This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Learn how to write characters with superpowers with this four-session course. You will come away with a new knowledge of the elements of fiction, how to increase your creativity, and great writing skills – and it’s a lot of fun!
Total classes: 4
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 8th-12th grade
Suggested credit: One-third (⅓) of a semester’s credit for Writing or English Combine with any high school or middle school 4, 6, or 8-week course for a total of 12-16 weeks per semester for one (1) full semester’s credit. Recommend continuing the Character Development Series (X-14, X-15, and X-16 courses).
Special notes: Course materials are provided FREE by the instructor. This course is the second course in a four-part series. Be sure to sign up for all four short courses to learn how to develop compelling characters in your storytelling.
Description
Join this four-session course and learn the craft of writing characters with superpowers and magical abilities. Superheroes and characters with powers have been a popular speculative fiction category with fame that comes through movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), DC movies, comic books, magical stories in Middle Earth, and more! What makes a great Superman, Ironman, Gandalf, Animorph, or Spiderman? Using the elements of great storytelling, we’ll craft unique characters and learn how to create superheroes that make us cheer. We’ll discuss what makes a superhero, how to build a compelling character arc, and how to craft a memorable superhero in our story. With this short course, you’ll hone your creativity and improve your writing. This is a fun course that you’ll definitely enjoy!
Outline
Class 1: Superheroes (Thor, Superman)
Class 2: Mutants (Spiderman, X-Men, Animorphs, Ninja Turtles)
Class 3: Magic from a Faith-Based Perspective (The White Wizard, Tolkien; The Magic Treehouse Series; Aslan)
Class 4: Advanced Technology (Ironman/Tony Stark)
Materials and Homework
Materials: All materials are provided free by the instructor. All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
Homework: Students will practice the concepts learned in class, with reading materials and resources between each class. One (1) to three (3) hours per class is expected for homework.
Important Dates
Class dates: Thursdays, October 24 to November 14, 2024
Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)
Duration: 50 minutes
