How do you turn your idea for a novel into a novel? The answer may not be an exact science, but most published authors would point to the fundamentals of storytelling: character development and dramatic structure. As the basis of a good story, these two elements of fiction are further shaped by techniques like dialogue, pacing, and scene building to bring your idea to life on the page. But having all the moving pieces to a good story only equates to a first draft. To truly create publishable work, you must add complexity to your fiction and then learn the process of revision.

This course series will help you plan, write, and edit fiction. Write Fiction Like a Pro focuses on ideation and plotting. You will first learn how to plot the structure of your story and flesh out characters. As you progress to Advanced Fiction Writing, you will begin to look at dialogue, setting, action, viewpoint, and tense with a professional's eye. When your draft is close to being finished, you will then learn how to pare down and refine your manuscript.

These lessons will help you develop and sharpen your fiction writing skills. As you apply each technique, your story will take shape, with a clear path from beginning to end. By the time you finish this series, you will be ready to submit your work for publishing.

Series bundles are not eligible for partial drops or refunds. Transfers to other open sessions of the same course are available. Please refer to your school for additional details regarding drops, transfers, and refunds on Series bundles.

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

For more information or to register please click the link.

Fantasy is an increasingly popular genre of fiction, and now is a great time to become a fantasy fiction writer! This course is perfect whether you have an idea for a book or even if you don't know where to start. With the tools you'll gain in this course, you'll be ready to tackle your first fantasy novel.

In this course, you will learn what separates fantasy fiction from other types of fiction. You will also discover how to create characters and populate your world with unique, compelling, and interesting creatures. You'll learn how to outline your book, come up with a theme, and commit to actually writing. You will learn how to revise and edit so that when you complete it, your book will essentially be a finished product. You will even learn a bit about publishing your book, including the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing. Finally, you'll get a number of tips about how to stay motivated and complete your novel - because, after all, writing is hard work!

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

For more info please click here.

As Harry Potter and Twilight have proven, young adult fiction is one of the hottest genres for today's novels. Teens and adults alike have discovered the excitement and passion of these stories, and publishers are hungry for more. If you're eager to break into this market, this course provides you with the recipe for creating your own successful young adult story and shows you how to get it published.

You will decide what type of story you want to tell, plan your plot, and discover the secrets for bringing your characters to life. In addition, you'll find out how to introduce conflict, suspense, and mystery so you can grab and hold the attention of your audience. Along the way, you will master the art of creating dialogue that resonates with teenagers and young adults. You'll even analyze excerpts from bestselling young adult books to see what makes them so successful. Finally, you'll learn how to find an agent or publisher and how to write a synopsis that sells. If you've dreamed for years of becoming an author, this course can help you turn your dream into a reality. By the end of this course, you'll have all the tools you need to create a polished manuscript and get your story in print!

Instructor-Led dates are as follows May 17, Jun 14, July 12 and Aug 16.

For more information or to register please click the link.

Start improving your career opportunities by learning in-demand writing skills to create robust copy for business and marketing objectives that will differentiate you in today's competitive hiring landscape. Written Communication for Business Suite provides students with the in-demand writing expertise they need to achieve success through detailed, self-paced and instructor-led courses.

Effective Business Writing

Do you have a nagging suspicion that a small improvement in your writing skills might also improve your career prospects? Don't let small gaps in your business writing skills prevent you from reaching your full potential!

It doesn't matter whether you're a clerical worker, an engineer, or an executive. If you communicate with others in writing, you need this course to help you identify and eliminate problem areas. By the end of this course, you'll know the secret to developing powerful written documents that immediately draw readers in and keep them motivated to continue until your very last, well-chosen word.

Business and Marketing Writing

Are you a writer working in the business world? Or a marketing professional responsible for obtaining great marketing copy? Maybe you're just interested in a writing or marketing career. Whatever your background, this fun, introductory course will teach you to write or identify copy that achieves business and marketing goals. Improve your work, your knowledge, your company's image, and your chances of getting hired, promoted or applauded!

Using clear explanations, real-life examples, and an animated style, the course solidifies the relationship between business, marketing principles, and written communications. You will learn how business and marketing objectives affect writing choices. You'll get practical writing instruction in grammar, clarity, structure and more. You'll understand issues unique to this discipline, such as buzzwords, working with a team, and marketing ethics. This course will help you understand the power of writing - and use it to present a solid, cohesive message to your target audience.

Writing Essentials

Master the essentials of writing and become the stellar wordsmith you always wanted to be! In this course, you'll develop the skills you need to excel at business communications, express yourself clearly online, and take your creative literary talents to a new level.

Whether you're hoping to get a better job, write for a blog, or publish your short story, this course will give you the writing tools you need for success. It's also a perfect choice if you speak English as a second language. With the knowledge and hands-on practice, you gain from this course, you'll be able to express yourself clearly and persuasively in writing—both in your personal life and in the business world.

Suite bundles are not eligible for partial drops or refunds. Transfers to other open sessions of the same course are available. Please refer to your school for additional details regarding drops, transfers, and refunds on Suite bundles.

This is an Instructor-Led course.  Dates are as follows: June 14, July 12, Aug 16 and Sept 13.

For more information or to register please click the link.

Acuity Institute's Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Online Program helps you build the skills and competencies you need to design and lead high-impact process improvement programs at your company.This online course has been designed to teach Lean Six Sigma fundamentals and their application and is intended for full-time improvement team project leaders. Acuity's Black Belt program goes beyond manufacturing, with applications in industries like healthcare, financial services, and insurance to diversify your training.Learners are trained and tested on their understanding and ability to apply the tools and techniques of all elements of the Lean Six Sigma DMAIC methodology. As part of the DMAIC methodology, students are taught how to integrate Lean Six Sigma into an overall approach to process improvement and project management.

For more information or to register click the link.

Lean is an approach to organizational processes that seeks to minimize waste and increase value for the customer. Starting off as an approach to manufacturing processes, Lean has expanded into even services industries. If you are interested in learning about the core concepts needed to successfully apply Lean strategies to organizational operations, this course is designed for you. Key ideas are presented in an easy-to-understand format, with interactive and integrative exercises to help learners better understand the core and fundamental elements of a Lean application. Case studies and video segments from experienced Lean professionals provide real-world advice and counsel for participants, while educational aids and review assignments assist in the comprehension and retention of course material, to ensure proficiency and mastery of critical knowledge and information.

For more information or to register please click the link.

The Lean Six Sigma Basics course describes the strategies, techniques, and concepts practitioners will need to complete process improvement projects and activities. The course's eight modules describe the important themes, principles, and tools of the DMAIC methodology that help refine processes and enhance operations. Throughout the course, learners will be tested on their comprehension of course topics through exercises, interactive games, and case study assignments. Each module also includes quizzes and tests that learners can use to prepare for the 50-question exam at the course end. Video segments from subject matter experts supplement the course material, to provide real-world examples and enhanced understanding of important concepts and best practices.

For more information or to register please click the link.

The benefits of exercise are numerous, regardless of your age or physical ability. Everyone benefits from regular physical activity. Yet, a common challenge is how to build time for fitness into your daily routine.

This course breaks down key elements and objectives for health, wellness, and exercise that can be done at home. Through a series of videos, an expert personal trainer and wellness professional will discuss the benefits to working out, how to create exercise routines you can perform at home, online tools to assist you with your progress, nutrition, and more.

For more information please click on this link.