Valdosta State University > Continuing Education > Online Courses > Business & Personal Writing

Business & personal writing

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      Advanced Fiction Writing
      Beginner's Guide to Getting Published
      Beginning Writer's Workshop
      Business and Marketing Writing
      Effective Business Writing
      Forensic Science for Writers
      Fundamentals of Technical Writing
      Introduction to Internet Writing Market
      Introduction to Journaling
      Keys to Effective Editing
      Mystery Writing
      Pleasures of Poetry
      Research Methods for Writers
      Romance Writing Secrets
     The Craft of Magazine Writing
      Travel Writing
      Write Fiction Like a Pro
      Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers
      Writeriffic 2: Advanced Creativity Training for Writers
      Write Your Life Story
      Writing for Children

Introduction to Journaling

If you've ever wanted to try journaling, this course will provide answers to your every question. You’ll discover the different types of journaling (including dream journaling), and sample a buffet of journaling techniques, exercises, tools, and resources.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about journaling, including a seven-step process that will ease you into writing a journal, even if you've never journaled before. You'll get detailed instructions on developing, decorating, and customizing your journal, and you'll learn exciting new ways to express yourself and develop your creativity.

You'll find out how you can use your journal to explore your thoughts, feelings, and values, and you'll learn how to use your journal to support you as you develop true emotional well-being. You'll also understand how journaling can ease the stress of unwanted change throughout the course of your life. You'll even discover how journaling can help you choose the best career for you or advance in your current career.

Requirements: Experience with any version of Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or any other word processor; Internet access; e-mail; Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

      Dates:Click here for schedule
      Time: At your convenience at home or by appointment at the VSU Continuing Education Computer Lab
      Location:Online
      Fee:$89
      Additional Information:Introduction to Journaling

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Beginning Writer's Workshop

If you've always wanted to write but have no idea where to start, this course will demystify the process for you. You'll get a taste of the writing life, improve your writing skills, and develop new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

This exciting, hands-on course for the creative writing novice is filled with challenging exercises, expert advice, and plenty of direct support and encouragement. As you work your way through the lessons, you'll develop your own short, creative fiction or nonfiction piece.

Our emphasis in this course is on developing your skills through practice, so you’ll spend more time writing than reading. You'll master important concepts by completing enjoyable writing exercises and assignments, and you'll discover a variety of strategies and techniques the pros use to develop characters, create a compelling point of view, build interest through dialogue, and add meaning to your stories.

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

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Romance Writing Secrets

Learn the secrets of writing romance novels that get publishers excited. Facilitated by a bestselling, multi-published romance author, this course will guide you on your road to writing your first romance and getting it published.

Romance writing is the hottest fiction genre going. From Nora Roberts to Jayne Ann Krentz to Linda Howard, readers gobble up romance novels to the tune of $1.2 billion a year. This course starts with the fundamentals of organizing your book, beginning with the overarching theme, and moves on to the basic elements of good storytelling—character development, structuring your plot, internal and external conflict, and point of view. The class then proceeds to the specifics of romance—the importance of writing emotions, love scenes, witty banter, and romantic imagery. The course concludes with hints and tips on getting published within the romance market.

Students will be exposed to real-life examples from popular romance novels and from the instructor’s 12 years of experience as a published author of 39 romance novels.

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

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Writing for Children

Join a published children's author and discover how you can touch the hearts of children by creating books for them. If you're a beginning writer, this course will help you transform a book idea into a finished product that you'll be proud to place into the hands of potential publisher. And if you're already a successful writer, this course will help you explore new opportunities and markets for your work.

In this highly interactive, hands-on course, you'll take pen to paper and begin work on your very first fiction or nonfiction manuscript. In the process, you'll explore the changing world of children's literature and understand the various formats--from baby's first books to novels for young adults. You'll get insights from guest authors and editors to gain a better understanding of the needs of today's market. By researching the genre and recognizing niche players, you'll open doors of opportunity, many of which you may not have previously considered. By the time you finish this course, you'll have all the tools and resources you'll need to continue to grow as a writer for children.

Requirements: Access to a library or bookstore that stocks children's books, Microsoft Word or other word processing software, Internet access, e-mail, and the Netscape or Firefox or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Research Methods for Writers

Attention all writers! Learn how to efficiently and effectively conduct research for any writing project: fiction, nonfiction, business . . . even term papers and dissertations. Modern research techniques are boundless. The trick is to know where to look and what to look for.

This six-week online course teaches the best methods for mounting a search on any subject.

You'll take a virtual guided tour of the library and how to maximize its precious resources, and you’ll discover how to access public records, conduct successful Internet searches, and explore other similar treasure troves of information.

Personal interviews, public reports, surveys and polls, and historical research are introduced and dissected. A special lesson on Guerilla Research reveals secrets for the undercover researcher. As a plus, detailed instructions are offered for getting organized before embarking on research and getting the most out of information once it’s gathered.

This course will give you the tools you’ll need to successfully gather and incorporate all the information any polished and professional writing project requires.

Requirements: Experience with any version of Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or any other word processor; Internet access; e-mail; Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Forensic Science for Writers

You've followed forensic investigators as they solve crimes in novels, movies, and TV shows, unearthing facts hidden from the normal human eye. And now you want forensics to play a starring role in your fiction, but you need a quick education on the subject. This course will reveal all the secrets you need to know in order to craft a gripping and realistic work of fiction.

During this six-week course, we'll explore how investigators analyze physical evidence, including blood, DNA, fingerprints, hair, documents, ammunition, and corpses. From the code-breaking tricks of the cyber-sleuth to the traditional procedures of the autopsy room, we'll look at the strengths and weaknesses of forensic technology. And we'll cover common misconceptions about forensic analysis found in films and novels, errors that you'll want to avoid in your own writing.

This course will also introduce you to the major players of a criminal investigation--the first responder, the lead investigator, and the crime scene experts--just the sort of people who make great characters. You'll meet forensic pioneers who can provide role models for fictional investigators. And you'll explore historical highlights of forensic crime detection, which will prove helpful when you write about historical periods other than our own.

Requirements: A basic knowledge of high school science, Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

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Write your Life Story

Have you thought about writing your story, sharing life-altering events? Does your family really know about their heritage? If you've ever thought about writing your life story, now is the time. You will have the satisfaction of telling history your way. You may even find a lucrative market for your story, just like the authors of the bestselling Rocket Boys and Angela's Ashes. This course walks you step-by-step through the process of writing your life story. It's fun. It's exciting. It's a story only you can tell.

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

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Advanced Fiction Writing

Do you have a story idea but aren't sure how to begin? Do your friends say you write well, but you're not sure how to get started on that first book? Do you have a manuscript, or parts of a manuscript, and need to know how to polish it for publication? Are you a published author who wants to learn techniques to write more effectively and efficiently?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Advanced Fiction Writing is for you!

In this course, you'll explore all the topics a writer needs to create a successful manuscript, including story structure, plot, character, dialogue, setting, suspense, conflict, action, viewpoint, tense, and even how to get published. Each lesson includes an assignment that will help you develop or polish your manuscript. And in the Discussion Area, you'll have an opportunity to share your work with classmates to obtain their feedback.

In Advanced Fiction Writing, you'll explore the essential techniques that are often overlooked by other writing classes and textbooks. And you'll explore them in a clear, step-by-step fashion that will make it easy for you to turn your story idea into a published book. Join us for the next six weeks, and you'll never look at fiction writing the same way again!

Requirements:Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

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Beginners Guide to Getting Published

Do you know the five most common reasons why manuscripts are instantly rejected--often without even being read? Do you know how to correctly format and submit a manuscript? Do you know which publishing markets most fit your writing style? Can you write a query letter that publishers won't be able to resist?

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. If you have credibility, getting your manuscript published will no longer be a dream. It will become reality. This course will teach you how to give yourself the kind of credibility you need to succeed.

Taught by a successful journalist and author, this course will provide you with instant access to critical information most other writers don't discover for years. This patient and experienced instructor will walk you through every step of the publishing process. What's more, she'll be standing by to answer your every question about important legal issues, including copyright, agents, and the use of pseudonyms.

With the knowledge you gain throughout this course, no editor will ever surprise you or stump you with phrases like “on spec” or “kill fee.” If you really want to be a writer, this step-by-step course will give you all the tools you need to get published--again and again and again.

Requirements: Experience with any version of Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or any other word processor; Internet access; e-mail; Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Business and Marketing Writing

Are you a writer working in the business world? Or a marketing professional responsible for obtaining great marketing copy? Maybe your boss made you the company writer, but you've never had any training. Or maybe you're just interested in a writing or marketing career.

Whatever your background, this fun, introductory course will teach you to write or identify copy that achieves business and marketing goals. Improve your work, your knowledge, your company's image, and your chances of getting hired, promoted or applauded!

Using clear explanations, real-life examples, and an animated style, the course solidifies the relationship between business and marketing principles and written communications. You'll learn how business and marketing objectives affect writing choices. You'll get practical writing instruction in grammar, clarity, structure and more. You'll understand issues unique to this discipline, such as buzzwords, working with a team, and marketing ethics.

Whether you seek to improve your own writing or learn to identify effective copy, this course will help you understand the power of writing - and use it to present a solid, cohesive message to your target audience. (2.4 CEUs)

Objectives:
By the end of this course, the student will:

be able to unite marketing strategy with the written word.
understand how to base writing decisions on business and marketing criteria
be capable of writing or identifying clear, effective copy that deliberately advances business and marketing goals
know how to avoid and pinpoint common grammatical mistakes
understand the ethical choices of marketing writers and professionals
be able to work with a team, client, boss or coworker to produce more effective projects

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, and Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Effective Business Writing

Do you have a nagging suspicion that a small improvement in your writing skills might also improve your career prospects? Don't let small gaps in your business writing skills prevent you from reaching your full potential! It doesn't matter whether you're a clerical worker, an engineer, or an executive. If you communicate with others in writing, you need this
course to help you identify and eliminate problem areas. By the end of this course, you'll know the secret to developing powerful written documents that immediately draw readers in and keep them motivated to continue until your very last, well-chosen word. (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Fundamentals 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 skills you need to succeed as a technical writer. 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'll 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. You'll also learn how to get your first job as a technical writer, plus "tricks of the trade" that enable you to create high-quality documentation with less work. (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader). and Microsoft Word (Versions 2007, 2003, XP, 2000, or 1997 are all acceptable). This course is not suitable for Macintosh users.

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Introduction to Internet Writing Markets

The Internet has created a whole new world of opportunity for writers. If you're already a professional writer or just dream of becoming one, this course will help you discover a wide variety of new markets for your work. You'll explore every corner of the Internet, learning how to supplement your income writing web page content, developing articles for ezines, supplying content for online databases, writing for information sites, crafting fiction for the Internet, building online training materials, and writing electronic books and manuals for e-publishers. (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Keys to Effective Editing

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 course will teach you the fundamentals of top-notch editing for both fiction and nonfiction. If you're already working as an editor, you'll 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. 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. (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser. Although this course will teach English grammar, punctuation, and style, the student must be fluent in English and have a better-than-average spelling ability.

      Dates:Click here for schedule
      Time: At your convenience at home or by appointment at the VSU Continuing Education Computer Lab
      Location:Online
      Fee:$89
      Additional Information: The Keys to Effective Editing

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Mystery Writing

If you consider the books you've read most recently, you may be surprised to discover that many—if not all—are mysteries. From Dan Brown to Dennis Lehane, mysteries are hot items on today's bestseller lists. This course will teach you the techniques you need to become a successful mystery author!

Mystery Writing features fun, enthusiastic lessons, which reveal how story structure is the key to success. Topics include

The four story types
Three-act structure
The difference between plot and story
Theme
Premise
Characters
Viewpoint
Deductive vs. inductive reasoning
Crime scenes
And much more.

This course is filled with real examples from bestselling mysteries that show you how to use the techniques of expert authors in your own writing.

Following each lesson, you'll practice on your own story, then join your instructor and your fellow students in the discussion area for some interactive brainstorming! (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, and Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Pleasures of Poetry

If you want to write poetry, this course will help you to create your best
possible work. You'll learn the formal elements of the craft, become aware of how particular forms work, and explore many avenues for possible poetry topics. Interactive exercises will help you to create at least one poem with formal elements, and you'll receive instruction and
commentary in a constructive and nurturing environment. If you're serious about becoming a published poet, you'll also learn how to prepare a manuscript for publication and where to send it for the best possible results. (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, E-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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The Craft of Magazine Writing

Have you ever thought about writing for magazines? Turn your dreams into bylines and help yourself to a bright future as a magazine writer. It's fun, it's easy, and a great source of extra income. If you're a determined new writer, or if you haven't written for magazines in years, this class will jump start your career. You'll learn plenty of powerful brainstorming
techniques designed to practically write every article for you. (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, E-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Travel Writing

In this course you'll learn how to develop the skills of a travel writer. You'll learn how to translate what is seen, heard, tasted, touched, smelled and felt (intuitively and physically) into publishable articles and books. You'll understand the writing styles and methods needed to sell material in today's competitive market (including the how-to's of technical aspects of lead paragraphs, descriptive passages and the uses of interviews, quotes and facts). By the end of the course, you'll have the ability to write for the travel market. So pack your sense adventure, organize your determination and put your keyboard in a comfortable position. If you have a desire to write and a yen to travel, you're a perfect candidate to become a travel writer. Let's get going. Topics include 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. (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Write Fiction Like a Pro

What’s the single biggest difference between professional authors and novices? Professionals know how to structure novels and stories for maximum dramatic effect. This course helps you develop the same story structuring skills the pros use. You'll understand how your passion, theme, premise, and characters help you create the structure of your story, and you'll discover how viewpoint, dialogue, pacing, and many other techniques are used to build scenes and move your story from beginning to end.

Each assignment in this course helps you develop your own original novel or story. As you apply each technique, your story will take shape, with a clear path from beginning to end. And whenever you have questions or insights to share, you can join your instructor and classmates in the Discussion Area for some interactive brainstorming! Before you know it, you’ll be prepared to... write fiction like a pro. (2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers

Who doesn't know the fear of the blank page? How can we transform our visions into the written word? Is it really possible to become a terrific writer? You'll find the answer to these and more of your questions in Writeriffic. In this high-energy class you'll learn lots of tricks from the published writer's toolbox. Whether you're at work now or hoping to write a novel, a nonfiction book, a memoir, short stories or articles, Writerific liberates the imaginative, inventive bolts of genius that are inside everyone. If you've ever dreamed of hearing your writer's voice and writing what's in your heart and head, this class will make it happen.
(2.4 CEUs)

Requirements: Internet access, e-mail, Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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Writeriffic 2: Advanced Creativity Training for Writers

If you believe writers must suffer for their art, as so-called writing gurus insist, you’ve accepted a myth. In this highly interactive course, you’ll master the insider methods of writing for personal satisfaction or for publication in this advanced writing course. You’ll increase your creativity, beat writer’s block, manage time, and know how to pitch ideas to publishers, agents, and editors.

You’ll learn about the business side of writing, including contracts, releases, deductions, and invoices. You'll investigate the genres that will launch your career or increase your satisfaction with your own advanced writing.

Through comprehensive and progressively challenging writing assignments and innovative ways to explore creativity, you’ll increase your self-confidence, overcome obstacles, and understand what it takes to be a writer.

The instructor is an author of more than 60 books and over 1000 magazine articles, and has been writing for publication for over twenty years. In this course, she will share how writing can increase your self-confidence, can help restore your self-respect, and how it can become a full-time career, second career or contribute to your retirement.

In Writeriffic 2, you’ll learn to be the writer of your dreams and have fun, too.

Requirements: Completion of Eva Shaw's Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers or The Craft of Magazine Writing. Internet access, e-mail, and Netscape or Internet Explorer Web browser.

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