Students hear each week from professional writers, telling how they got started, how they market their works and what they consider their best writing tips for beginning authors. Past presenters have included Jodi Thomas, Linda Castillo, Jennifer Archer, Tim Lewis, Jon Mark Beilue, Mark Williams and many others.

In the second half of each night's class, Dr. Bellah has students respond to writing prompts, plus share their own work in groups. By semester's end, each student will create his or her own portfolio of writing (choosing from such genres as poems, short stories, mysteries, newspaper columns, children's stories and more).

If you want to sharpen your writing skills or if you need a critique group, this class is for you. Many writers begin their critique groups with peers they meet at courses like this.

The class can be taken for credit or as a continuing education course at AC. To register, call 371-5000 or go online to www.actx.edu.

Coming in Spring 2012: The Chronicles of Narnia: Romance and Romanticism in Lewis's Best Stories
Monday nights, beginning January 23, 2012