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 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. You may also ask questions along the way if there is something you don’t understand. Post them in the comments box. If you have any questions about how the course operates before contacting me please check out the FAQ list on the menu above which covers pretty much everything – and that includes how to get started and whether or not it’s really free!
Please note: This is a free course but that does not mean that I will provide you with free critiques of your writing. I understand that the majority of you would never dream of asking for free critiques, but unfortunately I still regularly get queries from people asking me to do so. If you would like me to give my professional opinion on your creative writing I will charge professional rates. There is a link to these rates on the FAQ page.
And now, back to the fun (and free!) stuff. 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.
Any questions? Then check out the Frequently Asked Questions page. Otherwise…
>> 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.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Hi Fiona,
I’d just begun the first session and decided to go back and read some of the comments left on this site. I don’t know where you get the patience to respond to the same question over and over again, but you do a fabulous job of it! I’m hoping to use your course in expanding my own skills in marketing. I am a single parent of 4 so both the time and finances to attend traditional classes is not an option. To that end, I really want to express my thanks to you for making this online course available. Regardless of wether I can apply what I learn in my career or not I’m sure to have a lot of fun along the way! Thank you again.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Welcome to the Crafty Writer Kelly and thanks for introducing yourself. Just work your way through the course and shout if you have any queries or comments. There’s someone called Jamie doing the course at the moment too, so hi if you ’see’ him / her (not sure of the gender Jamie, sorry.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Hi, I am interested in taking your course. I have taken Creative Writing before at my school, but couldn’t because of my course load this semester.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Thank you Brenda, you’ve really made my day. How very kind of you. Good luck with the rest of the course and happy writing.
Fiona
November 13th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Dear Fiona,
Just wanted to take a moment to Thank You for your writing course. I’ve been searching for weeks for all the info I possibly could get a hold of. The entire page is so full of info. Finally I can stop spending hours searching and start learning. I just finished lesson one and about to do exercise 3.I felt after hours, of being chained to my computer and getting no where, I was losing any ability I might have ( piting my self). I have a lot to learn and have learned so much in just one lesson, and appreciate your site. Thanks again for taking the time to set it up and leaving it for people like me who are so hungry to become writers. I can’t wait to move on to lesson 2.
Sincerly
B.Spiegelhoff
September 4th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Hello there, I am interested in taking your Creative Writing course. Please let me know how I would go about signing up. Thank you.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:17 am
Hi Jenny. You just click on the first session – in the list above – and work you way through it. Feel free to leave comments or ask questions along the way. This was a ‘real time’ course in , but now that it’s finished it’s free for anyone who wants to do it. To get to the next session there should be links at the end of each session, if not, just come back to this page. Happy writing.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:01 am
Would like to join this course. How do i go about doing this?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:10 am
Hi Essenanwan. There are no forms and no application process. The course is already ‘live’ online. Just take your mouse and click on the link to the first session in the list above and you can get started. Work through it in your own time. Happy writing!
July 1st, 2008 at 10:59 pm
please isnt there any forms i could fill? how do i know that i have been admitted