Creative Writing Basics

Learn about the different types of Creative Writing

• Explore new forms of writing such as creative non-fiction. 
• Study methodology and techniques of creative writing
• Develop your skills and how you can apply these to a career.

Lesson Structure

There are 6 lessons in this course:

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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
   • Final assessment

Creative Writing should arouse the Emotions and Harness the Imagination

This course teaches you to put your focus in a different place when you write. Unlike technical writing, you are not focussed on factual information. You are not focussed on a particular audience or format as you might be with children's writing or script writing. Creative writing has a very clear focus on creativity' and that is what you learn in this course.