IRVINE, Calif. (July 12, 2007) – The University of California, Irvine Extension announced plans to offer a new online creative writing course, “Writing Like There’s No Tomorrow.” The first-of-its-kind online format is designed to provide students with the opportunity and skills necessary to write without reserve. Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, author of the award-winning book “Pen on Fire” and host of the KUCI-FM radio show, Writers on Writing, will facilitate the course, available September 24 through December 7.
“Technology has become such an important tool in education that offering an online format for the creative writing course seemed the perfect environment for the power of the written word to be shared,” said Dr. Kirwan Rockefeller, director of UC Irvine Extension’s Arts and Humanities Program. “The University’s combination of online capabilities and instructor guidance will ensure that this course is a winning resource for students seeking to achieve their writing goals in the most efficient and successful way possible.”
“Writing Like There’s No Tomorrow” is designed to accommodate students with varying occupational backgrounds, time constraints and writing experience. Additionally, the course’s online format was developed to provide writers a safe way to start their writing process, and the opportunity to turn off any judgment that might be perceived within the traditional classroom setting. A further benefit of the online format is that students are required to write with greater frequency, enabling them to better hone their writing and communication skills.
“‘Writing Like There’s No Tomorrow’ gives students the chance to experience the various genres of writing and experiment with innovative writing exercises without feeling self-conscious,” explains DeMarco-Barrett. “It’s a chance for students to find out where their greatest writing interest lies.”
DeMarco-Barrett has been an instructor at UC Irvine Extension for seven years and was the recipient of the “Distinguished Instructor” award for her work at the UC Irvine Extension. She is editor of The ASJA Monthly, the official publication for the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). Her radio show, Writers on Writing, airs on KUCI-FM (88.9 FM) on Thursdays at 5 p.m.
For more information, email UnexArts@uci.edu or to register for the course, call (949) 824-5414 or visit www.extension.uci.edu.
About the University of California, Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu.
About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.
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