Creative writing course subjects

This vocational course covers every aspect of creative writing. Each lesson includes a practical assignment which is based on real creative writing scenarios. All assignments are personally marked and graded by your tutor, so you’ll be receiving expert feedback at each stage of the course.

We have recently added a brand new topic to lesson 1, which focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence, how it is affecting the market, and how copywriters can integrate it into their roles.

  • How to get started.
  • Where, when and what to write.
  • Using artificial intelligence to help you plan, research and structure your creative writing. New topic
  • Finding your form, including experiments in fiction and non-fiction prose, poetry and drama.
  • Who you can write for: how to appeal to varied audiences including children, young adults, and adults.

  • Writing and publishing terminology.
  • Applying a style guide.
  • Presenting your work correctly.
  • Creating a cover sheet.
  • Keeping legally safe notebooks and records.

  • Developing your imagination and producing ideas.
  • Overcoming writer’s block.
  • Finding original angles and follow-ups.
  • Reading as a writer.
  • Writing as a reader.

  • The importance of drafting.
  • Develop your own style: finding your unique “voice”.
  • Achieve brevity, fluency and consistency.
  • Writing for a reader.

  • Short stories: different types of short story, and flash-fiction. Scene setting, characterisation, dialogue, narrative point of view.
  • Novels: different genres, and traditional and modern forms. Scene setting, characterisation, dialogue, narrative point of view.
  • “Genre” fiction: sci-fi, fantasy, crime. Scene setting, characterisation, dialogue.
  • “Literary” fiction: history, scene setting, characterisation, dialogue, narrative point of view.

  • Fillers for women’s / coffee break magazines.
  • Feature articles.
  • Readers’ letters.
  • News articles.
  • Biographies, nostalgia, memoirs.
  • Competition entries: writing / poetry competitions.
  • Religious and inspirational articles.
  • Reviews.
  • Blogs.

  • Identify the key characteristics of free verse, sonnets and haiku.
  • Use key poetic terminology including caesura, rhyme and metre.
  • Employ key poetic techniques and features such as metaphor, rhyme and metre.
  • State the importance of dialogue and stage directions in dramatic scripts.
  • Employ stage directions in a script.

  • Researching your content.
  • Writing previews.
  • Producing listings.
  • Carrying out interviews.
  • Using your own experiences.
  • Taking and using photos and videos.

  • Checking / revising your work.
  • Proofreading and editing your articles.
  • Legal issues, including libel, copyright, plagiarism.

  • Submitting articles for publication.
  • Writing an effective query letter and synopsis.
  • Securing commissions.
  • Negotiating fees and contracts.
  • Spotting photojournalism opportunities.
  • Selling fiction: contacts, agents.