Creative writing workshops for teens and adults this summer aim to build UCF’s literary community. 

Courses are designed to teach the skills and techniques used by professional creative writers to create fiction, poetry and non-fiction.  Each class will consist of a lecture, discussion and workshop where participants will learn new techniques, create original works and receive feedback.

Classes for teens from 9 to 11 a.m. start Monday, July 11, and run through Friday, July 15. Adult classes will be held every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. June 16 through July 21.  All classes will be held in UCF’s Continuing Education building in the Central Florida Research Park (12565 Research Parkway, Suite 390) next to UCF’s main campus.

“We are going to provide the technical aspects and strategies,” said Associate Professor Terry Thaxton of UCF’s English Department. “All students need to bring is their imagination.”

Students will learn how to brainstorm story ideas, structure stories and critique their own writing.

In the adult course, an optional critique enables writers to electronically submit manuscripts to get feedback and suggestions for revision.

Each class will be taught by Sarah Prevatt, whose work has appeared in many literary magazines, including Vestal Review, Hawai’i Pacific Review, The Chaffin Journal and Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Art.  She has an MFA in Creative Writing and has taught at UCF and Miami-Dade College.

Registration for either the teen or adult course is $150. Continuing education credits are available for teachers who complete the course.  There are additional fees for credits, manuscript critique and late registration after June 10.

Registration fees will help fund UCF’s Literary Arts Partnership, a program that provides free workshops in public schools, prisons, shelters, assisted living facilities, foster homes and community centers.  The program teaches the use of creative writing as a positive outlet for self-expression.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.ce.ucf.edu/Program-Search/1367/Creative-Writing-Workshop. Those interested in the workshop for teens can register here.