, you will learn several techniques to help you fight against it.

Editing vs. Revision

You've come far in your piece by now, so it's time to revise and edit. This lesson will teach you the difference between the two.

Getting Published

Now that you've reached the end of your writing project, it's time to explore different avenues to getting published. This lesson will help you navigate the process of getting published.

What you will learn

• Prewriting techniques, from brainstorming to outlining
• Use of literary devices, such as figurative language
• Editing and revising your story drafts

How you will benefit

• Participate in a flexible, online writing workshop with other beginner-level writers
• Sharpen your writing skills and add new techniques to your writer's toolbox
• Understand how to submit your creative writing for publication

Carmen Marquez is a seasoned journalist, writer, and writing instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University and teaching certificate from Montclair State University.

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Some of the best works of fiction and nonfiction were crafted in a writer's workshop. This online course will help you write your own creative piece. Like a true writing workshop, you will learn literary techniques, peer review a classmate's work, and receive constructive criticism on your work.

In addition, you will learn how to move your work from the prewriting stage to editing and final revision. You will also learn how to use literary devices, meaningful dialogue, and imagery in your different drafts. By the end of this online workshop, you will have a thoroughly developed creative writing piece. You might even be ready for publication!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word is recommended (not included in enrollment).
• QuickTime.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Preparing to Write

Sometimes getting into the mood to write can be the hardest part! Learn how to build your confidence as a writer and create an environment conducive to writing.

Brainstorming

Now that you're in the mood to write, you need to figure out what you're going to write about. This lesson will offer a variety of ways you can be inspired.

Literary Devices

Good writers know how to sprinkle similes, metaphors, and other forms of figurative language into their prose to help their language reach readers. Learn about common and uncommon figurative language in this lesson.

Genres

Fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, personal essays. Some are genres, others subgenres. This lesson will help you sort through the different categories of genres.

Peer Review/Workshop

Every writer has an editor – actually, writers have several editors. Peer editing is an effective way to gain feedback on your work while creating a writing community. This lesson will teach you the basics on peer editing and connect you with other writers.

Story, Plot, and Narrative

Story, plot, and narrative are the same things, right? Think again. In this lesson, you will learn that all three are different, even though these words are often used interchangeably.

Characters and Dialogue

What is a story without good characters? Learning to develop the protagonist and antagonist, and characterizing them directly and indirectly is the theme of this lesson. You will also learn about archetypes in literature.

Points of View and Tense

Deciding whether you want your piece to be written in the first, second, or third person is crucial. Similarly, choosing to write in the past or present tense is another decision you have to make as a writer. This lesson will help you choose wisely.

Descriptive Writing

Painting a picture in the mind of a reader is every writer's goal. Having the reader hear, smell, touch, and even taste the words on the page takes imagery to a whole new level. In this lesson, you will receive the tools necessary to make it happen.

Overcoming Writer's Block

Writer's block is frustrating and can lead to inertia. In this lesson, you will learn several techniques to help you fight against it.

Editing vs. Revision

You've come far in your piece by now, so it's time to revise and edit. This lesson will teach you the difference between the two.

Getting Published

Now that you've reached the end of your writing project, it's time to explore different avenues to getting published. This lesson will help you navigate the process of getting published.

What you will learn

• Prewriting techniques, from brainstorming to outlining
• Use of literary devices, such as figurative language
• Editing and revising your story drafts

How you will benefit

• Participate in a flexible, online writing workshop with other beginner-level writers
• Sharpen your writing skills and add new techniques to your writer's toolbox
• Understand how to submit your creative writing for publication

Carmen Marquez is a seasoned journalist, writer, and writing instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University and teaching certificate from Montclair State University.

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Some of the best works of fiction and nonfiction were crafted in a writer's workshop. This online course will help you write your own creative piece. Like a true writing workshop, you will learn literary techniques, peer review a classmate's work, and receive constructive criticism on your work.

In addition, you will learn how to move your work from the prewriting stage to editing and final revision. You will also learn how to use literary devices, meaningful dialogue, and imagery in your different drafts. By the end of this online workshop, you will have a thoroughly developed creative writing piece. You might even be ready for publication!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word is recommended (not included in enrollment).
• QuickTime.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Preparing to Write

Sometimes getting into the mood to write can be the hardest part! Learn how to build your confidence as a writer and create an environment conducive to writing.

Brainstorming

Now that you're in the mood to write, you need to figure out what you're going to write about. This lesson will offer a variety of ways you can be inspired.

Literary Devices

Good writers know how to sprinkle similes, metaphors, and other forms of figurative language into their prose to help their language reach readers. Learn about common and uncommon figurative language in this lesson.

Genres

Fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, personal essays. Some are genres, others subgenres. This lesson will help you sort through the different categories of genres.

Peer Review/Workshop

Every writer has an editor – actually, writers have several editors. Peer editing is an effective way to gain feedback on your work while creating a writing community. This lesson will teach you the basics on peer editing and connect you with other writers.

Story, Plot, and Narrative

Story, plot, and narrative are the same things, right? Think again. In this lesson, you will learn that all three are different, even though these words are often used interchangeably.

Characters and Dialogue

What is a story without good characters? Learning to develop the protagonist and antagonist, and characterizing them directly and indirectly is the theme of this lesson. You will also learn about archetypes in literature.

Points of View and Tense

Deciding whether you want your piece to be written in the first, second, or third person is crucial. Similarly, choosing to write in the past or present tense is another decision you have to make as a writer. This lesson will help you choose wisely.

Descriptive Writing

Painting a picture in the mind of a reader is every writer's goal. Having the reader hear, smell, touch, and even taste the words on the page takes imagery to a whole new level. In this lesson, you will receive the tools necessary to make it happen.

Overcoming Writer's Block

Writer's block is frustrating and can lead to inertia. In this lesson, you will learn several techniques to help you fight against it.

Editing vs. Revision

You've come far in your piece by now, so it's time to revise and edit. This lesson will teach you the difference between the two.

Getting Published

Now that you've reached the end of your writing project, it's time to explore different avenues to getting published. This lesson will help you navigate the process of getting published.

What you will learn

• Prewriting techniques, from brainstorming to outlining
• Use of literary devices, such as figurative language
• Editing and revising your story drafts

How you will benefit

• Participate in a flexible, online writing workshop with other beginner-level writers
• Sharpen your writing skills and add new techniques to your writer's toolbox
• Understand how to submit your creative writing for publication

Carmen Marquez is a seasoned journalist, writer, and writing instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University and teaching certificate from Montclair State University.

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Some of the best works of fiction and nonfiction were crafted in a writer's workshop. This online course will help you write your own creative piece. Like a true writing workshop, you will learn literary techniques, peer review a classmate's work, and receive constructive criticism on your work.

In addition, you will learn how to move your work from the prewriting stage to editing and final revision. You will also learn how to use literary devices, meaningful dialogue, and imagery in your different drafts. By the end of this online workshop, you will have a thoroughly developed creative writing piece. You might even be ready for publication!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word is recommended (not included in enrollment).
• QuickTime.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Preparing to Write

Sometimes getting into the mood to write can be the hardest part! Learn how to build your confidence as a writer and create an environment conducive to writing.

Brainstorming

Now that you're in the mood to write, you need to figure out what you're going to write about. This lesson will offer a variety of ways you can be inspired.

Literary Devices

Good writers know how to sprinkle similes, metaphors, and other forms of figurative language into their prose to help their language reach readers. Learn about common and uncommon figurative language in this lesson.

Genres

Fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, personal essays. Some are genres, others subgenres. This lesson will help you sort through the different categories of genres.

Peer Review/Workshop

Every writer has an editor – actually, writers have several editors. Peer editing is an effective way to gain feedback on your work while creating a writing community. This lesson will teach you the basics on peer editing and connect you with other writers.

Story, Plot, and Narrative

Story, plot, and narrative are the same things, right? Think again. In this lesson, you will learn that all three are different, even though these words are often used interchangeably.

Characters and Dialogue

What is a story without good characters? Learning to develop the protagonist and antagonist, and characterizing them directly and indirectly is the theme of this lesson. You will also learn about archetypes in literature.

Points of View and Tense

Deciding whether you want your piece to be written in the first, second, or third person is crucial. Similarly, choosing to write in the past or present tense is another decision you have to make as a writer. This lesson will help you choose wisely.

Descriptive Writing

Painting a picture in the mind of a reader is every writer's goal. Having the reader hear, smell, touch, and even taste the words on the page takes imagery to a whole new level. In this lesson, you will receive the tools necessary to make it happen.

Overcoming Writer's Block

Writer's block is frustrating and can lead to inertia. In this lesson, you will learn several techniques to help you fight against it.

Editing vs. Revision

You've come far in your piece by now, so it's time to revise and edit. This lesson will teach you the difference between the two.

Getting Published

Now that you've reached the end of your writing project, it's time to explore different avenues to getting published. This lesson will help you navigate the process of getting published.

What you will learn

• Prewriting techniques, from brainstorming to outlining
• Use of literary devices, such as figurative language
• Editing and revising your story drafts

How you will benefit

• Participate in a flexible, online writing workshop with other beginner-level writers
• Sharpen your writing skills and add new techniques to your writer's toolbox
• Understand how to submit your creative writing for publication

Carmen Marquez is a seasoned journalist, writer, and writing instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University and teaching certificate from Montclair State University.

Examine the field of technical writing, learn how to write within any technical writing context, and develop your own portfolio. Students will also prepare for the Certified Professional Technical Communicator exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.10 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach, by Paul V. Anderson
• Technical Writing for Success, by Darlene Smith-Worthington and Sue Jefferson
• Technical Communication Today, by Richard Johnson-Sheehan (digital)

Effective communication is essential in today's business world. Technical writers are professional communicators whose role varies across industry and context. They may create manuals and instruction documents, write grant proposals for nonprofit organizations, manage social media accounts, or create compliance documents for pharmaceutical companies. They may work in industries as different as aeronautical engineering and healthcare, or they may be self-employed. With skills and experience, technical writers can find rewarding and engaging work in many different fields.

In the course, you will explore the framework in which technical writing exists, the conventions it follows, and the essential elements all technical writing must have. The course also includes a lesson on preparing for the (CPTC) Certified Professional Technical Communicator exam offered by the Society for Technical Communication (STC).

Disclaimer: To qualify for the externship applications process, students must successfully complete the online course content and have account balances up to date (at a minimum). Going through the externship application process does not guarantee an externship. COVID may be affecting the externship process or site availability in your area. Students can begin researching the steps of the application process 2 weeks prior to completing courses.

1. Introduction to Technical Communication
2. Your Role as a Technical Writer
3. Common Types of Technical Writing
4. The Seven Principles of Good Writing
5. Writing as a Process
6. Research
7. Organization
8. Rough Draft
9. Revising and Editing
10. Writing for the Web and Social Media
11. Certification
12. How to Find a Job in Technical Writing (Optional Lesson)
13. Final Exam
14. Externship (Optional)

What you will learn

• Writing to meet the needs of your audience, including writing with clarity and focus
• The differences between technical writing and other types of writing
• Ethical issues in technical writing
• Advanced grammar rules and effective research methods
• Writing effectively for websites and social media
• Developing strategies to prepare for the Certified Professional Technical Communicator exam

How you will benefit

• Obtain a professional writing portfolio to showcase your work to current and potential employers
• Be prepared for technical writing jobs in a variety of industries like software companies, nonprofit organizations, marketing agencies, and more
• Receive a certificate of completion and prepare to sit for the CPTC exam
• Acquire access to an Externship Starter Kit to walk you through what you need to know about getting an externship as a technical writer

Janet Underwood is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience as a senior technical writer. Janet started her career as an English teacher. She then went on to work as an editor and writer for several internationally known trade publications before marrying her love of technology with her passion for writing to become a technical writer. Janet has developed technical documentation for major corporations in the computer, information technology, telecommunications, financial, medical industries, U.S. government agencies, and public utilities organizations. She has also written several books used as textbooks for college technical writing courses and has been an adjunct professor.

Lynn Atkinson earned a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 1993 and an M.A. in English with an emphasis in rhetoric in 1996. A published writer and editor, including contributions to college textbooks, she considers her greatest accomplishment educating thousands of students at UTA, DeVry, Tarrant County College, Southeast Career Institute, and Everest College. She has also been nominated for and awarded "Outstanding Teacher" at several of these institutions. Lynn has developed or co-developed several writing curriculums, won writing contests and conducted over 10,000 hours of tutoring.

Examine the field of technical writing, learn how to write within any technical writing context, and develop your own portfolio. Students will also prepare for the Certified Professional Technical Communicator exam.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.10 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach, by Paul V. Anderson
• Technical Writing for Success, by Darlene Smith-Worthington and Sue Jefferson
• Technical Communication Today, by Richard Johnson-Sheehan (digital)

Effective communication is essential in today's business world. Technical writers are professional communicators whose role varies across industry and context. They may create manuals and instruction documents, write grant proposals for nonprofit organizations, manage social media accounts, or create compliance documents for pharmaceutical companies. They may work in industries as different as aeronautical engineering and healthcare, or they may be self-employed. With skills and experience, technical writers can find rewarding and engaging work in many different fields.

In the course, you will explore the framework in which technical writing exists, the conventions it follows, and the essential elements all technical writing must have. The course also includes a lesson on preparing for the (CPTC) Certified Professional Technical Communicator exam offered by the Society for Technical Communication (STC).

Disclaimer: To qualify for the externship applications process, students must successfully complete the online course content and have account balances up to date (at a minimum). Going through the externship application process does not guarantee an externship. COVID may be affecting the externship process or site availability in your area. Students can begin researching the steps of the application process 2 weeks prior to completing courses.

1. Introduction to Technical Communication
2. Your Role as a Technical Writer
3. Common Types of Technical Writing
4. The Seven Principles of Good Writing
5. Writing as a Process
6. Research
7. Organization
8. Rough Draft
9. Revising and Editing
10. Writing for the Web and Social Media
11. Certification
12. How to Find a Job in Technical Writing (Optional Lesson)
13. Final Exam
14. Externship (Optional)

What you will learn

• Writing to meet the needs of your audience, including writing with clarity and focus
• The differences between technical writing and other types of writing
• Ethical issues in technical writing
• Advanced grammar rules and effective research methods
• Writing effectively for websites and social media
• Developing strategies to prepare for the Certified Professional Technical Communicator exam

How you will benefit

• Obtain a professional writing portfolio to showcase your work to current and potential employers
• Be prepared for technical writing jobs in a variety of industries like software companies, nonprofit organizations, marketing agencies, and more
• Receive a certificate of completion and prepare to sit for the CPTC exam
• Acquire access to an Externship Starter Kit to walk you through what you need to know about getting an externship as a technical writer

Janet Underwood is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience as a senior technical writer. Janet started her career as an English teacher. She then went on to work as an editor and writer for several internationally known trade publications before marrying her love of technology with her passion for writing to become a technical writer. Janet has developed technical documentation for major corporations in the computer, information technology, telecommunications, financial, medical industries, U.S. government agencies, and public utilities organizations. She has also written several books used as textbooks for college technical writing courses and has been an adjunct professor.

Lynn Atkinson earned a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 1993 and an M.A. in English with an emphasis in rhetoric in 1996. A published writer and editor, including contributions to college textbooks, she considers her greatest accomplishment educating thousands of students at UTA, DeVry, Tarrant County College, Southeast Career Institute, and Everest College. She has also been nominated for and awarded "Outstanding Teacher" at several of these institutions. Lynn has developed or co-developed several writing curriculums, won writing contests and conducted over 10,000 hours of tutoring.

Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing.

Do you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand? If so, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamental techniques that all successful technical writers use. You will learn how to translate complex information into easily understood language, and how to become a wizard at marrying the art of publishing with the science of technology.

You will also learn the secrets of successful technical writers, including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques, key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and how to publish documents both on paper and electronically.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
• Any type of word processor can be used in the initial manuscript setup, however Word for Windows is used as the example (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamental techniques that all successful technical writers use.

Technical Writing Overview

Technical writing is a relatively new profession, but people have been writing technical documents for centuries. In the first lesson, you will learn the fascinating history of technical writing and how technical writing employs both the logical and creative sides of your brain.

Preparing to Write

Technical writing requires preparation. In this lesson, you will learn the basics of project management for your documentation project and key questions to help you analyze your reading audience, and how to organize this information.

Gathering Information

In this lesson, you will learn powerful communication skills that will help you get the information you need. You will also learn how to ask questions that help you get the answers you need more efficiently, and how to apply principles of adult learning when you're analyzing the information you've gathered.

Writing Skills

Do you ever get writer's block? Most writers do. In this lesson, you will learn how to shut off your internal editor and give yourself permission to write your first draft more quickly and easily. You will discover tips that can help you keep writing even when you don't have all of the information you need.

Tech Writing Conventions

Every profession has rules and conventions that separate the novices from the pros. In this lesson, you will learn all about time-honored technical writing conventions, such as using parallel structure, an inverted pyramid style of writing, effective headings, and lists.

Graphics

Should you save your graphics as BMPs, GIFs, or JPGs? This lesson goes over the difference between the most popular graphics file formats and guidelines for using each. You will also learn about a new file format called PNG and how to create and manipulate screenshots on your PC.

Document Formatting

Formatting your document can be critical to its success. In this lesson, you will learn how to choose the typeface or typefaces you want to use and principles for using type effectively in your document. You will learn about the things you need to keep in mind when laying out your pages.

Microsoft Word's Paragraph Styles

Microsoft Word has nearly a 93% market share for PC-based word processing. Chances are high that you will use it at some time in your technical writing career. In this lesson, you will learn how Microsoft Word is different from other word-processing applications and how to use, modify, and create in Word.

Document Templates

When companies use Microsoft Word for their documentation, they expect you to know how to use and create Word templates. In this lesson, you will learn how to build templates and other Word skills such as recording macros, customizing your toolbar, and more.

Creating Indexes

Did you know that indexes are the most widely read section in any technical document? In this lesson, you will review indexing conventions and ways to build a great index for your document. You will also learn how to use Microsoft Word to make indexing a bit easier.

Editing and Proofreading

To polish your document and make it the best it can be, you need to proofread it and edit it. In this lesson, you will learn tips from professional proofreaders and editors, as well as ways you can use Microsoft Word to help you check your spelling and grammar.

Publishing Your Document

Publishing your document is an exciting time. All of your hard work is almost done—or is it? Your final lesson explores different printing options and trends in publishing. You will also learn the ways you can use your technical writing skills and a four-step plan for getting your first job.

What you will learn

• How to translate complex information into easily understood language.
• The secrets of success, including writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing, and formatting techniques.
• Key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and creating high-quality documentation with less work.
• How to get your first job as a technical writer.

How you will benefit

• Learn technical writing skills and techniques that are useful in nearly any position or industry.
• Master a new form of communication to enhance your resume and your job prospects.
• Be inspired to continue your education with classes like Business and Marketing Writing or Research Methods for Writers.

Lynn Atkinson earned a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 1993 and an M.A. in English with an emphasis in rhetoric in 1996. A published writer and editor, including contributions to college textbooks, she considers her greatest accomplishment educating thousands of students at UTA, DeVry, Tarrant County College, Southeast Career Institute, and Everest College. She has also been nominated for and awarded "Outstanding Teacher" at several of these institutions. Lynn has developed or co-developed several writing curriculums, won writing contests, and conducted over 10,000 hours of tutoring.

Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing.

Do you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand? If so, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamental techniques that all successful technical writers use. You will learn how to translate complex information into easily understood language, and how to become a wizard at marrying the art of publishing with the science of technology.

You will also learn the secrets of successful technical writers, including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques, key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and how to publish documents both on paper and electronically.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
• Any type of word processor can be used in the initial manuscript setup, however Word for Windows is used as the example (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamental techniques that all successful technical writers use.

Technical Writing Overview

Technical writing is a relatively new profession, but people have been writing technical documents for centuries. In the first lesson, you will learn the fascinating history of technical writing and how technical writing employs both the logical and creative sides of your brain.

Preparing to Write

Technical writing requires preparation. In this lesson, you will learn the basics of project management for your documentation project and key questions to help you analyze your reading audience, and how to organize this information.

Gathering Information

In this lesson, you will learn powerful communication skills that will help you get the information you need. You will also learn how to ask questions that help you get the answers you need more efficiently, and how to apply principles of adult learning when you're analyzing the information you've gathered.

Writing Skills

Do you ever get writer's block? Most writers do. In this lesson, you will learn how to shut off your internal editor and give yourself permission to write your first draft more quickly and easily. You will discover tips that can help you keep writing even when you don't have all of the information you need.

Tech Writing Conventions

Every profession has rules and conventions that separate the novices from the pros. In this lesson, you will learn all about time-honored technical writing conventions, such as using parallel structure, an inverted pyramid style of writing, effective headings, and lists.

Graphics

Should you save your graphics as BMPs, GIFs, or JPGs? This lesson goes over the difference between the most popular graphics file formats and guidelines for using each. You will also learn about a new file format called PNG and how to create and manipulate screenshots on your PC.

Document Formatting

Formatting your document can be critical to its success. In this lesson, you will learn how to choose the typeface or typefaces you want to use and principles for using type effectively in your document. You will learn about the things you need to keep in mind when laying out your pages.

Microsoft Word's Paragraph Styles

Microsoft Word has nearly a 93% market share for PC-based word processing. Chances are high that you will use it at some time in your technical writing career. In this lesson, you will learn how Microsoft Word is different from other word-processing applications and how to use, modify, and create in Word.

Document Templates

When companies use Microsoft Word for their documentation, they expect you to know how to use and create Word templates. In this lesson, you will learn how to build templates and other Word skills such as recording macros, customizing your toolbar, and more.

Creating Indexes

Did you know that indexes are the most widely read section in any technical document? In this lesson, you will review indexing conventions and ways to build a great index for your document. You will also learn how to use Microsoft Word to make indexing a bit easier.

Editing and Proofreading

To polish your document and make it the best it can be, you need to proofread it and edit it. In this lesson, you will learn tips from professional proofreaders and editors, as well as ways you can use Microsoft Word to help you check your spelling and grammar.

Publishing Your Document

Publishing your document is an exciting time. All of your hard work is almost done—or is it? Your final lesson explores different printing options and trends in publishing. You will also learn the ways you can use your technical writing skills and a four-step plan for getting your first job.

What you will learn

• How to translate complex information into easily understood language.
• The secrets of success, including writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing, and formatting techniques.
• Key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and creating high-quality documentation with less work.
• How to get your first job as a technical writer.

How you will benefit

• Learn technical writing skills and techniques that are useful in nearly any position or industry.
• Master a new form of communication to enhance your resume and your job prospects.
• Be inspired to continue your education with classes like Business and Marketing Writing or Research Methods for Writers.

Lynn Atkinson earned a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 1993 and an M.A. in English with an emphasis in rhetoric in 1996. A published writer and editor, including contributions to college textbooks, she considers her greatest accomplishment educating thousands of students at UTA, DeVry, Tarrant County College, Southeast Career Institute, and Everest College. She has also been nominated for and awarded "Outstanding Teacher" at several of these institutions. Lynn has developed or co-developed several writing curriculums, won writing contests, and conducted over 10,000 hours of tutoring.

Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing.

Do you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand? If so, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamental techniques that all successful technical writers use. You will learn how to translate complex information into easily understood language, and how to become a wizard at marrying the art of publishing with the science of technology.

You will also learn the secrets of successful technical writers, including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques, key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and how to publish documents both on paper and electronically.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
• Any type of word processor can be used in the initial manuscript setup, however Word for Windows is used as the example (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamental techniques that all successful technical writers use.

Technical Writing Overview

Technical writing is a relatively new profession, but people have been writing technical documents for centuries. In the first lesson, you will learn the fascinating history of technical writing and how technical writing employs both the logical and creative sides of your brain.

Preparing to Write

Technical writing requires preparation. In this lesson, you will learn the basics of project management for your documentation project and key questions to help you analyze your reading audience, and how to organize this information.

Gathering Information

In this lesson, you will learn powerful communication skills that will help you get the information you need. You will also learn how to ask questions that help you get the answers you need more efficiently, and how to apply principles of adult learning when you're analyzing the information you've gathered.

Writing Skills

Do you ever get writer's block? Most writers do. In this lesson, you will learn how to shut off your internal editor and give yourself permission to write your first draft more quickly and easily. You will discover tips that can help you keep writing even when you don't have all of the information you need.

Tech Writing Conventions

Every profession has rules and conventions that separate the novices from the pros. In this lesson, you will learn all about time-honored technical writing conventions, such as using parallel structure, an inverted pyramid style of writing, effective headings, and lists.

Graphics

Should you save your graphics as BMPs, GIFs, or JPGs? This lesson goes over the difference between the most popular graphics file formats and guidelines for using each. You will also learn about a new file format called PNG and how to create and manipulate screenshots on your PC.

Document Formatting

Formatting your document can be critical to its success. In this lesson, you will learn how to choose the typeface or typefaces you want to use and principles for using type effectively in your document. You will learn about the things you need to keep in mind when laying out your pages.

Microsoft Word's Paragraph Styles

Microsoft Word has nearly a 93% market share for PC-based word processing. Chances are high that you will use it at some time in your technical writing career. In this lesson, you will learn how Microsoft Word is different from other word-processing applications and how to use, modify, and create in Word.

Document Templates

When companies use Microsoft Word for their documentation, they expect you to know how to use and create Word templates. In this lesson, you will learn how to build templates and other Word skills such as recording macros, customizing your toolbar, and more.

Creating Indexes

Did you know that indexes are the most widely read section in any technical document? In this lesson, you will review indexing conventions and ways to build a great index for your document. You will also learn how to use Microsoft Word to make indexing a bit easier.

Editing and Proofreading

To polish your document and make it the best it can be, you need to proofread it and edit it. In this lesson, you will learn tips from professional proofreaders and editors, as well as ways you can use Microsoft Word to help you check your spelling and grammar.

Publishing Your Document

Publishing your document is an exciting time. All of your hard work is almost done—or is it? Your final lesson explores different printing options and trends in publishing. You will also learn the ways you can use your technical writing skills and a four-step plan for getting your first job.

What you will learn

• How to translate complex information into easily understood language.
• The secrets of success, including writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing, and formatting techniques.
• Key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and creating high-quality documentation with less work.
• How to get your first job as a technical writer.

How you will benefit

• Learn technical writing skills and techniques that are useful in nearly any position or industry.
• Master a new form of communication to enhance your resume and your job prospects.
• Be inspired to continue your education with classes like Business and Marketing Writing or Research Methods for Writers.

Lynn Atkinson earned a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 1993 and an M.A. in English with an emphasis in rhetoric in 1996. A published writer and editor, including contributions to college textbooks, she considers her greatest accomplishment educating thousands of students at UTA, DeVry, Tarrant County College, Southeast Career Institute, and Everest College. She has also been nominated for and awarded "Outstanding Teacher" at several of these institutions. Lynn has developed or co-developed several writing curriculums, won writing contests, and conducted over 10,000 hours of tutoring.

Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing.

Do you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand? If so, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamental techniques that all successful technical writers use. You will learn how to translate complex information into easily understood language, and how to become a wizard at marrying the art of publishing with the science of technology.

You will also learn the secrets of successful technical writers, including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques, key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and how to publish documents both on paper and electronically.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
• Any type of word processor can be used in the initial manuscript setup, however Word for Windows is used as the example (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamental techniques that all successful technical writers use.

Technical Writing Overview

Technical writing is a relatively new profession, but people have been writing technical documents for centuries. In the first lesson, you will learn the fascinating history of technical writing and how technical writing employs both the logical and creative sides of your brain.

Preparing to Write

Technical writing requires preparation. In this lesson, you will learn the basics of project management for your documentation project and key questions to help you analyze your reading audience, and how to organize this information.

Gathering Information

In this lesson, you will learn powerful communication skills that will help you get the information you need. You will also learn how to ask questions that help you get the answers you need more efficiently, and how to apply principles of adult learning when you're analyzing the information you've gathered.

Writing Skills

Do you ever get writer's block? Most writers do. In this lesson, you will learn how to shut off your internal editor and give yourself permission to write your first draft more quickly and easily. You will discover tips that can help you keep writing even when you don't have all of the information you need.

Tech Writing Conventions

Every profession has rules and conventions that separate the novices from the pros. In this lesson, you will learn all about time-honored technical writing conventions, such as using parallel structure, an inverted pyramid style of writing, effective headings, and lists.

Graphics

Should you save your graphics as BMPs, GIFs, or JPGs? This lesson goes over the difference between the most popular graphics file formats and guidelines for using each. You will also learn about a new file format called PNG and how to create and manipulate screenshots on your PC.

Document Formatting

Formatting your document can be critical to its success. In this lesson, you will learn how to choose the typeface or typefaces you want to use and principles for using type effectively in your document. You will learn about the things you need to keep in mind when laying out your pages.

Microsoft Word's Paragraph Styles

Microsoft Word has nearly a 93% market share for PC-based word processing. Chances are high that you will use it at some time in your technical writing career. In this lesson, you will learn how Microsoft Word is different from other word-processing applications and how to use, modify, and create in Word.

Document Templates

When companies use Microsoft Word for their documentation, they expect you to know how to use and create Word templates. In this lesson, you will learn how to build templates and other Word skills such as recording macros, customizing your toolbar, and more.

Creating Indexes

Did you know that indexes are the most widely read section in any technical document? In this lesson, you will review indexing conventions and ways to build a great index for your document. You will also learn how to use Microsoft Word to make indexing a bit easier.

Editing and Proofreading

To polish your document and make it the best it can be, you need to proofread it and edit it. In this lesson, you will learn tips from professional proofreaders and editors, as well as ways you can use Microsoft Word to help you check your spelling and grammar.

Publishing Your Document

Publishing your document is an exciting time. All of your hard work is almost done—or is it? Your final lesson explores different printing options and trends in publishing. You will also learn the ways you can use your technical writing skills and a four-step plan for getting your first job.

What you will learn

• How to translate complex information into easily understood language.
• The secrets of success, including writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing, and formatting techniques.
• Key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and creating high-quality documentation with less work.
• How to get your first job as a technical writer.

How you will benefit

• Learn technical writing skills and techniques that are useful in nearly any position or industry.
• Master a new form of communication to enhance your resume and your job prospects.
• Be inspired to continue your education with classes like Business and Marketing Writing or Research Methods for Writers.

Lynn Atkinson earned a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 1993 and an M.A. in English with an emphasis in rhetoric in 1996. A published writer and editor, including contributions to college textbooks, she considers her greatest accomplishment educating thousands of students at UTA, DeVry, Tarrant County College, Southeast Career Institute, and Everest College. She has also been nominated for and awarded "Outstanding Teacher" at several of these institutions. Lynn has developed or co-developed several writing curriculums, won writing contests, and conducted over 10,000 hours of tutoring.

Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing.

Do you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand? If so, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamentals techniques that all successful technical writers use. You will learn how to translate complex information into easily understood language, and how to become a wizard at marrying the art of publishing with the science of technology.

You will also learn the secrets of successful technical writers, including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques, key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and how to publish documents both on paper and electronically.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
• Any type of word processor can be used in the initial manuscript setup, however Word for Windows is used as the example (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing.

Technical Writing Overview

Technical writing is a relatively new profession, but people have been writing technical documents for centuries. In our first lesson, you will learn the fascinating history of technical writing and how technical writing employs both the logical and creative sides of your brain.

Preparing to Write

Technical writing requires preparation. In this lesson, you will learn the basics of project management for your documentation project and key questions to help you analyze your reading audience, and how to organize this information.

Gathering Information

In this lesson, you will learn powerful communication skills that will help you get the information you need. You will also learn how to ask questions that help you get the answers you need more efficiently, and how to apply principles of adult learning when you're analyzing the information you've gathered.

Writing Skills

Do you ever get writer's block? Most writers do. In this lesson, you will learn how to shut off your internal editor and give yourself permission to write your first draft more quickly and easily. You will discover tips that can help you keep writing even when you don't have all of the information you need.

Tech Writing Conventions

Every profession has rules and conventions that separate the novices from the pros. In this lesson, you will learn all about time-honored technical writing conventions, such as using parallel structure, an inverted pyramid style of writing, effective headings, and lists.

Graphics

Should you save your graphics as bitmaps, gifs, or jpgs? This lesson goes over the difference between the most popular graphics file formats and guidelines for using each. You will also learn about a new file format called PNG and how to create and manipulate screenshots on your PC.

Document Formatting

Formatting your document can be critical to its success. In this lesson, you will learn how to choose the typeface or typefaces you want to use and principles for using type effectively in your document. You will learn about the things you need to keep in mind when laying out your pages.

Microsoft Word's Paragraph Styles

Microsoft Word has nearly a 93% market share for PC-based word processing. Chances are high that you will use it at some time in your technical writing career. In this lesson, you will learn how Microsoft Word is different from other word-processing applications and how to use, modify, and create in Word.

Document Templates

When companies use Microsoft Word for their documentation, they expect you to know how to use and create Word templates. In this lesson, you will learn how to build templates and other Word skills such as recording macros, customizing your toolbar, and more.

Creating Indexes

Did you know that indexes are the most widely read section in any technical document? In this lesson, you will review indexing conventions and ways to build a great index for your document. You will also learn how to use Microsoft Word to make indexing a bit easier.

Editing and Proofreading

To polish your document and make it the best it can be, you need to proofread it and edit it. In this lesson, you will learn tips from professional proofreaders and editors, as well as ways you can use Microsoft Word to help you check your spelling and grammar.

Publishing Your Document

Publishing your document is an exciting time. All of your hard work is almost done—or is it? Your final lesson explores different printing options and trends in publishing. You will also learn the ways you can use your technical writing skills and a four-step plan for getting your first job.

Self-Study

Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing.

Do you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand? If so, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the fundamentals techniques that all successful technical writers use. You will learn how to translate complex information into easily understood language, and how to become a wizard at marrying the art of publishing with the science of technology.

You will also learn the secrets of successful technical writers, including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques, key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and how to publish documents both on paper and electronically.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course must be taken on a PC. Macs are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
• Any type of word processor can be used in the initial manuscript setup, however Word for Windows is used as the example (not included in enrollment).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the skills you need to succeed in the well-paying field of technical writing.

Technical Writing Overview

Technical writing is a relatively new profession, but people have been writing technical documents for centuries. In our first lesson, you will learn the fascinating history of technical writing and how technical writing employs both the logical and creative sides of your brain.

Preparing to Write

Technical writing requires preparation. In this lesson, you will learn the basics of project management for your documentation project and key questions to help you analyze your reading audience, and how to organize this information.

Gathering Information

In this lesson, you will learn powerful communication skills that will help you get the information you need. You will also learn how to ask questions that help you get the answers you need more efficiently, and how to apply principles of adult learning when you're analyzing the information you've gathered.

Writing Skills

Do you ever get writer's block? Most writers do. In this lesson, you will learn how to shut off your internal editor and give yourself permission to write your first draft more quickly and easily. You will discover tips that can help you keep writing even when you don't have all of the information you need.

Tech Writing Conventions

Every profession has rules and conventions that separate the novices from the pros. In this lesson, you will learn all about time-honored technical writing conventions, such as using parallel structure, an inverted pyramid style of writing, effective headings, and lists.

Graphics

Should you save your graphics as bitmaps, gifs, or jpgs? This lesson goes over the difference between the most popular graphics file formats and guidelines for using each. You will also learn about a new file format called PNG and how to create and manipulate screenshots on your PC.

Document Formatting

Formatting your document can be critical to its success. In this lesson, you will learn how to choose the typeface or typefaces you want to use and principles for using type effectively in your document. You will learn about the things you need to keep in mind when laying out your pages.

Microsoft Word's Paragraph Styles

Microsoft Word has nearly a 93% market share for PC-based word processing. Chances are high that you will use it at some time in your technical writing career. In this lesson, you will learn how Microsoft Word is different from other word-processing applications and how to use, modify, and create in Word.

Document Templates

When companies use Microsoft Word for their documentation, they expect you to know how to use and create Word templates. In this lesson, you will learn how to build templates and other Word skills such as recording macros, customizing your toolbar, and more.

Creating Indexes

Did you know that indexes are the most widely read section in any technical document? In this lesson, you will review indexing conventions and ways to build a great index for your document. You will also learn how to use Microsoft Word to make indexing a bit easier.

Editing and Proofreading

To polish your document and make it the best it can be, you need to proofread it and edit it. In this lesson, you will learn tips from professional proofreaders and editors, as well as ways you can use Microsoft Word to help you check your spelling and grammar.

Publishing Your Document

Publishing your document is an exciting time. All of your hard work is almost done—or is it? Your final lesson explores different printing options and trends in publishing. You will also learn the ways you can use your technical writing skills and a four-step plan for getting your first job.

Self-Study

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here.

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here. You'll learn secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate income with your writing. This class includes all the practical information that so rarely gets taught in writing classes.

In most courses and social groups it's taboo to discuss money, but not here. This course embraces it! Making money is the focus of the lessons. You'll explore a dozen genres that can help you establish a sometime, part-time, or full-time career as a writer. Along the way, you'll learn methods to work faster, suffer less rejection, and bring home more bacon. Fulfilling (and lucrative) writing work is waiting for you!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, this class includes practical information that rarely gets taught in writing classes.

Getting in Gear to Write

Where do great ideas come from? How do best-selling authors get to be that way? What makes writing so very scary, intimidating, delicious, and wickedly wonderful? How are words pulled from nothingness and zapped to the screen or printed page? What makes writing nearly addictive to one group of humanity and yet an overwhelming task for others? Are there born writers? Can anyone learn to write? Why do some people get published and others fail? In this lesson, you'll start learning the answers to those questions and begin the journey to becoming a better writer.

The Writing Life

Have you ever heard that to be a writer, you only need a pen and paper? That's true. Yet, too many writers throw in other requirements—from a year of unfettered time, to a trust fund that will keep them in caviar until the royalties come flooding in. This lesson will delve more deeply into the writing life as it exposes some myths about writing.

Self-Editing and Researching

This lesson will discuss self-editing and researching. Self-editing and researching are both skills you'll want to learn so that you can sell your work. It's highly unlikely that you'll ever sell a first draft, and it's equally as unlikely that you'll sell something you didn't research. This lesson will teach you some simple tricks to make your work shine!

Writing for Magazines

This lesson could be called Magazine Writing 101. If you've written for magazines before, then this lesson will be a refresher or a nudge. If you haven't written for magazines and would like to, then you'll find out indispensable information that will get you going. With this info, you could find your niche and begin making money as a freelancer, possibly while you're working on your novel.

Writing and Selling Other Short Works

The previous lesson focused on writing nonfiction articles for popular magazines. But you won't find every magazine that uses freelance work in your grocery store or big super bookstore. There are magazines, publications, and periodicals with an otherwise large distribution that never even get to these places. Those magazines are always looking for new short works such as short stories, columns, essays, and poetry. This lesson will talk about how you can sell your short works to magazines and newspapers.

Writing Novels

Some writers just love to write long fiction and have a story that is burning to get out. If you fit into this group, or just wonder how one goes about writing a novel, then this lesson should speak to you. You'll find out why some people need to get that book out and what it takes to do so. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a working knowledge of the genre possibilities and what it takes to write a novel. You'll learn how stories are found, how some famous novelists were discovered, how to stay motivated, and what has stopped a few hopeful writers from writing.

Writing Nonfiction Books

Now it's time to give the nonfiction genres a turn. Adults are infatuated with nonfiction and it sells better than any other type of book. There are scads of different genres in nonfiction books. In this lesson, you'll focus on the types of nonfiction writing and how to get a project started, written, and noticed by publishers and agents. Nonfiction books concern real people, places, events, information, or situations. Whether you're addicted to reading nonfiction, or just want to learn all you can about writing, this lesson will give you valuable information that will help you better understand the world of publishing.

Ghostwriting

What does it mean to be a ghost in the literary world? This lesson will give you the scoop on this lucrative business. If you have a talent for emulating peoples' voices, and if you're fast, efficient, and good with people, this might be the field for you. This lesson will talk about how to advertise and find clients, how to select appropriate clients, and how to maintain a good working relationship so that you can produce the best book possible.

The Roles of Editors and Agents

This lesson will talk about the roles of editors and agents. Specifically, you'll find out what each of their jobs includes and why you need to know this information. If you're currently writing a novel or a nonfiction book, gathering a collection of poetry or short stories, or maybe just dabbling in the idea, you'll want to read this lesson carefully. Find out how agents interact with editors at publishing houses and how you can interact with agents and editors.

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

Attend any writing conference or sit with a group of published writers, and you're bound to hear words like: self-publishing, POD, copublishing and e-publishing. This lesson will discuss the options that are often called alternative publishing. If you're serious about joining the world as a writer, you should be aware of these options. They're not for everyone, but the information you'll receive will help you make sound career and financial decisions.

The Business Side of Writing

This lesson is all about the legal side of writing. You'll learn about sample agreements and contracts that will help keep you in good stead as you become the writer of your dreams. The lesson will also talk about royalties, advances, and the scoop on that lovely green stuff that pays the bills.

Time Management and Marketing for All Writers

Saturday comes, finally. The house looks like a disaster hit. The kids need shoes, the dog has a vet's appointment, and you swear that the health department might condemn the car. Unlike Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, you can't seem to click your heels hard enough to make it all disappear. You've got a yearning, a deep burning to write, but the clutter, the mess, the hours spent doing things for others (okay, and procrastination) are eating at your heart. What does all of this have to do with creativity? Check the clock, because it's all about time management, and that's what you'll learn in this vital lesson.

What you will learn

• Find out what it takes to be a paid writer
• Understand what a writer's life is really like, and learn how to deal with rejection
• Learn tips for self-editing and productive researching
• Find out how to submit queries and land feature writing assignments for magazines and e-zines
• Develop a working knowledge of writing novels and nonfiction books, what the publishers are looking for, and how to submit writing
• Understand what it means to be a ghostwriter, how to find clients, and how to develop and maintain a strong working relationship with your clients
• Gain knowledge of the business side of writing as it pertains to advances, royalties, letters of commitment and intent, invoices, and releases

How you will benefit

• Become more efficient in your writing time management and learn how to market your products like a pro
• Understand the ins and outs of writing for money and become more confident in your ability to succeed
• Develop a new career path as you successfully learn to make money from your writing

Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 70 books including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "Insider's Guide to San Diego." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here.

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here. You'll learn secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate income with your writing. This class includes all the practical information that so rarely gets taught in writing classes.

In most courses and social groups it's taboo to discuss money, but not here. This course embraces it! Making money is the focus of the lessons. You'll explore a dozen genres that can help you establish a sometime, part-time, or full-time career as a writer. Along the way, you'll learn methods to work faster, suffer less rejection, and bring home more bacon. Fulfilling (and lucrative) writing work is waiting for you!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, this class includes practical information that rarely gets taught in writing classes.

Getting in Gear to Write

Where do great ideas come from? How do best-selling authors get to be that way? What makes writing so very scary, intimidating, delicious, and wickedly wonderful? How are words pulled from nothingness and zapped to the screen or printed page? What makes writing nearly addictive to one group of humanity and yet an overwhelming task for others? Are there born writers? Can anyone learn to write? Why do some people get published and others fail? In this lesson, you'll start learning the answers to those questions and begin the journey to becoming a better writer.

The Writing Life

Have you ever heard that to be a writer, you only need a pen and paper? That's true. Yet, too many writers throw in other requirements—from a year of unfettered time, to a trust fund that will keep them in caviar until the royalties come flooding in. This lesson will delve more deeply into the writing life as it exposes some myths about writing.

Self-Editing and Researching

This lesson will discuss self-editing and researching. Self-editing and researching are both skills you'll want to learn so that you can sell your work. It's highly unlikely that you'll ever sell a first draft, and it's equally as unlikely that you'll sell something you didn't research. This lesson will teach you some simple tricks to make your work shine!

Writing for Magazines

This lesson could be called Magazine Writing 101. If you've written for magazines before, then this lesson will be a refresher or a nudge. If you haven't written for magazines and would like to, then you'll find out indispensable information that will get you going. With this info, you could find your niche and begin making money as a freelancer, possibly while you're working on your novel.

Writing and Selling Other Short Works

The previous lesson focused on writing nonfiction articles for popular magazines. But you won't find every magazine that uses freelance work in your grocery store or big super bookstore. There are magazines, publications, and periodicals with an otherwise large distribution that never even get to these places. Those magazines are always looking for new short works such as short stories, columns, essays, and poetry. This lesson will talk about how you can sell your short works to magazines and newspapers.

Writing Novels

Some writers just love to write long fiction and have a story that is burning to get out. If you fit into this group, or just wonder how one goes about writing a novel, then this lesson should speak to you. You'll find out why some people need to get that book out and what it takes to do so. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a working knowledge of the genre possibilities and what it takes to write a novel. You'll learn how stories are found, how some famous novelists were discovered, how to stay motivated, and what has stopped a few hopeful writers from writing.

Writing Nonfiction Books

Now it's time to give the nonfiction genres a turn. Adults are infatuated with nonfiction and it sells better than any other type of book. There are scads of different genres in nonfiction books. In this lesson, you'll focus on the types of nonfiction writing and how to get a project started, written, and noticed by publishers and agents. Nonfiction books concern real people, places, events, information, or situations. Whether you're addicted to reading nonfiction, or just want to learn all you can about writing, this lesson will give you valuable information that will help you better understand the world of publishing.

Ghostwriting

What does it mean to be a ghost in the literary world? This lesson will give you the scoop on this lucrative business. If you have a talent for emulating peoples' voices, and if you're fast, efficient, and good with people, this might be the field for you. This lesson will talk about how to advertise and find clients, how to select appropriate clients, and how to maintain a good working relationship so that you can produce the best book possible.

The Roles of Editors and Agents

This lesson will talk about the roles of editors and agents. Specifically, you'll find out what each of their jobs includes and why you need to know this information. If you're currently writing a novel or a nonfiction book, gathering a collection of poetry or short stories, or maybe just dabbling in the idea, you'll want to read this lesson carefully. Find out how agents interact with editors at publishing houses and how you can interact with agents and editors.

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

Attend any writing conference or sit with a group of published writers, and you're bound to hear words like: self-publishing, POD, copublishing and e-publishing. This lesson will discuss the options that are often called alternative publishing. If you're serious about joining the world as a writer, you should be aware of these options. They're not for everyone, but the information you'll receive will help you make sound career and financial decisions.

The Business Side of Writing

This lesson is all about the legal side of writing. You'll learn about sample agreements and contracts that will help keep you in good stead as you become the writer of your dreams. The lesson will also talk about royalties, advances, and the scoop on that lovely green stuff that pays the bills.

Time Management and Marketing for All Writers

Saturday comes, finally. The house looks like a disaster hit. The kids need shoes, the dog has a vet's appointment, and you swear that the health department might condemn the car. Unlike Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, you can't seem to click your heels hard enough to make it all disappear. You've got a yearning, a deep burning to write, but the clutter, the mess, the hours spent doing things for others (okay, and procrastination) are eating at your heart. What does all of this have to do with creativity? Check the clock, because it's all about time management, and that's what you'll learn in this vital lesson.

What you will learn

• Find out what it takes to be a paid writer
• Understand what a writer's life is really like, and learn how to deal with rejection
• Learn tips for self-editing and productive researching
• Find out how to submit queries and land feature writing assignments for magazines and e-zines
• Develop a working knowledge of writing novels and nonfiction books, what the publishers are looking for, and how to submit writing
• Understand what it means to be a ghostwriter, how to find clients, and how to develop and maintain a strong working relationship with your clients
• Gain knowledge of the business side of writing as it pertains to advances, royalties, letters of commitment and intent, invoices, and releases

How you will benefit

• Become more efficient in your writing time management and learn how to market your products like a pro
• Understand the ins and outs of writing for money and become more confident in your ability to succeed
• Develop a new career path as you successfully learn to make money from your writing

Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 70 books including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "Insider's Guide to San Diego." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here.

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here. You'll learn secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate income with your writing. This class includes all the practical information that so rarely gets taught in writing classes.

In most courses and social groups it's taboo to discuss money, but not here. This course embraces it! Making money is the focus of the lessons. You'll explore a dozen genres that can help you establish a sometime, part-time, or full-time career as a writer. Along the way, you'll learn methods to work faster, suffer less rejection, and bring home more bacon. Fulfilling (and lucrative) writing work is waiting for you!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, this class includes practical information that rarely gets taught in writing classes.

Getting in Gear to Write

Where do great ideas come from? How do best-selling authors get to be that way? What makes writing so very scary, intimidating, delicious, and wickedly wonderful? How are words pulled from nothingness and zapped to the screen or printed page? What makes writing nearly addictive to one group of humanity and yet an overwhelming task for others? Are there born writers? Can anyone learn to write? Why do some people get published and others fail? In this lesson, you'll start learning the answers to those questions and begin the journey to becoming a better writer.

The Writing Life

Have you ever heard that to be a writer, you only need a pen and paper? That's true. Yet, too many writers throw in other requirements—from a year of unfettered time, to a trust fund that will keep them in caviar until the royalties come flooding in. This lesson will delve more deeply into the writing life as it exposes some myths about writing.

Self-Editing and Researching

This lesson will discuss self-editing and researching. Self-editing and researching are both skills you'll want to learn so that you can sell your work. It's highly unlikely that you'll ever sell a first draft, and it's equally as unlikely that you'll sell something you didn't research. This lesson will teach you some simple tricks to make your work shine!

Writing for Magazines

This lesson could be called Magazine Writing 101. If you've written for magazines before, then this lesson will be a refresher or a nudge. If you haven't written for magazines and would like to, then you'll find out indispensable information that will get you going. With this info, you could find your niche and begin making money as a freelancer, possibly while you're working on your novel.

Writing and Selling Other Short Works

The previous lesson focused on writing nonfiction articles for popular magazines. But you won't find every magazine that uses freelance work in your grocery store or big super bookstore. There are magazines, publications, and periodicals with an otherwise large distribution that never even get to these places. Those magazines are always looking for new short works such as short stories, columns, essays, and poetry. This lesson will talk about how you can sell your short works to magazines and newspapers.

Writing Novels

Some writers just love to write long fiction and have a story that is burning to get out. If you fit into this group, or just wonder how one goes about writing a novel, then this lesson should speak to you. You'll find out why some people need to get that book out and what it takes to do so. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a working knowledge of the genre possibilities and what it takes to write a novel. You'll learn how stories are found, how some famous novelists were discovered, how to stay motivated, and what has stopped a few hopeful writers from writing.

Writing Nonfiction Books

Now it's time to give the nonfiction genres a turn. Adults are infatuated with nonfiction and it sells better than any other type of book. There are scads of different genres in nonfiction books. In this lesson, you'll focus on the types of nonfiction writing and how to get a project started, written, and noticed by publishers and agents. Nonfiction books concern real people, places, events, information, or situations. Whether you're addicted to reading nonfiction, or just want to learn all you can about writing, this lesson will give you valuable information that will help you better understand the world of publishing.

Ghostwriting

What does it mean to be a ghost in the literary world? This lesson will give you the scoop on this lucrative business. If you have a talent for emulating peoples' voices, and if you're fast, efficient, and good with people, this might be the field for you. This lesson will talk about how to advertise and find clients, how to select appropriate clients, and how to maintain a good working relationship so that you can produce the best book possible.

The Roles of Editors and Agents

This lesson will talk about the roles of editors and agents. Specifically, you'll find out what each of their jobs includes and why you need to know this information. If you're currently writing a novel or a nonfiction book, gathering a collection of poetry or short stories, or maybe just dabbling in the idea, you'll want to read this lesson carefully. Find out how agents interact with editors at publishing houses and how you can interact with agents and editors.

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

Attend any writing conference or sit with a group of published writers, and you're bound to hear words like: self-publishing, POD, copublishing and e-publishing. This lesson will discuss the options that are often called alternative publishing. If you're serious about joining the world as a writer, you should be aware of these options. They're not for everyone, but the information you'll receive will help you make sound career and financial decisions.

The Business Side of Writing

This lesson is all about the legal side of writing. You'll learn about sample agreements and contracts that will help keep you in good stead as you become the writer of your dreams. The lesson will also talk about royalties, advances, and the scoop on that lovely green stuff that pays the bills.

Time Management and Marketing for All Writers

Saturday comes, finally. The house looks like a disaster hit. The kids need shoes, the dog has a vet's appointment, and you swear that the health department might condemn the car. Unlike Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, you can't seem to click your heels hard enough to make it all disappear. You've got a yearning, a deep burning to write, but the clutter, the mess, the hours spent doing things for others (okay, and procrastination) are eating at your heart. What does all of this have to do with creativity? Check the clock, because it's all about time management, and that's what you'll learn in this vital lesson.

What you will learn

• Find out what it takes to be a paid writer
• Understand what a writer's life is really like, and learn how to deal with rejection
• Learn tips for self-editing and productive researching
• Find out how to submit queries and land feature writing assignments for magazines and e-zines
• Develop a working knowledge of writing novels and nonfiction books, what the publishers are looking for, and how to submit writing
• Understand what it means to be a ghostwriter, how to find clients, and how to develop and maintain a strong working relationship with your clients
• Gain knowledge of the business side of writing as it pertains to advances, royalties, letters of commitment and intent, invoices, and releases

How you will benefit

• Become more efficient in your writing time management and learn how to market your products like a pro
• Understand the ins and outs of writing for money and become more confident in your ability to succeed
• Develop a new career path as you successfully learn to make money from your writing

Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 70 books including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "Insider's Guide to San Diego." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here.

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here. You'll learn secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate income with your writing. This class includes all the practical information that so rarely gets taught in writing classes.

In most courses and social groups it's taboo to discuss money, but not here. This course embraces it! Making money is the focus of the lessons. You'll explore a dozen genres that can help you establish a sometime, part-time, or full-time career as a writer. Along the way, you'll learn methods to work faster, suffer less rejection, and bring home more bacon. Fulfilling (and lucrative) writing work is waiting for you!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, this class includes practical information that rarely gets taught in writing classes.

Getting in Gear to Write

Where do great ideas come from? How do best-selling authors get to be that way? What makes writing so very scary, intimidating, delicious, and wickedly wonderful? How are words pulled from nothingness and zapped to the screen or printed page? What makes writing nearly addictive to one group of humanity and yet an overwhelming task for others? Are there born writers? Can anyone learn to write? Why do some people get published and others fail? In this lesson, you'll start learning the answers to those questions and begin the journey to becoming a better writer.

The Writing Life

Have you ever heard that to be a writer, you only need a pen and paper? That's true. Yet, too many writers throw in other requirements—from a year of unfettered time, to a trust fund that will keep them in caviar until the royalties come flooding in. This lesson will delve more deeply into the writing life as it exposes some myths about writing.

Self-Editing and Researching

This lesson will discuss self-editing and researching. Self-editing and researching are both skills you'll want to learn so that you can sell your work. It's highly unlikely that you'll ever sell a first draft, and it's equally as unlikely that you'll sell something you didn't research. This lesson will teach you some simple tricks to make your work shine!

Writing for Magazines

This lesson could be called Magazine Writing 101. If you've written for magazines before, then this lesson will be a refresher or a nudge. If you haven't written for magazines and would like to, then you'll find out indispensable information that will get you going. With this info, you could find your niche and begin making money as a freelancer, possibly while you're working on your novel.

Writing and Selling Other Short Works

The previous lesson focused on writing nonfiction articles for popular magazines. But you won't find every magazine that uses freelance work in your grocery store or big super bookstore. There are magazines, publications, and periodicals with an otherwise large distribution that never even get to these places. Those magazines are always looking for new short works such as short stories, columns, essays, and poetry. This lesson will talk about how you can sell your short works to magazines and newspapers.

Writing Novels

Some writers just love to write long fiction and have a story that is burning to get out. If you fit into this group, or just wonder how one goes about writing a novel, then this lesson should speak to you. You'll find out why some people need to get that book out and what it takes to do so. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a working knowledge of the genre possibilities and what it takes to write a novel. You'll learn how stories are found, how some famous novelists were discovered, how to stay motivated, and what has stopped a few hopeful writers from writing.

Writing Nonfiction Books

Now it's time to give the nonfiction genres a turn. Adults are infatuated with nonfiction and it sells better than any other type of book. There are scads of different genres in nonfiction books. In this lesson, you'll focus on the types of nonfiction writing and how to get a project started, written, and noticed by publishers and agents. Nonfiction books concern real people, places, events, information, or situations. Whether you're addicted to reading nonfiction, or just want to learn all you can about writing, this lesson will give you valuable information that will help you better understand the world of publishing.

Ghostwriting

What does it mean to be a ghost in the literary world? This lesson will give you the scoop on this lucrative business. If you have a talent for emulating peoples' voices, and if you're fast, efficient, and good with people, this might be the field for you. This lesson will talk about how to advertise and find clients, how to select appropriate clients, and how to maintain a good working relationship so that you can produce the best book possible.

The Roles of Editors and Agents

This lesson will talk about the roles of editors and agents. Specifically, you'll find out what each of their jobs includes and why you need to know this information. If you're currently writing a novel or a nonfiction book, gathering a collection of poetry or short stories, or maybe just dabbling in the idea, you'll want to read this lesson carefully. Find out how agents interact with editors at publishing houses and how you can interact with agents and editors.

Self-Publishing and E-Publishing

Attend any writing conference or sit with a group of published writers, and you're bound to hear words like: self-publishing, POD, copublishing and e-publishing. This lesson will discuss the options that are often called alternative publishing. If you're serious about joining the world as a writer, you should be aware of these options. They're not for everyone, but the information you'll receive will help you make sound career and financial decisions.

The Business Side of Writing

This lesson is all about the legal side of writing. You'll learn about sample agreements and contracts that will help keep you in good stead as you become the writer of your dreams. The lesson will also talk about royalties, advances, and the scoop on that lovely green stuff that pays the bills.

Time Management and Marketing for All Writers

Saturday comes, finally. The house looks like a disaster hit. The kids need shoes, the dog has a vet's appointment, and you swear that the health department might condemn the car. Unlike Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, you can't seem to click your heels hard enough to make it all disappear. You've got a yearning, a deep burning to write, but the clutter, the mess, the hours spent doing things for others (okay, and procrastination) are eating at your heart. What does all of this have to do with creativity? Check the clock, because it's all about time management, and that's what you'll learn in this vital lesson.

What you will learn

• Find out what it takes to be a paid writer
• Understand what a writer's life is really like, and learn how to deal with rejection
• Learn tips for self-editing and productive researching
• Find out how to submit queries and land feature writing assignments for magazines and e-zines
• Develop a working knowledge of writing novels and nonfiction books, what the publishers are looking for, and how to submit writing
• Understand what it means to be a ghostwriter, how to find clients, and how to develop and maintain a strong working relationship with your clients
• Gain knowledge of the business side of writing as it pertains to advances, royalties, letters of commitment and intent, invoices, and releases

How you will benefit

• Become more efficient in your writing time management and learn how to market your products like a pro
• Understand the ins and outs of writing for money and become more confident in your ability to succeed
• Develop a new career path as you successfully learn to make money from your writing

Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 70 books including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "Insider's Guide to San Diego." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

Learn everything you need to know to write a great script, from structure, character creation, and dialogue to marketing and selling your screenplay.

There's never been a better time to start a career as a screenwriter. With technological breakthroughs bringing the cost of making and distributing movies down to almost nothing, there is an ever-increasing demand for great scripts—and for people who can write them. Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will teach you everything you need to know to write a script that sells.

You will learn the fundamentals of stories—why audiences need them, what they expect from them, and what kinds of stories work time after time. You'll discover how to create characters audiences connect with and how to write dialogue that will bring them to life. You will get hands-on experience through a series of short writing assignments that will have you working like a pro from the very beginning of the course. In addition, you'll get an inside look into the business of selling your script and building your career as a writer. When you finish the course, you'll be ready to start writing your own script!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn everything you need to write a great script including structure, character creation, dialogue, and marketing and selling your screenplay. Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will provide everything you need to know to write a script that sells.

Why Write a Script Now?

The first lesson will discuss the increasing opportunities for new screenwriters and all the ways you can use those opportunities to build your own career. You'll find out why it's going to be so much easier to get a movie made in the near future and what that could mean for your career as a writer. Then you'll get an insight into the three basic elements that any script needs to succeed: a great concept, compelling characters, and a strong structure. Finally, you'll examine what your script needs to look like and explore ways to achieve that easily. By the end of this lesson, you'll be ready to dive into this exciting world.

What Is a Story?

In this lesson, you'll explore why people don't just love stories—they need them. You'll search the distant past to discover where stories come from and then rocket back to the present to understand how they work. You'll examine the rules that define Western storytelling and then learn the one simple sentence that will allow you to create compelling stories for your own scripts. Finally, you'll take a close look at the master story that underlies almost every other story ever told and find out how it can help you shape your own stories.

Conflict

In this lesson, you'll look into the very heart and soul of any story—the conflicts that drive it. You'll pull some stories apart to see why they don't tick and then put them back together the right way so that they do. You'll learn about the one central feature that defines every story, and the seven conflicts that define all stories. Finally, you'll examine how you can take a deeply personal internal story and turn it into a movie that audiences will love.

Creating Characters

In this lesson, you'll unlock the secrets of creating great characters. You'll blow up the stale formulas of "building profiles" and focus on the essence of your characters instead of the details. You'll find out how to strip characters down to the central conflict at their core and then explore ways to build them back up into living, breathing human beings. Then, you'll see how even the most brilliantly developed characters can fall flat on the page and how to bring them to life.

Screenplay Structure

In this lesson, you'll blast through all the reams of nonsense that have been written about the mysterious complexities of the three-act structure and reveal how simple and elegant it really can be. You'll analyze what goes into each of the acts and figure out how to use them to tell an unforgettable story. After that, you'll tackle the dreaded task of outlining and learn why it's essential—and how to make it easier and more productive.

Beginnings

In this lesson, you'll take a hard look at how to start your stories. You'll examine the subtle elements necessary to get your script off to the right start and explore the ways you can accidentally send your audience off-course. Then you'll tear apart the opening of some great movies to see what makes them tick. Finally, you'll tackle the one quality your first pages need more than any other.

Middles

In this lesson, you'll tackle the hardest part of any script—the second act. You'll explore the reasons why it's so much more difficult to plot than the first and third acts and then zero in on the one sure way to make sure you'll always have enough story to fill the great middle of your screenplay. Through close examination of one brilliantly structured script, you'll discover the essential element that keeps stories alive through act two. Finally, you'll take a hard look at act two's crucial structural component, and how you can make it work for you.

The End

In this lesson, you'll find out why some scripts have endings you'll never forget—and some have finales you'd rather not remember. You'll explore the mysterious, contradictory nature of the great ending and discover how those last few scenes can completely transform everything that's come before. Then, you'll tear apart a few finales to understand why some soar and others sink. Finally, you'll take a hard look at that most difficult ending to pull off, the big twist.

The Scene

In this lesson, you're going to take those first steps from outline to script. You're going to see the difference between a scene that exists as a paragraph in an outline and one that comes vividly to life on the page. You'll dive into the process of creating exciting scenes that pop from the first line and how to keep them going until the end. Finally, you'll learn the one trick that will always turn a flat scene into one that sings.

Dialogue or No Dialogue

In this lesson, you're going to learn what makes film dialogue special, and how you can use it to create and develop your characters. You'll get a tour through various types of dialogue with stops to explain the particular challenges each one poses and the rewards each brings. You'll find out why screenwriting is the one place where it's never good to be on the money, and how to get off it. Finally, you'll get a map to tell you how to avoid the biggest trap in writing dialogue.

The Rewrite

In this lesson, you'll celebrate your finished first draft—and then leap into rewriting it from top to bottom. You'll explore what the real purpose of the first draft is and how to get the most out of it. You'll find the joy of the accidental discovery and investigate how to use that to make the script better than you ever consciously knew it could be. You'll get a demonstration of how this works in practice. Finally, you'll receive a step-by-step roadmap for approaching your rewrite.

Your Script and You

In this lesson, you'll take your finished script and turn it into a movie. You'll explore the ways you can get your script to the movers and shakers in Hollywood—and examine which movers and shakers you should target. You'll weigh the merits of agents and managers, contests and script analysts who promise to get your screenplay to all the top executives. Then, you'll take a clear look at an alternative way to get your script made into a film that reflects your vision. Finally, the lesson will talk about ways to encourage and manage your growth as a writer while you work toward your big break.

What you will learn

• Learn the basic elements of compelling storytelling and how to use them in your own writing
• Discover how to transform a rough idea into a finished and marketable screenplay
• Examine how good screenplays use character, conflict, and dialogue to connect with an audience
• Learn how to turn your writing talent into a career - with an overview of the industry and its key players

How you will benefit

• Gain confidence in your ability to write compelling stories and share your ideas with an audience
• Learn the important aspects that make a screenplay sell, and be on your way to a successful, fulfilling career
• Discover how to turn beats from a simple and rough outline into vivid, exciting drama

William Rabkin is a veteran writer/producer whose 300-plus hours of produced television include Monk, Psych, and The Glades. He has served as "showrunner" on Diagnosis Murder, Martial Law, and She-Wolf of London, and has written a dozen network pilots. He is the co-creator and co-editor of Amazon Publishing's bestselling Dead Man series of action horror novels, and has also published five additional novels and two books on writing, Successful Television Writing (2003, with Lee Goldberg) and Writing the Pilot (2011). As a teacher, he has lectured and led workshops for writers, producers, and executives in Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and led traditional classes at UCLA Extension and Stephens College. He is currently an adjunct professor of screenwriting in the University of California, Riverside-Palm Desert's low-residency MFA program.

Learn everything you need to know to write a great script, from structure, character creation, and dialogue to marketing and selling your screenplay.

There's never been a better time to start a career as a screenwriter. With technological breakthroughs bringing the cost of making and distributing movies down to almost nothing, there is an ever-increasing demand for great scripts—and for people who can write them. Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will teach you everything you need to know to write a script that sells.

You will learn the fundamentals of stories—why audiences need them, what they expect from them, and what kinds of stories work time after time. You'll discover how to create characters audiences connect with and how to write dialogue that will bring them to life. You will get hands-on experience through a series of short writing assignments that will have you working like a pro from the very beginning of the course. In addition, you'll get an inside look into the business of selling your script and building your career as a writer. When you finish the course, you'll be ready to start writing your own script!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn everything you need to write a great script including structure, character creation, dialogue, and marketing and selling your screenplay. Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will provide everything you need to know to write a script that sells.

Why Write a Script Now?

The first lesson will discuss the increasing opportunities for new screenwriters and all the ways you can use those opportunities to build your own career. You'll find out why it's going to be so much easier to get a movie made in the near future and what that could mean for your career as a writer. Then you'll get an insight into the three basic elements that any script needs to succeed: a great concept, compelling characters, and a strong structure. Finally, you'll examine what your script needs to look like and explore ways to achieve that easily. By the end of this lesson, you'll be ready to dive into this exciting world.

What Is a Story?

In this lesson, you'll explore why people don't just love stories—they need them. You'll search the distant past to discover where stories come from and then rocket back to the present to understand how they work. You'll examine the rules that define Western storytelling and then learn the one simple sentence that will allow you to create compelling stories for your own scripts. Finally, you'll take a close look at the master story that underlies almost every other story ever told and find out how it can help you shape your own stories.

Conflict

In this lesson, you'll look into the very heart and soul of any story—the conflicts that drive it. You'll pull some stories apart to see why they don't tick and then put them back together the right way so that they do. You'll learn about the one central feature that defines every story, and the seven conflicts that define all stories. Finally, you'll examine how you can take a deeply personal internal story and turn it into a movie that audiences will love.

Creating Characters

In this lesson, you'll unlock the secrets of creating great characters. You'll blow up the stale formulas of "building profiles" and focus on the essence of your characters instead of the details. You'll find out how to strip characters down to the central conflict at their core and then explore ways to build them back up into living, breathing human beings. Then, you'll see how even the most brilliantly developed characters can fall flat on the page and how to bring them to life.

Screenplay Structure

In this lesson, you'll blast through all the reams of nonsense that have been written about the mysterious complexities of the three-act structure and reveal how simple and elegant it really can be. You'll analyze what goes into each of the acts and figure out how to use them to tell an unforgettable story. After that, you'll tackle the dreaded task of outlining and learn why it's essential—and how to make it easier and more productive.

Beginnings

In this lesson, you'll take a hard look at how to start your stories. You'll examine the subtle elements necessary to get your script off to the right start and explore the ways you can accidentally send your audience off-course. Then you'll tear apart the opening of some great movies to see what makes them tick. Finally, you'll tackle the one quality your first pages need more than any other.

Middles

In this lesson, you'll tackle the hardest part of any script—the second act. You'll explore the reasons why it's so much more difficult to plot than the first and third acts and then zero in on the one sure way to make sure you'll always have enough story to fill the great middle of your screenplay. Through close examination of one brilliantly structured script, you'll discover the essential element that keeps stories alive through act two. Finally, you'll take a hard look at act two's crucial structural component, and how you can make it work for you.

The End

In this lesson, you'll find out why some scripts have endings you'll never forget—and some have finales you'd rather not remember. You'll explore the mysterious, contradictory nature of the great ending and discover how those last few scenes can completely transform everything that's come before. Then, you'll tear apart a few finales to understand why some soar and others sink. Finally, you'll take a hard look at that most difficult ending to pull off, the big twist.

The Scene

In this lesson, you're going to take those first steps from outline to script. You're going to see the difference between a scene that exists as a paragraph in an outline and one that comes vividly to life on the page. You'll dive into the process of creating exciting scenes that pop from the first line and how to keep them going until the end. Finally, you'll learn the one trick that will always turn a flat scene into one that sings.

Dialogue or No Dialogue

In this lesson, you're going to learn what makes film dialogue special, and how you can use it to create and develop your characters. You'll get a tour through various types of dialogue with stops to explain the particular challenges each one poses and the rewards each brings. You'll find out why screenwriting is the one place where it's never good to be on the money, and how to get off it. Finally, you'll get a map to tell you how to avoid the biggest trap in writing dialogue.

The Rewrite

In this lesson, you'll celebrate your finished first draft—and then leap into rewriting it from top to bottom. You'll explore what the real purpose of the first draft is and how to get the most out of it. You'll find the joy of the accidental discovery and investigate how to use that to make the script better than you ever consciously knew it could be. You'll get a demonstration of how this works in practice. Finally, you'll receive a step-by-step roadmap for approaching your rewrite.

Your Script and You

In this lesson, you'll take your finished script and turn it into a movie. You'll explore the ways you can get your script to the movers and shakers in Hollywood—and examine which movers and shakers you should target. You'll weigh the merits of agents and managers, contests and script analysts who promise to get your screenplay to all the top executives. Then, you'll take a clear look at an alternative way to get your script made into a film that reflects your vision. Finally, the lesson will talk about ways to encourage and manage your growth as a writer while you work toward your big break.

What you will learn

• Learn the basic elements of compelling storytelling and how to use them in your own writing
• Discover how to transform a rough idea into a finished and marketable screenplay
• Examine how good screenplays use character, conflict, and dialogue to connect with an audience
• Learn how to turn your writing talent into a career - with an overview of the industry and its key players

How you will benefit

• Gain confidence in your ability to write compelling stories and share your ideas with an audience
• Learn the important aspects that make a screenplay sell, and be on your way to a successful, fulfilling career
• Discover how to turn beats from a simple and rough outline into vivid, exciting drama

William Rabkin is a veteran writer/producer whose 300-plus hours of produced television include Monk, Psych, and The Glades. He has served as "showrunner" on Diagnosis Murder, Martial Law, and She-Wolf of London, and has written a dozen network pilots. He is the co-creator and co-editor of Amazon Publishing's bestselling Dead Man series of action horror novels, and has also published five additional novels and two books on writing, Successful Television Writing (2003, with Lee Goldberg) and Writing the Pilot (2011). As a teacher, he has lectured and led workshops for writers, producers, and executives in Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and led traditional classes at UCLA Extension and Stephens College. He is currently an adjunct professor of screenwriting in the University of California, Riverside-Palm Desert's low-residency MFA program.

Learn everything you need to know to write a great script, from structure, character creation, and dialogue to marketing and selling your screenplay.

There's never been a better time to start a career as a screenwriter. With technological breakthroughs bringing the cost of making and distributing movies down to almost nothing, there is an ever-increasing demand for great scripts—and for people who can write them. Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will teach you everything you need to know to write a script that sells.

You will learn the fundamentals of stories—why audiences need them, what they expect from them, and what kinds of stories work time after time. You'll discover how to create characters audiences connect with and how to write dialogue that will bring them to life. You will get hands-on experience through a series of short writing assignments that will have you working like a pro from the very beginning of the course. In addition, you'll get an inside look into the business of selling your script and building your career as a writer. When you finish the course, you'll be ready to start writing your own script!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn everything you need to write a great script including structure, character creation, dialogue, and marketing and selling your screenplay. Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will provide everything you need to know to write a script that sells.

Why Write a Script Now?

The first lesson will discuss the increasing opportunities for new screenwriters and all the ways you can use those opportunities to build your own career. You'll find out why it's going to be so much easier to get a movie made in the near future and what that could mean for your career as a writer. Then you'll get an insight into the three basic elements that any script needs to succeed: a great concept, compelling characters, and a strong structure. Finally, you'll examine what your script needs to look like and explore ways to achieve that easily. By the end of this lesson, you'll be ready to dive into this exciting world.

What Is a Story?

In this lesson, you'll explore why people don't just love stories—they need them. You'll search the distant past to discover where stories come from and then rocket back to the present to understand how they work. You'll examine the rules that define Western storytelling and then learn the one simple sentence that will allow you to create compelling stories for your own scripts. Finally, you'll take a close look at the master story that underlies almost every other story ever told and find out how it can help you shape your own stories.

Conflict

In this lesson, you'll look into the very heart and soul of any story—the conflicts that drive it. You'll pull some stories apart to see why they don't tick and then put them back together the right way so that they do. You'll learn about the one central feature that defines every story, and the seven conflicts that define all stories. Finally, you'll examine how you can take a deeply personal internal story and turn it into a movie that audiences will love.

Creating Characters

In this lesson, you'll unlock the secrets of creating great characters. You'll blow up the stale formulas of "building profiles" and focus on the essence of your characters instead of the details. You'll find out how to strip characters down to the central conflict at their core and then explore ways to build them back up into living, breathing human beings. Then, you'll see how even the most brilliantly developed characters can fall flat on the page and how to bring them to life.

Screenplay Structure

In this lesson, you'll blast through all the reams of nonsense that have been written about the mysterious complexities of the three-act structure and reveal how simple and elegant it really can be. You'll analyze what goes into each of the acts and figure out how to use them to tell an unforgettable story. After that, you'll tackle the dreaded task of outlining and learn why it's essential—and how to make it easier and more productive.

Beginnings

In this lesson, you'll take a hard look at how to start your stories. You'll examine the subtle elements necessary to get your script off to the right start and explore the ways you can accidentally send your audience off-course. Then you'll tear apart the opening of some great movies to see what makes them tick. Finally, you'll tackle the one quality your first pages need more than any other.

Middles

In this lesson, you'll tackle the hardest part of any script—the second act. You'll explore the reasons why it's so much more difficult to plot than the first and third acts and then zero in on the one sure way to make sure you'll always have enough story to fill the great middle of your screenplay. Through close examination of one brilliantly structured script, you'll discover the essential element that keeps stories alive through act two. Finally, you'll take a hard look at act two's crucial structural component, and how you can make it work for you.

The End

In this lesson, you'll find out why some scripts have endings you'll never forget—and some have finales you'd rather not remember. You'll explore the mysterious, contradictory nature of the great ending and discover how those last few scenes can completely transform everything that's come before. Then, you'll tear apart a few finales to understand why some soar and others sink. Finally, you'll take a hard look at that most difficult ending to pull off, the big twist.

The Scene

In this lesson, you're going to take those first steps from outline to script. You're going to see the difference between a scene that exists as a paragraph in an outline and one that comes vividly to life on the page. You'll dive into the process of creating exciting scenes that pop from the first line and how to keep them going until the end. Finally, you'll learn the one trick that will always turn a flat scene into one that sings.

Dialogue or No Dialogue

In this lesson, you're going to learn what makes film dialogue special, and how you can use it to create and develop your characters. You'll get a tour through various types of dialogue with stops to explain the particular challenges each one poses and the rewards each brings. You'll find out why screenwriting is the one place where it's never good to be on the money, and how to get off it. Finally, you'll get a map to tell you how to avoid the biggest trap in writing dialogue.

The Rewrite

In this lesson, you'll celebrate your finished first draft—and then leap into rewriting it from top to bottom. You'll explore what the real purpose of the first draft is and how to get the most out of it. You'll find the joy of the accidental discovery and investigate how to use that to make the script better than you ever consciously knew it could be. You'll get a demonstration of how this works in practice. Finally, you'll receive a step-by-step roadmap for approaching your rewrite.

Your Script and You

In this lesson, you'll take your finished script and turn it into a movie. You'll explore the ways you can get your script to the movers and shakers in Hollywood—and examine which movers and shakers you should target. You'll weigh the merits of agents and managers, contests and script analysts who promise to get your screenplay to all the top executives. Then, you'll take a clear look at an alternative way to get your script made into a film that reflects your vision. Finally, the lesson will talk about ways to encourage and manage your growth as a writer while you work toward your big break.

What you will learn

• Learn the basic elements of compelling storytelling and how to use them in your own writing
• Discover how to transform a rough idea into a finished and marketable screenplay
• Examine how good screenplays use character, conflict, and dialogue to connect with an audience
• Learn how to turn your writing talent into a career - with an overview of the industry and its key players

How you will benefit

• Gain confidence in your ability to write compelling stories and share your ideas with an audience
• Learn the important aspects that make a screenplay sell, and be on your way to a successful, fulfilling career
• Discover how to turn beats from a simple and rough outline into vivid, exciting drama

William Rabkin is a veteran writer/producer whose 300-plus hours of produced television include Monk, Psych, and The Glades. He has served as "showrunner" on Diagnosis Murder, Martial Law, and She-Wolf of London, and has written a dozen network pilots. He is the co-creator and co-editor of Amazon Publishing's bestselling Dead Man series of action horror novels, and has also published five additional novels and two books on writing, Successful Television Writing (2003, with Lee Goldberg) and Writing the Pilot (2011). As a teacher, he has lectured and led workshops for writers, producers, and executives in Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and led traditional classes at UCLA Extension and Stephens College. He is currently an adjunct professor of screenwriting in the University of California, Riverside-Palm Desert's low-residency MFA program.

Learn everything you need to know to write a great script, from structure, character creation, and dialogue to marketing and selling your screenplay.

There's never been a better time to start a career as a screenwriter. With technological breakthroughs bringing the cost of making and distributing movies down to almost nothing, there is an ever-increasing demand for great scripts—and for people who can write them. Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will teach you everything you need to know to write a script that sells.

You will learn the fundamentals of stories—why audiences need them, what they expect from them, and what kinds of stories work time after time. You'll discover how to create characters audiences connect with and how to write dialogue that will bring them to life. You will get hands-on experience through a series of short writing assignments that will have you working like a pro from the very beginning of the course. In addition, you'll get an inside look into the business of selling your script and building your career as a writer. When you finish the course, you'll be ready to start writing your own script!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn everything you need to write a great script including structure, character creation, dialogue, and marketing and selling your screenplay. Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will provide everything you need to know to write a script that sells.

Why Write a Script Now?

The first lesson will discuss the increasing opportunities for new screenwriters and all the ways you can use those opportunities to build your own career. You'll find out why it's going to be so much easier to get a movie made in the near future and what that could mean for your career as a writer. Then you'll get an insight into the three basic elements that any script needs to succeed: a great concept, compelling characters, and a strong structure. Finally, you'll examine what your script needs to look like and explore ways to achieve that easily. By the end of this lesson, you'll be ready to dive into this exciting world.

What Is a Story?

In this lesson, you'll explore why people don't just love stories—they need them. You'll search the distant past to discover where stories come from and then rocket back to the present to understand how they work. You'll examine the rules that define Western storytelling and then learn the one simple sentence that will allow you to create compelling stories for your own scripts. Finally, you'll take a close look at the master story that underlies almost every other story ever told and find out how it can help you shape your own stories.

Conflict

In this lesson, you'll look into the very heart and soul of any story—the conflicts that drive it. You'll pull some stories apart to see why they don't tick and then put them back together the right way so that they do. You'll learn about the one central feature that defines every story, and the seven conflicts that define all stories. Finally, you'll examine how you can take a deeply personal internal story and turn it into a movie that audiences will love.

Creating Characters

In this lesson, you'll unlock the secrets of creating great characters. You'll blow up the stale formulas of "building profiles" and focus on the essence of your characters instead of the details. You'll find out how to strip characters down to the central conflict at their core and then explore ways to build them back up into living, breathing human beings. Then, you'll see how even the most brilliantly developed characters can fall flat on the page and how to bring them to life.

Screenplay Structure

In this lesson, you'll blast through all the reams of nonsense that have been written about the mysterious complexities of the three-act structure and reveal how simple and elegant it really can be. You'll analyze what goes into each of the acts and figure out how to use them to tell an unforgettable story. After that, you'll tackle the dreaded task of outlining and learn why it's essential—and how to make it easier and more productive.

Beginnings

In this lesson, you'll take a hard look at how to start your stories. You'll examine the subtle elements necessary to get your script off to the right start and explore the ways you can accidentally send your audience off-course. Then you'll tear apart the opening of some great movies to see what makes them tick. Finally, you'll tackle the one quality your first pages need more than any other.

Middles

In this lesson, you'll tackle the hardest part of any script—the second act. You'll explore the reasons why it's so much more difficult to plot than the first and third acts and then zero in on the one sure way to make sure you'll always have enough story to fill the great middle of your screenplay. Through close examination of one brilliantly structured script, you'll discover the essential element that keeps stories alive through act two. Finally, you'll take a hard look at act two's crucial structural component, and how you can make it work for you.

The End

In this lesson, you'll find out why some scripts have endings you'll never forget—and some have finales you'd rather not remember. You'll explore the mysterious, contradictory nature of the great ending and discover how those last few scenes can completely transform everything that's come before. Then, you'll tear apart a few finales to understand why some soar and others sink. Finally, you'll take a hard look at that most difficult ending to pull off, the big twist.

The Scene

In this lesson, you're going to take those first steps from outline to script. You're going to see the difference between a scene that exists as a paragraph in an outline and one that comes vividly to life on the page. You'll dive into the process of creating exciting scenes that pop from the first line and how to keep them going until the end. Finally, you'll learn the one trick that will always turn a flat scene into one that sings.

Dialogue or No Dialogue

In this lesson, you're going to learn what makes film dialogue special, and how you can use it to create and develop your characters. You'll get a tour through various types of dialogue with stops to explain the particular challenges each one poses and the rewards each brings. You'll find out why screenwriting is the one place where it's never good to be on the money, and how to get off it. Finally, you'll get a map to tell you how to avoid the biggest trap in writing dialogue.

The Rewrite

In this lesson, you'll celebrate your finished first draft—and then leap into rewriting it from top to bottom. You'll explore what the real purpose of the first draft is and how to get the most out of it. You'll find the joy of the accidental discovery and investigate how to use that to make the script better than you ever consciously knew it could be. You'll get a demonstration of how this works in practice. Finally, you'll receive a step-by-step roadmap for approaching your rewrite.

Your Script and You

In this lesson, you'll take your finished script and turn it into a movie. You'll explore the ways you can get your script to the movers and shakers in Hollywood—and examine which movers and shakers you should target. You'll weigh the merits of agents and managers, contests and script analysts who promise to get your screenplay to all the top executives. Then, you'll take a clear look at an alternative way to get your script made into a film that reflects your vision. Finally, the lesson will talk about ways to encourage and manage your growth as a writer while you work toward your big break.

What you will learn

• Learn the basic elements of compelling storytelling and how to use them in your own writing
• Discover how to transform a rough idea into a finished and marketable screenplay
• Examine how good screenplays use character, conflict, and dialogue to connect with an audience
• Learn how to turn your writing talent into a career - with an overview of the industry and its key players

How you will benefit

• Gain confidence in your ability to write compelling stories and share your ideas with an audience
• Learn the important aspects that make a screenplay sell, and be on your way to a successful, fulfilling career
• Discover how to turn beats from a simple and rough outline into vivid, exciting drama

William Rabkin is a veteran writer/producer whose 300-plus hours of produced television include Monk, Psych, and The Glades. He has served as "showrunner" on Diagnosis Murder, Martial Law, and She-Wolf of London, and has written a dozen network pilots. He is the co-creator and co-editor of Amazon Publishing's bestselling Dead Man series of action horror novels, and has also published five additional novels and two books on writing, Successful Television Writing (2003, with Lee Goldberg) and Writing the Pilot (2011). As a teacher, he has lectured and led workshops for writers, producers, and executives in Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and led traditional classes at UCLA Extension and Stephens College. He is currently an adjunct professor of screenwriting in the University of California, Riverside-Palm Desert's low-residency MFA program.

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of legal writing, including reasoning and analysis.

Learn to develop effective and accurate legal communications through the use of critical thinking and legal authorities to support conclusions.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of legal writing, including reasoning and analysis.

1. Importance of legal writing in the legal field
2. Goal of legal writing
3. Drafting documents in legal writing
4. Constructing effective sentences in legal writing
   1. Precision and simplicity
   2. Sound structure
   3. Using active voice
5. Using defined terms in legal writing
6. Word usage in legal writing
7. Redundancies
8. Commonly misused words in legal writing
9. Reviewing legal documents
10. Using FIRAC in legal analysis

What you will learn

• Drafting written documents for legal purposes
• Construction of effective sentences
• Use of defined legal terms
• Word usage in legal writing

How you will benefit

• Anyone entering law school will benefit from the knowledge and principles provided by this course.

Self-Study

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of legal writing, including reasoning and analysis.

Learn to develop effective and accurate legal communications through the use of critical thinking and legal authorities to support conclusions.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of legal writing, including reasoning and analysis.

1. Importance of legal writing in the legal field
2. Goal of legal writing
3. Drafting documents in legal writing
4. Constructing effective sentences in legal writing
   1. Precision and simplicity
   2. Sound structure
   3. Using active voice
5. Using defined terms in legal writing
6. Word usage in legal writing
7. Redundancies
8. Commonly misused words in legal writing
9. Reviewing legal documents
10. Using FIRAC in legal analysis

What you will learn

• Drafting written documents for legal purposes
• Construction of effective sentences
• Use of defined legal terms
• Word usage in legal writing

How you will benefit

• Anyone entering law school will benefit from the knowledge and principles provided by this course.

Self-Study

Using vivid examples from bestselling mystery novels, this course will teach you the techniques you need to become a successful author.

You may be surprised to discover that many, if not all, of the books you have read recently are mysteries. From Dan Brown to Dennis Lehane, mysteries are hot items on today's best-seller lists. This course is designed to teach you the techniques you need to know if you want to become a best-selling mystery author.

The course begins by introducing you to the four types of stories and explains how they relate to mysteries. You will discover the three-act story structure and show you how to propel the action forward to a climax, followed by a release of tension as your readers experience a great finish. You will discover the between story and plot and get a chance to experiment with viewpoints to see which one works best with your mystery. This course will allow you to write a complete scene and learn the internal structure that makes every scene feel right. You will discover special techniques that apply to mysteries, including crime scene description, MacGuffins, and the use of red herrings to misdirect your readers and create suspense. Following each lesson, you will get to practice on your own story.

This information-packed online course combines the best advice of many writing professionals. Follow the guidelines taught in this course, and you will be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Discover techniques needed to become a successful mystery writer. This course combines the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experience as a mystery writer, to have you on your way to writing a best-selling mystery.

The Four Story Types

You're probably wondering if you can really write a novel or screenplay. You may have already started one—maybe even several—and then run out of steam. In this first lesson, you'll begin finding out the secret that guarantees success. It's the secret of knowing where you're going before you start. You'll also take some time to learn what makes a mystery great, and to explore a number of real-world examples.

Plot vs. Story

Did you know that there's a big difference between story and plot? Amazingly, even many professional authors are confused about this. In this lesson, you'll learn that plot is physical while story is emotional. Balancing the two is one of the keys to writing fiction that will satisfy your audience.

Passion, Theme, Character, and Premise

This lesson is about the dramatic elements at the heart of every story: passion, theme, character, and premise. Your passion is what drives you to tell your story and the theme is the underlying message it carries. To convey your theme, you create characters that represent it—either positively or negatively. Put these elements together and you've got your premise.

Character

Character is what story is all about. Without a character—and a change taking place within them—there can be no story. In this lesson, you'll discover why the best characters are flawed. You'll explore the main character—the protagonist—and the opposing force of the antagonist. After that, you'll look at some tricks and techniques for creating characters that are memorable.

The Checkpoints of Mystery Story Structuring

In this lesson, you'll explore the structure underlying almost every great story. That's right: Nearly every successful story has the same structure—a structure that virtually guarantees success! Like Sherlock Holmes, you'll examine each element of it under your writer's magnifying glass. Then, you'll test your theories against some well-known mysteries. By the end, you'll have solved the mystery of story structure.

Act 1: Hook, Backstory, and Trigger

This is the first of three lessons in which you'll construct your story outline, act-by-act. In Act 1, you'll hook your readers. Then you'll fill them in with some character history called backstory. Finally, you'll exit Act 1 with a bang by triggering a traumatic event in the life of your protagonist.

Act 2: Crisis, Struggle, and Epiphany

In this lesson, you'll work on Act 2 of your mystery. If Act 1 ended with a bang, Act 2 starts with a whimper. Your protagonist begins in crisis—an emotional state brought on by their flaw. Because of that flaw, your protagonist will struggle throughout the act as the antagonist deals setback after setback. Fortunately, at the conclusion of Act 2, your protagonist finally figures out the source of all this emotional distress and overcomes it.

Act 3: Plan, Climax, and Ending

The epiphany that ended Act 2 has prepared your protagonist for triumph in Act 3. So it's time to devise a plan. The result will be a final confrontation with the antagonist. This lesson looks at the best way to defeat the antagonist—it's not what you might guess. Then, with that dramatic climax behind you, you'll be ready to tie up all your story's loose threads in the ending.

The Story Outline

Once you've become comfortable with story structure, it's time to put it all together. You'll move from story idea, to story outline, to developing scenes. From these little seeds, you'll grow an entire forest.

Scene and Sequel

This lesson will unravel the internal structure of every piece of fiction you've ever read. This is different from story structure and it's something you probably never even knew existed. It's called scene and sequel. After this lesson, you'll never forget it.

Viewpoint

One of the most important choices an author makes is viewpoint. It affects every aspect of story—from theme, to pacing, to suspense. In this lesson, you'll look at the three most common viewpoints: third person omniscient, third person limited, and first person. You'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each by considering examples from real-word mystery novels.

The Mystery

Much of the content that's been talked about in this course applies to all types of fiction, not just mysteries. So, in learning how to write a great mystery, you've also been learning to be a better writer in all genres. In this final lesson, you'll examine some elements unique to mystery writing. Then, the lesson will wrap up with some ideas about how to follow the roadmap you've created and actually reach your goal of a finished novel or screenplay.

What you will learn

• Discover the four different story types and explore how they combine to create some great mysteries
• Learn the difference between plot and story
• Explore the relationship between passion, theme, character, and premise
• Learn to create your protagonist, antagonist, and other characters, and invent their flaws
• Master the nine checkpoints around which you will construct your mystery
• Apply Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3 checkpoints as you create your hook, design your crisis, and polish your plan, climax, and ending
• Learn an easy way to expand your mystery's structure into a story outline
• Explore the way scene and sequel intertwine to create your mystery
• Select an viewpoint that will work best and gain an understanding of its benefits and limitations
• Learn to incorporate suspense, misdirection, and deductive reasoning as you finish structuring your mystery

How you will benefit

• Gain the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experience as a mystery writer
• Be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own

Steve Alcorn is the CEO of Alcorn McBride Inc., a leading theme park design company that creates products used in all the world's theme parks. He is a proponent of advance planning and has experience with wills, living trusts, advance directives, and power of attorney. His experience also includes arranging for in-home care, nursing home selection, retirement community evaluation, memory care facility selection, and the analysis of Medicare and other insurance paperwork. He is a counselor to his employees, possessing insight into the varieties of relationships, problems, opportunities, and legal issues that can arise in the field of eldercare.

Steve is the published author of a wide range of fiction and nonfiction works. During the past decade, he has helped more than 30,000 students turn their story ideas into reality, with many of his students publishing novels they developed in his classes. His books include A Matter of Justice, Everything In Its Path, Molly Builds a Theme Park, How to Fix Your Novel, Theme Park Design, and Write Your Life Story.

Using vivid examples from bestselling mystery novels, this course will teach you the techniques you need to become a successful author.

You may be surprised to discover that many, if not all, of the books you have read recently are mysteries. From Dan Brown to Dennis Lehane, mysteries are hot items on today's best-seller lists. This course is designed to teach you the techniques you need to know if you want to become a best-selling mystery author.

The course begins by introducing you to the four types of stories and explains how they relate to mysteries. You will discover the three-act story structure and show you how to propel the action forward to a climax, followed by a release of tension as your readers experience a great finish. You will discover the between story and plot and get a chance to experiment with viewpoints to see which one works best with your mystery. This course will allow you to write a complete scene and learn the internal structure that makes every scene feel right. You will discover special techniques that apply to mysteries, including crime scene description, MacGuffins, and the use of red herrings to misdirect your readers and create suspense. Following each lesson, you will get to practice on your own story.

This information-packed online course combines the best advice of many writing professionals. Follow the guidelines taught in this course, and you will be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Discover techniques needed to become a successful mystery writer. This course combines the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experience as a mystery writer, to have you on your way to writing a best-selling mystery.

The Four Story Types

You're probably wondering if you can really write a novel or screenplay. You may have already started one—maybe even several—and then run out of steam. In this first lesson, you'll begin finding out the secret that guarantees success. It's the secret of knowing where you're going before you start. You'll also take some time to learn what makes a mystery great, and to explore a number of real-world examples.

Plot vs. Story

Did you know that there's a big difference between story and plot? Amazingly, even many professional authors are confused about this. In this lesson, you'll learn that plot is physical while story is emotional. Balancing the two is one of the keys to writing fiction that will satisfy your audience.

Passion, Theme, Character, and Premise

This lesson is about the dramatic elements at the heart of every story: passion, theme, character, and premise. Your passion is what drives you to tell your story and the theme is the underlying message it carries. To convey your theme, you create characters that represent it—either positively or negatively. Put these elements together and you've got your premise.

Character

Character is what story is all about. Without a character—and a change taking place within them—there can be no story. In this lesson, you'll discover why the best characters are flawed. You'll explore the main character—the protagonist—and the opposing force of the antagonist. After that, you'll look at some tricks and techniques for creating characters that are memorable.

The Checkpoints of Mystery Story Structuring

In this lesson, you'll explore the structure underlying almost every great story. That's right: Nearly every successful story has the same structure—a structure that virtually guarantees success! Like Sherlock Holmes, you'll examine each element of it under your writer's magnifying glass. Then, you'll test your theories against some well-known mysteries. By the end, you'll have solved the mystery of story structure.

Act 1: Hook, Backstory, and Trigger

This is the first of three lessons in which you'll construct your story outline, act-by-act. In Act 1, you'll hook your readers. Then you'll fill them in with some character history called backstory. Finally, you'll exit Act 1 with a bang by triggering a traumatic event in the life of your protagonist.

Act 2: Crisis, Struggle, and Epiphany

In this lesson, you'll work on Act 2 of your mystery. If Act 1 ended with a bang, Act 2 starts with a whimper. Your protagonist begins in crisis—an emotional state brought on by their flaw. Because of that flaw, your protagonist will struggle throughout the act as the antagonist deals setback after setback. Fortunately, at the conclusion of Act 2, your protagonist finally figures out the source of all this emotional distress and overcomes it.

Act 3: Plan, Climax, and Ending

The epiphany that ended Act 2 has prepared your protagonist for triumph in Act 3. So it's time to devise a plan. The result will be a final confrontation with the antagonist. This lesson looks at the best way to defeat the antagonist—it's not what you might guess. Then, with that dramatic climax behind you, you'll be ready to tie up all your story's loose threads in the ending.

The Story Outline

Once you've become comfortable with story structure, it's time to put it all together. You'll move from story idea, to story outline, to developing scenes. From these little seeds, you'll grow an entire forest.

Scene and Sequel

This lesson will unravel the internal structure of every piece of fiction you've ever read. This is different from story structure and it's something you probably never even knew existed. It's called scene and sequel. After this lesson, you'll never forget it.

Viewpoint

One of the most important choices an author makes is viewpoint. It affects every aspect of story—from theme, to pacing, to suspense. In this lesson, you'll look at the three most common viewpoints: third person omniscient, third person limited, and first person. You'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each by considering examples from real-word mystery novels.

The Mystery

Much of the content that's been talked about in this course applies to all types of fiction, not just mysteries. So, in learning how to write a great mystery, you've also been learning to be a better writer in all genres. In this final lesson, you'll examine some elements unique to mystery writing. Then, the lesson will wrap up with some ideas about how to follow the roadmap you've created and actually reach your goal of a finished novel or screenplay.

What you will learn

• Discover the four different story types and explore how they combine to create some great mysteries
• Learn the difference between plot and story
• Explore the relationship between passion, theme, character, and premise
• Learn to create your protagonist, antagonist, and other characters, and invent their flaws
• Master the nine checkpoints around which you will construct your mystery
• Apply Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3 checkpoints as you create your hook, design your crisis, and polish your plan, climax, and ending
• Learn an easy way to expand your mystery's structure into a story outline
• Explore the way scene and sequel intertwine to create your mystery
• Select an viewpoint that will work best and gain an understanding of its benefits and limitations
• Learn to incorporate suspense, misdirection, and deductive reasoning as you finish structuring your mystery

How you will benefit

• Gain the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experience as a mystery writer
• Be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own

Steve Alcorn is the CEO of Alcorn McBride Inc., a leading theme park design company that creates products used in all the world's theme parks. He is a proponent of advance planning and has experience with wills, living trusts, advance directives, and power of attorney. His experience also includes arranging for in-home care, nursing home selection, retirement community evaluation, memory care facility selection, and the analysis of Medicare and other insurance paperwork. He is a counselor to his employees, possessing insight into the varieties of relationships, problems, opportunities, and legal issues that can arise in the field of eldercare.

Steve is the published author of a wide range of fiction and nonfiction works. During the past decade, he has helped more than 30,000 students turn their story ideas into reality, with many of his students publishing novels they developed in his classes. His books include A Matter of Justice, Everything In Its Path, Molly Builds a Theme Park, How to Fix Your Novel, Theme Park Design, and Write Your Life Story.

Using vivid examples from bestselling mystery novels, this course will teach you the techniques you need to become a successful author.

You may be surprised to discover that many, if not all, of the books you have read recently are mysteries. From Dan Brown to Dennis Lehane, mysteries are hot items on today's best-seller lists. This course is designed to teach you the techniques you need to know if you want to become a best-selling mystery author.

The course begins by introducing you to the four types of stories and explains how they relate to mysteries. You will discover the three-act story structure and show you how to propel the action forward to a climax, followed by a release of tension as your readers experience a great finish. You will discover the between story and plot and get a chance to experiment with viewpoints to see which one works best with your mystery. This course will allow you to write a complete scene and learn the internal structure that makes every scene feel right. You will discover special techniques that apply to mysteries, including crime scene description, MacGuffins, and the use of red herrings to misdirect your readers and create suspense. Following each lesson, you will get to practice on your own story.

This information-packed online course combines the best advice of many writing professionals. Follow the guidelines taught in this course, and you will be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Discover techniques needed to become a successful mystery writer. This course combines the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experience as a mystery writer, to have you on your way to writing a best-selling mystery.

The Four Story Types

You're probably wondering if you can really write a novel or screenplay. You may have already started one—maybe even several—and then run out of steam. In this first lesson, you'll begin finding out the secret that guarantees success. It's the secret of knowing where you're going before you start. You'll also take some time to learn what makes a mystery great, and to explore a number of real-world examples.

Plot vs. Story

Did you know that there's a big difference between story and plot? Amazingly, even many professional authors are confused about this. In this lesson, you'll learn that plot is physical while story is emotional. Balancing the two is one of the keys to writing fiction that will satisfy your audience.

Passion, Theme, Character, and Premise

This lesson is about the dramatic elements at the heart of every story: passion, theme, character, and premise. Your passion is what drives you to tell your story and the theme is the underlying message it carries. To convey your theme, you create characters that represent it—either positively or negatively. Put these elements together and you've got your premise.

Character

Character is what story is all about. Without a character—and a change taking place within them—there can be no story. In this lesson, you'll discover why the best characters are flawed. You'll explore the main character—the protagonist—and the opposing force of the antagonist. After that, you'll look at some tricks and techniques for creating characters that are memorable.

The Checkpoints of Mystery Story Structuring

In this lesson, you'll explore the structure underlying almost every great story. That's right: Nearly every successful story has the same structure—a structure that virtually guarantees success! Like Sherlock Holmes, you'll examine each element of it under your writer's magnifying glass. Then, you'll test your theories against some well-known mysteries. By the end, you'll have solved the mystery of story structure.

Act 1: Hook, Backstory, and Trigger

This is the first of three lessons in which you'll construct your story outline, act-by-act. In Act 1, you'll hook your readers. Then you'll fill them in with some character history called backstory. Finally, you'll exit Act 1 with a bang by triggering a traumatic event in the life of your protagonist.

Act 2: Crisis, Struggle, and Epiphany

In this lesson, you'll work on Act 2 of your mystery. If Act 1 ended with a bang, Act 2 starts with a whimper. Your protagonist begins in crisis—an emotional state brought on by their flaw. Because of that flaw, your protagonist will struggle throughout the act as the antagonist deals setback after setback. Fortunately, at the conclusion of Act 2, your protagonist finally figures out the source of all this emotional distress and overcomes it.

Act 3: Plan, Climax, and Ending

The epiphany that ended Act 2 has prepared your protagonist for triumph in Act 3. So it's time to devise a plan. The result will be a final confrontation with the antagonist. This lesson looks at the best way to defeat the antagonist—it's not what you might guess. Then, with that dramatic climax behind you, you'll be ready to tie up all your story's loose threads in the ending.

The Story Outline

Once you've become comfortable with story structure, it's time to put it all together. You'll move from story idea, to story outline, to developing scenes. From these little seeds, you'll grow an entire forest.

Scene and Sequel

This lesson will unravel the internal structure of every piece of fiction you've ever read. This is different from story structure and it's something you probably never even knew existed. It's called scene and sequel. After this lesson, you'll never forget it.

Viewpoint

One of the most important choices an author makes is viewpoint. It affects every aspect of story—from theme, to pacing, to suspense. In this lesson, you'll look at the three most common viewpoints: third person omniscient, third person limited, and first person. You'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each by considering examples from real-word mystery novels.

The Mystery

Much of the content that's been talked about in this course applies to all types of fiction, not just mysteries. So, in learning how to write a great mystery, you've also been learning to be a better writer in all genres. In this final lesson, you'll examine some elements unique to mystery writing. Then, the lesson will wrap up with some ideas about how to follow the roadmap you've created and actually reach your goal of a finished novel or screenplay.

What you will learn

• Discover the four different story types and explore how they combine to create some great mysteries
• Learn the difference between plot and story
• Explore the relationship between passion, theme, character, and premise
• Learn to create your protagonist, antagonist, and other characters, and invent their flaws
• Master the nine checkpoints around which you will construct your mystery
• Apply Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3 checkpoints as you create your hook, design your crisis, and polish your plan, climax, and ending
• Learn an easy way to expand your mystery's structure into a story outline
• Explore the way scene and sequel intertwine to create your mystery
• Select an viewpoint that will work best and gain an understanding of its benefits and limitations
• Learn to incorporate suspense, misdirection, and deductive reasoning as you finish structuring your mystery

How you will benefit

• Gain the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experience as a mystery writer
• Be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own

Steve Alcorn is the CEO of Alcorn McBride Inc., a leading theme park design company that creates products used in all the world's theme parks. He is a proponent of advance planning and has experience with wills, living trusts, advance directives, and power of attorney. His experience also includes arranging for in-home care, nursing home selection, retirement community evaluation, memory care facility selection, and the analysis of Medicare and other insurance paperwork. He is a counselor to his employees, possessing insight into the varieties of relationships, problems, opportunities, and legal issues that can arise in the field of eldercare.

Steve is the published author of a wide range of fiction and nonfiction works. During the past decade, he has helped more than 30,000 students turn their story ideas into reality, with many of his students publishing novels they developed in his classes. His books include A Matter of Justice, Everything In Its Path, Molly Builds a Theme Park, How to Fix Your Novel, Theme Park Design, and Write Your Life Story.

Using vivid examples from bestselling mystery novels, this course will teach you the techniques you need to become a successful author.

You may be surprised to discover that many, if not all, of the books you have read recently are mysteries. From Dan Brown to Dennis Lehane, mysteries are hot items on today's best-seller lists. This course is designed to teach you the techniques you need to know if you want to become a best-selling mystery author.

The course begins by introducing you to the four types of stories and explains how they relate to mysteries. You will discover the three-act story structure and show you how to propel the action forward to a climax, followed by a release of tension as your readers experience a great finish. You will discover the between story and plot and get a chance to experiment with viewpoints to see which one works best with your mystery. This course will allow you to write a complete scene and learn the internal structure that makes every scene feel right. You will discover special techniques that apply to mysteries, including crime scene description, MacGuffins, and the use of red herrings to misdirect your readers and create suspense. Following each lesson, you will get to practice on your own story.

This information-packed online course combines the best advice of many writing professionals. Follow the guidelines taught in this course, and you will be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Discover techniques needed to become a successful mystery writer. This course combines the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experience as a mystery writer, to have you on your way to writing a best-selling mystery.

The Four Story Types

You're probably wondering if you can really write a novel or screenplay. You may have already started one—maybe even several—and then run out of steam. In this first lesson, you'll begin finding out the secret that guarantees success. It's the secret of knowing where you're going before you start. You'll also take some time to learn what makes a mystery great, and to explore a number of real-world examples.

Plot vs. Story

Did you know that there's a big difference between story and plot? Amazingly, even many professional authors are confused about this. In this lesson, you'll learn that plot is physical while story is emotional. Balancing the two is one of the keys to writing fiction that will satisfy your audience.

Passion, Theme, Character, and Premise

This lesson is about the dramatic elements at the heart of every story: passion, theme, character, and premise. Your passion is what drives you to tell your story and the theme is the underlying message it carries. To convey your theme, you create characters that represent it—either positively or negatively. Put these elements together and you've got your premise.

Character

Character is what story is all about. Without a character—and a change taking place within them—there can be no story. In this lesson, you'll discover why the best characters are flawed. You'll explore the main character—the protagonist—and the opposing force of the antagonist. After that, you'll look at some tricks and techniques for creating characters that are memorable.

The Checkpoints of Mystery Story Structuring

In this lesson, you'll explore the structure underlying almost every great story. That's right: Nearly every successful story has the same structure—a structure that virtually guarantees success! Like Sherlock Holmes, you'll examine each element of it under your writer's magnifying glass. Then, you'll test your theories against some well-known mysteries. By the end, you'll have solved the mystery of story structure.

Act 1: Hook, Backstory, and Trigger

This is the first of three lessons in which you'll construct your story outline, act-by-act. In Act 1, you'll hook your readers. Then you'll fill them in with some character history called backstory. Finally, you'll exit Act 1 with a bang by triggering a traumatic event in the life of your protagonist.

Act 2: Crisis, Struggle, and Epiphany

In this lesson, you'll work on Act 2 of your mystery. If Act 1 ended with a bang, Act 2 starts with a whimper. Your protagonist begins in crisis—an emotional state brought on by their flaw. Because of that flaw, your protagonist will struggle throughout the act as the antagonist deals setback after setback. Fortunately, at the conclusion of Act 2, your protagonist finally figures out the source of all this emotional distress and overcomes it.

Act 3: Plan, Climax, and Ending

The epiphany that ended Act 2 has prepared your protagonist for triumph in Act 3. So it's time to devise a plan. The result will be a final confrontation with the antagonist. This lesson looks at the best way to defeat the antagonist—it's not what you might guess. Then, with that dramatic climax behind you, you'll be ready to tie up all your story's loose threads in the ending.

The Story Outline

Once you've become comfortable with story structure, it's time to put it all together. You'll move from story idea, to story outline, to developing scenes. From these little seeds, you'll grow an entire forest.

Scene and Sequel

This lesson will unravel the internal structure of every piece of fiction you've ever read. This is different from story structure and it's something you probably never even knew existed. It's called scene and sequel. After this lesson, you'll never forget it.

Viewpoint

One of the most important choices an author makes is viewpoint. It affects every aspect of story—from theme, to pacing, to suspense. In this lesson, you'll look at the three most common viewpoints: third person omniscient, third person limited, and first person. You'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each by considering examples from real-word mystery novels.

The Mystery

Much of the content that's been talked about in this course applies to all types of fiction, not just mysteries. So, in learning how to write a great mystery, you've also been learning to be a better writer in all genres. In this final lesson, you'll examine some elements unique to mystery writing. Then, the lesson will wrap up with some ideas about how to follow the roadmap you've created and actually reach your goal of a finished novel or screenplay.

What you will learn

• Discover the four different story types and explore how they combine to create some great mysteries
• Learn the difference between plot and story
• Explore the relationship between passion, theme, character, and premise
• Learn to create your protagonist, antagonist, and other characters, and invent their flaws
• Master the nine checkpoints around which you will construct your mystery
• Apply Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3 checkpoints as you create your hook, design your crisis, and polish your plan, climax, and ending
• Learn an easy way to expand your mystery's structure into a story outline
• Explore the way scene and sequel intertwine to create your mystery
• Select an viewpoint that will work best and gain an understanding of its benefits and limitations
• Learn to incorporate suspense, misdirection, and deductive reasoning as you finish structuring your mystery

How you will benefit

• Gain the best advice of many writing professionals, tempered with the instructor's own experience as a mystery writer
• Be well on your way to writing a successful mystery of your very own

Steve Alcorn is the CEO of Alcorn McBride Inc., a leading theme park design company that creates products used in all the world's theme parks. He is a proponent of advance planning and has experience with wills, living trusts, advance directives, and power of attorney. His experience also includes arranging for in-home care, nursing home selection, retirement community evaluation, memory care facility selection, and the analysis of Medicare and other insurance paperwork. He is a counselor to his employees, possessing insight into the varieties of relationships, problems, opportunities, and legal issues that can arise in the field of eldercare.

Steve is the published author of a wide range of fiction and nonfiction works. During the past decade, he has helped more than 30,000 students turn their story ideas into reality, with many of his students publishing novels they developed in his classes. His books include A Matter of Justice, Everything In Its Path, Molly Builds a Theme Park, How to Fix Your Novel, Theme Park Design, and Write Your Life Story.

This course is designed to provide you with the skills to become a professional grant writer while also preparing you for the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) exam.

Requirements:  

Hardware Requirements:  

This course can be taken on either a PC, Chromebook, or Mac device. 

Software Requirements:  

• PC: Windows 10 or later operating systems.
• Mac: OS 10 or later. 
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Excel (not included)
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:  

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Prepare for the GPC Exam: Earn Your Grant Professional Certified Credential

Ready to develop the skills and strategies you need to become an integral part of one of the world’s fastest-growing professional certification sectors—grant writing? In the Professional Grant Writing course, you will further the ideals and goals of your career track by learning about the required competencies that can lead to an internationally recognized certification by one of the leading grant professional associations. Did you know that there’s more to writing grants than finding funding and writing grant proposals? Grant professionals must also learn how to delve into supporting organizational development for grant applicants, coach them in communicating with potential funders, assist with internal and external collaborations with a successful mix of partners, and magically spin-out program design language.

In this course, you will become proficient in the proposal and case statement formats used by foundations and government grantmaking agencies. Throughout the course, you will learn about the certification process for grant professionals and write different elements of a complete grant application, culminating in a case statement for your capstone assignment with expert instructor feedback on each element. From grant funding trends to matching your course project to the right funding sources, you will be confident in differentiating yourself from a grant writer to a grant professional!

You will also be prepared for the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) exam offered by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI), which has minimum requirements of education and grant experience based on the level of education obtained.

1. Why Get a Grant Writing Certification
2. Being Confident in Your Grant Writing Skills
3. Grant Funding Trends
4. Grant Funding Resources and Best Matches for Programs and Projects
5. Establishing Initial and Ongoing Relationships with Funders
6. Relationship Between Organizational Development and Grant Seeking Readiness
7. Proposal Writing Preparation
8. Proposal Writing Research, Implementation Strategies, Writing Characteristics, and Incorporating Graphics
9. Writing the Boilerplate for the Grant Applicant Organization             
10. Diving Deep Into Organizational Development Strategies and Funding Needs
11. Midterm Exam and Writing Prompt Response
12. Stakeholders, Partnerships, and Key Personnel Collaborations and Communications
13. Effective Program and Project Design and Development Strategies
14. Community Resources, Evaluation Designs, and Cultural Competencies
15. Proposal Budgets
16. Grant Proposal Submission Processes and Follow-up for Unfunded Submissions
17. Funded Grant Requests
18. Writing an Effective Case Statement for Fundraising Purposes
19. Capstone Assignment: Case Statement
20. Deciding to Move Forward with Certification
21. Employability Ethics
22. Bonus Lesson: Interview Pregame
23. Final Exam

What you will learn 

• How a certification enhances professionalism and opportunities for grant writers
• The skills needed to be a professional grant writer
• Ways current trends can impact the distribution of funds in the private and public sectors
• How to match grant funders and fundable programs
• Organizational missions, cultures, and norms, and how they impact grant readiness
• Best practices to create a logic model showing interrelationships among elements of project design
• An evaluation plan using community resources and cultural competencies
• Prepare a grant budget with appropriate costs, cash, in-kind or leveraged matches
• Describe the grant writer's role in post-award grant management and transition

How you will benefit 

• Communicate effectively with grant funders for relationship cultivation
• Submit a grant proposal
• Write a persuasive case statement
• Use a professional code of ethics to guide decisions and conduct

Dr. Beverly A. Browning 

Dr. Beverly A. Browning is a grant writing consultant and visionary who uses thought leadership to work with nonprofit organizations struggling with the woes of revenue stream imbalances. She has been researching grant funding, grantmaking trends, and board-related barriers to nonprofit capacity building for over 40 years. Together she and her team have helped her clients win over $750 million in grant awards.

Dr. Browning is the founder and director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and Bev Browning, LLC. She is the author of 44 grant writing publications, including six editions of Grant Writing for Dummies and the 6th edition of Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (to be published in 2021).

Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in organizational development, public administration, and business administration. She is also a Certified Strategic Planning Facilitator (CSPF), has a McNellis Compression Planning Institute Facilitation Training distinction, and is an Approved Trainer for the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), the Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE, and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

This course is designed to provide you with the skills to become a professional grant writer while also preparing you for the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) exam.

Requirements:  

Hardware Requirements:  

This course can be taken on either a PC, Chromebook, or Mac device. 

Software Requirements:  

• PC: Windows 10 or later operating systems.
• Mac: OS 10 or later. 
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Excel (not included)
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:  

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Prepare for the GPC Exam: Earn Your Grant Professional Certified Credential

Ready to develop the skills and strategies you need to become an integral part of one of the world’s fastest-growing professional certification sectors—grant writing? In the Professional Grant Writing course, you will further the ideals and goals of your career track by learning about the required competencies that can lead to an internationally recognized certification by one of the leading grant professional associations. Did you know that there’s more to writing grants than finding funding and writing grant proposals? Grant professionals must also learn how to delve into supporting organizational development for grant applicants, coach them in communicating with potential funders, assist with internal and external collaborations with a successful mix of partners, and magically spin-out program design language.

In this course, you will become proficient in the proposal and case statement formats used by foundations and government grantmaking agencies. Throughout the course, you will learn about the certification process for grant professionals and write different elements of a complete grant application, culminating in a case statement for your capstone assignment with expert instructor feedback on each element. From grant funding trends to matching your course project to the right funding sources, you will be confident in differentiating yourself from a grant writer to a grant professional!

You will also be prepared for the Grant Professional Certified (GPC) exam offered by the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI), which has minimum requirements of education and grant experience based on the level of education obtained.

1. Why Get a Grant Writing Certification
2. Being Confident in Your Grant Writing Skills
3. Grant Funding Trends
4. Grant Funding Resources and Best Matches for Programs and Projects
5. Establishing Initial and Ongoing Relationships with Funders
6. Relationship Between Organizational Development and Grant Seeking Readiness
7. Proposal Writing Preparation
8. Proposal Writing Research, Implementation Strategies, Writing Characteristics, and Incorporating Graphics
9. Writing the Boilerplate for the Grant Applicant Organization             
10. Diving Deep Into Organizational Development Strategies and Funding Needs
11. Midterm Exam and Writing Prompt Response
12. Stakeholders, Partnerships, and Key Personnel Collaborations and Communications
13. Effective Program and Project Design and Development Strategies
14. Community Resources, Evaluation Designs, and Cultural Competencies
15. Proposal Budgets
16. Grant Proposal Submission Processes and Follow-up for Unfunded Submissions
17. Funded Grant Requests
18. Writing an Effective Case Statement for Fundraising Purposes
19. Capstone Assignment: Case Statement
20. Deciding to Move Forward with Certification
21. Employability Ethics
22. Bonus Lesson: Interview Pregame
23. Final Exam

What you will learn 

• How a certification enhances professionalism and opportunities for grant writers
• The skills needed to be a professional grant writer
• Ways current trends can impact the distribution of funds in the private and public sectors
• How to match grant funders and fundable programs
• Organizational missions, cultures, and norms, and how they impact grant readiness
• Best practices to create a logic model showing interrelationships among elements of project design
• An evaluation plan using community resources and cultural competencies
• Prepare a grant budget with appropriate costs, cash, in-kind or leveraged matches
• Describe the grant writer's role in post-award grant management and transition

How you will benefit 

• Communicate effectively with grant funders for relationship cultivation
• Submit a grant proposal
• Write a persuasive case statement
• Use a professional code of ethics to guide decisions and conduct

Dr. Beverly A. Browning 

Dr. Beverly A. Browning is a grant writing consultant and visionary who uses thought leadership to work with nonprofit organizations struggling with the woes of revenue stream imbalances. She has been researching grant funding, grantmaking trends, and board-related barriers to nonprofit capacity building for over 40 years. Together she and her team have helped her clients win over $750 million in grant awards.

Dr. Browning is the founder and director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and Bev Browning, LLC. She is the author of 44 grant writing publications, including six editions of Grant Writing for Dummies and the 6th edition of Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (to be published in 2021).

Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in organizational development, public administration, and business administration. She is also a Certified Strategic Planning Facilitator (CSPF), has a McNellis Compression Planning Institute Facilitation Training distinction, and is an Approved Trainer for the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), the Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE, and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

Master the tools and techniques needed to hone your craft as a successful romance novelist. This course will broaden your skills and allow you to pen a romance novel that meets and exceeds your readers' expectations.

Romance is the #1 selling genre in mass-market fiction with readers clamoring for more! To pen a novel romance readers' love, you'll need to understand how to meet and exceed their expectations. Whether you're a new or experienced writer, this course will help you broaden your skills and understand exactly what makes a romance reader finish a book with that "Ahh" of satisfaction. You will start by learning about the genre of romance and exploring why you fell in love with your favorite romance novels. You will explore how to craft three-dimensional characters your readers will love and how to weave a plot so your story grabs the reader's interest from page one. You will gain valuable techniques—your "romance writer's toolbox"—to apply to your own manuscript.

You will also spend a couple lessons looking at and practicing elements important for any writer to master: setting, pacing, point of view, dialogue, research, mood, and tone. You will take on fun assignments that will help you hone your craft. By the time you finish, you'll be able to pick up a book and figure out what makes it a best seller, or why it's been called a classic, or why it appealed to you as a reader. Even better, you'll have mastered tools and techniques so you can add those same elements to your own writing.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Master the tools and techniques needed to hone your craft as a successful romance novelist. This course will broaden your skills and allow you to pen a romance novel that meets and exceeds your readers' expectations.

What Is a Romance Novel?

In the first lesson, you'll learn a simple definition for a romance and discover the hallmark element of all romance novels. (Think it's just a love story? Think again!) You'll learn about why fulfilling reader expectations is so important and get an overview of the subgenres found in romance to see where your idea might fit. Finally, you'll take a look at the romances that have really resonated with you—the ones you read over and over again—to discover what makes a "great" book "great."

The Elements of Romance

In this lesson, you'll explore what's needed to create a romance that readers will come to again and again. The lesson will begin by outlining a short list of romance classics that are as popular today as when they were first written. Then, you'll look at a classic book and use it to demonstrate the eight essential and three optional elements all romance novels should have in order to meet reader expectations.

Characters: The Heartbeat of Romance

The third lesson introduces you to the heart of the romance novel—the characters. This lesson will talk about what readers expect from your heroine and hero, as well as your options for making your hero and heroine uniquely your own. You'll also explore how to use secondary characters to support your central story, and examine examples drawn from some popular romances and romantic-comedy movies.

Getting to Know Your Characters

Here, you'll go deeper into characterization. You'll learn to use tools that will help you get to know your characters on a deeper level. Knowing your characters inside and out will help you make them come alive on the page and better reach the high level of reader satisfaction you want your romance to deliver.

Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

This lesson covers three concepts that serve as the bridge between character and plot development: goal, motivation, and conflict. Throughout the lesson, you'll create a character's GMC chart, noting story goals, the character's motivation, and the internal and external conflicts that they face. You'll see how developing the GMC chart provides information that will help you create plots that challenge your characters and satisfy your readers.

The Basics of Plot

Now you're going to get to the meat of your romance: the plot. The lesson will discuss the difference between story plot and romantic plot, and then you'll take a look at the different kinds of romance plots that are common in the genre. Ultimately, you'll see how identifying your basic plot pattern can help as you're writing your romance.

Plotting 2.0

This lesson will continue the discussion on plotting. Here, you'll explore the main components of a plotline and examine how to weave in subplots to enhance your main plot. You'll also see how you can organize your plot according to the Three Act Structure to ensure readers are eager to stick with it all the way to your HEA ending. Finally, you'll learn about some typical beginner's mistakes that you'll want to avoid as you're developing your plot.

Scene and Sequel

There's still more to be said about plotting! Here, you'll explore how the elements you use to build your plot form the basic structure you looked at last time. You'll start by examining how you'll use cause and effect to create believable events that draw the reader in. Then, you'll look at the building blocks of plot, scene, and sequel, and see how you can use them to structure the ebb and flow of your story.

Emotional Appeal

Evoking emotion in readers is a key element in romance. This lesson will discuss two tenets of romance writing along with various tools that will help you write emotionally packed scenes. Finally, the lesson will discuss the all-important topic of writing a sex scene—whether or not your story even needs one, and how you can ensure the scene moves your reader along with your characters.

Fiction Writing Craft I

Good writing is good writing, whether you're drafting a romance, a sci-fi adventure, or a thriller. In this lesson, you'll begin to look at the elements of a writer's craft that you'll need to master on your way to penning your romance. The lesson will cover three crucial elements that are central to all fiction: dialogue, pacing, and point of view. You'll examine examples of each in depth so that by the end of the lesson, you'll be ready to start applying what you learn to your own romance.

Fiction Writing Craft II

In this lesson, you'll continue your exploration of important elements of writing fiction: research, setting, mood, and tone. You'll learn why research is so important, how setting can reflect and even impact your characters, and how mood and tone contribute to the overall impact of your romance.

After "The End"

After all your hard work, you'll finally be able to write "The End." But you're still not done! This lesson will discuss the steps writers need to take after they've finished the first draft of their manuscript. You'll learn about the need for revisions and editing and the importance of critique groups and partners, and then receive some tips on submitting your manuscript for publication.

What you will learn

• Examine the elements all romance novels should incorporate to meet readers' expectations and begin to plan how to incorporate these elements into your novel
• Learn what readers expect in your hero and heroine and to know how to use secondary characters to support your main story
• Learn to use character-building tools to deepen your characters
• Learn the role goal, motivation, and conflict play in tying together character and plot
• Learn the elements of a basic romance plotline, how to plot using the Three Act Plot structure, and beginner's mistakes to avoid
• Learn about scenes and sequels and how they link together to carry your characters through the plotline
• Understand how to use point of view, dialogue, and pacing
• Discover how research, setting, mood and tone enhance the appeal of your romance
• Learn about the importance of editing, revising, having a critique partner or critique groups, and manuscript submission

How you will benefit

• Broaden your skills and help you understand what makes a romance reader finish the book with satisfaction
• Master tools and techniques needed to add the same elements to your own writing that appeal to you as a reader

Priscilla Oliveras has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her debut novel, His Perfect Partner, is an October 2017 release with Kensington Zebra Shout. A long-time active member of Romance Writers of America, she currently serves as the PRO Liaison on the national board. She's a four-time Golden Heart finalist who has won multiple contests and writes contemporary romance novels with a Latino flavor. Priscilla has lectured on college campuses, presented for local writers groups, penned multiple articles on her craft, and completed five romance novels. Sharing her love of the written word and the information she's gleaned over the course of her writing career is one of her greatest passions.

Master the tools and techniques needed to hone your craft as a successful romance novelist. This course will broaden your skills and allow you to pen a romance novel that meets and exceeds your readers' expectations.

Romance is the #1 selling genre in mass-market fiction with readers clamoring for more! To pen a novel romance readers' love, you'll need to understand how to meet and exceed their expectations. Whether you're a new or experienced writer, this course will help you broaden your skills and understand exactly what makes a romance reader finish a book with that "Ahh" of satisfaction. You will start by learning about the genre of romance and exploring why you fell in love with your favorite romance novels. You will explore how to craft three-dimensional characters your readers will love and how to weave a plot so your story grabs the reader's interest from page one. You will gain valuable techniques—your "romance writer's toolbox"—to apply to your own manuscript.

You will also spend a couple lessons looking at and practicing elements important for any writer to master: setting, pacing, point of view, dialogue, research, mood, and tone. You will take on fun assignments that will help you hone your craft. By the time you finish, you'll be able to pick up a book and figure out what makes it a best seller, or why it's been called a classic, or why it appealed to you as a reader. Even better, you'll have mastered tools and techniques so you can add those same elements to your own writing.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Master the tools and techniques needed to hone your craft as a successful romance novelist. This course will broaden your skills and allow you to pen a romance novel that meets and exceeds your readers' expectations.

What Is a Romance Novel?

In the first lesson, you'll learn a simple definition for a romance and discover the hallmark element of all romance novels. (Think it's just a love story? Think again!) You'll learn about why fulfilling reader expectations is so important and get an overview of the subgenres found in romance to see where your idea might fit. Finally, you'll take a look at the romances that have really resonated with you—the ones you read over and over again—to discover what makes a "great" book "great."

The Elements of Romance

In this lesson, you'll explore what's needed to create a romance that readers will come to again and again. The lesson will begin by outlining a short list of romance classics that are as popular today as when they were first written. Then, you'll look at a classic book and use it to demonstrate the eight essential and three optional elements all romance novels should have in order to meet reader expectations.

Characters: The Heartbeat of Romance

The third lesson introduces you to the heart of the romance novel—the characters. This lesson will talk about what readers expect from your heroine and hero, as well as your options for making your hero and heroine uniquely your own. You'll also explore how to use secondary characters to support your central story, and examine examples drawn from some popular romances and romantic-comedy movies.

Getting to Know Your Characters

Here, you'll go deeper into characterization. You'll learn to use tools that will help you get to know your characters on a deeper level. Knowing your characters inside and out will help you make them come alive on the page and better reach the high level of reader satisfaction you want your romance to deliver.

Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

This lesson covers three concepts that serve as the bridge between character and plot development: goal, motivation, and conflict. Throughout the lesson, you'll create a character's GMC chart, noting story goals, the character's motivation, and the internal and external conflicts that they face. You'll see how developing the GMC chart provides information that will help you create plots that challenge your characters and satisfy your readers.

The Basics of Plot

Now you're going to get to the meat of your romance: the plot. The lesson will discuss the difference between story plot and romantic plot, and then you'll take a look at the different kinds of romance plots that are common in the genre. Ultimately, you'll see how identifying your basic plot pattern can help as you're writing your romance.

Plotting 2.0

This lesson will continue the discussion on plotting. Here, you'll explore the main components of a plotline and examine how to weave in subplots to enhance your main plot. You'll also see how you can organize your plot according to the Three Act Structure to ensure readers are eager to stick with it all the way to your HEA ending. Finally, you'll learn about some typical beginner's mistakes that you'll want to avoid as you're developing your plot.

Scene and Sequel

There's still more to be said about plotting! Here, you'll explore how the elements you use to build your plot form the basic structure you looked at last time. You'll start by examining how you'll use cause and effect to create believable events that draw the reader in. Then, you'll look at the building blocks of plot, scene, and sequel, and see how you can use them to structure the ebb and flow of your story.

Emotional Appeal

Evoking emotion in readers is a key element in romance. This lesson will discuss two tenets of romance writing along with various tools that will help you write emotionally packed scenes. Finally, the lesson will discuss the all-important topic of writing a sex scene—whether or not your story even needs one, and how you can ensure the scene moves your reader along with your characters.

Fiction Writing Craft I

Good writing is good writing, whether you're drafting a romance, a sci-fi adventure, or a thriller. In this lesson, you'll begin to look at the elements of a writer's craft that you'll need to master on your way to penning your romance. The lesson will cover three crucial elements that are central to all fiction: dialogue, pacing, and point of view. You'll examine examples of each in depth so that by the end of the lesson, you'll be ready to start applying what you learn to your own romance.

Fiction Writing Craft II

In this lesson, you'll continue your exploration of important elements of writing fiction: research, setting, mood, and tone. You'll learn why research is so important, how setting can reflect and even impact your characters, and how mood and tone contribute to the overall impact of your romance.

After "The End"

After all your hard work, you'll finally be able to write "The End." But you're still not done! This lesson will discuss the steps writers need to take after they've finished the first draft of their manuscript. You'll learn about the need for revisions and editing and the importance of critique groups and partners, and then receive some tips on submitting your manuscript for publication.

What you will learn

• Examine the elements all romance novels should incorporate to meet readers' expectations and begin to plan how to incorporate these elements into your novel
• Learn what readers expect in your hero and heroine and to know how to use secondary characters to support your main story
• Learn to use character-building tools to deepen your characters
• Learn the role goal, motivation, and conflict play in tying together character and plot
• Learn the elements of a basic romance plotline, how to plot using the Three Act Plot structure, and beginner's mistakes to avoid
• Learn about scenes and sequels and how they link together to carry your characters through the plotline
• Understand how to use point of view, dialogue, and pacing
• Discover how research, setting, mood and tone enhance the appeal of your romance
• Learn about the importance of editing, revising, having a critique partner or critique groups, and manuscript submission

How you will benefit

• Broaden your skills and help you understand what makes a romance reader finish the book with satisfaction
• Master tools and techniques needed to add the same elements to your own writing that appeal to you as a reader

Priscilla Oliveras has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her debut novel, His Perfect Partner, is an October 2017 release with Kensington Zebra Shout. A long-time active member of Romance Writers of America, she currently serves as the PRO Liaison on the national board. She's a four-time Golden Heart finalist who has won multiple contests and writes contemporary romance novels with a Latino flavor. Priscilla has lectured on college campuses, presented for local writers groups, penned multiple articles on her craft, and completed five romance novels. Sharing her love of the written word and the information she's gleaned over the course of her writing career is one of her greatest passions.

Master the tools and techniques needed to hone your craft as a successful romance novelist. This course will broaden your skills and allow you to pen a romance novel that meets and exceeds your readers' expectations.

Romance is the #1 selling genre in mass-market fiction with readers clamoring for more! To pen a novel romance readers' love, you'll need to understand how to meet and exceed their expectations. Whether you're a new or experienced writer, this course will help you broaden your skills and understand exactly what makes a romance reader finish a book with that "Ahh" of satisfaction. You will start by learning about the genre of romance and exploring why you fell in love with your favorite romance novels. You will explore how to craft three-dimensional characters your readers will love and how to weave a plot so your story grabs the reader's interest from page one. You will gain valuable techniques—your "romance writer's toolbox"—to apply to your own manuscript.

You will also spend a couple lessons looking at and practicing elements important for any writer to master: setting, pacing, point of view, dialogue, research, mood, and tone. You will take on fun assignments that will help you hone your craft. By the time you finish, you'll be able to pick up a book and figure out what makes it a best seller, or why it's been called a classic, or why it appealed to you as a reader. Even better, you'll have mastered tools and techniques so you can add those same elements to your own writing.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Master the tools and techniques needed to hone your craft as a successful romance novelist. This course will broaden your skills and allow you to pen a romance novel that meets and exceeds your readers' expectations.

What Is a Romance Novel?

In the first lesson, you'll learn a simple definition for a romance and discover the hallmark element of all romance novels. (Think it's just a love story? Think again!) You'll learn about why fulfilling reader expectations is so important and get an overview of the subgenres found in romance to see where your idea might fit. Finally, you'll take a look at the romances that have really resonated with you—the ones you read over and over again—to discover what makes a "great" book "great."

The Elements of Romance

In this lesson, you'll explore what's needed to create a romance that readers will come to again and again. The lesson will begin by outlining a short list of romance classics that are as popular today as when they were first written. Then, you'll look at a classic book and use it to demonstrate the eight essential and three optional elements all romance novels should have in order to meet reader expectations.

Characters: The Heartbeat of Romance

The third lesson introduces you to the heart of the romance novel—the characters. This lesson will talk about what readers expect from your heroine and hero, as well as your options for making your hero and heroine uniquely your own. You'll also explore how to use secondary characters to support your central story, and examine examples drawn from some popular romances and romantic-comedy movies.

Getting to Know Your Characters

Here, you'll go deeper into characterization. You'll learn to use tools that will help you get to know your characters on a deeper level. Knowing your characters inside and out will help you make them come alive on the page and better reach the high level of reader satisfaction you want your romance to deliver.

Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

This lesson covers three concepts that serve as the bridge between character and plot development: goal, motivation, and conflict. Throughout the lesson, you'll create a character's GMC chart, noting story goals, the character's motivation, and the internal and external conflicts that they face. You'll see how developing the GMC chart provides information that will help you create plots that challenge your characters and satisfy your readers.

The Basics of Plot

Now you're going to get to the meat of your romance: the plot. The lesson will discuss the difference between story plot and romantic plot, and then you'll take a look at the different kinds of romance plots that are common in the genre. Ultimately, you'll see how identifying your basic plot pattern can help as you're writing your romance.

Plotting 2.0

This lesson will continue the discussion on plotting. Here, you'll explore the main components of a plotline and examine how to weave in subplots to enhance your main plot. You'll also see how you can organize your plot according to the Three Act Structure to ensure readers are eager to stick with it all the way to your HEA ending. Finally, you'll learn about some typical beginner's mistakes that you'll want to avoid as you're developing your plot.

Scene and Sequel

There's still more to be said about plotting! Here, you'll explore how the elements you use to build your plot form the basic structure you looked at last time. You'll start by examining how you'll use cause and effect to create believable events that draw the reader in. Then, you'll look at the building blocks of plot, scene, and sequel, and see how you can use them to structure the ebb and flow of your story.

Emotional Appeal

Evoking emotion in readers is a key element in romance. This lesson will discuss two tenets of romance writing along with various tools that will help you write emotionally packed scenes. Finally, the lesson will discuss the all-important topic of writing a sex scene—whether or not your story even needs one, and how you can ensure the scene moves your reader along with your characters.

Fiction Writing Craft I

Good writing is good writing, whether you're drafting a romance, a sci-fi adventure, or a thriller. In this lesson, you'll begin to look at the elements of a writer's craft that you'll need to master on your way to penning your romance. The lesson will cover three crucial elements that are central to all fiction: dialogue, pacing, and point of view. You'll examine examples of each in depth so that by the end of the lesson, you'll be ready to start applying what you learn to your own romance.

Fiction Writing Craft II

In this lesson, you'll continue your exploration of important elements of writing fiction: research, setting, mood, and tone. You'll learn why research is so important, how setting can reflect and even impact your characters, and how mood and tone contribute to the overall impact of your romance.

After "The End"

After all your hard work, you'll finally be able to write "The End." But you're still not done! This lesson will discuss the steps writers need to take after they've finished the first draft of their manuscript. You'll learn about the need for revisions and editing and the importance of critique groups and partners, and then receive some tips on submitting your manuscript for publication.

What you will learn

• Examine the elements all romance novels should incorporate to meet readers' expectations and begin to plan how to incorporate these elements into your novel
• Learn what readers expect in your hero and heroine and to know how to use secondary characters to support your main story
• Learn to use character-building tools to deepen your characters
• Learn the role goal, motivation, and conflict play in tying together character and plot
• Learn the elements of a basic romance plotline, how to plot using the Three Act Plot structure, and beginner's mistakes to avoid
• Learn about scenes and sequels and how they link together to carry your characters through the plotline
• Understand how to use point of view, dialogue, and pacing
• Discover how research, setting, mood and tone enhance the appeal of your romance
• Learn about the importance of editing, revising, having a critique partner or critique groups, and manuscript submission

How you will benefit

• Broaden your skills and help you understand what makes a romance reader finish the book with satisfaction
• Master tools and techniques needed to add the same elements to your own writing that appeal to you as a reader

Priscilla Oliveras has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her debut novel, His Perfect Partner, is an October 2017 release with Kensington Zebra Shout. A long-time active member of Romance Writers of America, she currently serves as the PRO Liaison on the national board. She's a four-time Golden Heart finalist who has won multiple contests and writes contemporary romance novels with a Latino flavor. Priscilla has lectured on college campuses, presented for local writers groups, penned multiple articles on her craft, and completed five romance novels. Sharing her love of the written word and the information she's gleaned over the course of her writing career is one of her greatest passions.

Master the tools and techniques needed to hone your craft as a successful romance novelist. This course will broaden your skills and allow you to pen a romance novel that meets and exceeds your readers' expectations.

Romance is the #1 selling genre in mass-market fiction with readers clamoring for more! To pen a novel romance readers' love, you'll need to understand how to meet and exceed their expectations. Whether you're a new or experienced writer, this course will help you broaden your skills and understand exactly what makes a romance reader finish a book with that "Ahh" of satisfaction. You will start by learning about the genre of romance and exploring why you fell in love with your favorite romance novels. You will explore how to craft three-dimensional characters your readers will love and how to weave a plot so your story grabs the reader's interest from page one. You will gain valuable techniques—your "romance writer's toolbox"—to apply to your own manuscript.

You will also spend a couple lessons looking at and practicing elements important for any writer to master: setting, pacing, point of view, dialogue, research, mood, and tone. You will take on fun assignments that will help you hone your craft. By the time you finish, you'll be able to pick up a book and figure out what makes it a best seller, or why it's been called a classic, or why it appealed to you as a reader. Even better, you'll have mastered tools and techniques so you can add those same elements to your own writing.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Master the tools and techniques needed to hone your craft as a successful romance novelist. This course will broaden your skills and allow you to pen a romance novel that meets and exceeds your readers' expectations.

What Is a Romance Novel?

In the first lesson, you'll learn a simple definition for a romance and discover the hallmark element of all romance novels. (Think it's just a love story? Think again!) You'll learn about why fulfilling reader expectations is so important and get an overview of the subgenres found in romance to see where your idea might fit. Finally, you'll take a look at the romances that have really resonated with you—the ones you read over and over again—to discover what makes a "great" book "great."

The Elements of Romance

In this lesson, you'll explore what's needed to create a romance that readers will come to again and again. The lesson will begin by outlining a short list of romance classics that are as popular today as when they were first written. Then, you'll look at a classic book and use it to demonstrate the eight essential and three optional elements all romance novels should have in order to meet reader expectations.

Characters: The Heartbeat of Romance

The third lesson introduces you to the heart of the romance novel—the characters. This lesson will talk about what readers expect from your heroine and hero, as well as your options for making your hero and heroine uniquely your own. You'll also explore how to use secondary characters to support your central story, and examine examples drawn from some popular romances and romantic-comedy movies.

Getting to Know Your Characters

Here, you'll go deeper into characterization. You'll learn to use tools that will help you get to know your characters on a deeper level. Knowing your characters inside and out will help you make them come alive on the page and better reach the high level of reader satisfaction you want your romance to deliver.

Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

This lesson covers three concepts that serve as the bridge between character and plot development: goal, motivation, and conflict. Throughout the lesson, you'll create a character's GMC chart, noting story goals, the character's motivation, and the internal and external conflicts that they face. You'll see how developing the GMC chart provides information that will help you create plots that challenge your characters and satisfy your readers.

The Basics of Plot

Now you're going to get to the meat of your romance: the plot. The lesson will discuss the difference between story plot and romantic plot, and then you'll take a look at the different kinds of romance plots that are common in the genre. Ultimately, you'll see how identifying your basic plot pattern can help as you're writing your romance.

Plotting 2.0

This lesson will continue the discussion on plotting. Here, you'll explore the main components of a plotline and examine how to weave in subplots to enhance your main plot. You'll also see how you can organize your plot according to the Three Act Structure to ensure readers are eager to stick with it all the way to your HEA ending. Finally, you'll learn about some typical beginner's mistakes that you'll want to avoid as you're developing your plot.

Scene and Sequel

There's still more to be said about plotting! Here, you'll explore how the elements you use to build your plot form the basic structure you looked at last time. You'll start by examining how you'll use cause and effect to create believable events that draw the reader in. Then, you'll look at the building blocks of plot, scene, and sequel, and see how you can use them to structure the ebb and flow of your story.

Emotional Appeal

Evoking emotion in readers is a key element in romance. This lesson will discuss two tenets of romance writing along with various tools that will help you write emotionally packed scenes. Finally, the lesson will discuss the all-important topic of writing a sex scene—whether or not your story even needs one, and how you can ensure the scene moves your reader along with your characters.

Fiction Writing Craft I

Good writing is good writing, whether you're drafting a romance, a sci-fi adventure, or a thriller. In this lesson, you'll begin to look at the elements of a writer's craft that you'll need to master on your way to penning your romance. The lesson will cover three crucial elements that are central to all fiction: dialogue, pacing, and point of view. You'll examine examples of each in depth so that by the end of the lesson, you'll be ready to start applying what you learn to your own romance.

Fiction Writing Craft II

In this lesson, you'll continue your exploration of important elements of writing fiction: research, setting, mood, and tone. You'll learn why research is so important, how setting can reflect and even impact your characters, and how mood and tone contribute to the overall impact of your romance.

After "The End"

After all your hard work, you'll finally be able to write "The End." But you're still not done! This lesson will discuss the steps writers need to take after they've finished the first draft of their manuscript. You'll learn about the need for revisions and editing and the importance of critique groups and partners, and then receive some tips on submitting your manuscript for publication.

What you will learn

• Examine the elements all romance novels should incorporate to meet readers' expectations and begin to plan how to incorporate these elements into your novel
• Learn what readers expect in your hero and heroine and to know how to use secondary characters to support your main story
• Learn to use character-building tools to deepen your characters
• Learn the role goal, motivation, and conflict play in tying together character and plot
• Learn the elements of a basic romance plotline, how to plot using the Three Act Plot structure, and beginner's mistakes to avoid
• Learn about scenes and sequels and how they link together to carry your characters through the plotline
• Understand how to use point of view, dialogue, and pacing
• Discover how research, setting, mood and tone enhance the appeal of your romance
• Learn about the importance of editing, revising, having a critique partner or critique groups, and manuscript submission

How you will benefit

• Broaden your skills and help you understand what makes a romance reader finish the book with satisfaction
• Master tools and techniques needed to add the same elements to your own writing that appeal to you as a reader

Priscilla Oliveras has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her debut novel, His Perfect Partner, is an October 2017 release with Kensington Zebra Shout. A long-time active member of Romance Writers of America, she currently serves as the PRO Liaison on the national board. She's a four-time Golden Heart finalist who has won multiple contests and writes contemporary romance novels with a Latino flavor. Priscilla has lectured on college campuses, presented for local writers groups, penned multiple articles on her craft, and completed five romance novels. Sharing her love of the written word and the information she's gleaned over the course of her writing career is one of her greatest passions.

If you aspire to be an editor, this course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

Ask any published writer and you will hear that a good editor is not just helpful, but essential. If you aspire to be an editor, this copyediting course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction. If you're already working as an editor, you will not only brush up on your skills, but will also learn about recent advances in your chosen profession. If you're a writer, you will learn essential self-editing tools to give your manuscripts the professional look that publishers like to see.

From the language of editing to grammar, punctuation, and syntax to the all-important relationships between editor, author, and publisher, every facet of editing will be explored in this copyeditor course. Online editing is gaining popularity; its complexities will be unraveled and its advantages and pitfalls explored. Can you make a living as an editor? Tips and resources for finding work will be addressed at length. When you finish with this course, you will feel confident enough to tackle even the most complex of manuscripts.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the essential skills and resources you will need to become a successful and confident copyeditor. This course provides the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

What Editors Do

Have you ever wondered just what editors do with writers' manuscripts? In this first lesson, you will find out. You will learn about the different types of editors—copy editors, acquisition editors, developmental editors, production editors, and more—and exactly what their jobs entail.

The Mechanics of Copyediting

If you've ever seen a document that an editor has marked up, you probably wondered what all those symbols meant. This lesson focuses on traditional copy editors' marks and how to use them. By the end of the lesson, you will have a solid foundation for editing both on a paper manuscript and on-screen.

Tools to Increase Accuracy

Editors must focus on many details to produce a final manuscript that's as error-free as possible. This lesson covers the tools used to catch inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, and more. By the end of the lesson, you will have a clear understanding of what tools you need to edit effectively and efficiently.

Grammar and Punctuation

This lesson will offer a refresher on the basics of grammar and punctuation as well as reveal some of the more common related problems that arise in writing. You will come away with a solid understanding of the basic grammar principles as they apply to copyediting.

Spelling, Capitalization, and Numbers

This lesson takes you into the world of spelling, capitalization, and numbers. Many people are surprised to learn that there are actually rules governing how words are spelled and capitalized, and whether numbers should be spelled out or in digit form.

Syntax and Style

This lesson explores all the writing pitfalls that can leave readers in a state of confusion. You will learn to recognize and fix garbled syntax, mixed metaphors, nominals, redundancies, and much more. You will also learn how to untangle overly wordy sentences and create parallel structure.

Abbreviations and Hyphens, Bibliographies and Copyright Law

When is it appropriate to use an abbreviation? When should you hyphenate words? Most people have a general knowledge of abbreviations and hyphens, but when it comes time to actually use them, they can be mystifying. This lesson examines the rules that guide their use.

Photos and Tables, Front and Back Matter

In this lesson, you will learn how to edit such peripheral material as tables, charts, photos, and captions. If you've ever seen a caption that didn't fit the photo it was describing, you will understand the need for this extra scrutiny. You will learn the function of the foreword, table of contents, index, and many more.

Fiction Editing

Every novel is different, and a good fiction editor will help guide the author to take the story where it wants to go. This lesson defines narrative summary, exposition, point of view, and character arcs. By the end of the lesson, you should have the necessary tools to tackle fiction editing.

The Editor-Author-Publisher Relationship

This lesson examines how to keep life harmonious within the author-editor-publisher relationship. Writers will be able to see things from the editor's perspective, and editors will learn how it feels to be in the author's shoes. Both of you will gain insight as well as a good brush-up of your people skills.

Word Usage

After 10 lessons of absorbing the technical elements of editing, it's time to have some fun. This lesson explores the intricacies, inconsistencies, and irregularities in the English language. You will learn about oddball words and phrases, the dos and don'ts of usage, and why language is like a puzzle.

Finding Work as an Editor

This might be the most important lesson of all. In this lesson, you will learn how to find work as an editor. Whether you want to begin a freelance career or are interested in a staff position, all the help and advice you will need to achieve your goals is in this lesson.

What you will learn

• Examine the roles of the copy editor and other editors who work within the publishing industry
• Utilize the copy editors' symbols, try your hand at editing electronically, and practice editing PDFs
• Discover the tools editors use to produce clarity and consistency
• Apply the basics of grammar and punctuation that copy editors need to know
• Learn to apply editing rules and guidelines for spelling, capitalization, and number usage
• Recognize the rules governing abbreviations and hyphens, and discover the basics of bibliographies and copyright law
• Identify the editing needs of tables, charts, and photos, and discover the components of front and back matter
• Explore ways to build and maintain good editor-author-publisher relationships

How you will benefit

• Take steps to establish an editing career
• Become more confident in your ability to quickly and accurately edit any type of document
• Learn skills that can help you become a better writer and communicator

Jacquelyn Landis has worked as a nonfiction editor for more than 15 years. Her editing repertoire includes books, articles, and business manuals written by authors such as Eva Shaw, George Carpozi, Anthony Robbins, and Tom Blair. She has been a speaker in the UCSD Extension program and has participated in writing panels at the University of San Diego. Landis is also the author of numerous published books and magazine articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University.

If you aspire to be an editor, this course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

Ask any published writer and you will hear that a good editor is not just helpful, but essential. If you aspire to be an editor, this copyediting course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction. If you're already working as an editor, you will not only brush up on your skills, but will also learn about recent advances in your chosen profession. If you're a writer, you will learn essential self-editing tools to give your manuscripts the professional look that publishers like to see.

From the language of editing to grammar, punctuation, and syntax to the all-important relationships between editor, author, and publisher, every facet of editing will be explored in this copyeditor course. Online editing is gaining popularity; its complexities will be unraveled and its advantages and pitfalls explored. Can you make a living as an editor? Tips and resources for finding work will be addressed at length. When you finish with this course, you will feel confident enough to tackle even the most complex of manuscripts.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the essential skills and resources you will need to become a successful and confident copyeditor. This course provides the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

What Editors Do

Have you ever wondered just what editors do with writers' manuscripts? In this first lesson, you will find out. You will learn about the different types of editors—copy editors, acquisition editors, developmental editors, production editors, and more—and exactly what their jobs entail.

The Mechanics of Copyediting

If you've ever seen a document that an editor has marked up, you probably wondered what all those symbols meant. This lesson focuses on traditional copy editors' marks and how to use them. By the end of the lesson, you will have a solid foundation for editing both on a paper manuscript and on-screen.

Tools to Increase Accuracy

Editors must focus on many details to produce a final manuscript that's as error-free as possible. This lesson covers the tools used to catch inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, and more. By the end of the lesson, you will have a clear understanding of what tools you need to edit effectively and efficiently.

Grammar and Punctuation

This lesson will offer a refresher on the basics of grammar and punctuation as well as reveal some of the more common related problems that arise in writing. You will come away with a solid understanding of the basic grammar principles as they apply to copyediting.

Spelling, Capitalization, and Numbers

This lesson takes you into the world of spelling, capitalization, and numbers. Many people are surprised to learn that there are actually rules governing how words are spelled and capitalized, and whether numbers should be spelled out or in digit form.

Syntax and Style

This lesson explores all the writing pitfalls that can leave readers in a state of confusion. You will learn to recognize and fix garbled syntax, mixed metaphors, nominals, redundancies, and much more. You will also learn how to untangle overly wordy sentences and create parallel structure.

Abbreviations and Hyphens, Bibliographies and Copyright Law

When is it appropriate to use an abbreviation? When should you hyphenate words? Most people have a general knowledge of abbreviations and hyphens, but when it comes time to actually use them, they can be mystifying. This lesson examines the rules that guide their use.

Photos and Tables, Front and Back Matter

In this lesson, you will learn how to edit such peripheral material as tables, charts, photos, and captions. If you've ever seen a caption that didn't fit the photo it was describing, you will understand the need for this extra scrutiny. You will learn the function of the foreword, table of contents, index, and many more.

Fiction Editing

Every novel is different, and a good fiction editor will help guide the author to take the story where it wants to go. This lesson defines narrative summary, exposition, point of view, and character arcs. By the end of the lesson, you should have the necessary tools to tackle fiction editing.

The Editor-Author-Publisher Relationship

This lesson examines how to keep life harmonious within the author-editor-publisher relationship. Writers will be able to see things from the editor's perspective, and editors will learn how it feels to be in the author's shoes. Both of you will gain insight as well as a good brush-up of your people skills.

Word Usage

After 10 lessons of absorbing the technical elements of editing, it's time to have some fun. This lesson explores the intricacies, inconsistencies, and irregularities in the English language. You will learn about oddball words and phrases, the dos and don'ts of usage, and why language is like a puzzle.

Finding Work as an Editor

This might be the most important lesson of all. In this lesson, you will learn how to find work as an editor. Whether you want to begin a freelance career or are interested in a staff position, all the help and advice you will need to achieve your goals is in this lesson.

What you will learn

• Examine the roles of the copy editor and other editors who work within the publishing industry
• Utilize the copy editors' symbols, try your hand at editing electronically, and practice editing PDFs
• Discover the tools editors use to produce clarity and consistency
• Apply the basics of grammar and punctuation that copy editors need to know
• Learn to apply editing rules and guidelines for spelling, capitalization, and number usage
• Recognize the rules governing abbreviations and hyphens, and discover the basics of bibliographies and copyright law
• Identify the editing needs of tables, charts, and photos, and discover the components of front and back matter
• Explore ways to build and maintain good editor-author-publisher relationships

How you will benefit

• Take steps to establish an editing career
• Become more confident in your ability to quickly and accurately edit any type of document
• Learn skills that can help you become a better writer and communicator

Jacquelyn Landis has worked as a nonfiction editor for more than 15 years. Her editing repertoire includes books, articles, and business manuals written by authors such as Eva Shaw, George Carpozi, Anthony Robbins, and Tom Blair. She has been a speaker in the UCSD Extension program and has participated in writing panels at the University of San Diego. Landis is also the author of numerous published books and magazine articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University.

If you aspire to be an editor, this course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

Ask any published writer and you will hear that a good editor is not just helpful, but essential. If you aspire to be an editor, this copyediting course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction. If you're already working as an editor, you will not only brush up on your skills, but will also learn about recent advances in your chosen profession. If you're a writer, you will learn essential self-editing tools to give your manuscripts the professional look that publishers like to see.

From the language of editing to grammar, punctuation, and syntax to the all-important relationships between editor, author, and publisher, every facet of editing will be explored in this copyeditor course. Online editing is gaining popularity; its complexities will be unraveled and its advantages and pitfalls explored. Can you make a living as an editor? Tips and resources for finding work will be addressed at length. When you finish with this course, you will feel confident enough to tackle even the most complex of manuscripts.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the essential skills and resources you will need to become a successful and confident copyeditor. This course provides the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

What Editors Do

Have you ever wondered just what editors do with writers' manuscripts? In this first lesson, you will find out. You will learn about the different types of editors—copy editors, acquisition editors, developmental editors, production editors, and more—and exactly what their jobs entail.

The Mechanics of Copyediting

If you've ever seen a document that an editor has marked up, you probably wondered what all those symbols meant. This lesson focuses on traditional copy editors' marks and how to use them. By the end of the lesson, you will have a solid foundation for editing both on a paper manuscript and on-screen.

Tools to Increase Accuracy

Editors must focus on many details to produce a final manuscript that's as error-free as possible. This lesson covers the tools used to catch inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, and more. By the end of the lesson, you will have a clear understanding of what tools you need to edit effectively and efficiently.

Grammar and Punctuation

This lesson will offer a refresher on the basics of grammar and punctuation as well as reveal some of the more common related problems that arise in writing. You will come away with a solid understanding of the basic grammar principles as they apply to copyediting.

Spelling, Capitalization, and Numbers

This lesson takes you into the world of spelling, capitalization, and numbers. Many people are surprised to learn that there are actually rules governing how words are spelled and capitalized, and whether numbers should be spelled out or in digit form.

Syntax and Style

This lesson explores all the writing pitfalls that can leave readers in a state of confusion. You will learn to recognize and fix garbled syntax, mixed metaphors, nominals, redundancies, and much more. You will also learn how to untangle overly wordy sentences and create parallel structure.

Abbreviations and Hyphens, Bibliographies and Copyright Law

When is it appropriate to use an abbreviation? When should you hyphenate words? Most people have a general knowledge of abbreviations and hyphens, but when it comes time to actually use them, they can be mystifying. This lesson examines the rules that guide their use.

Photos and Tables, Front and Back Matter

In this lesson, you will learn how to edit such peripheral material as tables, charts, photos, and captions. If you've ever seen a caption that didn't fit the photo it was describing, you will understand the need for this extra scrutiny. You will learn the function of the foreword, table of contents, index, and many more.

Fiction Editing

Every novel is different, and a good fiction editor will help guide the author to take the story where it wants to go. This lesson defines narrative summary, exposition, point of view, and character arcs. By the end of the lesson, you should have the necessary tools to tackle fiction editing.

The Editor-Author-Publisher Relationship

This lesson examines how to keep life harmonious within the author-editor-publisher relationship. Writers will be able to see things from the editor's perspective, and editors will learn how it feels to be in the author's shoes. Both of you will gain insight as well as a good brush-up of your people skills.

Word Usage

After 10 lessons of absorbing the technical elements of editing, it's time to have some fun. This lesson explores the intricacies, inconsistencies, and irregularities in the English language. You will learn about oddball words and phrases, the dos and don'ts of usage, and why language is like a puzzle.

Finding Work as an Editor

This might be the most important lesson of all. In this lesson, you will learn how to find work as an editor. Whether you want to begin a freelance career or are interested in a staff position, all the help and advice you will need to achieve your goals is in this lesson.

What you will learn

• Examine the roles of the copy editor and other editors who work within the publishing industry
• Utilize the copy editors' symbols, try your hand at editing electronically, and practice editing PDFs
• Discover the tools editors use to produce clarity and consistency
• Apply the basics of grammar and punctuation that copy editors need to know
• Learn to apply editing rules and guidelines for spelling, capitalization, and number usage
• Recognize the rules governing abbreviations and hyphens, and discover the basics of bibliographies and copyright law
• Identify the editing needs of tables, charts, and photos, and discover the components of front and back matter
• Explore ways to build and maintain good editor-author-publisher relationships

How you will benefit

• Take steps to establish an editing career
• Become more confident in your ability to quickly and accurately edit any type of document
• Learn skills that can help you become a better writer and communicator

Jacquelyn Landis has worked as a nonfiction editor for more than 15 years. Her editing repertoire includes books, articles, and business manuals written by authors such as Eva Shaw, George Carpozi, Anthony Robbins, and Tom Blair. She has been a speaker in the UCSD Extension program and has participated in writing panels at the University of San Diego. Landis is also the author of numerous published books and magazine articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University.

If you aspire to be an editor, this course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

Ask any published writer and you will hear that a good editor is not just helpful, but essential. If you aspire to be an editor, this copyediting course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction. If you're already working as an editor, you will not only brush up on your skills, but will also learn about recent advances in your chosen profession. If you're a writer, you will learn essential self-editing tools to give your manuscripts the professional look that publishers like to see.

From the language of editing to grammar, punctuation, and syntax to the all-important relationships between editor, author, and publisher, every facet of editing will be explored in this copyeditor course. Online editing is gaining popularity; its complexities will be unraveled and its advantages and pitfalls explored. Can you make a living as an editor? Tips and resources for finding work will be addressed at length. When you finish with this course, you will feel confident enough to tackle even the most complex of manuscripts.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the essential skills and resources you will need to become a successful and confident copyeditor. This course provides the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

What Editors Do

Have you ever wondered just what editors do with writers' manuscripts? In this first lesson, you will find out. You will learn about the different types of editors—copy editors, acquisition editors, developmental editors, production editors, and more—and exactly what their jobs entail.

The Mechanics of Copyediting

If you've ever seen a document that an editor has marked up, you probably wondered what all those symbols meant. This lesson focuses on traditional copy editors' marks and how to use them. By the end of the lesson, you will have a solid foundation for editing both on a paper manuscript and on-screen.

Tools to Increase Accuracy

Editors must focus on many details to produce a final manuscript that's as error-free as possible. This lesson covers the tools used to catch inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, and more. By the end of the lesson, you will have a clear understanding of what tools you need to edit effectively and efficiently.

Grammar and Punctuation

This lesson will offer a refresher on the basics of grammar and punctuation as well as reveal some of the more common related problems that arise in writing. You will come away with a solid understanding of the basic grammar principles as they apply to copyediting.

Spelling, Capitalization, and Numbers

This lesson takes you into the world of spelling, capitalization, and numbers. Many people are surprised to learn that there are actually rules governing how words are spelled and capitalized, and whether numbers should be spelled out or in digit form.

Syntax and Style

This lesson explores all the writing pitfalls that can leave readers in a state of confusion. You will learn to recognize and fix garbled syntax, mixed metaphors, nominals, redundancies, and much more. You will also learn how to untangle overly wordy sentences and create parallel structure.

Abbreviations and Hyphens, Bibliographies and Copyright Law

When is it appropriate to use an abbreviation? When should you hyphenate words? Most people have a general knowledge of abbreviations and hyphens, but when it comes time to actually use them, they can be mystifying. This lesson examines the rules that guide their use.

Photos and Tables, Front and Back Matter

In this lesson, you will learn how to edit such peripheral material as tables, charts, photos, and captions. If you've ever seen a caption that didn't fit the photo it was describing, you will understand the need for this extra scrutiny. You will learn the function of the foreword, table of contents, index, and many more.

Fiction Editing

Every novel is different, and a good fiction editor will help guide the author to take the story where it wants to go. This lesson defines narrative summary, exposition, point of view, and character arcs. By the end of the lesson, you should have the necessary tools to tackle fiction editing.

The Editor-Author-Publisher Relationship

This lesson examines how to keep life harmonious within the author-editor-publisher relationship. Writers will be able to see things from the editor's perspective, and editors will learn how it feels to be in the author's shoes. Both of you will gain insight as well as a good brush-up of your people skills.

Word Usage

After 10 lessons of absorbing the technical elements of editing, it's time to have some fun. This lesson explores the intricacies, inconsistencies, and irregularities in the English language. You will learn about oddball words and phrases, the dos and don'ts of usage, and why language is like a puzzle.

Finding Work as an Editor

This might be the most important lesson of all. In this lesson, you will learn how to find work as an editor. Whether you want to begin a freelance career or are interested in a staff position, all the help and advice you will need to achieve your goals is in this lesson.

What you will learn

• Examine the roles of the copy editor and other editors who work within the publishing industry
• Utilize the copy editors' symbols, try your hand at editing electronically, and practice editing PDFs
• Discover the tools editors use to produce clarity and consistency
• Apply the basics of grammar and punctuation that copy editors need to know
• Learn to apply editing rules and guidelines for spelling, capitalization, and number usage
• Recognize the rules governing abbreviations and hyphens, and discover the basics of bibliographies and copyright law
• Identify the editing needs of tables, charts, and photos, and discover the components of front and back matter
• Explore ways to build and maintain good editor-author-publisher relationships

How you will benefit

• Take steps to establish an editing career
• Become more confident in your ability to quickly and accurately edit any type of document
• Learn skills that can help you become a better writer and communicator

Jacquelyn Landis has worked as a nonfiction editor for more than 15 years. Her editing repertoire includes books, articles, and business manuals written by authors such as Eva Shaw, George Carpozi, Anthony Robbins, and Tom Blair. She has been a speaker in the UCSD Extension program and has participated in writing panels at the University of San Diego. Landis is also the author of numerous published books and magazine articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University.

Profit from your experiences in exotic lands (or your own backyard) by learning how to write and sell travel articles and books.

In this course you will learn how to develop the skills of a travel writer. You will learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books. You will understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market. You will learn about popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers. Other topics of the workshop include; how to write query letters, how to produce articles, essays and books, trends in types of articles and books, grammar and writing skills refreshers, and marketing information.

By the end of the course, you will have the ability to write for the travel market. So pack your sense of adventure, organize your determination and put your keyboard in a comfortable position. If you have a desire to write and yearn to travel, you are a perfect candidate to become a travel writer.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to profit from your experiences in exotic lands by learning how to write and sell travel articles and books. This course will teach you how to develop the skills of a travel writer so you can translate sensory experiences into publishable writing.

Overview of the Travel Market

Would you like your writing to make a destination, restaurant, or festival jump off the page? Do you want your readers to long to find their passports, grab suitcases, and have the post office hold their mail? In this lesson, you'll start finding out how. The lesson will cover what you need to know to get started, how to create different types of travel writing, and how to begin thinking and writing like a travel writer, even if you're only traveling around your own hometown.

Keeping a Travel Writer's Journal

Do you keep notes when you visit incredible locations? Do you read about a place before you visit it? Do you gather tidbits and retell the stories of your trips, keeping family, friends, and co-workers on the edges of their chairs? If so, you're thinking like a travel writer. This lesson will focus on keeping a travel journal and cover writing techniques you'll use when capturing your travels. It will talk about travel close to home, too. Then, the lesson will provide some questions to spark your travel-writer's brain and share some tips about organizing your materials.

Writing Travel Articles

The genres (categories or types) of articles and essays about travel are limited only by your own imagination. Do you want to know how to write destination pieces, food articles, round-up pieces, advice, or personal experience pieces? That's what you'll learn in this jam-packed lesson. With this information, you'll be well on your way to a career (full or part-time, mind you) as a travel writer.

Writing Travel Books

Are you addicted to travel books, collections of travel essays, or books such as Under the Tuscan Sun? Travel books sell so well that you'll find many bookstores devoted specifically to them. In large stores like Borders and Barnes and Noble, you'll find sections and shelves piled high with travel books. Most of them have specific sections for travel essay books, too. In this lesson, you'll learn what it takes to write travel books that publishers snap up and that hungry armchair travelers snatch off the shelves.

Making Plans for Travel

Travel writers should never leave home without packing their sense of adventure, sense of humor, and determination to capture their travels in image-filled writing (prose, not poetry). How do they prepare? That's the focus of this lesson. The lesson will talk about organizing materials before you go on any trip. You'll learn how to plan the trip, how to contact publications before going, and how to dig beneath the surface to find the story within the story. By learning these techniques, you'll discover tricks to capture a reader's interest.

Writing Techniques

Do you ask lots of questions? Have you ever thought that simply asking can provide some of the best travel tips you could discover? That's what this lesson will talk about. Yes—how to ask questions. In other words, interview to get information that will put your writing talents above other writers. Wait! There's more. The lesson will also talk about the need to find the perfect title for your work, how to interview to get the story beneath the surface, and how to connect with the people in the locations you're writing about.

Outline Methods That Work Every Time

By the time you've reached this lesson, you'll understand that there are article and book ideas everywhere. You'll see possibilities just driving around your town or city. While these ideas sound simple, some new writers pass over them thinking that they're, well, too simple to be effective. This lesson will share some professional tools you can use to tap into creative juices that will generate oodles of ideas. This will help you figure out exactly what your readers want. It may also help you discover what editors want before other writers come to the same conclusions.

Working Like a Travel Writer

This lesson will talk about the work of being a travel writer. You'll learn about taxes and deductions, how to organize your home office, and how to select the tools that you'll need to be a writer. You probably have many of the tools already. Later, the lesson will go over ways to avoid, or get over, that writing bugaboo known as writer's block. Yes, there is a cure, even if you've been down in the dumps with it for weeks, months, or years.

Submitting Like a Pro

Most writers have a difficult time editing their work. A few are too easy on themselves. Others are ruthless. These same writers begin to fear creative urges and what they commit to paper. One of the goals of this course is to get you to enjoy the feel of words before you go back to pick out the keepers. In addition to learning about self-editing, you'll get some valuable insights and information about writing query letters, the concepts of writing on spec or on assignment, manuscript production formats, and dialogue.

Research and Online Techniques

This lesson will talk about research and ways you can find information about a location, culture, destination, and other travel writing areas. You'll then look at some different ways to connect with travel sources. The lesson will also discuss the issue of freebies, because, depending on the publication you're writing for, you may actually find yourself in a pickle if you accept something that only seems to be free.

Photos and Travel Writing

Don't you just love the travel photos in magazines? This lesson will cover basic camera savvy and helpful picture-taking techniques along with information on stock photos. Smart travel writers take photos to sell along with articles, making their writing more desirable to editors and publishers. This lesson won't instantly turn you into an expert professional photographer, but it will help you take better photos in general.

Recycling Your Material

Writers are idea machines, and they generally have more of them circling around in their heads than there is time to jot them in their writer's journal, turn out queries, or write articles. When selecting topics to write about, you'll have to do some research to develop them into full-blown articles. Once this research is done, don't stop with just one article on a topic. Recycle your research and you'll be able to sell and resell the material, which is exactly what professional travel writers do. This final lesson will talk about writing spin-offs, finding creative sources for travel writing, and combining travel writing with other genres.

What you will learn

• Learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books
• Understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market
• Learn about popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers
• Understand how to write query letters
• Learn how to how to produce articles, essays and books

How you will benefit

• Feel confident in your ability to write for the travel market
• Open the door to new opportunities as a full-time or freelance travel writer

Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 70 books including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "Insider's Guide to San Diego." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

Profit from your experiences in exotic lands (or your own backyard) by learning how to write and sell travel articles and books.

In this course you will learn how to develop the skills of a travel writer. You will learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books. You will understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market. You will learn about popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers. Other topics of the workshop include; how to write query letters, how to produce articles, essays and books, trends in types of articles and books, grammar and writing skills refreshers, and marketing information.

By the end of the course, you will have the ability to write for the travel market. So pack your sense of adventure, organize your determination and put your keyboard in a comfortable position. If you have a desire to write and yearn to travel, you are a perfect candidate to become a travel writer.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to profit from your experiences in exotic lands by learning how to write and sell travel articles and books. This course will teach you how to develop the skills of a travel writer so you can translate sensory experiences into publishable writing.

Overview of the Travel Market

Would you like your writing to make a destination, restaurant, or festival jump off the page? Do you want your readers to long to find their passports, grab suitcases, and have the post office hold their mail? In this lesson, you'll start finding out how. The lesson will cover what you need to know to get started, how to create different types of travel writing, and how to begin thinking and writing like a travel writer, even if you're only traveling around your own hometown.

Keeping a Travel Writer's Journal

Do you keep notes when you visit incredible locations? Do you read about a place before you visit it? Do you gather tidbits and retell the stories of your trips, keeping family, friends, and co-workers on the edges of their chairs? If so, you're thinking like a travel writer. This lesson will focus on keeping a travel journal and cover writing techniques you'll use when capturing your travels. It will talk about travel close to home, too. Then, the lesson will provide some questions to spark your travel-writer's brain and share some tips about organizing your materials.

Writing Travel Articles

The genres (categories or types) of articles and essays about travel are limited only by your own imagination. Do you want to know how to write destination pieces, food articles, round-up pieces, advice, or personal experience pieces? That's what you'll learn in this jam-packed lesson. With this information, you'll be well on your way to a career (full or part-time, mind you) as a travel writer.

Writing Travel Books

Are you addicted to travel books, collections of travel essays, or books such as Under the Tuscan Sun? Travel books sell so well that you'll find many bookstores devoted specifically to them. In large stores like Borders and Barnes and Noble, you'll find sections and shelves piled high with travel books. Most of them have specific sections for travel essay books, too. In this lesson, you'll learn what it takes to write travel books that publishers snap up and that hungry armchair travelers snatch off the shelves.

Making Plans for Travel

Travel writers should never leave home without packing their sense of adventure, sense of humor, and determination to capture their travels in image-filled writing (prose, not poetry). How do they prepare? That's the focus of this lesson. The lesson will talk about organizing materials before you go on any trip. You'll learn how to plan the trip, how to contact publications before going, and how to dig beneath the surface to find the story within the story. By learning these techniques, you'll discover tricks to capture a reader's interest.

Writing Techniques

Do you ask lots of questions? Have you ever thought that simply asking can provide some of the best travel tips you could discover? That's what this lesson will talk about. Yes—how to ask questions. In other words, interview to get information that will put your writing talents above other writers. Wait! There's more. The lesson will also talk about the need to find the perfect title for your work, how to interview to get the story beneath the surface, and how to connect with the people in the locations you're writing about.

Outline Methods That Work Every Time

By the time you've reached this lesson, you'll understand that there are article and book ideas everywhere. You'll see possibilities just driving around your town or city. While these ideas sound simple, some new writers pass over them thinking that they're, well, too simple to be effective. This lesson will share some professional tools you can use to tap into creative juices that will generate oodles of ideas. This will help you figure out exactly what your readers want. It may also help you discover what editors want before other writers come to the same conclusions.

Working Like a Travel Writer

This lesson will talk about the work of being a travel writer. You'll learn about taxes and deductions, how to organize your home office, and how to select the tools that you'll need to be a writer. You probably have many of the tools already. Later, the lesson will go over ways to avoid, or get over, that writing bugaboo known as writer's block. Yes, there is a cure, even if you've been down in the dumps with it for weeks, months, or years.

Submitting Like a Pro

Most writers have a difficult time editing their work. A few are too easy on themselves. Others are ruthless. These same writers begin to fear creative urges and what they commit to paper. One of the goals of this course is to get you to enjoy the feel of words before you go back to pick out the keepers. In addition to learning about self-editing, you'll get some valuable insights and information about writing query letters, the concepts of writing on spec or on assignment, manuscript production formats, and dialogue.

Research and Online Techniques

This lesson will talk about research and ways you can find information about a location, culture, destination, and other travel writing areas. You'll then look at some different ways to connect with travel sources. The lesson will also discuss the issue of freebies, because, depending on the publication you're writing for, you may actually find yourself in a pickle if you accept something that only seems to be free.

Photos and Travel Writing

Don't you just love the travel photos in magazines? This lesson will cover basic camera savvy and helpful picture-taking techniques along with information on stock photos. Smart travel writers take photos to sell along with articles, making their writing more desirable to editors and publishers. This lesson won't instantly turn you into an expert professional photographer, but it will help you take better photos in general.

Recycling Your Material

Writers are idea machines, and they generally have more of them circling around in their heads than there is time to jot them in their writer's journal, turn out queries, or write articles. When selecting topics to write about, you'll have to do some research to develop them into full-blown articles. Once this research is done, don't stop with just one article on a topic. Recycle your research and you'll be able to sell and resell the material, which is exactly what professional travel writers do. This final lesson will talk about writing spin-offs, finding creative sources for travel writing, and combining travel writing with other genres.

What you will learn

• Learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books
• Understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market
• Learn about popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers
• Understand how to write query letters
• Learn how to how to produce articles, essays and books

How you will benefit

• Feel confident in your ability to write for the travel market
• Open the door to new opportunities as a full-time or freelance travel writer

Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 70 books including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "Insider's Guide to San Diego." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

Profit from your experiences in exotic lands (or your own backyard) by learning how to write and sell travel articles and books.

In this course you will learn how to develop the skills of a travel writer. You will learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books. You will understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market. You will learn about popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers. Other topics of the workshop include; how to write query letters, how to produce articles, essays and books, trends in types of articles and books, grammar and writing skills refreshers, and marketing information.

By the end of the course, you will have the ability to write for the travel market. So pack your sense of adventure, organize your determination and put your keyboard in a comfortable position. If you have a desire to write and yearn to travel, you are a perfect candidate to become a travel writer.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to profit from your experiences in exotic lands by learning how to write and sell travel articles and books. This course will teach you how to develop the skills of a travel writer so you can translate sensory experiences into publishable writing.

Overview of the Travel Market

Would you like your writing to make a destination, restaurant, or festival jump off the page? Do you want your readers to long to find their passports, grab suitcases, and have the post office hold their mail? In this lesson, you'll start finding out how. The lesson will cover what you need to know to get started, how to create different types of travel writing, and how to begin thinking and writing like a travel writer, even if you're only traveling around your own hometown.

Keeping a Travel Writer's Journal

Do you keep notes when you visit incredible locations? Do you read about a place before you visit it? Do you gather tidbits and retell the stories of your trips, keeping family, friends, and co-workers on the edges of their chairs? If so, you're thinking like a travel writer. This lesson will focus on keeping a travel journal and cover writing techniques you'll use when capturing your travels. It will talk about travel close to home, too. Then, the lesson will provide some questions to spark your travel-writer's brain and share some tips about organizing your materials.

Writing Travel Articles

The genres (categories or types) of articles and essays about travel are limited only by your own imagination. Do you want to know how to write destination pieces, food articles, round-up pieces, advice, or personal experience pieces? That's what you'll learn in this jam-packed lesson. With this information, you'll be well on your way to a career (full or part-time, mind you) as a travel writer.

Writing Travel Books

Are you addicted to travel books, collections of travel essays, or books such as Under the Tuscan Sun? Travel books sell so well that you'll find many bookstores devoted specifically to them. In large stores like Borders and Barnes and Noble, you'll find sections and shelves piled high with travel books. Most of them have specific sections for travel essay books, too. In this lesson, you'll learn what it takes to write travel books that publishers snap up and that hungry armchair travelers snatch off the shelves.

Making Plans for Travel

Travel writers should never leave home without packing their sense of adventure, sense of humor, and determination to capture their travels in image-filled writing (prose, not poetry). How do they prepare? That's the focus of this lesson. The lesson will talk about organizing materials before you go on any trip. You'll learn how to plan the trip, how to contact publications before going, and how to dig beneath the surface to find the story within the story. By learning these techniques, you'll discover tricks to capture a reader's interest.

Writing Techniques

Do you ask lots of questions? Have you ever thought that simply asking can provide some of the best travel tips you could discover? That's what this lesson will talk about. Yes—how to ask questions. In other words, interview to get information that will put your writing talents above other writers. Wait! There's more. The lesson will also talk about the need to find the perfect title for your work, how to interview to get the story beneath the surface, and how to connect with the people in the locations you're writing about.

Outline Methods That Work Every Time

By the time you've reached this lesson, you'll understand that there are article and book ideas everywhere. You'll see possibilities just driving around your town or city. While these ideas sound simple, some new writers pass over them thinking that they're, well, too simple to be effective. This lesson will share some professional tools you can use to tap into creative juices that will generate oodles of ideas. This will help you figure out exactly what your readers want. It may also help you discover what editors want before other writers come to the same conclusions.

Working Like a Travel Writer

This lesson will talk about the work of being a travel writer. You'll learn about taxes and deductions, how to organize your home office, and how to select the tools that you'll need to be a writer. You probably have many of the tools already. Later, the lesson will go over ways to avoid, or get over, that writing bugaboo known as writer's block. Yes, there is a cure, even if you've been down in the dumps with it for weeks, months, or years.

Submitting Like a Pro

Most writers have a difficult time editing their work. A few are too easy on themselves. Others are ruthless. These same writers begin to fear creative urges and what they commit to paper. One of the goals of this course is to get you to enjoy the feel of words before you go back to pick out the keepers. In addition to learning about self-editing, you'll get some valuable insights and information about writing query letters, the concepts of writing on spec or on assignment, manuscript production formats, and dialogue.

Research and Online Techniques

This lesson will talk about research and ways you can find information about a location, culture, destination, and other travel writing areas. You'll then look at some different ways to connect with travel sources. The lesson will also discuss the issue of freebies, because, depending on the publication you're writing for, you may actually find yourself in a pickle if you accept something that only seems to be free.

Photos and Travel Writing

Don't you just love the travel photos in magazines? This lesson will cover basic camera savvy and helpful picture-taking techniques along with information on stock photos. Smart travel writers take photos to sell along with articles, making their writing more desirable to editors and publishers. This lesson won't instantly turn you into an expert professional photographer, but it will help you take better photos in general.

Recycling Your Material

Writers are idea machines, and they generally have more of them circling around in their heads than there is time to jot them in their writer's journal, turn out queries, or write articles. When selecting topics to write about, you'll have to do some research to develop them into full-blown articles. Once this research is done, don't stop with just one article on a topic. Recycle your research and you'll be able to sell and resell the material, which is exactly what professional travel writers do. This final lesson will talk about writing spin-offs, finding creative sources for travel writing, and combining travel writing with other genres.

What you will learn

• Learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books
• Understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market
• Learn about popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers
• Understand how to write query letters
• Learn how to how to produce articles, essays and books

How you will benefit

• Feel confident in your ability to write for the travel market
• Open the door to new opportunities as a full-time or freelance travel writer

Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 70 books including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "Insider's Guide to San Diego." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

Profit from your experiences in exotic lands (or your own backyard) by learning how to write and sell travel articles and books.

In this course you will learn how to develop the skills of a travel writer. You will learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books. You will understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market. You will learn about popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers. Other topics of the workshop include; how to write query letters, how to produce articles, essays and books, trends in types of articles and books, grammar and writing skills refreshers, and marketing information.

By the end of the course, you will have the ability to write for the travel market. So pack your sense of adventure, organize your determination and put your keyboard in a comfortable position. If you have a desire to write and yearn to travel, you are a perfect candidate to become a travel writer.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to profit from your experiences in exotic lands by learning how to write and sell travel articles and books. This course will teach you how to develop the skills of a travel writer so you can translate sensory experiences into publishable writing.

Overview of the Travel Market

Would you like your writing to make a destination, restaurant, or festival jump off the page? Do you want your readers to long to find their passports, grab suitcases, and have the post office hold their mail? In this lesson, you'll start finding out how. The lesson will cover what you need to know to get started, how to create different types of travel writing, and how to begin thinking and writing like a travel writer, even if you're only traveling around your own hometown.

Keeping a Travel Writer's Journal

Do you keep notes when you visit incredible locations? Do you read about a place before you visit it? Do you gather tidbits and retell the stories of your trips, keeping family, friends, and co-workers on the edges of their chairs? If so, you're thinking like a travel writer. This lesson will focus on keeping a travel journal and cover writing techniques you'll use when capturing your travels. It will talk about travel close to home, too. Then, the lesson will provide some questions to spark your travel-writer's brain and share some tips about organizing your materials.

Writing Travel Articles

The genres (categories or types) of articles and essays about travel are limited only by your own imagination. Do you want to know how to write destination pieces, food articles, round-up pieces, advice, or personal experience pieces? That's what you'll learn in this jam-packed lesson. With this information, you'll be well on your way to a career (full or part-time, mind you) as a travel writer.

Writing Travel Books

Are you addicted to travel books, collections of travel essays, or books such as Under the Tuscan Sun? Travel books sell so well that you'll find many bookstores devoted specifically to them. In large stores like Borders and Barnes and Noble, you'll find sections and shelves piled high with travel books. Most of them have specific sections for travel essay books, too. In this lesson, you'll learn what it takes to write travel books that publishers snap up and that hungry armchair travelers snatch off the shelves.

Making Plans for Travel

Travel writers should never leave home without packing their sense of adventure, sense of humor, and determination to capture their travels in image-filled writing (prose, not poetry). How do they prepare? That's the focus of this lesson. The lesson will talk about organizing materials before you go on any trip. You'll learn how to plan the trip, how to contact publications before going, and how to dig beneath the surface to find the story within the story. By learning these techniques, you'll discover tricks to capture a reader's interest.

Writing Techniques

Do you ask lots of questions? Have you ever thought that simply asking can provide some of the best travel tips you could discover? That's what this lesson will talk about. Yes—how to ask questions. In other words, interview to get information that will put your writing talents above other writers. Wait! There's more. The lesson will also talk about the need to find the perfect title for your work, how to interview to get the story beneath the surface, and how to connect with the people in the locations you're writing about.

Outline Methods That Work Every Time

By the time you've reached this lesson, you'll understand that there are article and book ideas everywhere. You'll see possibilities just driving around your town or city. While these ideas sound simple, some new writers pass over them thinking that they're, well, too simple to be effective. This lesson will share some professional tools you can use to tap into creative juices that will generate oodles of ideas. This will help you figure out exactly what your readers want. It may also help you discover what editors want before other writers come to the same conclusions.

Working Like a Travel Writer

This lesson will talk about the work of being a travel writer. You'll learn about taxes and deductions, how to organize your home office, and how to select the tools that you'll need to be a writer. You probably have many of the tools already. Later, the lesson will go over ways to avoid, or get over, that writing bugaboo known as writer's block. Yes, there is a cure, even if you've been down in the dumps with it for weeks, months, or years.

Submitting Like a Pro

Most writers have a difficult time editing their work. A few are too easy on themselves. Others are ruthless. These same writers begin to fear creative urges and what they commit to paper. One of the goals of this course is to get you to enjoy the feel of words before you go back to pick out the keepers. In addition to learning about self-editing, you'll get some valuable insights and information about writing query letters, the concepts of writing on spec or on assignment, manuscript production formats, and dialogue.

Research and Online Techniques

This lesson will talk about research and ways you can find information about a location, culture, destination, and other travel writing areas. You'll then look at some different ways to connect with travel sources. The lesson will also discuss the issue of freebies, because, depending on the publication you're writing for, you may actually find yourself in a pickle if you accept something that only seems to be free.

Photos and Travel Writing

Don't you just love the travel photos in magazines? This lesson will cover basic camera savvy and helpful picture-taking techniques along with information on stock photos. Smart travel writers take photos to sell along with articles, making their writing more desirable to editors and publishers. This lesson won't instantly turn you into an expert professional photographer, but it will help you take better photos in general.

Recycling Your Material

Writers are idea machines, and they generally have more of them circling around in their heads than there is time to jot them in their writer's journal, turn out queries, or write articles. When selecting topics to write about, you'll have to do some research to develop them into full-blown articles. Once this research is done, don't stop with just one article on a topic. Recycle your research and you'll be able to sell and resell the material, which is exactly what professional travel writers do. This final lesson will talk about writing spin-offs, finding creative sources for travel writing, and combining travel writing with other genres.

What you will learn

• Learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books
• Understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market
• Learn about popular styles and types of travel writing that are the friendliest to new writers
• Understand how to write query letters
• Learn how to how to produce articles, essays and books

How you will benefit

• Feel confident in your ability to write for the travel market
• Open the door to new opportunities as a full-time or freelance travel writer

Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 70 books including "Writing the Nonfiction Book" and "Insider's Guide to San Diego." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

Winning RFP Responses was written for businesses of all sizes that have either yet to delve into contract bidding or have bid but were unsuccessful. Individuals new to bid proposal writing and those with some experience will benefit from this training course, which teaches learners how to strategically win business contracts.

Winning RFP Responses was written by an entrepreneur that has owned and operated 15 small businesses over the decades. Bringing additional revenue into your business can increase its sustainability. Have you ever thought about all the other businesses, organizations, and government agencies that likely need your goods or services? Did you know that even the smallest business can submit an award-winning bid and benefit from steady revenues?

RFPs can be daunting when you are faced with page-after-page of legal language, questions, and forms to fill in. This course will guide you through each step of researching, reading, understanding, evaluating, writing, and submitting award-winning bid responses. By the end of the course, you might even find a new career track as an RFP bid specialist. The possibilities for your business and your career are endless.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Microsoft Word or equivalent, such as MS Word online.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you're an individual or business looking to increase revenue through contract opportunities, then this course is for you. Having the skills to bid on competitive contracts can increase your business's revenues as you carry it through declining economic times. Learn the ins and outs of finding, reading, and determining whether RFPs fit your business's services or goods. Then learn how to write the components of a winning RFP bid response for your business.

Introduction to Request for Proposals (RFPs)

In this lesson, you will be introduced to Requests for Proposals (RFPs). From RFP terminology to understanding the sections of an RFP, your research skills will be honed, and the term RFP will become clearer as you explore the lesson.

Reading and Marking Up RFPs

In this lesson, you will learn how to read and mark up RFPs to determine if a business interested in bidding on the goods or services can meet all of the procurement agency's expectations.

Federal RFPs

In this lesson, you will be introduced to federal RFPs and the government's procurement expectations of bidders.

Evaluating RFP Responses Internally

In this lesson, you will learn how to evaluate RFPs and use internal peer review rubrics to determine who and how each of your team members should be involved in the bid response development.

Creating RFP Boilerplate Language About Your Business

In this lesson, you will learn how to create a basic business history narrative. This boilerplate narrative can be reused in bid responses.

Writing the RFP Statement of Work

In this lesson, you will learn how to write the statement of work so that it is in compliance with the procurement agency's guidelines.

Preparing the RFP Cost Proposal

In this lesson, you will learn how to prepare the bid response's cost proposal.

Preparing RFP Documents, Exhibits, and Other Attachments

In this lesson, you'll learn how to prepare RFP documents, exhibits, and other attachments required in the bid proposal submittal package.

Packaging, Submitting RFP Bids, and Preparing for Future Bids

In this lesson, you'll learn how to put together a highly competitive bid proposal package. You'll also learn about the submittal process and how to prepare for future bidding opportunities.

RFP Evaluating Factors for Contract Awards

In this lesson, you'll learn about the RFP evaluation processes and the factors that are critical components for contract awards.

RFP Bidding Mistakes to Avoid

In this lesson, you'll learn about common RFP bidding mistakes and how to avoid them.

Career Tracks for RFP Writers

In this lesson, you'll learn about the career tracks for RFP writers. Where will your ability to write winning bid responses take you?

What you will learn

• Describe the components of a winning business proposal
• Organize and draft business proposal components to create a winning RFP response
• Evaluate RFP peer responses like procurement agency teams
• Improve RFP responses with award-winning enhancements
• Explain career opportunities for skilled RFP writers

How you will benefit

• Increased ability to research RFPs and determine if they are a go or no-go for bidding
• Improved evaluation skills for evaluating your bid proposal's content before its submission to a procurement agency
• Better understanding of what it takes to submit a successful bid proposal
• Heightened analysis for sizing up your bidding competition and determining if your business should be a sole bidder or a subcontractor for another business with a higher chance of winning a contract award
• Awareness of how to protest a procurement agency's decision to award the contract to another business

Dr. Beverly A. Browning is a grant writing consultant and visionary who uses thought leadership to work with nonprofit organizations struggling with the woes of revenue stream imbalances. She has been researching grant funding, grantmaking trends, and board-related barriers to nonprofit capacity building for over 40 years. Together she and her team have helped her clients win over $750 million in grant awards.

Dr. Browning is the founder and director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and Bev Browning, LLC. She is the author of 44 grant writing publications, including six editions of Grant Writing for Dummies and the 6th edition of Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (to be published in 2021).

Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in organizational development, public administration, and business administration. She is also a Certified Strategic Planning Facilitator (CSPF), has a McNellis Compression Planning Institute Facilitation Training distinction, and is an Approved Trainer for the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), the Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE, and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

Winning RFP Responses was written for businesses of all sizes that have either yet to delve into contract bidding or have bid but were unsuccessful. Individuals new to bid proposal writing and those with some experience will benefit from this training course, which teaches learners how to strategically win business contracts.

Winning RFP Responses was written by an entrepreneur that has owned and operated 15 small businesses over the decades. Bringing additional revenue into your business can increase its sustainability. Have you ever thought about all the other businesses, organizations, and government agencies that likely need your goods or services? Did you know that even the smallest business can submit an award-winning bid and benefit from steady revenues?

RFPs can be daunting when you are faced with page-after-page of legal language, questions, and forms to fill in. This course will guide you through each step of researching, reading, understanding, evaluating, writing, and submitting award-winning bid responses. By the end of the course, you might even find a new career track as an RFP bid specialist. The possibilities for your business and your career are endless.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Microsoft Word or equivalent, such as MS Word online.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you're an individual or business looking to increase revenue through contract opportunities, then this course is for you. Having the skills to bid on competitive contracts can increase your business's revenues as you carry it through declining economic times. Learn the ins and outs of finding, reading, and determining whether RFPs fit your business's services or goods. Then learn how to write the components of a winning RFP bid response for your business.

Introduction to Request for Proposals (RFPs)

In this lesson, you will be introduced to Requests for Proposals (RFPs). From RFP terminology to understanding the sections of an RFP, your research skills will be honed, and the term RFP will become clearer as you explore the lesson.

Reading and Marking Up RFPs

In this lesson, you will learn how to read and mark up RFPs to determine if a business interested in bidding on the goods or services can meet all of the procurement agency's expectations.

Federal RFPs

In this lesson, you will be introduced to federal RFPs and the government's procurement expectations of bidders.

Evaluating RFP Responses Internally

In this lesson, you will learn how to evaluate RFPs and use internal peer review rubrics to determine who and how each of your team members should be involved in the bid response development.

Creating RFP Boilerplate Language About Your Business

In this lesson, you will learn how to create a basic business history narrative. This boilerplate narrative can be reused in bid responses.

Writing the RFP Statement of Work

In this lesson, you will learn how to write the statement of work so that it is in compliance with the procurement agency's guidelines.

Preparing the RFP Cost Proposal

In this lesson, you will learn how to prepare the bid response's cost proposal.

Preparing RFP Documents, Exhibits, and Other Attachments

In this lesson, you'll learn how to prepare RFP documents, exhibits, and other attachments required in the bid proposal submittal package.

Packaging, Submitting RFP Bids, and Preparing for Future Bids

In this lesson, you'll learn how to put together a highly competitive bid proposal package. You'll also learn about the submittal process and how to prepare for future bidding opportunities.

RFP Evaluating Factors for Contract Awards

In this lesson, you'll learn about the RFP evaluation processes and the factors that are critical components for contract awards.

RFP Bidding Mistakes to Avoid

In this lesson, you'll learn about common RFP bidding mistakes and how to avoid them.

Career Tracks for RFP Writers

In this lesson, you'll learn about the career tracks for RFP writers. Where will your ability to write winning bid responses take you?

What you will learn

• Describe the components of a winning business proposal
• Organize and draft business proposal components to create a winning RFP response
• Evaluate RFP peer responses like procurement agency teams
• Improve RFP responses with award-winning enhancements
• Explain career opportunities for skilled RFP writers

How you will benefit

• Increased ability to research RFPs and determine if they are a go or no-go for bidding
• Improved evaluation skills for evaluating your bid proposal's content before its submission to a procurement agency
• Better understanding of what it takes to submit a successful bid proposal
• Heightened analysis for sizing up your bidding competition and determining if your business should be a sole bidder or a subcontractor for another business with a higher chance of winning a contract award
• Awareness of how to protest a procurement agency's decision to award the contract to another business

Dr. Beverly A. Browning is a grant writing consultant and visionary who uses thought leadership to work with nonprofit organizations struggling with the woes of revenue stream imbalances. She has been researching grant funding, grantmaking trends, and board-related barriers to nonprofit capacity building for over 40 years. Together she and her team have helped her clients win over $750 million in grant awards.

Dr. Browning is the founder and director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and Bev Browning, LLC. She is the author of 44 grant writing publications, including six editions of Grant Writing for Dummies and the 6th edition of Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (to be published in 2021).

Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in organizational development, public administration, and business administration. She is also a Certified Strategic Planning Facilitator (CSPF), has a McNellis Compression Planning Institute Facilitation Training distinction, and is an Approved Trainer for the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), the Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE, and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

Winning RFP Responses was written for businesses of all sizes that have either yet to delve into contract bidding or have bid but were unsuccessful. Individuals new to bid proposal writing and those with some experience will benefit from this training course, which teaches learners how to strategically win business contracts.

Winning RFP Responses was written by an entrepreneur that has owned and operated 15 small businesses over the decades. Bringing additional revenue into your business can increase its sustainability. Have you ever thought about all the other businesses, organizations, and government agencies that likely need your goods or services? Did you know that even the smallest business can submit an award-winning bid and benefit from steady revenues?

RFPs can be daunting when you are faced with page-after-page of legal language, questions, and forms to fill in. This course will guide you through each step of researching, reading, understanding, evaluating, writing, and submitting award-winning bid responses. By the end of the course, you might even find a new career track as an RFP bid specialist. The possibilities for your business and your career are endless.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Microsoft Word or equivalent, such as MS Word online.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you're an individual or business looking to increase revenue through contract opportunities, then this course is for you. Having the skills to bid on competitive contracts can increase your business's revenues as you carry it through declining economic times. Learn the ins and outs of finding, reading, and determining whether RFPs fit your business's services or goods. Then learn how to write the components of a winning RFP bid response for your business.

Introduction to Request for Proposals (RFPs)

In this lesson, you will be introduced to Requests for Proposals (RFPs). From RFP terminology to understanding the sections of an RFP, your research skills will be honed, and the term RFP will become clearer as you explore the lesson.

Reading and Marking Up RFPs

In this lesson, you will learn how to read and mark up RFPs to determine if a business interested in bidding on the goods or services can meet all of the procurement agency's expectations.

Federal RFPs

In this lesson, you will be introduced to federal RFPs and the government's procurement expectations of bidders.

Evaluating RFP Responses Internally

In this lesson, you will learn how to evaluate RFPs and use internal peer review rubrics to determine who and how each of your team members should be involved in the bid response development.

Creating RFP Boilerplate Language About Your Business

In this lesson, you will learn how to create a basic business history narrative. This boilerplate narrative can be reused in bid responses.

Writing the RFP Statement of Work

In this lesson, you will learn how to write the statement of work so that it is in compliance with the procurement agency's guidelines.

Preparing the RFP Cost Proposal

In this lesson, you will learn how to prepare the bid response's cost proposal.

Preparing RFP Documents, Exhibits, and Other Attachments

In this lesson, you'll learn how to prepare RFP documents, exhibits, and other attachments required in the bid proposal submittal package.

Packaging, Submitting RFP Bids, and Preparing for Future Bids

In this lesson, you'll learn how to put together a highly competitive bid proposal package. You'll also learn about the submittal process and how to prepare for future bidding opportunities.

RFP Evaluating Factors for Contract Awards

In this lesson, you'll learn about the RFP evaluation processes and the factors that are critical components for contract awards.

RFP Bidding Mistakes to Avoid

In this lesson, you'll learn about common RFP bidding mistakes and how to avoid them.

Career Tracks for RFP Writers

In this lesson, you'll learn about the career tracks for RFP writers. Where will your ability to write winning bid responses take you?

What you will learn

• Describe the components of a winning business proposal
• Organize and draft business proposal components to create a winning RFP response
• Evaluate RFP peer responses like procurement agency teams
• Improve RFP responses with award-winning enhancements
• Explain career opportunities for skilled RFP writers

How you will benefit

• Increased ability to research RFPs and determine if they are a go or no-go for bidding
• Improved evaluation skills for evaluating your bid proposal's content before its submission to a procurement agency
• Better understanding of what it takes to submit a successful bid proposal
• Heightened analysis for sizing up your bidding competition and determining if your business should be a sole bidder or a subcontractor for another business with a higher chance of winning a contract award
• Awareness of how to protest a procurement agency's decision to award the contract to another business

Dr. Beverly A. Browning is a grant writing consultant and visionary who uses thought leadership to work with nonprofit organizations struggling with the woes of revenue stream imbalances. She has been researching grant funding, grantmaking trends, and board-related barriers to nonprofit capacity building for over 40 years. Together she and her team have helped her clients win over $750 million in grant awards.

Dr. Browning is the founder and director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and Bev Browning, LLC. She is the author of 44 grant writing publications, including six editions of Grant Writing for Dummies and the 6th edition of Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (to be published in 2021).

Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in organizational development, public administration, and business administration. She is also a Certified Strategic Planning Facilitator (CSPF), has a McNellis Compression Planning Institute Facilitation Training distinction, and is an Approved Trainer for the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), the Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE, and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

Winning RFP Responses was written for businesses of all sizes that have either yet to delve into contract bidding or have bid but were unsuccessful. Individuals new to bid proposal writing and those with some experience will benefit from this training course, which teaches learners how to strategically win business contracts.

Winning RFP Responses was written by an entrepreneur that has owned and operated 15 small businesses over the decades. Bringing additional revenue into your business can increase its sustainability. Have you ever thought about all the other businesses, organizations, and government agencies that likely need your goods or services? Did you know that even the smallest business can submit an award-winning bid and benefit from steady revenues?

RFPs can be daunting when you are faced with page-after-page of legal language, questions, and forms to fill in. This course will guide you through each step of researching, reading, understanding, evaluating, writing, and submitting award-winning bid responses. By the end of the course, you might even find a new career track as an RFP bid specialist. The possibilities for your business and your career are endless.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Microsoft Word or equivalent, such as MS Word online.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

If you're an individual or business looking to increase revenue through contract opportunities, then this course is for you. Having the skills to bid on competitive contracts can increase your business's revenues as you carry it through declining economic times. Learn the ins and outs of finding, reading, and determining whether RFPs fit your business's services or goods. Then learn how to write the components of a winning RFP bid response for your business.

Introduction to Request for Proposals (RFPs)

In this lesson, you will be introduced to Requests for Proposals (RFPs). From RFP terminology to understanding the sections of an RFP, your research skills will be honed, and the term RFP will become clearer as you explore the lesson.

Reading and Marking Up RFPs

In this lesson, you will learn how to read and mark up RFPs to determine if a business interested in bidding on the goods or services can meet all of the procurement agency's expectations.

Federal RFPs

In this lesson, you will be introduced to federal RFPs and the government's procurement expectations of bidders.

Evaluating RFP Responses Internally

In this lesson, you will learn how to evaluate RFPs and use internal peer review rubrics to determine who and how each of your team members should be involved in the bid response development.

Creating RFP Boilerplate Language About Your Business

In this lesson, you will learn how to create a basic business history narrative. This boilerplate narrative can be reused in bid responses.

Writing the RFP Statement of Work

In this lesson, you will learn how to write the statement of work so that it is in compliance with the procurement agency's guidelines.

Preparing the RFP Cost Proposal

In this lesson, you will learn how to prepare the bid response's cost proposal.

Preparing RFP Documents, Exhibits, and Other Attachments

In this lesson, you'll learn how to prepare RFP documents, exhibits, and other attachments required in the bid proposal submittal package.

Packaging, Submitting RFP Bids, and Preparing for Future Bids

In this lesson, you'll learn how to put together a highly competitive bid proposal package. You'll also learn about the submittal process and how to prepare for future bidding opportunities.

RFP Evaluating Factors for Contract Awards

In this lesson, you'll learn about the RFP evaluation processes and the factors that are critical components for contract awards.

RFP Bidding Mistakes to Avoid

In this lesson, you'll learn about common RFP bidding mistakes and how to avoid them.

Career Tracks for RFP Writers

In this lesson, you'll learn about the career tracks for RFP writers. Where will your ability to write winning bid responses take you?

What you will learn

• Describe the components of a winning business proposal
• Organize and draft business proposal components to create a winning RFP response
• Evaluate RFP peer responses like procurement agency teams
• Improve RFP responses with award-winning enhancements
• Explain career opportunities for skilled RFP writers

How you will benefit

• Increased ability to research RFPs and determine if they are a go or no-go for bidding
• Improved evaluation skills for evaluating your bid proposal's content before its submission to a procurement agency
• Better understanding of what it takes to submit a successful bid proposal
• Heightened analysis for sizing up your bidding competition and determining if your business should be a sole bidder or a subcontractor for another business with a higher chance of winning a contract award
• Awareness of how to protest a procurement agency's decision to award the contract to another business

Dr. Beverly A. Browning is a grant writing consultant and visionary who uses thought leadership to work with nonprofit organizations struggling with the woes of revenue stream imbalances. She has been researching grant funding, grantmaking trends, and board-related barriers to nonprofit capacity building for over 40 years. Together she and her team have helped her clients win over $750 million in grant awards.

Dr. Browning is the founder and director of the Grant Writing Training Foundation and Bev Browning, LLC. She is the author of 44 grant writing publications, including six editions of Grant Writing for Dummies and the 6th edition of Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (to be published in 2021).

Dr. Browning holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in organizational development, public administration, and business administration. She is also a Certified Strategic Planning Facilitator (CSPF), has a McNellis Compression Planning Institute Facilitation Training distinction, and is an Approved Trainer for the Grant Professionals Association (GPA), the Certified Fund Raising Executive International (CFRE, and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI).

Become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types.

Whether you dream of becoming a full-time author, writing books to advance your career, or penning your memoir or family history, this fun and information-packed course will teach you how to plan, research, write, edit, and publish your masterpiece.

You'll learn how to immerse yourself in your subject and get the information you need from research, interviews, and observation techniques. You'll see how to choose a writing style, structure, and slant that will appeal to your unique audience and keep readers hooked. You will also discover exactly how today's traditional publishing industry works and what techniques you can use—such as crafting standout query letters and proposals—to get noticed by editors and agents. Above all, you'll get invaluable strategies for setting a writing schedule, banishing writer's block, and actually finishing your book! By the end of this course, you'll have all the tools at your fingertips to get your book completed and published!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types. This course will teach you the strategies and techniques you will need to finish and publish your own book.

Introduction to Nonfiction: Choosing Your Topic

If you think nonfiction is nothing but facts and figures, think again! From travel books to memoirs, you'll look at some of the most intriguing and top-selling nonfiction genres. In addition, you'll learn why nonfiction is such a good choice for first-time authors hoping to land a book contract. Then, you'll jump right in and get to work, transforming your interests and passions into a compelling book idea. Welcome to the exciting world of nonfiction books!

Shaping Your Book Idea

Now that you have a book idea, it's time to start sleuthing. You'll learn how to use the Internet to research similar books—either existing or upcoming—that might compete with your own idea. Then, you'll get some handy tips for differentiating your book concept and making it stand out from the competition. You'll also get a crash course in traditional and nontraditional publishing—what they are and how they work—that will get you thinking about your publishing options as you craft a descriptive statement that encapsulates your book idea.

Your Audience, Title, and Style

Are you still thinking of your book simply as "my book"? If so, it's time to bring your idea to life by giving it a name! In this lesson, you'll determine the best audience for your book and write a working title that reflects the unique angle that you bring to your topic. After that, you'll take the first steps toward choosing your writing style.

Research, Interviewing, and Immersion

Ready for more detective work? This lesson will talk about gathering the facts, opinions, and observations you'll need to write your book. First, you'll learn handy tips for doing traditional research in the library or on the Internet. Then, you'll delve into some fun techniques that will help you get the best out of the people you interview. Finally, you'll find out how to get inside your topic using a fun technique called immersion.

Organization and Structure

You've finished your research—it's time to write! In this lesson, you'll discover how to begin the writing process without feeling overwhelmed. First, you'll learn how to break your content into manageable chunks and choose an overall organization scheme for your book. Then you'll explore the pros and cons of outlining and free writing and decide what path you want to pursue. Finally, you'll get tips for writing each portion of your chapter—whether you choose a traditional nonfiction format with a beginning, middle, and end, or a storytelling format written in scenes. Either way you'll learn to write captivating leads that will snag the attention of readers and publishers!

Nonfiction Writing Tips and Techniques

In this lesson, you'll delve into some writing techniques that are critical to nonfiction writers. You'll learn to use precise vocabulary and make your points clearly and accurately so readers never get lost. You'll also decide what role you, as the author, will play in the text—will you be a constant presence in your book, or will you play a more inconspicuous role and let your content shine? You'll finish this lesson by learning how to use quotations and paraphrasing correctly and exploring how to integrate facts and descriptions into your book in a fluid way that keeps readers fully engaged.

The Writer's Life: Practical Tips

No matter how brilliant your wordplay, you'll succeed as an author only if you make time to write. For that reason, this lesson will cover the practical steps you can take to write regularly and finish that manuscript. You'll learn about the essential tools you need to create and back up your work and how to develop a consistent and realistic writing schedule that takes your writing preferences and other obligations into account. Finally, you'll get some solid techniques for blasting away procrastination and writer's block. This lesson will give you the practical foundation you need to commit to your book project and see your manuscript to completion.

Editing and Proofreading

Beautiful words don't always come easily. But put in a little blood, sweat, and tears—in other words, editing—and you'll get your manuscript in great shape! This lesson will cover how to edit and evaluate your work before seeking publication. You'll get tips for editing your writing and determining whether you should do your own proofreading or seek out a professional. Then, you'll learn how to solicit feedback from a few lucky reviewers who can help you evaluate and improve your book. Once you've completed these final steps, you'll be ready to begin the publishing process.

Traditional Publishing: Agents, Publishers, and Submissions

It's publishing time! You'll start this lesson by analyzing your reasons for wanting to publish a book and use that information to help you decide between traditional and nontraditional publishing. Then you'll learn more about the advantages of agents and kick-start your search for either an agent or a traditional publisher by finding those best suited to you and your book.

Traditional Publishing: Query Letters, Proposals, and Shortcuts

Submitting your work the right way is the key to getting published. So, in this lesson, you'll learn how to craft winning query letters and proposals that will make your book irresistible to agents and publishers. You'll also discover how to track your submissions, what to expect from literary contracts, and how to work best with agents and editors once you seal the deal. Finally, the lesson will cover some valuable shortcuts that can get you straight to an agent or editor and save you tons of time (and even money!).

Nontraditional Publishing

Want more control over the publishing process? If so, nontraditional publishing may be perfect for you. In this lesson, you'll learn all the steps required to publish your own book. First, you'll explore the differences between Print on Demand (POD) publishing and full self-publishing, helping you decide which path is right for you. Then, you'll go through each of the tasks required to get your book in print: editing, cover design, layout, setting your book's price, choosing the right printer or POD publisher, and more. The lesson will end with a discussion about easy-to-publish e-books.

Distribution, Publicity, and Promotions

Once your book is in print, how will anyone know it exists? Even the most famous authors need help with publicity, so this lesson will cover some creative ways to sell and promote your masterpiece. You'll start by looking beyond the traditional bookstore to uncover other profitable places you can sell your book. Then, you'll delve into the world of promotions, learning how to create press materials that grab the attention of newspapers, magazines, blogs, and radio and television stations. You'll also learn how to create a website for your book and how to make the most of listings on Internet book-selling sites like Amazon.

What you will learn

• Learn every important consideration involved in researching, writing, editing, publishing, and promoting your own nonfiction book
• Discover how to use style and structure to appeal to a target audience and engage readers
• Examine the ins and outs of the modern publishing industry and learn how to choose the best approach
• Learn how to choose the right topic and target audience so you will have an exciting and profitable project to pursue

How you will benefit

• Gain valuable investigative skills through learning how to observe, interview, and research for a specific project
• Learn how the publishing industry works and gain the tools you need to publish and sell books regardless of genre or subject matter
• Become a better communicator and writer by learning how to use structure and style effectively

Lisa Adams is a web development expert specializing in marketing, user experience, and e-commerce. In addition to building and maintaining hundreds of websites, Lisa has helped a wide variety of clients and students to create their own sites and modify existing ones to make them more attractive and user-friendly.

Become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types.

Whether you dream of becoming a full-time author, writing books to advance your career, or penning your memoir or family history, this fun and information-packed course will teach you how to plan, research, write, edit, and publish your masterpiece.

You'll learn how to immerse yourself in your subject and get the information you need from research, interviews, and observation techniques. You'll see how to choose a writing style, structure, and slant that will appeal to your unique audience and keep readers hooked. You will also discover exactly how today's traditional publishing industry works and what techniques you can use—such as crafting standout query letters and proposals—to get noticed by editors and agents. Above all, you'll get invaluable strategies for setting a writing schedule, banishing writer's block, and actually finishing your book! By the end of this course, you'll have all the tools at your fingertips to get your book completed and published!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types. This course will teach you the strategies and techniques you will need to finish and publish your own book.

Introduction to Nonfiction: Choosing Your Topic

If you think nonfiction is nothing but facts and figures, think again! From travel books to memoirs, you'll look at some of the most intriguing and top-selling nonfiction genres. In addition, you'll learn why nonfiction is such a good choice for first-time authors hoping to land a book contract. Then, you'll jump right in and get to work, transforming your interests and passions into a compelling book idea. Welcome to the exciting world of nonfiction books!

Shaping Your Book Idea

Now that you have a book idea, it's time to start sleuthing. You'll learn how to use the Internet to research similar books—either existing or upcoming—that might compete with your own idea. Then, you'll get some handy tips for differentiating your book concept and making it stand out from the competition. You'll also get a crash course in traditional and nontraditional publishing—what they are and how they work—that will get you thinking about your publishing options as you craft a descriptive statement that encapsulates your book idea.

Your Audience, Title, and Style

Are you still thinking of your book simply as "my book"? If so, it's time to bring your idea to life by giving it a name! In this lesson, you'll determine the best audience for your book and write a working title that reflects the unique angle that you bring to your topic. After that, you'll take the first steps toward choosing your writing style.

Research, Interviewing, and Immersion

Ready for more detective work? This lesson will talk about gathering the facts, opinions, and observations you'll need to write your book. First, you'll learn handy tips for doing traditional research in the library or on the Internet. Then, you'll delve into some fun techniques that will help you get the best out of the people you interview. Finally, you'll find out how to get inside your topic using a fun technique called immersion.

Organization and Structure

You've finished your research—it's time to write! In this lesson, you'll discover how to begin the writing process without feeling overwhelmed. First, you'll learn how to break your content into manageable chunks and choose an overall organization scheme for your book. Then you'll explore the pros and cons of outlining and free writing and decide what path you want to pursue. Finally, you'll get tips for writing each portion of your chapter—whether you choose a traditional nonfiction format with a beginning, middle, and end, or a storytelling format written in scenes. Either way you'll learn to write captivating leads that will snag the attention of readers and publishers!

Nonfiction Writing Tips and Techniques

In this lesson, you'll delve into some writing techniques that are critical to nonfiction writers. You'll learn to use precise vocabulary and make your points clearly and accurately so readers never get lost. You'll also decide what role you, as the author, will play in the text—will you be a constant presence in your book, or will you play a more inconspicuous role and let your content shine? You'll finish this lesson by learning how to use quotations and paraphrasing correctly and exploring how to integrate facts and descriptions into your book in a fluid way that keeps readers fully engaged.

The Writer's Life: Practical Tips

No matter how brilliant your wordplay, you'll succeed as an author only if you make time to write. For that reason, this lesson will cover the practical steps you can take to write regularly and finish that manuscript. You'll learn about the essential tools you need to create and back up your work and how to develop a consistent and realistic writing schedule that takes your writing preferences and other obligations into account. Finally, you'll get some solid techniques for blasting away procrastination and writer's block. This lesson will give you the practical foundation you need to commit to your book project and see your manuscript to completion.

Editing and Proofreading

Beautiful words don't always come easily. But put in a little blood, sweat, and tears—in other words, editing—and you'll get your manuscript in great shape! This lesson will cover how to edit and evaluate your work before seeking publication. You'll get tips for editing your writing and determining whether you should do your own proofreading or seek out a professional. Then, you'll learn how to solicit feedback from a few lucky reviewers who can help you evaluate and improve your book. Once you've completed these final steps, you'll be ready to begin the publishing process.

Traditional Publishing: Agents, Publishers, and Submissions

It's publishing time! You'll start this lesson by analyzing your reasons for wanting to publish a book and use that information to help you decide between traditional and nontraditional publishing. Then you'll learn more about the advantages of agents and kick-start your search for either an agent or a traditional publisher by finding those best suited to you and your book.

Traditional Publishing: Query Letters, Proposals, and Shortcuts

Submitting your work the right way is the key to getting published. So, in this lesson, you'll learn how to craft winning query letters and proposals that will make your book irresistible to agents and publishers. You'll also discover how to track your submissions, what to expect from literary contracts, and how to work best with agents and editors once you seal the deal. Finally, the lesson will cover some valuable shortcuts that can get you straight to an agent or editor and save you tons of time (and even money!).

Nontraditional Publishing

Want more control over the publishing process? If so, nontraditional publishing may be perfect for you. In this lesson, you'll learn all the steps required to publish your own book. First, you'll explore the differences between Print on Demand (POD) publishing and full self-publishing, helping you decide which path is right for you. Then, you'll go through each of the tasks required to get your book in print: editing, cover design, layout, setting your book's price, choosing the right printer or POD publisher, and more. The lesson will end with a discussion about easy-to-publish e-books.

Distribution, Publicity, and Promotions

Once your book is in print, how will anyone know it exists? Even the most famous authors need help with publicity, so this lesson will cover some creative ways to sell and promote your masterpiece. You'll start by looking beyond the traditional bookstore to uncover other profitable places you can sell your book. Then, you'll delve into the world of promotions, learning how to create press materials that grab the attention of newspapers, magazines, blogs, and radio and television stations. You'll also learn how to create a website for your book and how to make the most of listings on Internet book-selling sites like Amazon.

What you will learn

• Learn every important consideration involved in researching, writing, editing, publishing, and promoting your own nonfiction book
• Discover how to use style and structure to appeal to a target audience and engage readers
• Examine the ins and outs of the modern publishing industry and learn how to choose the best approach
• Learn how to choose the right topic and target audience so you will have an exciting and profitable project to pursue

How you will benefit

• Gain valuable investigative skills through learning how to observe, interview, and research for a specific project
• Learn how the publishing industry works and gain the tools you need to publish and sell books regardless of genre or subject matter
• Become a better communicator and writer by learning how to use structure and style effectively

Lisa Adams is a web development expert specializing in marketing, user experience, and e-commerce. In addition to building and maintaining hundreds of websites, Lisa has helped a wide variety of clients and students to create their own sites and modify existing ones to make them more attractive and user-friendly.

Become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types.

Whether you dream of becoming a full-time author, writing books to advance your career, or penning your memoir or family history, this fun and information-packed course will teach you how to plan, research, write, edit, and publish your masterpiece.

You'll learn how to immerse yourself in your subject and get the information you need from research, interviews, and observation techniques. You'll see how to choose a writing style, structure, and slant that will appeal to your unique audience and keep readers hooked. You will also discover exactly how today's traditional publishing industry works and what techniques you can use—such as crafting standout query letters and proposals—to get noticed by editors and agents. Above all, you'll get invaluable strategies for setting a writing schedule, banishing writer's block, and actually finishing your book! By the end of this course, you'll have all the tools at your fingertips to get your book completed and published!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types. This course will teach you the strategies and techniques you will need to finish and publish your own book.

Introduction to Nonfiction: Choosing Your Topic

If you think nonfiction is nothing but facts and figures, think again! From travel books to memoirs, you'll look at some of the most intriguing and top-selling nonfiction genres. In addition, you'll learn why nonfiction is such a good choice for first-time authors hoping to land a book contract. Then, you'll jump right in and get to work, transforming your interests and passions into a compelling book idea. Welcome to the exciting world of nonfiction books!

Shaping Your Book Idea

Now that you have a book idea, it's time to start sleuthing. You'll learn how to use the Internet to research similar books—either existing or upcoming—that might compete with your own idea. Then, you'll get some handy tips for differentiating your book concept and making it stand out from the competition. You'll also get a crash course in traditional and nontraditional publishing—what they are and how they work—that will get you thinking about your publishing options as you craft a descriptive statement that encapsulates your book idea.

Your Audience, Title, and Style

Are you still thinking of your book simply as "my book"? If so, it's time to bring your idea to life by giving it a name! In this lesson, you'll determine the best audience for your book and write a working title that reflects the unique angle that you bring to your topic. After that, you'll take the first steps toward choosing your writing style.

Research, Interviewing, and Immersion

Ready for more detective work? This lesson will talk about gathering the facts, opinions, and observations you'll need to write your book. First, you'll learn handy tips for doing traditional research in the library or on the Internet. Then, you'll delve into some fun techniques that will help you get the best out of the people you interview. Finally, you'll find out how to get inside your topic using a fun technique called immersion.

Organization and Structure

You've finished your research—it's time to write! In this lesson, you'll discover how to begin the writing process without feeling overwhelmed. First, you'll learn how to break your content into manageable chunks and choose an overall organization scheme for your book. Then you'll explore the pros and cons of outlining and free writing and decide what path you want to pursue. Finally, you'll get tips for writing each portion of your chapter—whether you choose a traditional nonfiction format with a beginning, middle, and end, or a storytelling format written in scenes. Either way you'll learn to write captivating leads that will snag the attention of readers and publishers!

Nonfiction Writing Tips and Techniques

In this lesson, you'll delve into some writing techniques that are critical to nonfiction writers. You'll learn to use precise vocabulary and make your points clearly and accurately so readers never get lost. You'll also decide what role you, as the author, will play in the text—will you be a constant presence in your book, or will you play a more inconspicuous role and let your content shine? You'll finish this lesson by learning how to use quotations and paraphrasing correctly and exploring how to integrate facts and descriptions into your book in a fluid way that keeps readers fully engaged.

The Writer's Life: Practical Tips

No matter how brilliant your wordplay, you'll succeed as an author only if you make time to write. For that reason, this lesson will cover the practical steps you can take to write regularly and finish that manuscript. You'll learn about the essential tools you need to create and back up your work and how to develop a consistent and realistic writing schedule that takes your writing preferences and other obligations into account. Finally, you'll get some solid techniques for blasting away procrastination and writer's block. This lesson will give you the practical foundation you need to commit to your book project and see your manuscript to completion.

Editing and Proofreading

Beautiful words don't always come easily. But put in a little blood, sweat, and tears—in other words, editing—and you'll get your manuscript in great shape! This lesson will cover how to edit and evaluate your work before seeking publication. You'll get tips for editing your writing and determining whether you should do your own proofreading or seek out a professional. Then, you'll learn how to solicit feedback from a few lucky reviewers who can help you evaluate and improve your book. Once you've completed these final steps, you'll be ready to begin the publishing process.

Traditional Publishing: Agents, Publishers, and Submissions

It's publishing time! You'll start this lesson by analyzing your reasons for wanting to publish a book and use that information to help you decide between traditional and nontraditional publishing. Then you'll learn more about the advantages of agents and kick-start your search for either an agent or a traditional publisher by finding those best suited to you and your book.

Traditional Publishing: Query Letters, Proposals, and Shortcuts

Submitting your work the right way is the key to getting published. So, in this lesson, you'll learn how to craft winning query letters and proposals that will make your book irresistible to agents and publishers. You'll also discover how to track your submissions, what to expect from literary contracts, and how to work best with agents and editors once you seal the deal. Finally, the lesson will cover some valuable shortcuts that can get you straight to an agent or editor and save you tons of time (and even money!).

Nontraditional Publishing

Want more control over the publishing process? If so, nontraditional publishing may be perfect for you. In this lesson, you'll learn all the steps required to publish your own book. First, you'll explore the differences between Print on Demand (POD) publishing and full self-publishing, helping you decide which path is right for you. Then, you'll go through each of the tasks required to get your book in print: editing, cover design, layout, setting your book's price, choosing the right printer or POD publisher, and more. The lesson will end with a discussion about easy-to-publish e-books.

Distribution, Publicity, and Promotions

Once your book is in print, how will anyone know it exists? Even the most famous authors need help with publicity, so this lesson will cover some creative ways to sell and promote your masterpiece. You'll start by looking beyond the traditional bookstore to uncover other profitable places you can sell your book. Then, you'll delve into the world of promotions, learning how to create press materials that grab the attention of newspapers, magazines, blogs, and radio and television stations. You'll also learn how to create a website for your book and how to make the most of listings on Internet book-selling sites like Amazon.

What you will learn

• Learn every important consideration involved in researching, writing, editing, publishing, and promoting your own nonfiction book
• Discover how to use style and structure to appeal to a target audience and engage readers
• Examine the ins and outs of the modern publishing industry and learn how to choose the best approach
• Learn how to choose the right topic and target audience so you will have an exciting and profitable project to pursue

How you will benefit

• Gain valuable investigative skills through learning how to observe, interview, and research for a specific project
• Learn how the publishing industry works and gain the tools you need to publish and sell books regardless of genre or subject matter
• Become a better communicator and writer by learning how to use structure and style effectively

Lisa Adams is a web development expert specializing in marketing, user experience, and e-commerce. In addition to building and maintaining hundreds of websites, Lisa has helped a wide variety of clients and students to create their own sites and modify existing ones to make them more attractive and user-friendly.

Become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types.

Whether you dream of becoming a full-time author, writing books to advance your career, or penning your memoir or family history, this fun and information-packed course will teach you how to plan, research, write, edit, and publish your masterpiece.

You'll learn how to immerse yourself in your subject and get the information you need from research, interviews, and observation techniques. You'll see how to choose a writing style, structure, and slant that will appeal to your unique audience and keep readers hooked. You will also discover exactly how today's traditional publishing industry works and what techniques you can use—such as crafting standout query letters and proposals—to get noticed by editors and agents. Above all, you'll get invaluable strategies for setting a writing schedule, banishing writer's block, and actually finishing your book! By the end of this course, you'll have all the tools at your fingertips to get your book completed and published!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types. This course will teach you the strategies and techniques you will need to finish and publish your own book.

Introduction to Nonfiction: Choosing Your Topic

If you think nonfiction is nothing but facts and figures, think again! From travel books to memoirs, you'll look at some of the most intriguing and top-selling nonfiction genres. In addition, you'll learn why nonfiction is such a good choice for first-time authors hoping to land a book contract. Then, you'll jump right in and get to work, transforming your interests and passions into a compelling book idea. Welcome to the exciting world of nonfiction books!

Shaping Your Book Idea

Now that you have a book idea, it's time to start sleuthing. You'll learn how to use the Internet to research similar books—either existing or upcoming—that might compete with your own idea. Then, you'll get some handy tips for differentiating your book concept and making it stand out from the competition. You'll also get a crash course in traditional and nontraditional publishing—what they are and how they work—that will get you thinking about your publishing options as you craft a descriptive statement that encapsulates your book idea.

Your Audience, Title, and Style

Are you still thinking of your book simply as "my book"? If so, it's time to bring your idea to life by giving it a name! In this lesson, you'll determine the best audience for your book and write a working title that reflects the unique angle that you bring to your topic. After that, you'll take the first steps toward choosing your writing style.

Research, Interviewing, and Immersion

Ready for more detective work? This lesson will talk about gathering the facts, opinions, and observations you'll need to write your book. First, you'll learn handy tips for doing traditional research in the library or on the Internet. Then, you'll delve into some fun techniques that will help you get the best out of the people you interview. Finally, you'll find out how to get inside your topic using a fun technique called immersion.

Organization and Structure

You've finished your research—it's time to write! In this lesson, you'll discover how to begin the writing process without feeling overwhelmed. First, you'll learn how to break your content into manageable chunks and choose an overall organization scheme for your book. Then you'll explore the pros and cons of outlining and free writing and decide what path you want to pursue. Finally, you'll get tips for writing each portion of your chapter—whether you choose a traditional nonfiction format with a beginning, middle, and end, or a storytelling format written in scenes. Either way you'll learn to write captivating leads that will snag the attention of readers and publishers!

Nonfiction Writing Tips and Techniques

In this lesson, you'll delve into some writing techniques that are critical to nonfiction writers. You'll learn to use precise vocabulary and make your points clearly and accurately so readers never get lost. You'll also decide what role you, as the author, will play in the text—will you be a constant presence in your book, or will you play a more inconspicuous role and let your content shine? You'll finish this lesson by learning how to use quotations and paraphrasing correctly and exploring how to integrate facts and descriptions into your book in a fluid way that keeps readers fully engaged.

The Writer's Life: Practical Tips

No matter how brilliant your wordplay, you'll succeed as an author only if you make time to write. For that reason, this lesson will cover the practical steps you can take to write regularly and finish that manuscript. You'll learn about the essential tools you need to create and back up your work and how to develop a consistent and realistic writing schedule that takes your writing preferences and other obligations into account. Finally, you'll get some solid techniques for blasting away procrastination and writer's block. This lesson will give you the practical foundation you need to commit to your book project and see your manuscript to completion.

Editing and Proofreading

Beautiful words don't always come easily. But put in a little blood, sweat, and tears—in other words, editing—and you'll get your manuscript in great shape! This lesson will cover how to edit and evaluate your work before seeking publication. You'll get tips for editing your writing and determining whether you should do your own proofreading or seek out a professional. Then, you'll learn how to solicit feedback from a few lucky reviewers who can help you evaluate and improve your book. Once you've completed these final steps, you'll be ready to begin the publishing process.

Traditional Publishing: Agents, Publishers, and Submissions

It's publishing time! You'll start this lesson by analyzing your reasons for wanting to publish a book and use that information to help you decide between traditional and nontraditional publishing. Then you'll learn more about the advantages of agents and kick-start your search for either an agent or a traditional publisher by finding those best suited to you and your book.

Traditional Publishing: Query Letters, Proposals, and Shortcuts

Submitting your work the right way is the key to getting published. So, in this lesson, you'll learn how to craft winning query letters and proposals that will make your book irresistible to agents and publishers. You'll also discover how to track your submissions, what to expect from literary contracts, and how to work best with agents and editors once you seal the deal. Finally, the lesson will cover some valuable shortcuts that can get you straight to an agent or editor and save you tons of time (and even money!).

Nontraditional Publishing

Want more control over the publishing process? If so, nontraditional publishing may be perfect for you. In this lesson, you'll learn all the steps required to publish your own book. First, you'll explore the differences between Print on Demand (POD) publishing and full self-publishing, helping you decide which path is right for you. Then, you'll go through each of the tasks required to get your book in print: editing, cover design, layout, setting your book's price, choosing the right printer or POD publisher, and more. The lesson will end with a discussion about easy-to-publish e-books.

Distribution, Publicity, and Promotions

Once your book is in print, how will anyone know it exists? Even the most famous authors need help with publicity, so this lesson will cover some creative ways to sell and promote your masterpiece. You'll start by looking beyond the traditional bookstore to uncover other profitable places you can sell your book. Then, you'll delve into the world of promotions, learning how to create press materials that grab the attention of newspapers, magazines, blogs, and radio and television stations. You'll also learn how to create a website for your book and how to make the most of listings on Internet book-selling sites like Amazon.

What you will learn

• Learn every important consideration involved in researching, writing, editing, publishing, and promoting your own nonfiction book
• Discover how to use style and structure to appeal to a target audience and engage readers
• Examine the ins and outs of the modern publishing industry and learn how to choose the best approach
• Learn how to choose the right topic and target audience so you will have an exciting and profitable project to pursue

How you will benefit

• Gain valuable investigative skills through learning how to observe, interview, and research for a specific project
• Learn how the publishing industry works and gain the tools you need to publish and sell books regardless of genre or subject matter
• Become a better communicator and writer by learning how to use structure and style effectively

Lisa Adams is a web development expert specializing in marketing, user experience, and e-commerce. In addition to building and maintaining hundreds of websites, Lisa has helped a wide variety of clients and students to create their own sites and modify existing ones to make them more attractive and user-friendly.

Become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types.

Whether you dream of becoming a full-time author, writing books to advance your career, or penning your memoir or family history, this fun and information-packed course will teach you how to plan, research, write, edit, and publish your masterpiece.

You'll learn how to immerse yourself in your subject and get the information you need from research, interviews, and observation techniques. You'll see how to choose a writing style, structure, and slant that will appeal to your unique audience and keep readers hooked. You will also discover exactly how today's traditional publishing industry works and what techniques you can use—such as crafting standout query letters and proposals—to get noticed by editors and agents. Above all, you'll get invaluable strategies for setting a writing schedule, banishing writer's block, and actually finishing your book! By the end of this course, you'll have all the tools at your fingertips to get your book completed and published!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types. This course will teach you the strategies and techniques you will need to finish and publish your own book.

Introduction to Nonfiction: Choosing Your Topic

If you think nonfiction is nothing but facts and figures, think again! From travel books to memoirs, you'll look at some of the most intriguing and top-selling nonfiction genres. In addition, you'll learn why nonfiction is such a good choice for first-time authors hoping to land a book contract. Then, you'll jump right in and get to work, transforming your interests and passions into a compelling book idea. Welcome to the exciting world of nonfiction books!

Shaping Your Book Idea

Now that you have a book idea, it's time to start sleuthing. You'll learn how to use the Internet to research similar books—either existing or upcoming—that might compete with your own idea. Then, you'll get some handy tips for differentiating your book concept and making it stand out from the competition. You'll also get a crash course in traditional and nontraditional publishing—what they are and how they work—that will get you thinking about your publishing options as you craft a descriptive statement that encapsulates your book idea.

Your Audience, Title, and Style

Are you still thinking of your book simply as "my book"? If so, it's time to bring your idea to life by giving it a name! In this lesson, you'll determine the best audience for your book and write a working title that reflects the unique angle that you bring to your topic. After that, you'll take the first steps toward choosing your writing style.

Research, Interviewing, and Immersion

Ready for more detective work? This lesson will talk about gathering the facts, opinions, and observations you'll need to write your book. First, you'll learn handy tips for doing traditional research in the library or on the Internet. Then, you'll delve into some fun techniques that will help you get the best out of the people you interview. Finally, you'll find out how to get inside your topic using a fun technique called immersion.

Organization and Structure

You've finished your research—it's time to write! In this lesson, you'll discover how to begin the writing process without feeling overwhelmed. First you'll learn how to break your content into manageable chunks and choose an overall organization scheme for your book. Then you'll explore the pros and cons of outlining and free writing and decide what path you want to pursue. Finally, you'll get tips for writing each portion of your chapter—whether you choose a traditional nonfiction format with a beginning, middle, and end, or a storytelling format written in scenes. Either way you'll learn to write captivating leads that will snag the attention of readers and publishers!

Nonfiction Writing Tips and Techniques

In this lesson, you'll delve into some writing techniques that are critical to nonfiction writers. You'll learn to use precise vocabulary and make your points clearly and accurately so readers never get lost. You'll also decide what role you, as the author, will play in the text—will you be a constant presence in your book, or will you play a more inconspicuous role and let your content shine? You'll finish this lesson by learning how to use quotations and paraphrasing correctly and exploring how to integrate facts and descriptions into your book in a fluid way that keeps readers fully engaged.

The Writer's Life: Practical Tips

No matter how brilliant your wordplay, you'll succeed as an author only if you make time to write. For that reason, this lesson will cover the practical steps you can take to write regularly and finish that manuscript. You'll learn about the essential tools you need to create and back up your work and how to develop a consistent and realistic writing schedule that takes your writing preferences and other obligations into account. Finally, you'll get some solid techniques for blasting away procrastination and writer's block. This lesson will give you the practical foundation you need to commit to your book project and see your manuscript to completion.

Editing and Proofreading

Beautiful words don't always come easily. But put in a little blood, sweat, and tears—in other words, editing—and you'll get your manuscript in great shape! This lesson will cover how to edit and evaluate your work before seeking publication. You'll get tips for editing your writing and determining whether you should do your own proofreading or seek out a professional. Then, you'll learn how to solicit feedback from a few lucky reviewers who can help you evaluate and improve your book. Once you've completed these final steps, you'll be ready to begin the publishing process.

Traditional Publishing: Agents, Publishers, and Submissions

It's publishing time! You'll start this lesson by analyzing your reasons for wanting to publish a book and use that information to help you decide between traditional and nontraditional publishing. Then you'll learn more about the advantages of agents and kick-start your search for either an agent or a traditional publisher by finding those best suited to you and your book.

Traditional Publishing: Query Letters, Proposals, and Shortcuts

Submitting your work the right way is the key to getting published. So, in this lesson, you'll learn how to craft winning query letters and proposals that will make your book irresistible to agents and publishers. You'll also discover how to track your submissions, what to expect from literary contracts, and how to work best with agents and editors once you seal the deal. Finally, the lesson will cover some valuable shortcuts that can get you straight to an agent or editor and save you tons of time (and even money!).

Nontraditional Publishing

Want more control over the publishing process? If so, nontraditional publishing may be perfect for you. In this lesson, you'll learn all the steps required to publish your own book. First, you'll explore the differences between Print on Demand (POD) publishing and full self-publishing, helping you decide which path is right for you. Then, you'll go through each of the tasks required to get your book in print: editing, cover design, layout, setting your book's price, choosing the right printer or POD publisher, and more. The lesson will end with a discussion about easy-to-publish e-books.

Distribution, Publicity, and Promotions

Once your book is in print, how will anyone know it exists? Even authors of traditionally-published books need to help with publicity, so this lesson will cover some creative ways to sell and promote your masterpiece. You'll start by looking beyond the traditional bookstore to uncover other profitable places you can sell your book. Then, you'll delve into the world of promotions, learning how to create press materials that grab the attention of newspapers, magazines, blogs, and radio and television stations. You'll also learn how to create a website for your book and how to make the most of listings on Internet book-selling sites like Amazon.

Self-Study

Become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types.

Whether you dream of becoming a full-time author, writing books to advance your career, or penning your memoir or family history, this fun and information-packed course will teach you how to plan, research, write, edit, and publish your masterpiece.

You'll learn how to immerse yourself in your subject and get the information you need from research, interviews, and observation techniques. You'll see how to choose a writing style, structure, and slant that will appeal to your unique audience and keep readers hooked. You will also discover exactly how today's traditional publishing industry works and what techniques you can use—such as crafting standout query letters and proposals—to get noticed by editors and agents. Above all, you'll get invaluable strategies for setting a writing schedule, banishing writer's block, and actually finishing your book! By the end of this course, you'll have all the tools at your fingertips to get your book completed and published!

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn how to become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types. This course will teach you the strategies and techniques you will need to finish and publish your own book.

Introduction to Nonfiction: Choosing Your Topic

If you think nonfiction is nothing but facts and figures, think again! From travel books to memoirs, you'll look at some of the most intriguing and top-selling nonfiction genres. In addition, you'll learn why nonfiction is such a good choice for first-time authors hoping to land a book contract. Then, you'll jump right in and get to work, transforming your interests and passions into a compelling book idea. Welcome to the exciting world of nonfiction books!

Shaping Your Book Idea

Now that you have a book idea, it's time to start sleuthing. You'll learn how to use the Internet to research similar books—either existing or upcoming—that might compete with your own idea. Then, you'll get some handy tips for differentiating your book concept and making it stand out from the competition. You'll also get a crash course in traditional and nontraditional publishing—what they are and how they work—that will get you thinking about your publishing options as you craft a descriptive statement that encapsulates your book idea.

Your Audience, Title, and Style

Are you still thinking of your book simply as "my book"? If so, it's time to bring your idea to life by giving it a name! In this lesson, you'll determine the best audience for your book and write a working title that reflects the unique angle that you bring to your topic. After that, you'll take the first steps toward choosing your writing style.

Research, Interviewing, and Immersion

Ready for more detective work? This lesson will talk about gathering the facts, opinions, and observations you'll need to write your book. First, you'll learn handy tips for doing traditional research in the library or on the Internet. Then, you'll delve into some fun techniques that will help you get the best out of the people you interview. Finally, you'll find out how to get inside your topic using a fun technique called immersion.

Organization and Structure

You've finished your research—it's time to write! In this lesson, you'll discover how to begin the writing process without feeling overwhelmed. First you'll learn how to break your content into manageable chunks and choose an overall organization scheme for your book. Then you'll explore the pros and cons of outlining and free writing and decide what path you want to pursue. Finally, you'll get tips for writing each portion of your chapter—whether you choose a traditional nonfiction format with a beginning, middle, and end, or a storytelling format written in scenes. Either way you'll learn to write captivating leads that will snag the attention of readers and publishers!

Nonfiction Writing Tips and Techniques

In this lesson, you'll delve into some writing techniques that are critical to nonfiction writers. You'll learn to use precise vocabulary and make your points clearly and accurately so readers never get lost. You'll also decide what role you, as the author, will play in the text—will you be a constant presence in your book, or will you play a more inconspicuous role and let your content shine? You'll finish this lesson by learning how to use quotations and paraphrasing correctly and exploring how to integrate facts and descriptions into your book in a fluid way that keeps readers fully engaged.

The Writer's Life: Practical Tips

No matter how brilliant your wordplay, you'll succeed as an author only if you make time to write. For that reason, this lesson will cover the practical steps you can take to write regularly and finish that manuscript. You'll learn about the essential tools you need to create and back up your work and how to develop a consistent and realistic writing schedule that takes your writing preferences and other obligations into account. Finally, you'll get some solid techniques for blasting away procrastination and writer's block. This lesson will give you the practical foundation you need to commit to your book project and see your manuscript to completion.

Editing and Proofreading

Beautiful words don't always come easily. But put in a little blood, sweat, and tears—in other words, editing—and you'll get your manuscript in great shape! This lesson will cover how to edit and evaluate your work before seeking publication. You'll get tips for editing your writing and determining whether you should do your own proofreading or seek out a professional. Then, you'll learn how to solicit feedback from a few lucky reviewers who can help you evaluate and improve your book. Once you've completed these final steps, you'll be ready to begin the publishing process.

Traditional Publishing: Agents, Publishers, and Submissions

It's publishing time! You'll start this lesson by analyzing your reasons for wanting to publish a book and use that information to help you decide between traditional and nontraditional publishing. Then you'll learn more about the advantages of agents and kick-start your search for either an agent or a traditional publisher by finding those best suited to you and your book.

Traditional Publishing: Query Letters, Proposals, and Shortcuts

Submitting your work the right way is the key to getting published. So, in this lesson, you'll learn how to craft winning query letters and proposals that will make your book irresistible to agents and publishers. You'll also discover how to track your submissions, what to expect from literary contracts, and how to work best with agents and editors once you seal the deal. Finally, the lesson will cover some valuable shortcuts that can get you straight to an agent or editor and save you tons of time (and even money!).

Nontraditional Publishing

Want more control over the publishing process? If so, nontraditional publishing may be perfect for you. In this lesson, you'll learn all the steps required to publish your own book. First, you'll explore the differences between Print on Demand (POD) publishing and full self-publishing, helping you decide which path is right for you. Then, you'll go through each of the tasks required to get your book in print: editing, cover design, layout, setting your book's price, choosing the right printer or POD publisher, and more. The lesson will end with a discussion about easy-to-publish e-books.

Distribution, Publicity, and Promotions

Once your book is in print, how will anyone know it exists? Even authors of traditionally-published books need to help with publicity, so this lesson will cover some creative ways to sell and promote your masterpiece. You'll start by looking beyond the traditional bookstore to uncover other profitable places you can sell your book. Then, you'll delve into the world of promotions, learning how to create press materials that grab the attention of newspapers, magazines, blogs, and radio and television stations. You'll also learn how to create a website for your book and how to make the most of listings on Internet book-selling sites like Amazon.

Self-Study

Learn how to write web content and produce multimedia elements to make your website or blog a must-visit site on the Internet.

Is your web content as effective as it could be? In this course, you will gain tips for crafting content to make your website or blog into an exciting multimedia place for visitors. You will learn how to develop a website writing style that speaks to your readers' needs and ensures that your content is clear and easy-to-understand. You will explore ways your web copywriting can convey the right "feel" through your content, how to get conversations going with your visitors, and how to organize your content to produce better search engine rankings and happier readers. You will also explore all kind of multimedia: images, info-graphics, slideshows and screen casts. You will also discover ways to encourage interaction with your readers through polls, surveys, and quizzes.

Finally, you will examine ways to make your online copywriting appear as professional and authoritative as possible. By the end of this course, your content will be well on its way to rising to the top of the billions of pages on the web.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the skills and techniques you will need to make your website or blog a must-visit site on the Internet. This course will teach you how to write web content and produce multimedia that speaks to viewers in an engaging, clear, and interactive way.

Elements of Effective Web Content

There's web content on just about any topic you can imagine. While the topics and purposes of the content may all be different, the writing strategies you need to know to create effective content are all very similar. In this lesson, you'll identify the three key areas you need to understand in order to make your content effective, whether you want to sell, entertain, or do something else altogether. You'll also find out about a free tool you can use to learn what people on the web are actually looking for!

Developing Focused Content

All writing comes from ideas, so that's where you'll start this lesson. The lesson will show you how to bring focus to your ideas using a free, web-based tool. Then, you'll examine the inverted pyramid writing style and see how and why you should bring the focus of your content to the top of your web page. You'll also look at lots of examples of different types of web content and discover how you can focus the content and use the inverted pyramid to get the most important information out right up front! Of course, if you want to attract lots of readers to your content, it also needs to be entertaining. For that reason, you'll look at some strategies to help you accomplish that too.

Organizing Content

Organizing web content is easier than you might think, and it all starts with an outline. If you've dreaded outlining in the past, not to worry. This lesson will show you some quick tips for making outlining as simple as A, B, C. You'll also look at how headings can help you organize content and chunk information for your readers. Surfers like to scan content for information, whether they're looking for product guides on your business site or the opposing sides of a debate on your blog—and writing effective headings can not only keep readers on your site but also help them find what they want. That's a win for everybody, isn't it? Finally, the lesson will talk about bulleted lists and when and how you should use them to group information for your readers!

Easy-To-Understand Content

In this lesson, you'll focus on writing content that's easy to understand. This type of writing is often called plain language. The lesson will help you identify the "fluff" in your writing, or the words and phrases that don't add anything but unnecessary word count. The advantage of keeping your writing easy-to-read is that your visitors will understand your message the first time they read it, whether you're talking about your business or a favorite subject on your blog. You'll examine some free tools that will tell you how easy your content is to read—and even what grade level it's suited to. The lesson will also discuss the indexes and scales that those tools use to analyze your writing so that you'll know what the results mean.

Content That Sells

Do you have products you want to sell? Would you like to know some surefire ways to get more followers for your blog? Are you focused on public awareness for your cause? If you're looking to persuade your readers to a specific course of action, then you'll find this lesson particularly useful. This lesson will discuss the ins and outs of writing content aimed at persuading readers. You'll find out how to reel in readers using power words and how to keep the search engines on your side with keywords. The lesson will also talk about the importance of honesty in your writing and how to check for that as you compose your copy. It's time to call those readers to action!

Content That Builds Relationships

The modern web is often called the social web—it's a web where being connected matters a lot. Because connection and online relationships are so important to readers, this is something that you'll want to pay attention to. You'll look at ways that you can build relationships, whether your readers are customers or followers or just interested in what you have to share. The lesson will then teach you about the importance of the word you, something salespeople have known for years! You'll also look at how to create content that engages readers in a conversation and about the power of positive language.

Blogs and Microblogs

Song birds aren't the only things that tweet! You'll enjoy this exciting journey through the wonderful world of blogs, from personal blogs to content blogs to microblogs like Twitter. In this modern world of social networking, blogging is much more than a way to reflect on your day-to-day life. Blogs, whether long or short, are rapidly becoming an integral part of every business's marketing plan. Research shows that web readers trust bloggers more than advertising—in fact, 60% of surfers say they feel more positive about a company after reading blog content on its website. This lesson examines what makes an effective blog and teach you about the ever-expanding world of short blogging tools!

Images and Multimedia

Driving down any busy city street shows you that you live in a visual world. From neon lights to enormous flashing billboards, you'll find your attention drawn in dozens of different directions. The same is true on the web. Text just doesn't do it anymore, no matter how well you've written it. Web readers expect pizzazz, and that's just what you'll learn about in this lesson! The lesson will teach you how to find free visuals and multimedia elements on the web and how to effectively use those elements to enhance your content.

Multimedia Tutorials

Want to add some pizzazz to your web content? In this lesson, you'll explore different types of multimedia that you can include on your web pages, such as screencasts, slideshows, and videos, and learn how to create educational content using those types of media. Tutorials are a terrific way to draw in new visitors, no matter what multimedia format you choose. You'll learn how to create tutorials for your blog or website, writing scripts, creating storyboards, and adding screen captures for illustrations.

Polls, Surveys, and Quizzes

Customer service is easy if you use polls, surveys, and quizzes effectively with your web content. Plus, these tools can also help you develop relationships with your visitors by learning more about them. Even if surfers leave comments on your blog or website, a poll or survey can help you understand more about their thoughts and needs. Not sure how to write a poll, survey, or quiz? That's what this lesson is all about! Not only that, but the lesson will also introduce you to services that let you add free quiz activities to your web content to give your readers more reasons to visit regularly.

Intellectual Property

Whether your web content is how you make your living or how you have fun, it's important to know how to protect it from theft. It's also a good idea to make sure you understand what content you can legally reuse on the web. In this lesson, you'll explore intellectual property laws—specifically copyright and trademark laws—and how they apply to your online content.

Some Final Tips

For this final lesson, you'll step away from content creation and instead take a look at three important areas that readers use to place a value on your content. The lesson will help you identify some of the most common writing errors and give you tips on how to be sure you've got things right! Of course, the final thing your content needs is a title, so you'll take a look at how to write some great ones. Then, the lesson will guide you through the process a reader takes to evaluate your web content, which will help you ensure that yours measures up. Once you finish, you'll be confident that you know everything it takes to create effective web content!

What you will learn

• Gain tips for crafting content to make your website or blog into an exciting multimedia place for visitors
• Learn how to develop a website writing style that speaks to your readers' needs
• Understand how to make content clear and easy-to-understand
• Explore ways your web copywriting can convey the right "feel" through your content
• Learn how to encourage interaction with visitors
• Learn how to organize your content to produce better search engine rankings
• Examine ways to make your online copywriting appear as professional and authoritative

How you will benefit

• Make your website stand out and improve SEO
• Engage with visitors and lead them to take action
• Develop web content that will have visitors coming back to learn more

Linda Aksomitis has a master's degree in adult vocational/technical education, with a minor in English. She has published 25 books for readers of all ages (fiction and nonfiction), including numerous e-books, and she has a few thousand publications in newspapers, magazines, and on the Internet. She's been an acquisitions editor for an e-publisher, webmaster of half a dozen websites, managing editor and webmaster for an Internet magazine, and she maintains two active blogs. Linda traces all of her publishing success to the Internet and the contacts she's made in cyberspace.

Learn how to write web content and produce multimedia elements to make your website or blog a must-visit site on the Internet.

Is your web content as effective as it could be? In this course, you will gain tips for crafting content to make your website or blog into an exciting multimedia place for visitors. You will learn how to develop a website writing style that speaks to your readers' needs and ensures that your content is clear and easy-to-understand. You will explore ways your web copywriting can convey the right "feel" through your content, how to get conversations going with your visitors, and how to organize your content to produce better search engine rankings and happier readers. You will also explore all kind of multimedia: images, info-graphics, slideshows and screen casts. You will also discover ways to encourage interaction with your readers through polls, surveys, and quizzes.

Finally, you will examine ways to make your online copywriting appear as professional and authoritative as possible. By the end of this course, your content will be well on its way to rising to the top of the billions of pages on the web.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Learn the skills and techniques you will need to make your website or blog a must-visit site on the Internet. This course will teach you how to write web content and produce multimedia that speaks to viewers in an engaging, clear, and interactive way.

Elements of Effective Web Content

There's web content on just about any topic you can imagine. While the topics and purposes of the content may all be different, the writing strategies you need to know to create effective content are all very similar. In this lesson, you'll identify the three key areas you need to understand in order to make your content effective, whether you want to sell, entertain, or do something else altogether. You'll also find out about a free tool you can use to learn what people on the web are actually looking for!

Developing Focused Content

All writing comes from ideas, so that's where you'll start this lesson. The lesson will show you how to bring focus to your ideas using a free, web-based tool. Then, you'll examine the inverted pyramid writing style and see how and why you should bring the focus of your content to the top of your web page. You'll also look at lots of examples of different types of web content and discover how you can focus the content and use the inverted pyramid to get the most important information out right up front! Of course, if you want to attract lots of readers to your content, it also needs to be entertaining. For that reason, you'll look at some strategies to help you accomplish that too.

Organizing Content

Organizing web content is easier than you might think, and it all starts with an outline. If you've dreaded outlining in the past, not to worry. This lesson will show you some quick tips for making outlining as simple as A, B, C. You'll also look at how headings can help you organize content and chunk information for your readers. Surfers like to scan content for information, whether they're looking for product guides on your business site or the opposing sides of a debate on your blog—and writing effective headings can not only keep readers on your site but also help them find what they want. That's a win for everybody, isn't it? Finally, the lesson will talk about bulleted lists and when and how you should use them to group information for your readers!

Easy-To-Understand Content

In this lesson, you'll focus on writing content that's easy to understand. This type of writing is often called plain language. The lesson will help you identify the "fluff" in your writing, or the words and phrases that don't add anything but unnecessary word count. The advantage of keeping your writing easy-to-read is that your visitors will understand your message the first time they read it, whether you're talking about your business or a favorite subject on your blog. You'll examine some free tools that will tell you how easy your content is to read—and even what grade level it's suited to. The lesson will also discuss the indexes and scales that those tools use to analyze your writing so that you'll know what the results mean.

Content That Sells

Do you have products you want to sell? Would you like to know some surefire ways to get more followers for your blog? Are you focused on public awareness for your cause? If you're looking to persuade your readers to a specific course of action, then you'll find this lesson particularly useful. This lesson will discuss the ins and outs of writing content aimed at persuading readers. You'll find out how to reel in readers using power words and how to keep the search engines on your side with keywords. The lesson will also talk about the importance of honesty in your writing and how to check for that as you compose your copy. It's time to call those readers to action!

Content That Builds Relationships

The modern web is often called the social web—it's a web where being connected matters a lot. Because connection and online relationships are so important to readers, this is something that you'll want to pay attention to. You'll look at ways that you can build relationships, whether your readers are customers or followers or just interested in what you have to share. The lesson will then teach you about the importance of the word you, something salespeople have known for years! You'll also look at how to create content that engages readers in a conversation and about the power of positive language.

Blogs and Microblogs

Song birds aren't the only things that tweet! You'll enjoy this exciting journey through the wonderful world of blogs, from personal blogs to content blogs to microblogs like Twitter. In this modern world of social networking, blogging is much more than a way to reflect on your day-to-day life. Blogs, whether long or short, are rapidly becoming an integral part of every business's marketing plan. Research shows that web readers trust bloggers more than advertising—in fact, 60% of surfers say they feel more positive about a company after reading blog content on its website. This lesson examines what makes an effective blog and teach you about the ever-expanding world of short blogging tools!

Images and Multimedia

Driving down any busy city street shows you that you live in a visual world. From neon lights to enormous flashing billboards, you'll find your attention drawn in dozens of different directions. The same is true on the web. Text just doesn't do it anymore, no matter how well you've written it. Web readers expect pizzazz, and that's just what you'll learn about in this lesson! The lesson will teach you how to find free visuals and multimedia elements on the web and how to effectively use those elements to enhance your content.

Multimedia Tutorials

Want to add some pizzazz to your web content? In this lesson, you'll explore different types of multimedia that you can include on your web pages, such as screencasts, slideshows, and videos, and learn how to create educational content using those types of media. Tutorials are a terrific way to draw in new visitors, no matter what multimedia format you choose. You'll learn how to create tutorials for your blog or website, writing scripts, creating storyboards, and adding screen captures for illustrations.

Polls, Surveys, and Quizzes

Customer service is easy if you use polls, surveys, and quizzes effectively with your web content. Plus, these tools can also help you develop relationships with your visitors by learning more about them. Even if surfers leave comments on your blog or website, a poll or survey can help you understand more about their thoughts and needs. Not sure how to write a poll, survey, or quiz? That's what this lesson is all about! Not only that, but the lesson will also introduce you to services that let you add free quiz activities to your web content to give your readers more reasons to visit regularly.

Intellectual Property

Whether your web content is how you make your living or how you have fun, it's important to know how to protect it from theft. It's also a good idea to make sure you understand what content you can legally reuse on the web. In this lesson, you'll explore intellectual property laws—specifically copyright and trademark laws—and how they apply to your online content.

Some Final Tips

For this final lesson, you'll step away from content creation and instead take a look at three important areas that readers use to place a value on your content. The lesson will help you identify some of the most common writing errors and give you tips on how to be sure you've got things right! Of course, the final thing your content needs is a title, so you'll take a look at how to write some great ones. Then, the lesson will guide you through the process a reader takes to evaluate your web content, which will help you ensure that yours measures up. Once you finish, you'll be confident that you know everything it takes to create effective web content!

What you will learn

• Gain tips for crafting content to make your website or blog into an exciting multimedia place for visitors
• Learn how to develop a website writing style that speaks to your readers' needs
• Understand how to make content clear and easy-to-understand
• Explore ways your web copywriting can convey the right "feel" through your content
• Learn how to encourage interaction with visitors
• Learn how to organize your content to produce better search engine rankings
• Examine ways to make your online copywriting appear as professional and authoritative

How you will benefit

• Make your website stand out and improve SEO
• Engage with visitors and lead them to take action
• Develop web content that will have visitors coming back to learn more

Linda Aksomitis has a master's degree in adult vocational/technical education, with a minor in English. She has published 25 books for readers of all ages (fiction and nonfiction), including numerous e-books, and she has a few thousand publications in newspapers, magazines, and on the Internet. She's been an acquisitions editor for an e-publisher, webmaster of half a dozen websites, managing editor and webmaster for an Internet magazine, and she maintains two active blogs. Linda traces all of her publishing success to the Internet and the contacts she's made in cyberspace.