You've been secretly keeping a journal for years. You have a wonderful collection of stories from your grandparents that you'd love to share. Or you have a great idea for a totally different kind of travel book. But you have no idea how to organize it all and get it published. In the Write Stuff Nonfiction Writing Chancellor's Certificate Program, you can learn all the skills you need to take you from great idea to finished manuscript--from experts in the field.
Complete 50 hours of classroom work in this program to earn a Chancellor's Certificate in Nonfiction Writing. Or simply take the courses and workshops that interest you.
You also have the option of earning a Chancellor's Certificate in Writing by taking a total of 50 hours of courses and workshops from any of our Write Stuff offerings. So feel free to explore different genres and styles. Please visit the
catalog for specific information on course and workshop offerings.
- Beginning Poetry Writing Workshop
- An introduction to the writing of poetry and an exploration of contemporary poems as models for the writer.
- May be taken for three hours of undergraduate credit as English 2030 for UMSL credit fees.
- Textbooks (available from the UMSL Bookstore):
- Addonizio, Kim, and Dorianne Laux. Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry. New York, City: W.W. Norton, 1997. ISBN: 0393316548
- Gwynn, R.S., and April Lindner, eds. Contemporary American Poetry. New York City: Penguin, 2004. ISBN-10: 0321182820. ISBN-13: 978-0321182821.To order click on Textbooks button, select Winter 09 term, and the class ENG 2030.
- Introduction to Nonfiction Writing
- The nonfiction market is exploding; from magazine articles and profile pieces to "creative nonfiction" books, readers can't seem to get enough. This eight-week course provides you with the tools to get started in the field. Through discussion and weekly writing assignments, you'll explore effective interviewing techniques and proper research methods, shaping an article via superior editing, finding publishing opportunities, sending query letters to editors, and keeping it all organized. We'll also analyze current and classic nonfiction pieces to understand why they sizzle. Whether you want to sharpen your skills for personal pleasure or professional opportunities, this class will jumpstart you toward success.
- Intermediate Nonfiction Writing
- Grab your reader by the senses, "write tight," and add pizzazz to your nonfiction. In this eight-week course, you will go beyond the basics of nonfiction writing to discover how to lay the groundwork to tell a story and how to lighten up your creative nonfiction. Learn the fine art of effective interviewing, the secrets of writing a fascinating memoir, and the awesome power of slant. Explore the lavish array of readers, writers, and markets. Get tips on moving past keyboard rambling to writing tight.
- Author–Agent–Publisher
- Are you a jack-of-all-trades with the courage to do it all? Or do you prefer to stick to the one thing you do best--writing--and let others do the rest? Explore the various publishing options, from vanity presses to large, traditional publishing houses, and decide which most appeals to you. Then learn the steps for bringing your book to print through your chosen publishing method.
- Communicating Effectively Through the Media
- Each article printed in local newspapers and magazines has a subtle but potentially significant impact on your community and its residents. Working within established parameters, it is possible to disseminate information on all sorts of topics through articles whose primary purpose may be entirely different. Learn the essentials of communicating effectively through the media, from doing the necessary research and background interviews to organizing it all into an interesting, coherent piece with excellent publishing potential. The instructor, who is the managing editor of St. Louis Woman Magazine and a Lifestyle writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, will share her trade secrets.
- Finding a Literary Agent
- Spend your time doing what you do best--writing. Let an expert do the legwork of finding a publisher for your book. Learn how to find the right agent for you and your work. Get expert advice on networking with agents and checking their credentials. Learn how agents work, how not to approach them, and how to maintain a productive relationship.
- Ghostwriting
- Ghostwriting a book is not for the faint of heart, but it can be both rewarding and remunerative. if you want to know the peaks and pitfalls of crawling inside someone else's mind and heart to tell that person's story, this workshop is for you. Rule #1, whatever you think it will take, multiply that by two or even three. Join author, editor, and ghostwriter Bobbi Linkemer for the rest of the rules.
- Growing Your Nonfiction Book
- Your idea looks small and vulnerable. What are the odds of it surviving to bookhood? They're excellent if you carefully plan each stage of the book-writing process. Learn how to expand and build on that original idea, flesh out the major points, and connect with your readers.
- Living as a Writer
- Having trouble keeping all the balls in the air as you juggle your responsibilities and try to fit in time to write? Get expert advice on working your writing into your life schedule, developing productive writing habits, staying motivated, dealing with family and friends, and setting realistic goals.
- Making Every Word Matter
- When it comes to writing, sometimes less really is more. Learn how to clarify your writing by choosing the active voice over the passive, eliminating unnecessary words, and writing concisely.
- Submitting to Literary Journals
- Join the legions of writers who got their start writing for literary journals. Get the inside track on what it takes. Start by researching the journals. Determine which are appropriate for your work, what you should include with your submissions, and how to follow up. Learn what editors look for and how to submit your work.
- Writing for Magazines, Newspapers, and Trade Journals
- Some publications pay $15,000 per article, some pay with one copy of their publication, while most fall somewhere in between. The best part is that any publication on a regular schedule (weekly, monthly, quarterly) is hungry for content--be it meaty cover articles, short trend pieces, thought-provoking op-eds, or heartrending essays. Learn how to generate saleable ideas, understand a market, research and write an article, target a publication, query an editor, get published, and maybe even (gulp!) accept rejection.
- Writing for Money
- Making a living as a freelance writer would be a dream come true. But do you know what it takes to succeed and how to carve your niche in this competitive business? Find out hidden sources of income such as newsletters, brochures, and editing projects. Learn the secrets of getting paid for doing what you love.
- Writing for the Internet
- "Be brief. Grab my attention quick. I may not be here long." Click. That's the way it works on the Web. You have a split second to suck in your audience. So you'd better be snappy. Find out how to write for this exciting new medium so you can communicate with the world.
- Writing Your Book Proposal
- Nine out of 10 nonfiction books are sold to publishers solely on the basis of the proposal, before a manuscript is even completed. Get the essential tools you'll need to put together a proposal that says just what it needs to say to get the results you want--a book contract.
- Writing Your Family's Stories
- Keep your family's stories alive. Future generations--your kids and grandkids included--will love you for taking the time to record stories that make their ancestors real. This workshop will give you a great start at bringing life to your family tree through lively, interesting family stories, as well as tips on writing meaningful and heartfelt eulogies.
The Write Stuff 
