Course Summary
Format: Online Course
Start Date: Monday, October 14, 2025
Duration: 6 Weeks
Time Commitment: 1.5 hours per week
Cost: On a sliding scale from $85 to $35. Tickets are non-refundable!
This course will meet for 1.5 hours weekly for 6-weeks on Tuesdays from Oct 14 – Nov 18, 2025. The start time for the first week’s session in various time zones is as follows:
Oct 14, 2025, at 1 pm Honolulu, 4 pm Los Angeles, 5 pm Mexico City, 7 pm New York, midnight London, and
Oct 15, 2025, at 7 am Beijing, 8 am Tokyo, 10 am Sydney, 12 pm Auckland.
Course Summary
Format: Online Course
Start Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Duration: 6 Weeks
Time Commitment: 1.5 hours per week
Cost: On a sliding scale from $85 to $35. Tickets are non-refundable!
Enroll Below!
About The Course
Online peace writing course with Author/Activist Rivera Sun. Limited to 40 participants.
The pen is mightier than the sword … or the bullet, tank, or bomb. This course is about how the power of the pen can be lifted to promote peace. While war and violence are normalized in books, movies, news, and other aspects of our culture, peace and nonviolent alternatives are often overlooked or under-represented. Despite the evidence and options, most of our neighbors and fellow citizens have no idea that peace is possible. In this 6-week course with award-winning author Rivera Sun, you will explore how to write about peace.
We’ll look at how the written word can portray solutions like unarmed peacekeeping, violence de-escalation, peace teams, civil resistance, and peacebuilding. We’ll dig into examples of how writers from Tolstoy to Thoreau to today have spoken out against war. From anti-war classics like Catch-22 to sci-fi peace literature like the Binti Trilogy to Rivera Sun’s award-winning Ari Ara Series, we’ll look at how weaving peace into story can capture cultural imagination. We’ll work on best practices for writing about peace and antiwar themes in op-eds and editorials, articles and blogs, and even social posts. We’ll also get creative, exploring story and poetry, looking at novels and fictional portrayals of peace.
The cost of the course is the same for someone completing all, some, or none of the assignments.
Questions? Contact: Phill Gittins at education@worldbeyondwar.org
To register by check:
1. Email Phill Gittins and tell him.
2. Make the check out to World BEYOND War and send it to World BEYOND War 513 E Main St #1484 Charlottesville VA 22902 USA.
Registrations are not refundable.
You will learn:
- How to write about peace and anti-war themes for various publications
- How to address/debunk misperceptions around peace
- How to capture readers’ attention and convey a powerful message
- Creative ways to portray peace in nonfiction and fiction
- The art of the op-ed, blog post, and article
- The science of creative writing featuring alternatives to war
Rivera Sun is a change-maker, a cultural creative, a protest novelist, and an advocate for nonviolence and social justice. She is the author of The Dandelion Insurrection, The Way Between and other novels. She is the editor of Nonviolence News. Her study guide to making change with nonviolent action is used by activist groups across the country. Her essays and writings are syndicated by Peace Voice, and have appeared in journals nationwide. Rivera Sun attended the James Lawson Institute in 2014 and facilitates workshops in strategy for nonviolent change across the country and internationally. Between 2012-2017, she co-hosted nationally two syndicated radio programs on civil resistance strategies and campaigns. Rivera was the social media director and programs coordinator for Campaign Nonviolence. In all of her work, she connects the dots between the issues, shares solutionary ideas, and inspires people to step up to the challenge of being a part of the story of change in our times. She is a member of World BEYOND War’s Advisory Board.
This course is for everyone, whether you think of yourself as a “writer” or not. If you love fiction, join us. If you gravitate toward journalism, join us. If you’re not sure, join us. We will have a lot of fun in this welcoming, encouraging, and empowering online community.
Participants should have a working computer with a microphone and camera. Each week, participants will be given a reading assignment and an optional writing assignment to complete.
“Rivera is an absolutely amazing online teacher. She talks the talk; but she’s walked the walk forever. As a teacher/guide/mentor online she is wise, patient, calm, instructive, appreciative, encouraging, experienced and creative. I couldn’t have asked for anything more during challenging times in my life. I immediately signed up for another 6-week course she will be teaching/guiding in a few months.” – Jim Petkiewicz
“This course stimulates peacemaking imagination and craft.” – Amy Blumenshine
“This is a time when we sorely need inspiration to go the distance as peace activists. This course offers it!” – Sally Campbell
“Rivera made this course powerful, deep, personal and deeply encouraging. The course many practical tools for deepening our writing and understanding of the concepts around the true meaning of peace.” – Ann Boyd
“A great mix of information/lecture and student participation and practice. Good feedback from Rivera on writing assignments, too!” – Mark Reeve
“I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and engage with other peace writers and of course, learn from the brilliant Rivera.” – Madonna Quixley
“I love the specific tools we learned about to assist our writing.” – Melany Mack
“The peace writing course is effective because the instructor — Rivera Sun — is truly and deeply committed to not just the class, but to working for peace in any and all ways possible.” – Paul Hellweg
“This course opened a doorway for me into witnessing the daily acts of peace and war that surround me constantly, and are incredible gifts that can expand my understanding of humanity.” – Ella Boyd