From Journal to Magazine is a 4-week class in which students will learn how to draw from their journal writing to create writing that is creative and sharable (and eventually publishable). Students will begin in their comfort zones by writing a long journal entry. As the weeks progress, each student will work on a certain aspect of creative writing to begin to shape her story. Focusing on writing in scenes and with description, as well as looking at tense and the process of writing, students will learn how to take their stories and transform them into a publishable piece of writing. The class will read brief essays each week that focus on a certain writing topic and theme. Each week, students will receive feedback from their peers and the instructor. By the end of the class, students will feel more comfortable and confident in their ability to write for a wider audience.

This class is not just intended for beginning writers. Experienced and published writers can use the course as a way to write about a topic they’ve had a hard time figuring out how to write about or don’t know how to approach. The class can be used as both an introduction to creative writing as well as a space for more experienced writers to work through writing that is causing them some difficulty.