Creative Writing

This one-week bootcamp will walk you through the process of writing a short story and will culminate in writing your own stories. Through discussions and activities, the course will introduce you to the elements of a story and the rhetorical features of creative writing, including purpose, audience, and author’s position. You will learn to perform an analysis to inform what you present in your stories and learn how to present it. The course will attempt to engage the larger question of what makes some stories more memorable than others. Working individually and collaboratively with your classmates, you will learn how to evaluate stories, provide feedback, and use the feedback you receive to redraft your own stories. Unleash your creativity this summer, and get ahead with your writing.

Learning Outcomes:

• Oral and written communication: Express your ideas orally and in writing
• Critical thinking and reading: Analyze the literary needs and interests of your target audience and evaluate stories
• Teamwork: Provide constructive feedback to, collaborate with, and support other participants in the sessions
• Knowledge outcomes: Learn the basic elements of a story and rhetorical analysis

Topics Covered:

• Learn what a short story is and what its elements are

• Understand what makes a great and memorable story

• Learn how to read a story, get ideas and become inspired to write

• Understand your target audience and purpose

• Choose your story idea and theme. Understand the different themes that stories might have and how to develop them

• Learn how and when to come up with a title

• Understand the plot, the setting and the point of view, and learn how to develop them

• Choose the types of characters for your story and learn how to develop them and make them believable

• Learn about the emotional appeal of a story and its effect on the readers.

• Understand how the style and language used in your story affect your readers and how to make the right choices about style and language

• Understand story description, narration and dialog

• Learn how writers review and revise their work and how to identify and address gaps

​​​​​Duration and Location:
One week: July 13 - 17, 2025
Sessions will run daily from 9 am to 12 pm
AUC New Cairo campus
Fridays and Saturdays are off
AUC holidays will be compensated for with extra hours

Fees
EGP 2,500
The following discounts are offered:
10% discount offered for siblings  
10% discount for AUC faculty and staff
15% discount for AUC alumni

Who can apply?
Students aged 16+ years with English language proficiency Knack for creative writing.

Certification
All the bootcamp participants will receive a certificate of participation from AUC.

Transportation 
The AUC bus service is available for extra fees. 

Accommodation 
Accommodation is offered at the University Residences in case needed. 

About the Instructors:
Aliaa Hamad is a full-time faculty, theme leader, and writing minor advisor at AUC’s Department of Rhetoric and Composition, where she has taught various writing courses. Hamad holds a BA in English literature, an MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) from AUC, and a PhD in linguistics. She was awarded the Merit Award for Excellence in Teaching by AUC’s School of Continuing Education in 2014. Her first book, Be Careful What You Wish For, a collection of short stories and vignettes, was published in 2017.

AUC Refund Policy:
A 100% refund of the program fees will be offered in the following cases. If reported at least three weeks before the program's start date.
Course cancellation 
Medical withdrawal
Visa denial