Creative Writing Basics Short Course

Creative Writing Basics short online course:

Develop your creative juices into writing fiction or non-fiction.

Have you ever had a secret desire to become a writer? Creative writing has normally been associated with novels and short stories covering science fiction, crime and detective fiction and other genres of fiction writing. But creative writing has now evolved to include creative non-fiction writing, a hybrid between fiction and non-fiction, it allows the author to create a factual account that is read like fiction.

Learn the basics of creative writing for fiction and non-fiction projects, by completing this great foundation course. Use what you learn to efficiently plan your novel or short story and ensure it is engaging and interesting to those that read it.

Creative Writing Basics is ideal for all budding authors out there, whether for amateur of professional purposes. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Lesson 1: Scope and Nature of Creative Writing

• Definitions of creative writing
• Plots in creative writing
• To be or not to be - creative
• Characteristics of a creative writer
• Oral storytelling
• Types of creative writing
• The personality of the creative writer
• Review what you have been learning
  

Lesson 2: Methodology and Technique - The Bricks and Mortar of Writing

• Methodology
• Time management
• Keeping notebooks
• Using formulas
• Writing the novel
• Writing techniques
• How to frame time
• Constructing a timeline
• Objectivity and subjectivity
• Ordered versus disordered messages
• Plotting a story
• Conflict and obstacles
• Point of view
• Capturing attention
• Developing your characters
• The end of your story
• Writing creative non-fiction articles
• Writing dialogue
• Script writing
• Writing news scripts
• Review what you have been learning
  

Lesson 3: Genres

• Children’s books
• Fantasy writing
• Crime fiction
• Poetry
• Science fiction
• Romance and relationship writing
• Commercial genres
• Creative marketing
• Non-fiction writing
• Which genre?
• Review what you have been learning
  

Lesson 4: Creative Non-Fiction

• Defining creative non-fiction
• Literary journalism
• Tips to write creative non-fiction
• Examples of creative non-fiction
• Picking your specialist areas
• Review what you have been learning
  

Lesson 5: Creative Writing Techniques

• Rhythm of the story (peaks and troughs)
• Landmark events
• Crisis – Conflict – Resolution
• Exaggerating reality
• Escapism
• Paradox
• Metaphors and similes
• Imagery
• Language
• Review what you have been learning
  

Lesson 6: Developing Your Skill - Building Your Career

• Choosing a genre or area of specialism
• Research
• Where do writers get inspiration?
• Resources
• Writer’s block
• Writing & the law
• Submitting work for publication
• Self-publishing
• Print versus electronic publishing
• Distributing & selling your work
• Grants for writing
• Obtaining a contract
• Continuity of contracts
• Glossary – the meaning of words
• Review what you have been learning

COURSE ASSESSMENT:

This course is completed entirely online, including lessons, self-assessment tests, plus obtaining your certificate at the end, which is immediately downloadable after successful completion. Please note that there is no tutor support, as it is not required. The assessment breakdown is as follows:

1. Study lesson 1.
2. When you are ready, take the self-assessment test. Retake until you reach the required level of learning.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the following 5 lessons.
4. Take the final assessment.
5. Download your certificate of completion, with your name on it.
   

Now you are ready to stand out at a job interview, or put your newly acquired knowledge to use straightaway.