Become a Better, More Creative Writer
Many of us harbour a fantasy about being a creative writer, but what do we really mean by that? If we were to divide writing into two broad categories these would usually be fiction and non-fiction. Most people would consider creative writing to fall under the category of fiction, and indeed it usually does. In recent years however, a new genre of writing known as creative non-fiction has emerged in which the goal is to write a factual account which reads like fiction, but which utilises literary techniques. Creative non-fiction might be regarded as a hybrid between fiction and non-fiction.
What is covered in this course?
HOW TO WORK THROUGH THIS COURSE
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 & 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
- Final assessment for lesson
