Aoise Stratford is a dramaturg, playwright, and lecturer at Cornell University’s Department of Performing and Media Arts, as well as director of education at The Cherry Arts, a not-for-profit arts facilitator and presenting organization. Her plays have won several awards and been produced around the world, including at National Theatre London, Solo Chicago, and the New York City Fringe. Locally, Ms. Stratford has co-authored two walking headphone plays for The Cherry and adapted “A Christmas Carol” for The Hangar Theater. Her work on The Cherry’s season seeks to provide meaningful production context for audiences and to spark, foster, and facilitate community conversations — as well as inspire action — about displacement, dispossession, migration, and oppression. Ms. Stratford holds a Ph.D. in Theatre History and Dramatic Literature from Cornell and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco.
Overview and Courses
Cornell University is renowned for producing and being home to many of the world’s most brilliant and successful creative writers, including Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, Thomas Pynchon, and Junot Díaz.
Whether you’re an aspiring fiction writer, screenwriter, or editor, this certificate program provides you with the opportunity to craft engaging narratives that captivate readers and spark imagination. Throughout the courses, you’ll develop compelling stories as you refine your voice and master essential storytelling techniques over a variety of genres.
You will begin by building foundational skills in character development, world-building, story structure, and narrative perspective. As you progress, you’ll explore advanced techniques for crafting dialogue, imagery, and action, honing your ability to create immersive and impactful narratives. Throughout the program, you’ll practice shaping stories that resonate emotionally and leave lasting impressions while developing your unique voice and style.
Through practical application and meaningful critiques from peers and expert writers, this certificate will enable both emerging and experienced writers to strengthen their creative writing practice. Each course combines theoretical understanding with hands-on exercises, allowing you to immediately apply new concepts to your own writing projects. By the end of the program, you’ll have developed both the technical skills and creative confidence to produce captivating work.
The courses in this certificate program are required to be completed in the order that they appear.
Course list
- May 14, 2025
- Jul 9, 2025
- Sep 3, 2025
- Oct 29, 2025
- Dec 24, 2025
Vivid characters and immersive worlds are key to captivating storytelling. In this course, you will develop compelling characters and rich story settings through hands-on writing exercises and targeted techniques. You'll craft detailed character biographies, explore the interplay between setting and personality, and build cohesive story worlds with their own internal logic and "dark matter." Through focused exercises in both poetry and prose, you'll create rich narrative environments that authentically reflect and shape your characters' experiences.
The following course is required to be completed before taking this course:
- Developing the Story and Idea
- May 28, 2025
- Jul 23, 2025
- Sep 17, 2025
- Nov 12, 2025
Mastering the flow of story progression and dramatic tension allows writers to keep readers engaged from beginning to end. In this course, you will craft compelling narratives by honing the essential mechanics of plot development and character transformation. You'll examine conflict types, story beats, and plot structures, and you'll practice techniques for guiding characters through meaningful change. These principles will be applied across multiple forms, from traditional narrative to poetry, creating dynamic scenes that drive stories forward.
The following courses are required to be completed before taking this course:
- Developing the Story and Idea
- World-Building and Character Development
- Jun 11, 2025
- Aug 6, 2025
- Oct 1, 2025
- Nov 26, 2025
The way a story is told can shape its impact and deepen its connection with readers. This course explores the strategic use of narrative perspective and voice to craft distinctive, engaging stories. By experimenting with different points of view, tonal approaches, and voice techniques, you will refine your storytelling style while building meaningful connections with your audience. Examples from multiple genres, including poetry and film, will provide inspiration and expand your narrative toolkit.
The following courses are required to be completed before taking this course:
- Developing the Story and Idea
- World-Building and Character Development
- Building Blocks of Scene and Structure
- Jun 25, 2025
- Aug 20, 2025
- Oct 15, 2025
- Dec 10, 2025
Dialogue has the power to bring characters to life and drive the story forward in subtle, impactful ways. In this course, you will craft authentic, purposeful dialogue that advances plot, reveals character, and enriches stories with layered meaning. Practical exercises in dialogue construction, exposition management, and subtext development will help you create conversations that feel natural while serving multiple narrative functions. You will also build a systematic approach to revising and refining dialogue.
The following courses are required to be completed before taking this course:
- Developing the Story and Idea
- World-Building and Character Development
- Building Blocks of Scene and Structure
- Jul 9, 2025
- Sep 3, 2025
- Oct 29, 2025
- Dec 24, 2025
Scenes that captivate readers and draw them into the world of a story are built through rich detail and intentional action. In this course, you will craft vivid, dynamic scenes using sensory detail and purposeful movement. By practicing description, metaphor, and action sequences, you'll create immersive experiences that drive your stories forward. Techniques for balancing showing and telling, maintaining clarity in action scenes, and weaving imagery into the narrative will further enhance your storytelling skills.
The following courses are required to be completed before taking this course:
- Developing the Story and Idea
- World-Building and Character Development
- Building Blocks of Scene and Structure
- Jul 23, 2025
- Sep 17, 2025
- Nov 12, 2025
How It Works
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Faculty Author
Key Course Takeaways
- Create complex, believable characters within richly detailed story worlds
- Construct effective narrative frameworks using proven structural techniques
- Develop distinctive narrative voices and strategic point-of-view approaches
- Craft natural dialogue enhanced by meaningful subtext and purposeful exposition
- Build immersive scenes through the balanced use of description, action, and sensory detail
- Apply professional revision techniques across all elements of creative writing

Download a Brochure
Not ready to enroll but want to learn more? Download the certificate brochure to review program details.
What You'll Earn
- Creative Writing Certificate from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
- 96 Professional Development Hours (9.6 CEUs)
Watch the Video
Who Should Enroll
- Aspiring writers (fiction, playwriting, screenwriting, memoirs)
- Journalists
- Content writers
- Actors
- Teachers
- Publishing and editing professionals
- Individuals looking to adapt or develop stories to a new medium
- Anyone with an interest in narrative storytelling

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Creative Writing
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