PITTSBORO — Aspiring writers have a new way to hone their skills without having to worry about curriculum grade point averages: earning a Certificate in Creative Writing through Central Carolina Community College’s Continuing Education Department. 

The certificate program, offered at the college’s Chatham County Campus, in Pittsboro, provides an innovative educational opportunity for adult students who seek encouragement and growth as writers within an active writing community. 

The certificate will be awarded after completion of 120 hours of classes, including a mentored workshop focusing on polishing, revising, and submitting work for publication. This is believed to be the first creative writing certificate in the state to be offered through continuing education at a community college. 

“We are so excited to welcome this new certificate program to our campus in Pittsboro,” said Karen Allen, the college’s provost for Chatham County. “Our year-long experiment in offering enhanced creative writing classes has been a big success.”

Since the fall of 2009, CCCC-Pittsboro Continuing Education has offered courses and one-day classes in writing short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenplays, and children’s literature. CCCC’s small classes provide individualized feedback from experienced, professional writers and the chance to get to know fellow students and their work well. 

Classes are accessible to writers of all levels, and writers may enroll in classes as often as their interests and schedule dictate.  The classes are intended to help writers develop their talents and craft as well as an enjoyment of writing for personal growth.

For more information about CCCC Continuing Education classes in Chatham County or the Creative Writing Certificate, contact Maggie Zwilling (919) 545-8048, or mzwil272@cccc.edu, or visit the webpage at www.cccc.edu/creativewriting

All creative writing classes take place at the Chatham Campus, 764 West St., Pittsboro.