WHAT WILL WE BE DOING IN THE CLASS?
We'll spend some time in each class session writing, and time
will also be set aside for students to share their stories with
the group and get feedback on them. (Students can share their
stories with the class by email, by handing out copies, or reading
them aloud.) There will also be homework assignments each week,
designed to give people a chance to try something new and different
than they might otherwise in their writing.
We'll also spend some time thinking about and discussing the elements
of writing, including:
- form and structure (what elements do all stories have in common?
How can we learn about and have fun with these elements, while
still writing spontaneously and trusting our own feeling of where
we want to go in our stories?)
- beginnings, middles and endings
- point of view (first person, second person, third person - what
does it all mean? How learning about point of view can free up
your writing)
- writing description and dialogue
- trusting your impulses as a writer
- finding ideas for stories
- types of stories: character-driven, plot-driven, and event driven
- what story "type" means and how to have fun with it
- editing and rewriting
- finding the time to work on your writing (yep, there are things
that can help!)
- unblocking writer's block, and forgetting all about it
- copyrighting your stories and getting published
DOES THE INSTRUCTOR TEACH ANY OTHER WRITING CLASSES?
Yes, Nils also offers a class through the Experimental College
called It's
Time to Write Your Screenplay.
"The most interesting thing about writing
is the way that it obliterates time. Three hours seem like three
minutes. Then there is the business of surprise. I never know
what is coming next. The phrase that sounds in the head changes
when it appears on the page. ... That's why I go on, I suppose.
To see what the next sentences I write will be." - Gore Vidal
Thanks again for the writing class this quarter. I found your
comments on my stories, and other students' stories, helpful and
to the point. You said what you thought, but without trashing
anybody. I also appreciated being able to hear other students'
comments on what I'd written. - Megan C. (Edmonds)
I liked the format, and the chance to things aloud.... hearing
my own stories was an eye-opener. Just hearing them, I could tell
when they were working or where the cuts needed to be. It was
also great having a chance to get so much feedback. - Bill K.
(Seattle)
I spent two years not writing and getting ragged about it. I have
to say that during your class I started writing and I've been
writing my b_lls off ever since. It worked for me totally. - Andy
J. (Seattle)
I loved your class. - J.L., Seattle
Thanks for a fun and interesting class. I appreciate how you value
each student for their individual voice and style, and how you
encourage and bring out the best in each of us. I always learn
new and effective ways to look at things when I take one of your
classes... - Barb B. (Bellevue)
Thanks for an excellent class. The exercises were enjoyable. It
was a pleasure to be in such a creative group.- Marylin H. (Bellevue)
I was a little bit cautious when I signed up, because I'd had
a bad experience in a class at _______ a few years ago. I'm glad
to say that your class was different. I felt energized, and motivated,
and loved the creativity and the energy of the group. Thanks for
all the attention you put into the group and the exercises. -
Chris K. (Seattle)
Thanks again for encouraging us to form a writing group after
the class. We've met four times since the course ended, and I
expect we'll keep doing so. - Chris W., Bothell
I took your class two years ago, and loved it at that time, then
took it again this spring. While I always liked the class, and
got a great deal out of it, I can also say that you've improved
it dramatically in the past few months. The information about
style, form, story structure and point of view, and your suggestions
about editing our own stories, all are profoundly helpful. You'll
probably see me again in a few months! - Sheila K., Seattle
I took it because I was "stuck" in journaling, and wanted
to shake myself loose and open up my writing abilities and inclinations
in some new directions. Your suggestions and comments were great.
I'm unstuck. Thank you!!!! I'll be back in the fall to take the
class again. - Marie L., Lake Forest Park
The amount of thought and care Nils put into the presentations
was wonderful. I felt like he really listened to people and answered
their questions.He was also very flexible.In the part of the story
in which we shared stories, people were encouraged but not pressured
to share things each week. Sometimes we would listen to nine of
ten stories, and have a chance to comment on them. Other times
we would really focus in on one of two students. It was all good,
and I learned a lot from it. -M.R., Seattle
I found this class to be both fun and educational thanks to both
Nils and everyone in the class. -M.L, Seattle
Suzie and I had lunch together today and we were commenting on
how much we appreciated the gracious and respectful manner in
which you taught the class. We both feel SO thankful to have 'happened'
to have chosen your writing class, and we want to say THANKS NILS!
The group you've birthed and created has lots of energy! (We've
formed a writing group and are) plan to meet every 2 weeks. -
M.C., Seattle
I liked the combination of handouts, presentation, discussion,
and reading student writing for feedback. The combination of all
of these separate tools helped reinforce concepts and make each
two hour session productive and varied. Nils makes the classroom
comfortable for people at all levels. - J.F., Bellevue
Writing Fiction and Short Stories is sponsored by the ASUW (Associated Students University of Washington) Experimental College, and is held on the U.W. campus in Seattle. It's a non-credit class open to everyone; you do not have to be a U.W. student to attend. The University of Washington is committed to providing equal access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accomodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accomodations, contact the Disability Office at least ten days in advance at: (206)543-6450/V, (206)543-6452/TTY, (206)685-7264 (fax) or email dso@u.washington.edu
To sign up by mail: You can sign up by mail at any time. To do so, click here to download the mail-in registration formThen fill it out and mail it to: ASUW Experimental College Box 352238 SAO 21 University of Washington Seattle WA 98195-2238 (Note: mail-in registrations won't be processed until June 23rd.)
To sign up online: Online registration for summer quarter Experimental College classes will begin on June 9th. (Please do not try signing up online before that time! Or you may end up in the spring quarter class instead.) We'll post a registration link here when summer online registrations begin.
To sign up by phone: Phone registrations for summer
quarter Experimental College classeswill begin onJune 23rd We'll
post more information here at that time.
Want an email reminder about registrations? To be added to the
instructor's email list, email Nilsosmar@gmail.com
You'll receive an email reminder when online and phone registrations
begin.
Whatever method you use to register, you will only be charged a $10 registration fee for each class you are enrolling in, when you sign up (or $5 if you are a UW student.) The course fee is not due until the first day of class.
Sponsored by the ASUW Experimental College:
Drawing
for absolute beginners
Learn
to Draw Faces
Figure
Drawing for beginners
Cartooning
Perspective
for Beginners: Drawing in Depth
Drawing
Clothing and Drapery
Exploring
Color
Beginning
Acting
Acting
in a Movie
Filmmaking
101
Writing
Fiction and Short Stories
It's
Time to Write Your Screenplay
Adobe
Photoshop
Sponsored by other schools *
Drawing
& painting Flowers
Drawing in
Ink
Drawing
comic books and graphic novels
Acrylic
painting for beginners
Drawing
with colored pencils
Documentary
filmmaking
Editing
tips & tricks for filmmakers
FX Makeup
for filmmakers
Improv
for beginners: acting without scripts
How
to make commercials & infomercials
Free
up your writing! (Beyond writer's block)
Writing
science fiction & fantasy
* click on the course title for registration information