Unlock Your Writing Potential: A Guide to UCLA Extension Writing Programs

UCLA Extension offers a comprehensive suite of writing programs designed to cater to writers of all levels, from beginners exploring the basics to advanced students honing their craft. Whether you aspire to finish a novel, complete a screenplay, publish poetry, write your memoir, or simply improve your writing skills, UCLA Extension provides a supportive community and top-tier instruction to help you achieve your goals.

A Program for Every Writer

The UCLA Extension Writers' Program offers a wide array of open-enrollment courses that can be taken individually. For those seeking a more structured path, the Certificate in Creative Writing provides a customizable curriculum. This certificate requires the completion of 18 units of elective coursework, allowing students to tailor their studies to their specific interests and goals. The full certificate curriculum is listed further down on this page. For those who meet certain requirements, an intermediate or advanced level track is also available. Required introductory courses may be waived upon departmental approval, however, to earn the certificate, candidates must still complete a minimum of the sum total of required core course units and elective course units listed for this Writers’ Program certificate. Previously completed courses in another UNEX Certificate program may apply in a limited quantity of units to a Writers’ Program Certificate if the course is eligible for the requirements.

Mastering the Fundamentals: Basics of Writing

For those with no prior writing experience, the Basics of Writing courses provide a solid foundation. Instruction is exercise-driven, introducing students to the process of workshopping, where they share and offer feedback on each other’s work under the guidance of the instructor.

Diving Deeper: Genre-Specific Courses

UCLA Extension offers a rich selection of courses focused on specific genres, catering to a wide range of creative interests. These courses are structured to accommodate various levels of experience, from beginning to advanced.

Fiction

The fiction courses are divided into three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced.

Beginning Fiction: Recommended for students with some prior writing experience, these courses blend lecture and workshopping. With the close guidance of the instructor, students share and offer feedback in a supportive environment focused on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their work. Those new to writing should consider courses in the Basics of Writing section.

Intermediate Fiction: These courses are designed for students who have fulfilled the prerequisites stated in each description. Instruction includes lectures as appropriate, but the focus is on workshopping. Students continue to share and offer feedback in a supportive environment.

Advanced Fiction: A manuscript submission is required for entry into these workshops. Courses are primarily workshop-driven. It is recommended that students take intermediate level courses prior to submitting their work to an advanced-level course.

Creative Nonfiction

Similar to the fiction courses, creative nonfiction is also offered at three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced.

Beginning Creative Nonfiction: Courses in this section are recommended for students with some prior writing experience. Instruction is a mix of lecture and workshopping. With the close guidance of the instructor, students share and offer feedback in a supportive environment focused on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their work. Those new to writing should consider courses in the Basics of Writing section.

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Intermediate Creative Nonfiction: These courses are designed for students who have fulfilled the prerequisites stated in each description. Instruction includes lectures as appropriate, but the focus is on workshopping. Students continue to share and offer feedback in a supportive environment.

Advanced Creative Nonfiction: A manuscript submission is required for entry into these workshops. Courses are primarily workshop-driven. It is recommended that students take intermediate level courses prior to submitting their work to an advanced-level course.

Poetry

These workshops are tailored to students with specific levels of experience in poetry writing. Please review course descriptions carefully or call an advisor to determine which course will best help you reach your writing goals. Every poet eventually writes enough work to complete and assemble a full-length poetry manuscript (48-60 pages) but needs guidance on final revisions and submission for publication.

Writing for Young Readers

UCLA Extension also offers courses specifically focused on writing for young readers, catering to those interested in crafting stories for children and young adults.

The World of Screenwriting: Film and Television

For aspiring screenwriters, UCLA Extension provides a comprehensive program covering both feature film and television writing.

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Feature Film

The feature film courses are structured in a progressive sequence, allowing students to build their skills from the ground up.

Beginning Feature Film: Recommended for beginning students, these courses build on one another in a four-part sequence. With the close guidance of the instructor, students share and offer feedback in a supportive environment focused on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the work. By the end of the sequence, students have a completed draft of their first feature film script.

Intermediate Feature Film: Courses in this section are for students who have completed at least one screenplay. A new project is begun with an emphasis on craft issues such as structure, character development, and emotional content. Self-editing techniques are introduced.

Advanced Feature Film: A script-submission is required for these advanced-level courses which are primarily workshop driven. It is recommended that students take courses at the intermediate level prior to submitting their work to an advanced-level course.

Television

The television writing courses follow a similar structure to the feature film courses, with levels for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students.

Beginning Television: Recommended for beginning students who are writing a spec script of an existing comedy or drama series. With the close guidance of the instructor, students share and offer feedback in a supportive environment focused on assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the work.

Intermediate Television: Courses in this section are for students who have completed at least one draft of a spec script of an existing series. The focus is on writing and polishing a solid first draft of an original pilot. Students also gain a better understanding of the business of writing for television.

Advanced Television: A script-submission is required for these advanced-level workshop-driven courses.

Beyond Creative Writing: Editing and Practical Skills

UCLA Extension recognizes that writing extends beyond creative endeavors. They offer courses designed for writers who want to improve their editing skills or develop competencies toward a career in editing and publishing. Courses in this area are designed for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills but aren’t interested in working on a creative project. Courses focus on practical skills applicable to daily life, including clear expression of ideas in writing, persuasion, and writing for specific audiences.

Special Topics and Community

UCLA Extension offers courses in special topics for film and television. Courses in this section are open to students who want a deeper understanding of a specific craft issue or area of study. These courses fulfill the elective requirement for screenwriting certificates. A monthly community write in that is designed to support writers who crave creative momentum, connection, and a nurturing community.

The UCLA Writing Community

UCLA Extension fosters a supportive community of instructors, academic counselors, and fellow students. Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, an instructor, a student advisor, a donor, or just a writing aficionado - we have the information you need. Meet our amazing faculty, learn about our campus and community outreach programs, and discover how we help students write and communicate better throughout their studies at UCLA and beyond.

From the Writing Center

Coming into college, I was so uncertain about my writing abilities. However, going to the Undergraduate Writing Center for assistance throughout my undergraduate journey, whether it was for my STEM research papers or my humanities-based assignments, always allowed me to put my best foot forward in assignments. Even to this… The High School Summer Writing Workshop (English Composition 50) is a 3-week, non-resident writing course for high school students who seek to strengthen their writing and discussion skills. The workshop is taught by UCLA’s highly regarded writing specialists who prepare ambitious college-bound students for university writing. The course addresses differences between high school and college writing, as well as the college application essay.

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