Advanced Topics
This phase offers elective subjects and specialization tracks for deeper focus. Learners select one primary track (e.g., Fiction) but may choose 1–2 electives from other areas. Electives build on Core skills, allowing customization while maintaining balance.
- Fiction: Emphasizes long-form narrative, genre experimentation, and publishing prep. Required: Advanced Fiction Writing, Genre Studies. Elective: Literary Translation.
- Poetry: Focuses on forms, experimentation, and performance. Required: Advanced Poetry Writing, Poetic Forms and Traditions. Elective: Literary Translation.
- Screenwriting: Targets film/TV production elements. Required: Advanced Screenwriting, Adaptation Techniques. Elective: Genre Studies.
- Literary Translation: For multilingual writers, stressing cross-cultural adaptation. Required: Literary Translation, Advanced Nonfiction Writing. Elective: Poetic Forms and Traditions.
| Subject | Why study? | Book | Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Fiction Writing | Deepens mastery of novel/short story forms, focusing on voice, theme, and revision for publication-ready work. | Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft | Covered in Brandon Sanderson's Writing Lecture (Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy) |
| Advanced Poetry Writing | Explores experimental forms, sequences, and chapbooks to refine poetic voice and innovation. | A Poet's Guide to Poetry | Covered in How to Make a Poem |
| Advanced Screenwriting | Builds on basics with focus on series development, pitching, and industry standards for professional scripts. | Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need | Covered in An Introduction to Screenwriting |
| Genre Studies | Analyzes genre conventions (e.g., sci-fi, mystery) to subvert or innovate, expanding versatility in commercial and literary markets. | The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers | |
| Poetic Forms and Traditions | Surveys sonnets, haiku, free verse, and global traditions to inform culturally aware poetic practice. | The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms | Modern Poetry |
| Adaptation Techniques | Teaches converting books/stories to scripts or vice versa, bridging prose and visual media. | Adaptation: Studying Film and Literature | |
| Literary Translation | Introduces techniques for translating works across languages, emphasizing fidelity, cultural nuance, and creative reinterpretation. | The Craft of Translation | |
| Advanced Nonfiction Writing | Advances memoir/essay forms with research integration and ethical considerations for impactful real-world narratives. | Tell It Slant: Creating, Refining, and Publishing Creative Nonfiction | Covered in Creative writing and critical reading |