The 30 DAY Creative Writing Challenge!
- Description
- Curriculum
- FAQ
- Reviews
Do YOU have what it takes to beat the 30 Day Creative Writing Challenge?
For the next 30 days I will be your creative writing personal trainer — helping to ensure that you make it all the way to the finish line.
Whether you are just starting out or are a veteran writer looking for a little inspiration and reinvigoration, you will be so happy that you decided to take on the challenge.
By the end of this writer’s intensive, you will have completed a portfolio of 30 unique pieces of creative writing. Additionally, every project has been designed so that you can complete the 30 Day Challenge writing in any style or genre that interests you – be that fiction, non-fiction, drama, or poetry.
Do you have what it takes to beat the challenge and take your writer’s output to places you never thought possible?
Welcome to what could be the most helpful 30 day writer’s intensive of your life.
Course Overview:
Each day of the challenge will feature a targeted writing project – one that you can choose to complete in whatever style of writing suits your personal writing goals. Once you have been at it for a bit, we’ll then also add an additional layer to some of the projects — giving you the opportunity to target the specific writing techniques, literary devices and special skills that you need to be able to discover, perfect and share your unique writer’s voice and help you to progress toward your goal of becoming a successful and confident writer.
Science will tell you that developing a new habit is hard. But anyone can jumpstart a new pattern of behavior in just 30 days. Even better, when you complete the 30 Day Challenge – I’ll give you a special bonus with over 30 more writing projects for you to complete on your own – not coincidentally the exact number of daily projects necessary (according to science) to develop a lifelong habit.
The Course Includes:
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43 Video Lessons, including:
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A brief look at all four genres of creative writing
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Specific writing tips and strategies for success
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30 Days worth of
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motivation
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mini-lessons
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and writer’s prompts designed to get you excited about your writing!
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A special incentive when you complete the challenge – all the materials needed to go for a SECOND 30 Days (and MORE)! – OVER double the content – ALL INCLUDED!
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94 Graphics, notes, assignment sheets, or outside resources are provided throughout the course
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Over 2 1/2 hours of video lessons
Course Goals:
Through taking this course, you will develop and perfect your personal writer’s voice as you:
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increase your writer’s output, creating a portfolio of 30 new pieces of creative writing
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become familiar with the four genres of creative writing
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apply writing techniques for success
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examine a variety of writing concepts to apply to your own writing
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develop and nurture the personal discipline you desire to have and apply it to your own writing projects
Get ready to start the most important 30 days of your life as a writer!
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Introduction - How This Course Works!Welcome to the 30 Day Creative Writing Challenge!
For the next 30 days, I will essentially serve as your creative writing personal trainer, helping to ensure that you make it all the way to the finish line.
Whether you are just getting your feet wet as a writer or are a seasoned veteran looking to find a little inspiration and feel reinvigorated, I promise that you will be so happy that you decided to take this challenge on.
No matter your experience level, you will feel so incredibly proud of yourself when you finish and can look back over the portfolio of work that you have created over the past 30 days.
The pieces you write can be in any genre you like and can be any length you like - but ALWAYS try to complete your idea. Follow your inspiration!
Completing the challenge on time is the perfect way to jump start your process of creating a new lifelong habit of behavior.
You've got this!
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How Udemy Works
Before we hit the challenge, here are a few reminders about how Udemy works.
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Write EVERY Day - CAN YOU BEAT THE CHALLENGE?
Writing takes SO much discipline, doesn’t it?
It is incredibly hard to force yourself to write each and every day. But that is a big part of what this class is all about - proving to yourself that you have what it takes to complete 30 days of writing EACH AND EVERY day!
Through this class you will also find the inspiration to create 30 new pieces of creative writing.
Remember - You CAN write every day for 30 days. If you didn’t have it in you, you wouldn’t have decided to take this course.
I even have an extra incentive INCLUDED for you when you finish the class - So keep at it!
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The Four Genres of Creative Writing
I said you could work in any of the genres of creative writing, but what are the four genres of creative writing anyway?
They are:
Fiction
Drama
Poetry
Creative Non-Fiction
You may know exactly what you want to write OR you might want to try a few different genres on for size and see how they fit.
The next few videos are here to help you do just that.
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What is Fiction?
At its simplest, fiction is just telling a made-up story in prose rather than dialogue or poetry.
But, there are - of course - a lot of elements to consider when writing fiction.
We don't have time to cover them all, but at a minimum, take time to consider:
Plot
Exposition
Inciting Incident
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
tone/mood
setting
chain of events
dialogue
character development
vivid language?
overall diction
There’s a lot to think about when writing fiction and we’re really just scratching the surface here, but hopefully these are a good reminder of some basics!
What stories do you have lurking within you waiting to come out in the 30-Day Challenge?
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What is Drama?
So what’s the obvious difference between writing fiction and writing drama?
DIALOGUE!
Whether you want to write plays or screenplays or just write engaging characters in your works of fiction, good dialogue is crucial!
Not only is dialogue the most realistic form of writing, but ven if you never try to write a screenplay or play and only want to write in prose for the rest of your life – you still need killer dialogue.
Expertly drawn characters REQUIRE it!
How will you ensure your characters each have a unique voice of their own?
How should you use punctuation effectively?
How should your dialogue sound when read aloud?
How can your characters use silence to get what they want?
What techniques will you employ as you create your own original dramatic writing for the 30-Day Challenge?
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What is Poetry?
So what exactly is poetry, anyway?
Poetry is a type of literature based on the interplay of words and rhythm. But My Definition is simpler....
Poetry is... saying a lot in a few words.
Prose (by contrast) says a little in a lot of words
Today we think about poetry as a means of personal expression, but that was not always the case.
What are different poetic styles and what rules should you follow as you write your own original poetry for the 30-Day Challenge?
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What is Creative Non-Fiction?
What Is Creative Non-Fiction?
Contemporary writers sometimes blur the line between fiction and reality and combine traditional forms for a fresh way of reflecting on life.
Writers of creative nonfiction use standard elements of fiction to write about real life events.
The sub-genres in creative non-fiction include:
personal essay
memoir
travel/place essays
literary journalism (expanding on topics in news)
new journalism
food writing
nature essays
non-fiction novels
and more
You have probably read more creative nonfiction than you realize.
What are the qualities that you will bring to your creative non-fiction writing for the 30-Day Challenge?
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The Writing Process - Pre-Writing Strategies
We all hope that we will always feel fully inspired by every piece of writing that we do and let the amazing creativity just flow out of us.
The reality, however, is that this level of creative flow usually only happens when we take the time to analytically plan our course of action (and yes, I do see the irony in creativity requiring analysis).
By taking a little more time to plan at the start of a project, we can usually save ourselves a LOT of time when we start revising AND ensure that we have the freedom to be completely creative when doing the actual writing because we don't have to worry anymore about structure or form.
Total win-win!
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The Writing Process - Finding Your Voice/Discovering Diction
Every writer struggles with finding what they call “their voice” - essentially just a euphemism for who they are as a writer.
To figure that out you need to ask yourself a few questions...
What feel do you want your work to have?
What sort of language do you want to use?
What type of a voice do you want to cultivate?
What different sorts of tones can you create in your writing?
Good writers usually don’t always sound like themselves, but instead imbue their creations with different styles as they deem appropriate.
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The Writing Process - All About the Ending - It's a Twist!
How ironic is it that endings are both so important AND so hard to write?
Know the type of ending you want to be heading towards all while you are writing.
We'll look at the five basic types of endings so you can make intelligent choices in your work.
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Day 1 - Curiosity Killed the Cat
Welcome to DAY ONE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
You're off to a great start! You can do this!
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Day 2 - The Culture of Conformity
Welcome to DAY TWO of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
When you do it once, it's an accident. Twice, it's a choice!
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Day 3 - We Got the Beat
Welcome to DAY THREE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
You're totally ready for this - the third time's the charm.
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Day 4 - Can You Keep a Secret?
Welcome to DAY FOUR of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Characters have secrets that drive them... and so do you.
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Day 5 (Part 1) - The 4 Types of Conversations
Welcome to DAY FIVE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
What are the different types of conversations that can exist between two parties - and, more importantly, how can you use them in your writing?
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Day 5 (Part 2) - Discourse, Dialogue, Debate or Diatribe?
Welcome to DAY FIVE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
What are the different types of conversations that can exist between two parties - and, more importantly, how can you use them in your writing?
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Day 6 - Inspiring Inspiration
Welcome to DAY SIX of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
The Birth of a Hero! Thank you to bensound.com for use of the song.
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Day 7 - Feels Like the First Time
Welcome to DAY SEVEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
It's already the end of the first week! You've got this in the bag!
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Day 8 - There's no Freedom without Justice
Welcome to DAY EIGHT of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Delay of justice... is injustice.
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Day 9 - Taking them Down a Dark Alley
Welcome to DAY NINE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
What will you find at the end of your dark alley?
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Day 10 - You Know What Opinions are Like...
Welcome to DAY TEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Never listen to anyone's advice - including this.
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Day 11 - Reaching the Final Stage
Welcome to DAY ELEVEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Which "stage" of your own evolution are you in?
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Day 12 - Opposites Attract (and Repel!)
Welcome to DAY TWELVE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
What would YOU say to your opposite self?
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Day 13 - The Current State of Affairs
Welcome to DAY THIRTEEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Well, this is another fine mess you've gotten us into.
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Day 14 - Do I Creep You Out?
Welcome to DAY FOURTEEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
That's TWO weeks down!
This one is really "creepy." Thank you to bensound.com for use of the song.
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Day 15 - Bottom's Up!
Welcome to DAY FIFTEEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
You're halfway to the finish line today! Keep it up!
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Day 16 - Courage - The Subtle Art of Being the Only One Who Knows You're Scared
Welcome to DAY SIXTEEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Courage is resistance to fear -- not absence of fear.
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Day 17 - Opening up the Floodgates
Welcome to DAY SEVENTEEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Hopefully, today you will be flooded with inspiration.
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Day 18 - Having the Last Laugh
Welcome to DAY EIGHTEEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
He who laughs last, laughs best!
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Day 19 - Getting Away With Murder (for starters...)
Welcome to DAY NINETEEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
What is right is not always what is legal.
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Day 20 - Imitation IS a Form of Flattery
Welcome to DAY TWENTY of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
They can imitate your style, but they can't imitate your creativity.
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Day 21 - Talk About the Passion
Welcome to DAY TWENTY ONE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Did someone say that you've finished THREE weeks? Keep it up!
Effort is usually the best indicator of interest.
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Day 22 - An Epic Journey
Welcome to DAY TWENTY TWO of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
Today is totally "epic." Thank you to bensound.com for use of the song.
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Day 23 - Not Quite Cast Away
Welcome to DAY TWENTY THREE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
If you were stranded on a desert island...
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Day 24 - Beauty is Truth, Truth... Beauty
Welcome to DAY TWENTY FOUR of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
You're beautiful just the way you are.
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Day 25 - The Perfect Way to Start Your Day
Welcome to DAY TWENTY FIVE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
The best thing to do first thing in the morning is often to go back to sleep.
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Day 26 - Time for a Chat (or Comment or Trolling)
Welcome to DAY TWENTY SIX of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
People love to have a deep online conversation, then pretend it never happened when they see each other in "real life..."
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Day 27 - Take it or Leaf It
Welcome to DAY TWENTY SEVEN of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." - Thoreau
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Day 28 - The Possible Dream
Welcome to DAY TWENTY EIGHT of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
FOUR WEEKS finished! Only two more days left to go!
Turn the things you've always wanted to do into the THINGS YOU'VE DONE.
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Day 29 - More Human than Human
Welcome to DAY TWENTY NINE of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
To err is human. To admit the error, though, is superhuman.
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Day 30 - Ascend to the Greatest Heights
Welcome to DAY THIRTY of The 30-Day Creative Writing Challenge!
YOU MADE IT TO THE FINAL DAY!
Take it all in... The best views come after the highest climbs.
