Are you a beginner writer? Do you know you want to put pen to paper but not know where to start? This eight-session online creative writing course, based on writing workshops I give in the North East of England, will give you an introduction to the basic elements of creative writing, from prose fiction to poetry. The course is entirely free and you can work through it at your own pace. Also feel free to ask any questions along the way by posting in the comments box.
You can get feedback on any of the exercises for a nominal charge of £5 per exercise (payable via Paypal). We also offer a reasonably priced critiquing service for your original work.
There’s no obligation to submit anything to us though; it’s entirely up to you!
The creative writing course will cover:
- Releasing your Creativity
Explore how to tap into your creativity, and whether you are naturally more inclined towards writing poetry or prose. - How to write a short story
A look at how writing a short story differs from writing a novel, and some tips on short story structure. - Writing from a point of view (POV)
How your choice of first, second or third person POV can have a dramatic affect on how readers engage with your story. - Bringing your writing to life
How to activate your writing and transform it into a sensual experience. - Writing characters
Writing complex, believable characters to inhabit your literary world. - Writing dialogue
Your voice as an author, writing dialogue between characters, use of dialect, and some tips on the mechanics of laying out your text. - Poetry: how to write poems
The basics of writing poetry – lyric versus narrative, structured versus free verse, rhythm and meter. - Markets, competitions and opportunities
How to further develop your writing by joining a writer’s group and entering competitions, and some tips on getting published.
I’ll mention helpful books and other useful resources as we go, which you can buy or borrow from your library – how you get hold of them is up to you, but try to get a look at them. In particular, The Creative Writing Coursebook is as close to a setwork for this course as you’re going to get – this one’s worth having on your shelf.
>> Click here to get started.
Happy writing!
Welcome to The Crafty Writer's free online creative writing course, presented by Fiona Veitch Smith, a freelance journalist, editor, author, playwright, screenwriter and writing teacher. I hope that you'll see a dramatic improvement in the quality of your writing as you work through this course.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
please i wish to apply for the free on line course.am interested
June 30th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Hi Tracie. The course is now constantly online. Just click on the first session and get startted. Good luck and happy writing.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
When will the next classes take place. If I have not already missed them.
Sincerely,
Tracie Wallace
June 21st, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Hi Jean, glad you enjoyed session 3. Session 4 is constantly available – the whole course is. Follow the instructions I’ve given you before and you should get to it. Good luck and happy wriing.
June 21st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I found excercise 3 stimulating as the encouragement to express myself on someone else’s terms created by my own work made me more disciplined in creative application.I am looking forward to completing excercise 4 when I find it and if it’s available.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Thank-you for your help. I have completed excercise 3 and am now ready to proceed to excercise 4
June 16th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Hi Jean, I don’t know what else I can tell you other than what I already have. You are already on the right page so you obviously know how to get there. Take your mouse and move your cursor over the list of sessions 1 – 8. Each session is hyperlinked which means that when you click on it it will take you to the next session. When you’ve finished that, go back to this introduction page and click on the next session. If you’re still struggling, perhaps you can find someone who knows a bit more about computers to help you navigate. Good luck.
June 15th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I woulg like to study excercise 3
June 15th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
This is the first time that I have studied on line and I am just getting used to handling the online creative writing course.I have reached excercise 3.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I started your course yesterday and want to continue from where I stopped which was excercise 3