WWU Receives Donation to Establish Pete Zuanich Endowed Scholarship

Contact:  Ariel Cleasby-Heaven, WWU Extended Education and Summer Programs, Ariel.Cleasby-Heaven@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3717.

BELLINGHAM – Western Washington University will offer four courses for writers and editors, beginning this fall and winter; the courses are open to the public and formal admission to WWU is not required.

There are two certificate programs, which are completed over a period of nine months and begin this fall:

• Professional Editing: For Print and Online - Participants will learn valuable skills for in-house or free-lance work. This nine-month program will benefit people who want to work as freelance editors, publication staff members or authors of their own print and online projects. Participants should have a bachelor’s. or associate’s degree and some experience writing and editing in a news or business environment. Evening classes, Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m., from Sept. 28 to June 1.
• The Novel: Experience and Write Fiction - Participants will experience fiction first-hand and write a novel or short story during this nine-month certificate program. Generate an abundance of manuscript and build on materials developed from previous work, while connecting and enhancing the whole. Develop overall structure, dramatic arc and narrative voice and sharpen your editorial articulation. The course instructor is award-winning novelist Laura Kalpakian. Evening classes, Tuesdays, 5:45-8:45 p.m., from Sept. 28 to Nov.16.

There are two courses, which are completed during one quarter (three months), one begins this fall and one begins this winter:

• Knock Out Editing: From Polish to Publish Course - The first draft of a story or essay can be wonderfully inspired – and unfinished. For many writers, the grueling stretch begins when it’s time to revise, and rearranging a few commas isn’t going to cut it. This course helps participants to develop editing skills for their own work or business. Evening classes, Wednesdays, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., from Jan. 5 to Feb. 23.
• Writing Children's Literature Course - Writers with a passion for childrens’ books will fire up their creative abilities during this course. Experiment and sample the field exploring  fiction and nonfiction for children, including picture books, chapter books, middle-grade books, and books for young adults. Focus will be placed on essential literary elements such as plot, character, setting, dialogue, and that all-important first chapter. Evening classes, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m., from Sept. 15-Nov. 17.

The writing and editing courses are offered as part of WWU’s community outreach program through WWU Extended Education and Summer Programs. Additional courses are available for the public in areas such as emergency management (online), graduate school test preparation (online), project management, professional in Human Resources and Web design.

Details and registration information are available at www.ExtendedEd.wwu.edu, by e-mail at eesp@wwu.edu or by phone at (360) 650-3308.