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.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Glad you’re enjoying it Christina. Keep on writing!
June 17th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Hi Fiona,
I have just found your website and I have gone through the first 3 exercises. I really enjoyed doing this. Thank you so much for putting this course up.
In the third exercise I found the poem easy to write and had it completed in a very short time. I don’t know if it is a good poem though. I took longer on the prose but I think it portrays my creative thought much better than the poem does. I wrote 282 words and the story could be longer.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Now that I’m making inroads into screenwriting myself, I’ve found that the creative writing techniques of prose in general have served me well in the transition. I would advise all screenwriters to do a general creative writing course in order to develop their storytelling and characterisation techniques.
June 15th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Hi, I have always loved writing, and now that I am in school for film production, screenwriting is much needed. I am so glad that this course exist.
May 26th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Hi Romina. If you read through the comments before yours you’ll see that this course is ongoing. Just click on the first session and get started. Happy writing.
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:57 am
When is the first lesson of free creative writing class?
May 11th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Lori and Regina, you’re welcome! Happy writing to both of you. Fiona.
May 10th, 2009 at 5:25 am
This site helped me so much in my writing. Thank you!
May 9th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Hi, I just want to say thank you for offering this. I haven’t started it yet, but from what I’ve read, I think it may be just what I’m looking for. I am currently a freelance writer and have been published extensively on the web and in a couple of print magazines and newspapers, but I’m really itching to write a novel. I need to learn how to write fiction a lot better! Thank you so much, and I can hardly wait to start!
April 4th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Welcome Anni and happy writing!