Noncredit Continuing Education Courses
Fall 2008

Effective Self-Editing *NEW!*
Gone are the days when writers could expect substantial support from their agents and editors, when manuscripts could be sent in half-crossed out and in dire need of editorial assistance. Publishing professionals want clean, near-publishable manuscripts. Every writer knows that it takes multiple drafts to create a finished story that is engaging and publishable. This class introduces you to the most common problems that plague written works and offers simple ways to identify and resolve them in your own novel, short story, or memoir. Learn techniques to gain and keep your readers' attention while polishing your manuscript for grammar, punctuation, and proper formatting. Bring your story draft or idea and work on it with the feedback of your instructor, professional writer and published author, Ally Peltier, as well as your peers. $79

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How to Write a Children's Book
Children's author, Dr. Deborah Clayman (pen name: Deborah da Costa), lends her expertise to encourage the beginnings of your writing career in the exciting and popular genre of children's books. She will take you from the basics to the specifics of writing for children. This will include: developing ideas, creating a great story, studying the best resources, networking, being professional, using your time well and much more! Dr. Clayman is a classroom teacher, reading specialist, educational consultant and national presenter, as well as the author of award-winning fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. This class is for beginners. $99

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Self Publish Your Own Book *NEW!*
Digital photography has come of age and has brought with it many exciting possibilities. One of the most satisfying is the opportunity to create and publish your own bookstore-quality book through the Internet. Imagine the joy of creativity in transforming your family photographs, artwork, or vacation pictures into the pages of a coffee table masterpiece. Instructor will discuss the difference between print-on-demand and traditional publication, pros and cons of various publishers, how to prepare your images for highest quality reproduction, layout considerations, the selection of fonts, and other practical considerations. $59**

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Write for Your Life: An Original Journaling Program *NEW!*
Explore the uses and benefits of guided journaling, which in our rushed, information-overload world is proving itself a valuable and versatile tool for reflection. Journaling, widely used in both business and personal contexts, is invaluable for: gaining new perspectives on problems and blocks, setting goals and monitoring progress, solving problems, and reducing stress. Ann Bracken, certified poetry therapist and expressive arts coach, will guide you in learning techniques for how to build a daily practice of journaling and make it a sustaining and transforming component of your life. $29**

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Build a Better Novel *NEW!*
There are five key elements to salable fiction. Do you know what they are? Best-selling, award-winning author Loree Lough shares learned-the-hard-way tips, tactics, and tricks of the trade to help you sell, regardless of genre or skill level. She'll show you what editors and agents want...and what they don't want. An experienced instructor, she has 68 books, 59 short stories, and more than 2500 articles in print. Join the 600+ of Loree's former students who are now published authors! $109

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Writing and Marketing Freelance Articles *NEW!*
Let a professional editor and writer show you how to develop, research, organize, and market freelance articles. Explore your personal writing style. Learn what kind of ideas editors are looking for and how to find the right publications for your work. Learn to write a query letter. By the end of the course, you will develop the skills needed to write and submit articles for publication. Instructor Ally E. Peltier is an editor, writer, and publishing consultant for individuals and businesses such as Simon & Schuster, Penguin Group USA, iUniverse and more. Ally has published articles in a variety of venues, including Writer's Digest, LazyHousewife.com and J3tlag.com. Learn more at www.ambitiousenterprises.com $99

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Poetry's Pleasures
Come and revel in some of the loveliest, wisest and most touching poems in the English language. After discussing old masters and new (Donne, Keats, Tennyson, Frost, Sharon Olds, Mary Oliver, Stephen Dobyns, etc.) students will experiment with some techniques to overcome writers block and improve their poetry style. Freewheeling discussion and intelligent effort can make this course an intense, joyous, rewarding experience. In addition to enhancing your sensitivity and appreciation of poetry by writing poetry of your own, you will become familiar with prominent poetic genres and terms such as the sonnet, aubave, haiku, ottava rima and iambic pentameter. Text: The Premier Book of Major Poets (edited by Anita Dore, paperback, $15), which can be purchased at area bookstores. $85

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*Fees not eligible for waiver.
**Neither XE courses nor their fees are eligible for waiver.
(T) Textbook recommended or required. Purchase at HCC Bookstore before first class.
(S) Supplied needed. Instructor will provide list at first class.