UCLA Extension Writers' Program

Today's :

Write about a character chasing something or someone down.

Have some short stories bouncing around but haven't gotten to writing them yet? Our Short Story II class can get those tales out of your brain and onto the page. Starts Tuesday (4/12) with weekly meetings on Zoom.
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/short-story-ii-writing-x-4122

Number of Women & POC Leads/Co-Leads Held Steady in Top Films of 2021, According to New Research

"Turning to racial representation, 2021 saw 32 percent of its top movies starring or co-starring a person of color. This is on-par with 2019 and a four-percent bump from 2020."
https://womenandhollywood.com/number-of-women-poc-leads-co-leads-held-steady-in-top-films-of-2021-according-to-new-research/

Number of Women & POC Leads/Co-Leads Held Steady in Top Films of 2021, According to New Research The good news: judging from last year’s box office reports, the number of female and people of color leads/co-leads in popular films hasn’t really decreased during the pandemic. The bad news: there hasn’t been much in the way of progress, either. As Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inc...

If you live in LA and are interested in writing picture books, our Picture Book I course can help you on your journey to crafting engaging books for kids -- in person on UCLA's gorgeous campus!
Starts 4/13.
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/picture-book-i-writing-x-4411

"I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Writers' Program changed my life."
Congrats to alum Gina Sorell on her latest novel!
https://writers.uclaextension.edu/2022/04/07/success-gina-sorells-new-novel/

Today's :

Begin a story with an object falling off a shelf.

Submissions to The Threepenny Review

At present The Threepenny Review is paying $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. More details in link. Deadline: April 30.
https://www.threepennyreview.com/submissions.html

Submissions to The Threepenny Review Guidelines and requirements for poems, stories, articles, and other manuscripts sent as submissions to The Threepenny Review

Join a community of writers of color exploring how storytelling that utilizes lived experiences fits into a rich global tradition of writing in our Voices of Color I workshop starting 4/14 online, with weekly Zoom meetings.
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/voices-color-workshop-i-writing-x-4641

Explore gay men's experiences in a safe, encouraging workshop environment while crafting compelling short pieces in our Gay Men's Writing Workshop, starting 4/13. It's online, deadline driven with no set meetings so you can learn & interact from ANYWHERE.
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/gay-mens-writing-workshop-literary-approach-writing

Today's :

Write about a character that struggles to forgive themselves for what they did in the past.

POETS: Learn to write poems in "persona," or using an identity that is not your own, in our Persona Poems workshop that can open new ways of writing.
We've shifted to ONLINE with weekly Zoom meetings, starting Wednesday, 4/13.
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/persona-poem-writing-x-43216e

"If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive." - Barry Lopez

As a working , you'll often get asked to pitch/create scripts based on concepts. Our Writing on Assignment course can help you strategize how to develop pitches & treatments to book gigs. Now starts 4/12 ONLINE with weekly Zoom meetings.
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/screenwriting/course/writing-assignment-script-x-4696e

SATURDAY (4/9), embrace and join us on Zoom for Spring Into Poetry. Listen, learn, and get inspired (with some tools & encouragement) to get & keep you writing this month and beyond!
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/spring-poetry-writing-7311e

We are incredibly excited to have two new work studies joining us this year. Meet Hamna and Alexandra today on the blog!
https://writers.uclaextension.edu/2022/04/05/welcome-new-wp-work-studies/

Today's :

A character goes to a bar or restaurant, and the server tells them that their check has been covered by another patron.

You've written a script or six before. You're working on a new one, have an outline & those first pages. But you're stuck/unmotivated.
Let us help you finish that script in 10 weeks with Feature Film VI. Available in two online formats starting this week!
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/screenwriting/course/feature-film-vi-script-x-4112

Open Submission Windows | Seaside Gothic

Seaside Gothic publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction of high quality that meet the criteria of seaside gothic literature. April submissions open 4/11 - 4/17.
https://seasidegothic.com/communication/open-submission-windows-2022/

Open Submission Windows | Seaside Gothic Open submission windows in 2022 for Seaside Gothic, a quarterly print magazine of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction from the edge of the sea.

You've developed a story. You've started a chapter or two. But you just can't find the motivation to keep going.
Never fear, Novel II is here!
Join us Thursdays (4/7-6/9) online via Zoom to write, workshop & learn tools to keep your on track!
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/novel-ii-writing-x-4112

Women writers of LA! Looking for a workshop that's helpful, supportive, and on a gorgeous campus?
Our Women's Writing Workshop starts Thursday (4/7) at UCLA!
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/womens-writing-workshop-writing-x-4631e

Today's :

Write about your favorite time of day - what the world looks like, what happens, etc.

If you've always been curious about the "whys" of what makes storytelling work, and you're in Los Angeles, our Psychology of Compelling Storytelling is here to break it down for you. Starts Wednesday (4/6).
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/psychology-compelling-storytelling-writing-x-4637e

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” - Maya Angelou

Today's :

Write about a character that's constantly worried about what other people think.

10 "Perfect" Movie Scripts: Rotten Tomatoes 100% Club - The Script Lab

"What’s interesting about this list is the number of new films and “sleepers” that make the cut."
https://thescriptlab.com/blogs/15786-perfect-movies-rotten-tomatoes-script-download/

10 "Perfect" Movie Scripts: Rotten Tomatoes 100% Club - The Script Lab Is there such a thing as a "perfect" movie? See which 10 films got a 100% rating from critics and fans alike and download each script

Today's :

Write about a character that think's they're being followed.

Tricky Words Writers Keep Getting Wrong | Writer’s Relief - Writer's Relief

"Grammar mistakes are a pet peeve of many writers, but even the most diligent writer will occasionally make a grammar gaffe... It’s important to carefully proofread your writing to catch these sneaky troublemakers."
https://writersrelief.com/2022/03/02/tricky-words-writers-keep-getting-wrong-writers-relief/

Tricky Words Writers Keep Getting Wrong | Writer’s Relief - Writer's Relief Here are the words writers keep getting wrong and tips to help you get them right! Know the right way to use these tricky words.

Today's :

Write about characters that set out to explore a ghost town.

"Grammar mistakes are a pet peeve of many writers, but even the most diligent writer will occasionally make a grammar gaffe... It’s important to carefully proofread your writing to catch these sneaky troublemakers."
https://writersrelief.com/2022/03/02/tricky-words-writers-keep-getting-wrong-writers-relief/

"Grammar mistakes are a pet peeve of many writers, but even the most diligent writer will occasionally make a grammar gaffe... It’s important to carefully proofread your writing to catch these sneaky troublemakers."
https://writersrelief.com/2022/03/02/tricky-words-writers-keep-getting-wrong-writers-relief/

is a massive genre and finding direction for your story & characters can be difficult. Join our online Young Adult Novel I course and start turning that idea into an actual book!
It starts 4/6 and is deadline driven so you can learn form ANYWHERE!
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/young-adult-novel-i-writing-x-4451

"In addition to a solid understanding of story structure and other dramatic elements, I came away with a specific, targeted skill set and confidence in my ability to assess a script and write strong coverage at a professional level."
https://writers.uclaextension.edu/2022/03/31/success-sarah-amars-development-internship

Today's :

Write about a character that suffers from a generational curse.

Our online course on Dialogue & POV helps writers explore and practice dialogue, voice, and point-of-view in creative writing.
It starts 4/6 and is deadline driven so you can learn form ANYWHERE!
https://www.uclaextension.edu/writing-journalism/creative-writing/course/dialogue-and-point-view-writing-x-4621

Masks poetry & prose award are open for submission until April 15th, 2022. One poet and one prose writer will be awarded a prize of $100 each and publication in Summer 2022 issue.
https://www.maskslitmag.com/contests.html