What's the Secret of Great Fiction Writers?"For writers looking to sell their work, description is key, and this course has the key to description."- Cynthia Harrison, author of YOUR WORDS, YOUR STORYTaught by a former University of Michigan creative writing instructor, Description Writing Secrets is an 8-week course conducted by e-mail. If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this course is for you.
You'll learn how use description to strengthen the various elements of your story, from setting and plot to character and narrative viewpoint. Since the course is taught by e-mail, you can learn from anywhere, studying when you have time in your schedule. Once a week for eight weeks, you will get a new lesson in your inbox. The first lesson will normally be sent to you within an hour after you sign up. "I especially liked Lesson 3 about using description to create a mood -- and I'm already thinking about ways to use that in my current project." - Nancy Antle, author of PLAYING SOLITAIRE and LOST IN THE WAR Here's an outline of what you'll learn in the course:
Each lesson also includes a short writing assignment designed to help you improve as quickly as possible. 
Your teacherDescription Writing Secrets is taught by Nancy Strauss, the Online Courses Director at Creative Writing Now. Nancy has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan, where she has also taught creative and expository writing.
The lessons are specially designed to help you learn as quickly as possible. The course presents advanced fiction-writing techniques in a way that is simple to understand, even for beginning writers. And if you have questions about any of the lessons, we'll be there to help you. "A great, fun, practical way to get the creative juices flowing and call forth the writer's muse." - Man Martin, Georgia Writers Association Author of the Year 2008 and author of DAYS OF THE ENDLESS CORVETTE "The writing exercises are intriguing and practically beg you to get started. The lessons themselves are concise and straight-forward, easy to understand and to apply to your own writing. The 'tips' and check lists alone would justify the cost of the course." - Sally Derby, author of KYLE'S ISLAND What you get in the courseDescription Writing Secrets includes:
*Note: With the e-mail support included in the course, you can ask general questions about writing and get answers from a teacher. But if you would like instead to have a teacher read your writing or comment on it, you will need to sign up for a Feedback Pack.
Do you want one-on-one feedback from a writing teacher on your weekly assignments? We know that instructor feedback is a priority for some students, so we have decided to accommodate those students by offering the option of purchasing a Feedback Pack. If you sign up for the Feedback Pack, you will get everything included in Description Writing Secrets, plus you'll be able to send up to eight pieces of writing (up to 2000 words each) to a writing teacher and get individual feedback on each one by e-mail. You can use the Feedback Pack during the eight weeks of the course, or for up to one month after you receive the last lesson. (Your Feedback Pack teacher may be either Nancy or another qualified writing teacher.)
Description Writing Secrets contains everything you need to learn quickly. The lessons are very easy to understand, and if you have any questions, you can e-mail one of our teachers. This course is an exceptional value. You get all of the learning of a college creative writing course with the convenience of being able to study from home. If you have a specific need for individual feedback, then the Feedback Pack might be your best option.
Description Writing Secrets + Feedback Pack Total price: $317.87 
Frequently asked questionsHere are some answers to questions you may have about the course: Q: How/when will I get my lessons? A: Your answers will be sent to you by e-mail, once a week for eight weeks. Here's how it works: when you purchase the course, you will be asked for an e-mail address. After your purchase is complete, you will normally receive the first lesson within one hour. Q: How much time will I need to complete the assignments? A: The lessons are specially designed so that you can read and absorb them quickly. And the writing assignments can also be completed fast. But as with most things, what you get out of this course depends on what you put into it. So we suggest making time to revise your weekly assignments and do some additional writing. Ideally, try to schedule a regular time for your writing at least five days a week -- even if it is only ten minutes per day. Q: Will I have to buy any books or additional materials? A: There are no additional materials required for the course. The online format will also save you money versus an offline course, where you would have logistical expenses such as transportation, parking, childcare, and so on. Q: Is the course just for fiction writing, or will it help me write essays, articles, poetry, etc.? A: The course is focused on fiction-writing (short stories or novels). If you are mainly interested in writing essays, articles, poetry, or another genre, this course may not be right for you. Q: What if I don't understand something in one of the lessons? A: No worries. You can e-mail us, and a teacher will answer your questions about the course. Q: How do I get feedback on my writing assignments? A: If you would like a teacher to send you one-on-one feedback on your eight writing assignments, consider signing up for the Feedback Pack. However, if you decide not to purchase the Feedback Pack, you can still publish your writing on the course blog, where your classmates might comment on it. Q: How soon do I have to decide? A: If you're really interested in taking this course, it is safer to sign up now while it's still open. Q: What if I change my mind after I purchase the course? A: No problem! If you change your mind, just ask us for a refund. You can send us an e-mail any time during the first 20 days (or before a teacher starts preparing feedback on your assignment if you've purchased the Feedback Pack), and just tell us you've changed your mind, then we'll refund 100% of your payment. No hassle; no hard feelings. So you actually have nothing to lose by signing up for the course now. Q: What if my question was not answered here? A: Please just send us an e-mail, and we'll be delighted to answer all your questions.
Description Writing Secrets Description Writing Secrets + Feedback Pack Total price: $317.87 P.S. - Still not sure? Give it a test run. Sign up for the basic version (without the Feedback Pack) and see what you think. You have 20 days to decide if it's for you or ask for a refund. P.P.S - We're looking forward to helping you take your writing to the next level! |
Feedback on our Online Courses
"I loved absolutely everything about the Description Writing course especially Lesson 3, Description and Mood. I thoroughly had fun with this particular lesson because I took the same story I had written and turned it from a serious story into a funny story. I felt like a sponge, absorbing all I could from your course.
I saw a big change in my writing since I took the first course you offered - Essentials of Fiction - I took this course originally because I had always wanted to write since I was a child but sometimes life has a way of stopping us from our desires, at least for a while. I wanted to see if I really could write or if I was hung up on some childhood fantasy. Essentials of Fiction proved, to me at least, that I could indeed write and I wrote everyday, much to my boyfriend's dismay (waa sniff)...
Half-way through the Description Writing course, I came across a story I had written at the beginning of the Essentials of Fiction course and couldn't help but compare the two pieces. I saw that my writing had improved 100%.
When I shared my writing with my boyfriend... he'd say things like, "that's not bad" or "that's pretty good". Now he tells me "You're a natural."... I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much not only for the lessons you have taught me but also for restoring my faith in myself and encouraging me not to let anyone stop me. Thank you."
- Jill Gairdner
"I've really enjoyed this course and it's given me a lot of ah-hah experiences along the way. I've been writing for years but sometimes wondered why my writing often feels flat and dull. Looking back over the scripts and stories I've written, I've found that the ones I've liked, that I enjoyed writing and that came alive, were the ones which were vivid.
I think it's this word "vivid" which is most important. Roald Dahl wrote that one of the prerequisites of being a writer was that - "You should be able to write well. By that I mean you should be able to make a scene come alive in the reader's mind."
So, I'd say that first and foremost, this course has helped me to do just that. And of course, for the scene to come alive in the reader's mind it first has to be alive in the writer's mind.
Another thing I've found out through doing this course is that a lot of the work of writing is done unconsciously. For instance, when I've read these 10 minute writing exercises I've allowed myself time, maybe three or four days, to do other things and not to think consciously of the exercise or how I'm going to do it. It's a bit like baking - you allow the dough to yeast for a while. Don't touch it, just let the natural process work without interference.
I've found that by allowing this yeasting process to work, the exercise seems almost to do itself. I sit down, get centred and find that the pictures are already there.
Anyway, thanks very much for this course. It's been a lot of fun and it's actually been very useful for my screenwriting as well."
- Robin Gott
"One of my stories, "Bubble", has been published. If I hadn't taken your course I couldn't even imagine that. Many, many thanks for inspiring me."
- Rasheed
Feedback on our Critiques
"I appreciated the way it was presented and I agree with so many of the points that were made. I think that the suggested changes will benefit my story and my chances of being published. Also, I had no idea that it would happen so quickly. Good experience all around."
- Mary Bowman
"I like that she itemized how she perceived the story's structure. I'm not good with seeing story structure yet and it really helped to have it shown to me with one of my own stories instead stories by someone else. I also liked that I was given suggestions for how to implement the suggested changes or correct the indicated errors."
- Sandra S. Richardson
"I found the critique very constructive, including plenty of positive points as well as the areas that need work. The critique was very in depth."
- Kelly McCarty
"Thank you Nancy for your critique. This is really helping me to understand where I need to develop more as a writer."
- Victoria Simonovitch