Not going back to school this fall? That doesn't mean you can't learn a thing or two. Exercise your brain with these writing courses, and someday, it could be your words those eager young minds are reading (or at least buying the Cliffnotes for).
Get real (or fake it) at StoryStudio Chicago
Whether you're looking to write the great American novel, chronicle a real-life event or write the screenplay that could get you to Hollywood, the StoryStudio has got you covered. Students can choose from a variety of ongoing courses, encompassing everything from short stories and comic essays to how to handle your first public reading (hint: laughing at your own jokes is no-no). If you're too busy to take an extended course, jump in for a single-session class.
Sketch away at the Second City Training Center
Aspiring comedians can get a taste of writing sketch comedy in this four-level program covering everything from basic scene structure and character development to how to establish actions. Using weekly writing assignments and in-class exercises, the Second City staff will help you get your skills off the ground. After a while, you might even be able to move up to the Advanced Writing Program, which includes tutorials on using sources such as current events and personal history to create new sketches.
Get personal at The Writers' Loft
Jerry Cleaver promises to get you writing if it's the last thing he does—and he's done a lot of things, including creating the online course Write Your Novel Now. Cleaver created The Writers' Loft more than 20 years ago (it's the longest-running writing workshop in Chicago), and he's still as committed as ever. He offers unlimited personal conferences to all his students, and if that doesn't do the trick, you can call the Story Help Line anytime for assistance with your plot. Each workshop meets once a week for six weeks.
Go virtual with MediaBistro
You can do everything else online; why not take a writing class? This nifty website does offer some in-person courses (fewer in Chicago than in New York or Los Angeles), but its online offerings are far more diverse. Learn everything from how to write for documentary TV to how to create good chick lit, all while sitting in your underwear—which means you're also getting a pretty good idea of what it's like to be a full-time writer.
Inspire kids to write at 826CHI
If you want to be involved in writing but don't necessarily want to do it yourself, check out 826CHI, a non-profit organization that helps kids ages 6–18 with their creative and expository writing skills (you may have seen the center's "Boring Store" facade on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park). Volunteers can donate their time in a variety of ways: drop-in tutoring programs, field trips, in-school projects and workshops on journalism, comic book production, radio broadcasting and more. 826CHI is the local branch of an organization created by author Dave Eggers).
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