Creative Writing for Beginners: Bringing Your Story to Life
A course by Shaun LevinWriter and Creative Writing Teacher
A course by Shaun Levin, Writer and Creative Writing Teacher
Learn how to sketch with words and use the details of your imagination to write a memorable story
An impactful story—like any artform—starts with a gathering of ideas and scenes. Out of these pieces, we begin to shape our own personal narrative and develop compelling stories. Shaun Levin is a published author and creative writing teacher with over twenty years of experience, and in this course, he shows you how to delve into your imagination to find everything you’ll need to become a prolific writer, no matter where you are.
Discover a series of practical exercises intended to sharpen your voice as a writer and develop a complete written piece inspired by a subject you are passionate about.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 11 downloads
Influences
4 minutes, 11 seconds
What We Will Do in the Course?
2 minutes, 49 seconds
Techniques to Write Everywhere
12 minutes, 54 seconds
Techniques for Sketching with Words
11 minutes, 0 seconds
When You Get Stuck
7 minutes, 11 seconds
What's included in this course?
Shaun starts the course by telling you why he became a writer, and how his personal experiences and the people in his life continue to shape how he writes stories. He also shares the books and writers that influence his work.
In the second unit, discover why writing is important to Shaun, see what you’re about to learn in the course, and do some practical and “simple” exercises to get you started, such as writing about the details of your day.
Next, learn about the narrative options available to you when you write a story, and see how to boost your writing by looking closely at the work of other writers. Explore the materials you can use to write and experiment with different notebooks and pens. Learn how to write by observing your surroundings, using the here and now as your starting point.
See the different points of view and perspectives you have at your disposal and find the right one for the story you’re writing. Then, start sketching with words to approach your story as an artistic creation. See how to use great works of literature for inspiration and learn about the shapes, echoes, and repetitions that are there in your writing. Learn how to avoid being overly critical about your work and have faith in your writing process.
Go deeper into the details of your story, see how to use the writing itself to brainstorm for new ideas, and develop your observation skills by trying out different approaches to writing. Learn how to find precise words and take notice of the small details with some of Shaun’s practical exercises.
Once you’ve completed the first draft, explore some techniques to shape your final story. Look at how to edit and rewrite your work, and see how to share it with the world. Finally, get Shaun’s tips and motivation to keep you developing and expanding your creative writing.
What is this course's project?
Write a story ready to share online or submit for publication about something you are passionate about. Use a series of techniques to sharpen your voice as a writer, and see how to edit and rewrite your work from start to finish.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
For writers of all levels who want to learn new ways to develop their ideas into stories, and go back to the basics of observing, describing, and finding inspiration in everyday life. This course is also suitable for creative writing teachers who want to explore practical and surprising ways to approach the blank page.
Requirements and materials
No previous writing experience is necessary, only a willingness to delve into your imagination and express your ideas.
As for materials, you’ll need pens, pencils, and two or three different sized notebooks.
Reviews
- 3 months ago
Este curso fue muy bueno, yo no soy escritora, soy ilustradora. Quise tomarlo para mejorar en la narración de mis historias ficticias y me ayudo para poder atreverme a escribir
- 3 months ago
Muy completo !! me encantó
- 4 months ago
Me gustó mucho, me abrió la mente. Ver infinidad de puntos de vista, que se puede escribir sobre cualquier cosa y que con un solo cambio de tiempo o narrador se puede hacer algo dinámico y diferente. Me hizo no preocuparme por "bloqueos creativos" y animarme a escribir sobre variedad de temas y no solo sobre lo que me pasa o mis reflexiones, sino más allá de mi.
- gernePLUS5 months ago
Die Kurse von Shaun Levin sind immer wieder gut. Ich schaue sie gern auch mehrere Mal. Vielen Dank an dieser Stelle!
- 6 months ago
Interesante, soy principiante y de momento me ha gustado mucho
Shaun has over twenty years of experience teaching creative writing in colleges, schools, art galleries, and other settings. He has published several novels and short story collections, including Alone with a Man in a Room, Seven Sweet Things, and Snapshots of The Boy, as well as three guides for writers taking on book-length projects, The Writing Notebooks. Today, Shaun continues to teach creative writing and work on his next novel and collection of short stories.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- What We Will Do in the Course?
- U2
How to Slow Down and Start Writing Immediately
- Materials
- Techniques to Write Everywhere
- Techniques to Approach a Single Subject
- Techniques for Sketching with Words
- When You Get Stuck
- U3
How to Create Impact and Surprise in Your Stories
- How to Look at a Strawberry
- The History of Your Feet
- What’s More Important, the Facts or the Story?
- Our Final Story
- U4
How to Shape a Story
- Editing and Rewriting
- Share Your Work with the World
- Final Tips (Future Projects)
- FP
Final project
- Creative Writing for Beginners: Bringing Your Story to Life
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and writers of all levels who want to develop storytelling skills, descriptive techniques, and creative routines.
You’ll need a notebook, your preferred writing instruments (pen or pencil), and an open mind for creative exercises. No special equipment or previous experience required.
You’ll learn how to observe details, brainstorm ideas, develop personal narratives, experiment with perspectives and tenses, and revise your writing for clarity and impact.
The course covers brainstorming, word sketching, editing drafts, storytelling techniques, using sensory details, building a writing routine, transforming journal entries into stories, and publishing short stories.
You’ll use freewriting, prompts, and observation exercises to spark inspiration and break through creative blocks, making it easier to generate new ideas and keep writing.
Yes, the course teaches you to mine journal entries and personal memories for story material, helping you craft authentic and engaging narratives from your own life.
You’ll practice techniques like word sketching and sensory observation, learning to create vivid, detailed scenes that engage readers through sight, sound, touch, and more.