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  • Berkeley Global

Exploring Creative Writing

ENGLISH X438

3255811
Delivery Options Online

Get an overview of common forms and genres of written self-expression, including personal essay/memoir, poetry, short fiction and novel. You experiment and discover in a safe environment. The course curriculum helps you learn and practice a variety of genres, forms and styles toward further developing your skills as a creative writer.

In class assignments, you focus on the shorter forms to maximize the number of genres in which you can experiment.

Course Outline

Expand or collapse section

Course Objectives

  • Share a structural overview of several different forms of written self-expression, and write in each of those forms
  • Develop the discipline of regular writing in order to understand the importance of revision and develop your ability to revise
  • Apply feedback on your work and assess your own strengths and areas of interest
  • Offer constructive advice on the work of others

What You Learn

  • Personal essay 
  • Voice and humor
  • Poetry craft
  • Short story craft
  • Novel synopsis
  • Beginning a Long Form (novel, memoir, poetry collection) 
  • Revision
  • On being a writer

How You Learn

  • Discussion assignments
  • Written assignments, including essays, poems, short stories, novel synopsis and long form opening
  • Reading assignments
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Sections

Section 036

Sep 23 to Dec 16

Type: Online, Fixed Date

Instructor:

  • Caroline Goodwin

Cost: $885.00

See section 036 Details

Type Online, Fixed Date

Dates

Sep 23, 2025 to Dec 16, 2025

Instructional Hours

30.00

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

2 semester units

Section Notes

This Fixed Date Online course starts on September 23 and ends on December 16.

Fixed-Date Online courses have specific start and end dates. Students will receive access to the course in Canvas on the course start date. Course information will be emailed to enrolled students and posted to the announcements page in Canvas.

Section Materials

  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    In the Palm of Your Hand: The Poet's Portable Workshop by Steve Kowit

    Tilbury House Publishers ISBN 0884481492 Textbook ISBN: 9780884481492
  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    The Situation and the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative by Vivian Gornick

    © 2002 Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1st edition ISBN 0374528586 Textbook ISBN: 9780374528584

Fall 2025 enrollment opens on June 16!

This course applies to the following programs:

Certificate Program in Creative Writing

Expand or collapse section

Required Courses

  • The Craft of Reading
  • The Craft of Writing
  • Writing Skills Workshop

Electives (Literature)

  • American Fiction
  • Contemporary Voices: Speaking From the Margins
  • Re-envisioning the Past Through Historical Fiction
  • Shakespeare
  • Adaptations & Retellings
  • Banned Books

Electives (Writing Workshop)

  • Exploring Creative Writing
  • Introduction to Writing Fiction
  • Intermediate Fiction Writing
  • Advanced Fiction Writing
  • Writing Genre Fiction: Science Fiction, Mystery, Romance and More
  • Mystery Writing
  • Developing the Novel
  • Screenwriting: The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Poetry Workshop
  • Creative Nonfiction Workshop
  • Developing the Memoir

Courses of Related Interest

Learn More About This Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-letters@berkeley.edu

Instructional Types

Live Online
Live Online courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time). Learn more about the Live Online format.
Online, Start Anytime
Continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course.
Online, Fixed Date
Enroll in this course by its start date and complete it by its specified end date. There are no live sessions, but plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your classmates and instructor.
Classroom
Take classes in-person at one of our buildings or partner locations.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

All of our courses are taught in English. If English is not your first language, please use the following test scores as guides in order to be successful:

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS Academic Format: 7
  • DAAD: C1
  • TEM-4 or TEM-8: Level 70
  • Duolingo: 125

Note: You do not need to submit test scores.

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Berkeley, CA 94704-7000

extension@berkeley.edu

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Course Fee

Caroline Goodwin

Caroline Goodwin, M.F.A., moved to the Bay Area from Sitka, Alaska, in 1999 to attend Stanford University as a Wallace Stegner Fellow in poetry. Her poem "Snaketime III" was awarded runner-up in The Sewanee Review poetry contest 2019, judged by Carl Phillips. Her books include Custody of the Eyes (Dancing Girl Press, 2019), The Paper Tree (Big Yes Press, 2017), Peregrine  (Finishing Line Press, 2015) and Trapline (JackLeg Press, 2013). From 2014 - 16 she served as the first Poet Laureate of San Mateo County. 

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