Part of what provides a story its depth and structure is its theme. The theme is the writer's opportunity to explore a topic or an issue alongside their readers and, possibly, get across an insight or statement about the topic. However, the tricky aspect about developing themes in a story is that they can easily feel tacked on, preachy, or distracting from the story's narrative.

Storywriting Basics: Story Themes is a writing course on the principles of finding, developing, and integrating themes in your story without compromising the story's narrative flow. The course will provide you with examples and techniques that will help you to spot potential themes in your work in progress, to flesh out the discourse within your theme, and to blend your discourse seamlessly with your story's narrative.


Online class duration: 7 daysMinimum age for this workshop: 8 years old(Online students aged 8-12 are required to have a parent or guardian to assist the child in accomplishing coursework.)

Our course creator

Storywriting Basics: Story Themes was created by Filipino writer, Dr. Joem Antonio. A published author and playwright, he holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from UP Diliman and is an eight-time Palanca Award winner. He believes that writing is a skill that can be learned by even those who weren't magically "born with the talent." Through his writing courses and workshops, he teaches writing as a science, leaving students with clear methods that allow them to move their writing projects forward.

What you get with each writing course registration

Coursework

Lectures and writing exercises that give you a step-by-step method for building stories.

Get feedback from a writing coach within the duration of your course.

Certificate (upon accomplishment of requirements)

Meet the requirements, receive a certificate.

Online Learning

Train to be a writer while experiencing the conditions that most writers work with: specific assignments, lots of reading, even more writing, flexible work hours, and a deadline.

Coursework in each of Storywriting School's online workshops is composed of text lectures and writing exercises, which you will have seven days to finish at your own pace. Our online courses follow the usual workflow of a writer: some reading, lots of writing, and a flexible schedule that ends in a deadline. Finish on time and you get a printable certificate of completion. If you want great value for money, training in the writer's lifestyle, or a workshop that's suited to your schedule and location, this modality is best for you.

Note: Because our online courses require time management, we require students aged 8-12 to have a parent or guardian to assist the child in going through coursework. 

Choose a schedule

Take any seven-day online writing course on your preferred schedule.

February 3-9, 2024 (Saturday-Friday)
Starts 12:00AM GMT/UTC+0:00*

February 17-23, 2024 (Saturday-Friday)
Starts 12:00AM GMT/UTC+0:00*

March 2-8, 2024 (Saturday-Friday)
Starts 12:00AM GMT/UTC+0:00*

March 16-22, 2024 (Saturday-Friday)
Starts 12:00AM GMT/UTC+0:00*

April 6-12, 2024 (Saturday-Friday)
Starts 12:00AM GMT/UTC+0:00*

April 20-26, 2024 (Saturday-Friday)
Starts 12:00AM GMT/UTC+0:00*

May 4-10, 2024 (Saturday-Friday)
Starts 12:00AM GMT/UTC+0:00*

May 18-24, 2024 (Saturday-Friday)
Starts 12:00AM GMT/UTC+0:00*


*If you are in the Philippines (GMT/UTC+8:00), your course officially starts at 8:00 AM. 

Choose a coach

Your fee depends on the coach you choose.  Please click/tap on the coach's name to view his/her registration page.

Face-to-face Classes

We're still figuring out how to best resume face-to-face classes. Stay tuned!

All dates and times follow UTC+0


London: UTC+0 or +1
Manila: UTC+8
New York: UTC-5 or -4