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CLASS 510: Writing Fiction & short stories
Spring quarter 2012

When: Tuesdays 7 pm-9 pm, April 24-May 22 (five meetings)
Where: University of Washington campus in Seattle
Course fee (tuition): General Public: $125
UW Students with current ID: $120
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COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this class, students will learn about the elements of short story writing, get practice coming up with stories of their own, and have opportunities to get feedback from the instructor and others in the course. The focus is on developing our skills and learning to let the process happen easily and spontaneously. Also: information about copyrighting, getting published, and making money as a writer. Instructor has written stories, articles, stageplays and screenplays. His short story collection, The Hungry Time, is available on Amazon.com.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Nils Osmar has made his living in the arts since the 1980s, and has taught both accredited and non-accredited classes in Seattle for over twenty years, through the University of Washington's ASUW Experimental College, Antioch University Heritage Institute, the Wonder School, and Classesandworkshops.com. He has written poems, magazine articles, short stories, stageplays and screenplays. His short story collection, The Hungry Time, was published in 1996, and was featured on public radio and Alaska Reader. Nils Osmar home page

ABOUT THE SCHOOL:
This class is sponsored by the ASUW Experimental College, the Wonder School, and Classesandworkshops.com. It's open to everyone; you don't have to be a U.W. student to sign up. (If an enrollee is under 18, please contact us first to make sure the class is a good "fit" for the student)

MATERIALS:
Just bring a pad and pan (or, it's fine to bring a laptop for in-class writing if you prefer).

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 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

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

Making classes more affordable
We've been brainstorming ways to make classes more affordable in this crunched economy, and have found several things that can help:

• Providing art supplies to students to use in art classes. In some art classes, the materials cost almost as much as the instruction. Most of our art classes now include free materials, such as pencils, paper and charcoal (the instructor brings materials for students to use in class at no charge).
• In the classes in which we can't provide all materials (such as painting), we've arranged with the University Bookstore to put together inexpensive kits made up of low cost but high quality materials. Putting them in a kit also means the store can discount them. So you're paying less than the price of buying the materials individually.
• Providing printed handouts at no charge, which cover important lecture topics for all of our classes, so students don't have to buy textbooks.
• Schedule more classes on days when parking is free on campus. Parking is free after noon on Saturday and all day Sunday, so we're experimenting with scheduling more classes in these time slots.

Classes starting soon:

ACTING CLASSES
CLASS 110: Beginning Acting
CLASS 300: Let's Make a Movie
CLASS 120: Actors workshop: Auditioning

ART CLASSES
CLASS 210: Drawing for Absolute Beginners
CLASS 220: Figure Drawing
CLASS 225: Drawing clothing and drapery
CLASS 230: Drawing Faces and Portraits
CLASS 240: Perspective drawing for artists
CLASS 250: Acrylic Painting for Beginners
CLASS 270: Cartooning for fun and profit
CLASS 290: Drawing in pen, brush & ink
CLASS 295: Exploring charcoal

FILM AND VIDEO CLASSES
CLASS 300: Let's Make a Movie
CLASS 310: Filmmaking 101
CLASS 320: Documentary Filmmaking
CLASS 550: Start writing your screenplay

SOFTWARE CLASSES: PHOTOSHOP
CLASS 400: Photoshop for Beginners

WRITING CLASSES
CLASS 510: Writing fiction & short stories
CLASS 550: Start writing your screenplay