Creative Writing: From Inspiration to Craft
Source: https://www.uva.nl/en/programmes/summer-courses/creative-writing/creative-writing.html Parent: https://www.uva.nl/en/education/summer-school/uva-summer-school.html
Dive into the art of storytelling and hone your skills in crafting compelling narratives. This course will guide you from inspirational readings and discussions to hands-on writing assignments. Explore writing techniques from contemporary short story writers and discover your unique voice through character development, vivid descriptions, and compelling plotlines.
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| Mode of instruction: | On-campus (3 weeks) |
| Academic dates: | Sunday 14 June - Thursday 2 July 2026 |
| Housing dates: | Friday 12 June - Monday 6 July 2026 |
| Academic Fees: | Student Fee: €1750. Read more about what's included in the fees. Professional fee: €2000. Read more about what's included in the fees. |
| Housing fees: | €950 Private Private at Poeldijkstraat. Housing is optional. Read more about university-organised accomodation. |
| Credits: | 6 European Credits. Read more about credits and credit transfer. |
| Early admission deadline: | Sunday 1 February 2026 Students who require a Schengen Visa to study in the Netherlands are strongly advised to apply before the early deadline to ensure there is enough time to secure a visa appointment before the programme begins. |
| Final admission deadline: | Sunday 15 March 2026 |
| Who is this programme for? | Level: Bachelor's, master's and working professionals Background:Students with at least some university experience who are curious about writing techniques and discovering more about the craft of creating writing are encouraged to apply. Working professionals who would like to delve into the art are also welcome to apply. |
| - Programme Description |
This course offers to teach students the basics of storytelling and inspire them to find their own unique writing voice and style. The course combines theoretical elements such as literary analysis of short stories with practical daily writing sessions where students will write on assigned prompts. An essential part of this course is peerreview and feedback, where students will closely examine each other’s work.
In this three week programme, students will examine specific topics such as character development, setting, dialogue, point of view (POV), detail, writing with the senses, etc. The course will also have a visit to an art museum where students will immerse themselves and choose a painting which speaks to them before writing reflective art essay on it. Students will also have the opportunity to hear from professional writers who will share their experiences with their creative process and techniques, followed by an open discussion. - Academic Director
Dr. Jana Zilova is a passionate teacher and writer, currently teaching courses in creative writing at the Prague School of Creative Communication and at the Literary Academy in Prague. She has taught creative writing, literature, and film at Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris 3, in Paris. She worked as a writer and editor at WAN-IFRA, World Association of News Publishers, in Paris. Recently, she completedacourse on creative writing at Stanford University. She is also the co-chair of a Screenwriting Workgroup within the platform NECS, the European Network for Cinema and Media Studies.Her research encompasses the analysis of contemporary short stories and creative writing techniques. Her academic work was published by Routledge, Campanotto Editore, and Interdisciplinary Press. She published articles in Prague Literary Review, Cinepur, The Prague Compass. Her poetry was published in an anthology of poetry, Sleep Snatcher, in 1998. She is currently working on a collection of short stories and a novella. - Explore our community
Want to get to know more about studying in Amsterdam?Follow us on social media and join our summer community. Get a feel for our summer school vibe and our academic and social community, and learn about studying with us through the eyes of past summer school students.
Curious to learn more about the Summer School Times magazine?Last year, we started a magazine that features various articles from our academic directors and students. We also highlight some must-read stories from our programme Creative Writing: From Inspiration to Craft, offering a glimpse into the creativity and imagination of our students.
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Facts & Figures
Mode : Short-term
Credits : 6 ECTS, 3 weeks
Language of instruction : English
Starts in : June