Creative Writing Courses at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
I’m excited to share the creative writing courses I’m currently teaching through the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. These classes are designed to nurture your voice as a writer, strengthen your craft, and give you the tools and confidence to bring your stories to life. Whether you’re beginning your writing journey or refining a manuscript in progress, you’ll find an encouraging space to learn, create, and connect with a vibrant community of fellow writers.
Explore the courses below and join me in discovering where your writing can take you.
Courses
Blockbuster Books: Writing Genre Fiction
About this course
Want to jump-start your writing, sharpen your focus and create commercially viable work? This course explores a range of popular fiction genres – such as mystery, the thriller, horror, romance, science fiction, fantasy and young adult – and introduces you to a community of like-minded writers. You’ll learn how to create strong plots, scenes with impact, three-dimensional characters and believable dialogue. You’ll also examine the business of writing, including agents, publishers and the US and international markets.
This course can be applied towards the following certificates: Creative Writing
What you’ll learn
- Apply concepts of plotting, pacing and characterization.
- Write the opening chapter of an original work of genre fiction.
- Produce a 25-word log line that sums up your project.
- Investigate the genre fiction marketplace.
Tales From the Dark Side
About this course
Psychological thrillers, gritty crime/mystery, and unsettling horror get preferential treatment as we delve into the darker side of fiction to explore our fascination with the evil of this world and beyond. In this course we will dissect popular works; analyzing stories and writing styles in order to determine what effectively produces fear, dread, and unease on the page.
What you’ll learn
- Learn about masterful “Thriller” authors and what makes their work resonate.
- Apply concepts of plotting, pacing, and characterization to create compelling chills.
- Produce the opening chapter of an original work of dark fiction.
Writing Mentorship
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to take your work to the next level, I offer personalized 1:1 mentorship designed to help you grow as a writer. Together, we’ll focus on the areas that matter most to your development—whether that’s shaping story ideas, building strong characters, refining your voice, or gaining the confidence to share your work with others.
My mentorship approach is supportive and tailored to your individual goals. Some writers come to me with the spark of an idea and need guidance on how to expand it into a full story; others arrive with a draft in hand, looking for feedback that will help them polish and strengthen their manuscript. Wherever you are in your process, I’ll meet you there with thoughtful insight, encouragement, and practical strategies to move your writing forward.
If you’d like to explore mentorship opportunities, please email either me at JKMessum @ hotmail(dot)com or use the contact form to connect. I’d love to hear about your writing journey and how I can help you bring your stories to life.
