Harry Youtt

Instructor Biography:

Fiction writer and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet whose recent collections include I’ll Always Be from Lorain and Outbound for Elsewhere. Mr. Youtt is on the editorial board of the international Journal of Consciousness, Literature and the Arts and is a co-recipient of the UCLA Extension Outstanding Distinguished Instructor Award and the UCLA Extension Instructor Award in Creative Writing.

Instructor Statement:

My method does not "teach" writing. It facilitates unique forms of expression in as many variations as there are students. Because I provide an absolutely safe environment, my students are invited to take chances, to soar, to surprise everyone, themselves included. My task is first to provide an overview of the essential elements and techniques of fiction writing while at the same time emphasizing the inspiration, motivation and sense of joy that encourages digging deeper to find the real gold. We want to bring out the best in my students, to help them experiment to find their strengths. Then I work constantly to encourage the blossoming of their talents along their individual lines of strength.

Our Students Say It Best: "Harry and Judith [Prager] are personable, intelligent and very motivational instructors. Their course has helped me to gain more confidence in my writing." --- Writers' Program student

“I cannot say enough good things about these two instructors. UCLA Extension has a gem here! Not only are Harry and Judith well skilled in teaching about writing, they are also very skilled at guiding writers along their individual paths to personal discoveries. Harry and Judith communicated with us as a class, and us as individuals that fostered the warm environment that this class was. I feel like I've gotten more out of this class then I have in any onsite class I've gotten at other institutions. The class participation was wonderful.”  --- Writers' Program student