certificate

Creative Writing

Develop creative writing skills in multiple genres of interest including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and more. This customizable program culminates in a capstone project in which students make significant progress on a polished collection of work. This certificate can be completed online or in the classroom.

SEE COURSES IN THIS PROGRAM

This program is perfect for...

Those new to writing who want to explore various genres while cultivating their skills
Writers looking to hone their craft and develop a solid portfolio of work in a particular genre
Writers considering graduate-level writing study, including those who wish to polish pieces for submission to MFA programs
Individuals who want to become part of a vibrant and supportive community of artists who share their passion

What you can learn.

Identify your creative writing goals and develop a plan to achieve them
Deepen your practice within a chosen genre, or explore various forms of creative writing
Discover techniques of powerful storytelling, craft compelling characters, and write memorable scenes and stories
Receive guidance from successful writers and workshop in a group of supportive peers

Please Note

This is a new Certificate in Creative Writing, which launched on June 1, 2020. We are no longer accepting applications for the Fiction Writing and Creative Nonfiction Writing programs. Current certificate candidates in those programs have the option to complete their original program or transfer to the new program at no additional cost. Please review the FAQ’s for current certificate students to learn more.

Achieve results and reach your writing goals.

Stack of books published by Writers Program instructors

Whether you are new to writing, have a specific project you'd like to get off the ground, or are preparing to apply to an MFA program, the Certificate in Creative Writing is an immersive program for developing professional writing skills.

Our fully customizable certificate honors each individual student’s journey, allowing you to pursue the coursework that is most meaningful to your specific writing goals and level of expertise.

The program offers the opportunity to specialize in genres like poetry, short stories, novel writing, essay writing, memoir writing, or to explore writing across genres, hybrid genres, and new forms without the limitation of a prescribed curriculum.

The only required course, the Creative Writing Certificate Capstone, allows you to compile and further refine your writing from prior coursework into a final portfolio representing the finest examples of your craft.

Taught by a prestigious roster of instructors who are published writers and active professionals, courses in this certificate program can be taken onsite, online, or a combination of both.

What our students say.

Expect more from your education.

Learn from Industry Leaders

Author of 15 books, including Courage and Craft: Writing Your Life into Story, A Year of Writing Dangerously, and Kicking in the Wall. Ms. Abercrombie is a recipient of the UCLA Extension Distinguished Instructor Award and the UCLA Extension Outstanding Instructor Award in Creative Writing.

Meet Barbara Abercrombie

Chart your path

All prospective certificate candidates receive a complimentary 30-minute one-on-one consultation with an academic counselor.

My UCLA Extension coursework, teachers, and colleagues have shaped my writing life, fueled the creation of my novel, and provided continual inspiration.

Michael Sudmeier

Former Writers' Program student and Wyoming Arts Council fiction fellowship recipient

Certificate Curriculum

The Certificate in Creative Writing is fully customizable. You may follow a Writers’ Program sample curriculum plan based on specific writing goals, or design your own program of study.

Students must complete 21 total units comprised of the 3-unit Creative Writing Certificate Capstone course and 18 units of 400-level Creative Writing coursework.

Sample Program Tracks:

Novel Writing

Novel I
WRITING X 411.1

Novel II
WRITING X 411.2

Novel III
WRITING X 411.3

Novel IV
WRITING X 411.4

Dialogue and Point of View
WRITING X 462.1

Creative Writing Certificate Capstone
WRITING X 460

Personal Essay

Personal Essay I
WRITING X 422.1

Personal Essay II
WRITING X 422.2

Personal Essay III
WRITING X 422.3

Storytelling for Social Justice
WRITING X 424.21E

Writing the Thinkpiece
WRITING X 424.15E

The Art of Creative Research
WRITING X 461.23

Creative Writing Certificate Capstone
WRITING X 460

Poetry

Poetry I
WRITING X 431.1

Poetry II
WRITING X 431.2

Poetry Toolbox
WRITING X 432.10E

Prose Poetry
WRITING X 432.11E

Reframing the Form
WRITING X 432.7E

The "F" Word: Innovative Poetic Forms
WRITING X 432.8E

Cuento Poems
WRITING X 432.32E

Creative Writing Certificate Capstone
WRITING X 460

Courses

Click below to view the required and elective courses, if applicable, for this program.

Required

Elective

Required Capstone Course

Students must complete the capstone course as their last course for the certificate.

Creative Writing Certificate Capstone

WRITING X 460

Electives

Students must complete 18 units of elective coursework. Any WRITING X 400 level course may be counted towards completion of the certificate.

Storytelling for Live Audiences

WRITING X 424.12WS

The Psychology of Compelling Storytelling

WRITING X 463.7E

Voices of Color Workshop

WRITING X 464.1

Writing Through Grief and Tragedy

WRITING X 424.23

Character and Conflict

WRITING X 462.3WS

Copyediting II

WRITING X 451.4

Developmental Editing

WRITING X 451.2WS

Literary Journalism II

WRITING X 424.24E

Prose Poetry

WRITING X 432.14E

Revising Your First Draft Novel

WRITING X 413.15E

One Idea–Many Possibilities

WRITING X 463.6E

Crafting Survival Stories

WRITING X 463.5E

Creative Writer's Boot Camp

WRITING X 463.4E

Master Class in Creative Nonfiction Writing

WRITING X 421.4

Translation I: Six Week Workshop

WRITING X 461.25

Writing for Young Readers II

WRITING X 446.3E

Creative Writing Certificate Capstone

WRITING X 460

Self-Publishing

WRITING X 454.1

When Research Ends and Writing Begins

WRITING X 463.3E

Women's Writing Workshop

WRITING X 463.1E

Taking the Mystery Out of Writing the Mystery Novel

WRITING X 413.14E

Internship in Editing and Publishing

WRITING X 456.1

The Art of Craft, the Secrets of Revision—Toward Publication

WRITING X 432.12E

Structuring Your Story

WRITING X 461.22EWS

Typically Offered: Winter

The Art of Creative Research

WRITING X 461.23

Editorial Management II: Publication and Beyond

WRITING X 452.2

Conquering Your Story and Its Superstructure

WRITING X 461.13E

Romance Writing II

WRITING X 414.2E

Building a Network of Writers, Editors, and Publishers

WRITING X 455.2

Typically Offered: Fall

Storytelling for Social Justice

WRITING X 424.21E

Character and Conflict

WRITING X 462.3

Dialogue and Point of View

WRITING X 462.1

Defeating Distraction: Creating a Writing Practice

WRITING X 404

Romance Writing I

WRITING X 414.1E

Writing Short Form Nonfiction

WRITING X 424.20E

Setting and Description

WRITING X 462.2

Finding Your Story

WRITING X 403

Introduction to Literary Journalism

WRITING X 424.18E

Marketing and PR for Writers and Agents

WRITING X 455.3

Typically Offered: Fall

Introduction to Writing for Young Readers

WRITING X 446.2E

Freelancing for Editors

WRITING X 452.3

Finding Your Voice

WRITING X 402

Young Adult Novel II

WRITING X 445.2

Don't Stop Writing!

WRITING X 461.16E

Writing the Think Piece

WRITING X 424.15E

Picture Book II

WRITING X 441.2

The Editorial Toolbox

WRITING X 451.3

Editorial Management I: Acquisition to Publication

WRITING X 452.1

Reframing the Form

WRITING X 432.7E

Hybrid and Cross-Genre Poetics

WRITING X 432.6E

Writing the Horror Novel

WRITING X 413.5E

Write a Novel in 10 Weeks

WRITING X 413.6E

Writing the Fantastic

WRITING X 413.4E

Creative Alchemy: Finding and Writing Life Stories You Were Meant to Tell

WRITING X 424.2E

Writing Life Stories Inspired by Travel

WRITING X 461.4E

Personal Essay III

WRITING X 422.3

Poetry I

WRITING X 431.1

Poetry in Popular Culture

WRITING X 432.1E

Young Adult Novel I

WRITING X 445.1

Committing the Perfect Crime: Writing Your First Mystery

WRITING X 413.2E

Creating Universes, Building Worlds: The Short Story in Science Fiction and Fantasy

WRITING X 413.3E

Poetry of Witness

WRITING X 432.2E

Cuento Poems

WRITING X 432.3E

Writing the Erotic

WRITING X 461.14E

Emotion Into Art: Infusing Your Writing with Feeling

WRITING X 461.1E

Power Up Your Writing: Deeper Characters, Deeper Truths

WRITING X 461.2E

Intensive Revision

WRITING X 461.9E

Writing Your First Novel

WRITING X 411.1WS

Typically Offered: Winter

Story Structure for the Novel

WRITING X 413.1E

Write a Novel in a Month as Part of National Novel Writing Month

WRITING X 413.7E

Writing the Personal Essay

WRITING X 422.1WS

Typically Offered: Winter

Writing Your Memoir

WRITING X 423.1WS

Typically Offered: Winter

Writing Out of Your Life

WRITING X 424.3E

Narrative Techniques for Nonfiction Writers

WRITING X 424.8E

Contracts, Rights, and Signing Authors

WRITING X 455.1

Picture Book I

WRITING X 441.1

Copyediting I

WRITING X 451.1

Developmental Editing

WRITING X 451.2

Typically Offered: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Short Story I

WRITING X 412.1

Short Story II

WRITING X 412.2

Short Story III

WRITING X 412.3

Nonfiction: Essential Beginnings

WRITING X 420

Creative Nonfiction I

WRITING X 421.1

Creative Nonfiction II

WRITING X 421.2

Creative Nonfiction III

WRITING X 421.3

Personal Essay I

WRITING X 422.1

Introduction to Creative Writing

WRITING X 400

Personal Essay II

WRITING X 422.2

Fiction: Essential Beginnings

WRITING X 410

WRITING X 423.1

WRITING X 411.1

WRITING X 423.2

WRITING X 411.2

WRITING X 423.3

WRITING X 411.3

WRITING X 431.2

WRITING X 411.4

WRITING X 411.5

Master Class in Novel Writing

WRITING X 411.6

see all courses

How to Get Started

Courses in this program are open enrollment, and each course is paid for individually. You may take creative writing courses without committing to the program. However, establishing candidacy in the program allows you to receive a customized curriculum suited to your writing goals along with many benefits exclusive to our certificate students.

Note: A grade of "C" or better must be earned in all courses in order to fulfill certificate requirements.

Certificate Benefits

Exclusive benefits for Writers' Program certificate students:

Receive a 30 minute, one-on-one goal-setting consultation with a Writers’ Program advisor, who charts out certificate program curriculum based on your level of experience, interests, and writing goals.
Receive advance notice of upcoming Writers’ Program courses and enroll before the general public each quarter.
Receive preferential placement on wait lists.
Within six months of the completion of certificate program coursework, receive 50% off a one-on-one manuscript consultation.
Interact, network, and share writing tips with fellow certificate program students through the Writers’ Program Certificate Students private Facebook group.

Advanced standing at Antioch University*

Students who complete the Certificate in Creative Writing can receive Advanced Standing in Antioch University Los Angeles’s MFA in Creative Writing.

Advanced Standing allows a student to enter the MFA program with the equivalent of one semester completed. In addition, you may be eligible for Antioch’s fellowships and scholarships.

Additional benefits exclusive to UCLA Extension certificate students:

Access to Handshake, UCLA Career Center’s online job board, with access to thousands of job and internship postings.
Become a member of the UCLA Alumni Association (upon completing your certificate) and a nationwide network of Bruin family.
Join us for the annual UCLA Extension Graduation Ceremony on campus to celebrate all your hard work.
Get access to UCLA Recreation facilities as a student affiliate.**
Open an affiliate/Guest UCLA Bruin ID Card** for a number of student-related benefits.
Access to UCLA Extension’s Career Resources including online career coaching, workshops and networking events.

*Eligible students should indicate in their Admissions Dialogue Essay that they have completed, or will have completed, UCLA Extension' Creative Writing Certificate by the time they begin study at Antioch University. Certificate completion does not guarantee admission to Antioch University’s MFA program. All admissions decisions are made solely by Antioch University MFA program faculty, and questions about the process should be directed to them.

**Nominal Fee Required

How to Apply

How to Apply: New Students

Click the Apply Now button below
Login or create a new student account
Once you are logged into the student portal, you can select “My Applications” from the left side menu at any time to return to your application. Click the yellow “Start” button to proceed.
On the Certificate Application page, follow the instructions and click save. Then submit your application.
Proceed to checkout and pay the nonrefundable candidacy fee to finalize your application.

How to Apply: Fiction or Creative Nonfiction Certificate students enrolled prior to June 1, 2020

To start, please review the FAQ’s for Fiction and Creative Nonfiction certificate students.

To transfer to the new Certificate in Creative Writing, please complete this form.
To finish your original Fiction or Creative Nonfiction program, no action is necessary.
Unsure which program better suits your writing goals? Our Student Affairs Officer, Carrie Truong can be reached at ctruong@uclaextension.edu.

Estimated Cost Breakdown

All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.

Application & Candidacy Fee

100.00

Estimated Program Tuition

4025.00

Estimated program textbook/materials

200.00

Apply Now

*The Application & Candidacy Fee establishes your candidacy in the program for a period of time covering normal progress toward completion and may allow you to access a variety of program benefits.

Internships
Available

Approved for
International Visa

VA Benefit
Eligible

Federal
Financial Aid

**Federal Financial Aid Gainful Employment Disclosures

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities to disclose certain information for any financial aid eligible program that, “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. This information includes program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; on time completion rate; and for the most recent award year: the number of students who have completed the program, the number of students who complete the program within the estimated duration, the job placement rate, and the median Title IV and private loan debt incurred by those who complete the program. For gainful employment information for this program, visit our Financial Aid page.