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Stanford Continuing Studies Creative Writing Course: Ignite Your Creative Writing: Capture the “Aha” Moments on the Page


Creativity knows no boundaries, and everyone has it in them to write creatively. But for many of us, the blank page can feel intimidating, and finding the time and inspiration to sustain a writing practice can be a challenge. In this course, you will learn to recognize and channel your “aha" moments into narratives that captivate and inspire, whether you choose to craft fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or any other form of writing.

At the start of each week, you’ll receive a dynamic exercise to be completed with prompts (which are inspired by a variety of artistic forms, including visual arts and opera) that you will transform into short pieces of writing in the genre of your choice. During weekly live Zoom sessions, we will discuss the week’s focus, engage in writing sessions, and share our creative work for light, encouraging feedback from the instructor and our peers. Risk-taking will be rewarded and judgment will be suspended. Our collaborative approach will allow you to thrive and have fun while developing the skills and imaginative attitude necessary to foster consistent creativity and productivity. No matter your level of experience, whether you consider yourself a novice or a seasoned writer seeking growth, this course welcomes you. Even if you have doubted your creative abilities in the past, or simply want to perceive the world with fresh eyes, you will find inspiration and make breakthroughs.

Because of the high enrollment capacity, students will not receive instructor feedback on weekly writing prompts. Instead, they may receive light feedback from the instructor during weekly live Zoom sessions.
More information here

NILOUFAR TALEBI, Author

Niloufar Talebi is an author, creator, TEDx speaker, and educator. She is the author of two books, including the memoirSelf-Portrait in Bloom. Her writing has appeared inThe Los Angeles Review of Books,World Literature Today, andPBS Frontline. She received an MFA in writing from the Bennington Writing Seminars at Bennington College and has taught undergraduate courses in writing, creativity, literature, and translation, most recently at Plymouth State University and Hunter College. She has been a Fulbright scholar and is a Lucas Artists Fellow at the Montalvo Arts Center.