So You Want to be a Writer? Rutgers Summer Session Offers Range of Courses

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Do you think the Great American Novel burns within or are you more concerned about communicating effectively with your boss and co-workers? Are you an aspiring journalist interested in honing your reporting and editing skills or a job hunter creating an attention-grabbing resume?

Rutgers’ Summer Session will offer a range of Writing Program Extension (WPx) courses from the Department of English for writers with different needs and abilities. The noncredit classes for professionals are taught by professionals on the New Brunswick Campus and online. Enrollees can choose from among foundation courses (basic grammar and writing skills, training and testing) and courses in business writing, technical writing, creative writing and journalism.

“Typically, our business, technical and journalism students are seeking career advancement, whereas our creative writers are striving for higher levels of professionalism in the art of fiction, poetry and nonfiction writing,” said Daniel Spink, an instructor in the Program in American Language Studies at Rutgers’ School of Art and Sciences. “In every case, the WPx goal is to have our students attain the highest standards of ‘real-world’ practices to help them achieve their individual goals.”

Foundation courses include “Project Coaching,” “Basic Grammar” and “Teaching Kids Journal Writing.” “Effective Resume Writing,” “Effective PowerPoint Presentations,” “Advertising Writing Online” and “Grant Writing” are part of the Business Writing track. Technical Writing offerings include a workshop for scientists and “Clear and Persuasive Writing for Attorneys.”

Budding journalists can enroll in such courses as “Training in News Writing, Reporting and Public Relations Writing”; “Introduction to Editing”; and workshops in feature writing and “Writing and Selling Short Articles.” Creative writers can select workshops in fiction writing and “Writing for Children” as well as “Introduction to TV and Screenwriting,” among others.

For more information on Writing Program Extension courses, visit wpx.rutgers.edu or send an e-mail to danspink@rci.rutgers.edu. Registration for all Rutgers Summer Session courses is ongoing. Sessions run from May 27 to July 3, June 23 to Aug. 1 and July 7 to Aug. 13. To avoid late registration fees, participants should register and pay by May 16, June 13, and June 27, respectively. For more information about Summer Session, visit www.summersession.rutgers.edu.