Class 2308, Section 1: Summer Quarter 2008
Writing Fiction & Short Stories

Instructor: Nils Osmar 
Sponsored by: ASUW Experimental College
Location: University of Washington campus (Seattle branch)
Dates and times: Thursdays 7 pm-9 pm, July 17-August 14
Course fee (for General Public): $125
(Scroll down for registration information)

Writing is a natural skill that everyone can develop. In this class, students will write short stories and get feedback from others in the class. The focus will be on developing our writing skills, finding our genuine voices, learning to let the process happen effortlessly and spontaneously. Also: information about publishing, story structure, point of view, editing and more. Instructor is the author of a short story collection, The Hungry Time, and has also written stage plays, screenplays and magazine articles. All levels welcome.

Frequently Asked Questions:

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING IN THE CLASS?
We'll spend some time in each class session writing, and time will also be set aside for students to share their stories with the group and get feedback on them. (Students can share their stories with the class by email, by handing out copies, or reading them aloud.) There will also be homework assignments each week, designed to give people a chance to try something new and different than they might otherwise in their writing.

We'll also spend some time thinking about and discussing the elements of writing, including:

- form and structure (what elements do all stories have in common? How can we learn about and have fun with these elements, while still writing spontaneously and trusting our own feeling of where we want to go in our stories?)

- beginnings, middles and endings

- point of view (first person, second person, third person - what does it all mean? How learning about point of view can free up your writing)

- writing description and dialogue

- trusting your impulses as a writer

- finding ideas for stories

- types of stories: character-driven, plot-driven, and event driven - what story "type" means and how to have fun with it

- editing and rewriting

- finding the time to work on your writing (yep, there are things that can help!)

- unblocking writer's block, and forgetting all about it

- copyrighting your stories and getting published

DOES THE INSTRUCTOR TEACH ANY OTHER WRITING CLASSES?
Yes, Nils also offers a class through the Experimental College called It's Time to Write Your Screenplay. 

Student comments

Thanks again for the writing class this quarter. I found your comments on my stories, and other students' stories, helpful and to the point. You said what you thought, but without trashing anybody. I also appreciated being able to hear other students' comments on what I'd written. - Megan C. (Edmonds)

I liked the format, and the chance to things aloud.... hearing my own stories was an eye-opener. Just hearing them, I could tell when they were working or where the cuts needed to be. It was also great having a chance to get so much feedback. - Bill K. (Seattle)

I spent two years not writing and getting ragged about it. I have to say that during your class I started writing and I've been writing my b_lls off ever since. It worked for me totally. - Andy J. (Seattle)

I loved your class. - J.L., Seattle

Thanks for a fun and interesting class. I appreciate how you value each student for their individual voice and style, and how you encourage and bring out the best in each of us. I always learn new and effective ways to look at things when I take one of your classes... - Barb B. (Bellevue)

Thanks for an excellent class. The exercises were enjoyable. It was a pleasure to be in such a creative group.- Marylin H. (Bellevue)

I was a little bit cautious when I signed up, because I'd had a bad experience in a class at _______ a few years ago. I'm glad to say that your class was different. I felt energized, and motivated, and loved the creativity and the energy of the group. Thanks for all the attention you put into the group and the exercises. - Chris K. (Seattle)

Thanks again for encouraging us to form a writing group after the class. We've met four times since the course ended, and I expect we'll keep doing so. - Chris W., Bothell 

I took your class two years ago, and loved it at that time, then took it again this spring. While I always liked the class, and got a great deal out of it, I can also say that you've improved it dramatically in the past few months. The information about style, form, story structure and point of view, and your suggestions about editing our own stories, all are profoundly helpful. You'll probably see me again in a few months! - Sheila K., Seattle

I took it because I was "stuck" in journaling, and wanted to shake myself loose and open up my writing abilities and inclinations in some new directions. Your suggestions and comments were great. I'm unstuck. Thank you!!!! I'll be back in the fall to take the class again. - Marie L., Lake Forest Park 

The amount of thought and care Nils put into the presentations was wonderful. I felt like he really listened to people and answered their questions.He was also very flexible.In the part of the story in which we shared stories, people were encouraged but not pressured to share things each week. Sometimes we would listen to nine of ten stories, and have a chance to comment on them. Other times we would really focus in on one of two students. It was all good, and I learned a lot from it. -M.R., Seattle

I found this class to be both fun and educational thanks to both Nils and everyone in the class. -M.L, Seattle

Suzie and I had lunch together today and we were commenting on how much we appreciated the gracious and respectful manner in which you taught the class. We both feel SO thankful to have 'happened' to have chosen your writing class, and we want to say THANKS NILS! The group you've birthed and created has lots of energy! (We've formed a writing group and are) plan to meet every 2 weeks. - M.C., Seattle

I liked the combination of handouts, presentation, discussion, and reading student writing for feedback. The combination of all of these separate tools helped reinforce concepts and make each two hour session productive and varied. Nils makes the classroom comfortable for people at all levels. - J.F., Bellevue

Registration information: how to sign up

Writing Fiction and Short Stories is sponsored by the ASUW (Associated Students University of Washington) Experimental College, and is held on the U.W. campus in Seattle. It's a non-credit class open to everyone; you do not have to be a U.W. student to attend. The University of Washington is committed to providing equal access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accomodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accomodations, contact the Disability Office at least ten days in advance at: (206)543-6450/V, (206)543-6452/TTY, (206)685-7264 (fax) or email dso@u.washington.edu

To sign up by mail: You can sign up by mail at any time. To do so, click here to download the mail-in registration formThen fill it out and mail it to: ASUW Experimental College Box 352238 SAO 21 University of Washington Seattle WA 98195-2238 (Note: mail-in registrations won't be processed until June 23rd.)

To sign up online: Online registration for summer quarter Experimental College classes will begin on June 9th. (Please do not try signing up online before that time! Or you may end up in the spring quarter class instead.) We'll post a registration link here when summer online registrations begin.

To sign up by phone: Phone registrations for summer quarter Experimental College classeswill begin onJune 23rd We'll post more information here at that time.
Want an email reminder about registrations? To be added to the instructor's email list, email Nilsosmar@gmail.com You'll receive an email reminder when online and phone registrations begin.

Whatever method you use to register, you will only be charged a $10 registration fee for each class you are enrolling in, when you sign up (or $5 if you are a UW student.) The course fee is not due until the first day of class.

Questions? Problems registering? Call 206-420-1309 or emailNilsosmar@gmail.com

Other classes of interest

Sponsored by the ASUW Experimental College:
Drawing for absolute beginners
Learn to Draw Faces
Figure Drawing for beginners 
Cartooning
Perspective for Beginners: Drawing in Depth
Drawing Clothing and Drapery
Exploring Color
Beginning Acting
Acting in a Movie
Filmmaking 101
Writing Fiction and Short Stories
It's Time to Write Your Screenplay
Adobe Photoshop

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Drawing in Ink
Drawing comic books and graphic novels
Acrylic painting for beginners
Drawing with colored pencils
Documentary filmmaking
Editing tips & tricks for filmmakers
FX Makeup for filmmakers
Improv for beginners: acting without scripts
How to make commercials & infomercials
Free up your writing! (Beyond writer's block)
Writing science fiction & fantasy

* click on the course title for registration information