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Introduction to Writing Fiction

ENGLISH X464

41097

Develop your personal writing style. Learn the basic concepts and techniques of writing fiction, with the aim of heightening your sense of language and developing your ability to solve problems of structure, characterization, viewpoint, storyline, imagery, dialogue and believability. You also study major examples of the short story and representative critical texts. The instructor evaluates your manuscripts and leads classroom discussion. Enrollment is limited.

Course Outline

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Course Objectives

  • Analyze fiction works and define the elements of fiction writing.
  • Integrate technical and creative strategies to successfully convey narrative story elements.
  • Use various storytelling techniques in a cohesive manner.
  • Collaborate with peers in the critiquing and development of creative writing.

What You Learn

  • The state of the art: the story today
  • Building plot in the first draft
  • Revision
  • Voice
  • Starting your next piece
  • Final drafts

How You Learn

  • Reading assignments
  • Writing exercises
  • Writing assignments, including two short stories, for peer review
  • Discussion participation
  • Constructive feedback
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Sections

Fall 2025 enrollment opens on June 16!

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This course applies to the following programs:

Certificate Program in Creative Writing

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Required Courses

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

Electives (Literature)

  • American Fiction
  • Contemporary Voices: Speaking From the Margins
  • Great Writers Steal: How the Work of Other Writers Can Inform and Inspire You
  • The Handmaid’s Tale: Writing Dystopia, the Female Gothic and Social Commentary
  • Re-envisioning the Past Through Historical Fiction
  • Reading the Postmodern: Writing and Rewriting Genre, Gender, and Culture
  • 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

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