Writing Fiction

Course CodeBWR105
Fee CodeS2
Duration (approx)100 hours
QualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of $36. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested.

Become The Fiction Writer You Dream of Being

If you want to write novels or short stories, it is essential to have good writing skills.  This course will help you to learn how to plan, write and critically appraise your work.


Becoming a fiction writer - what you need to know

Fiction is writing that encompasses imaginary yet believable characters, events, and environments, but can also include real places and events. A good fiction writer can skilfully weave fantasy and reality, or create a world that is wholly imagined yet feels real.  If you want to write fiction, this is the course for you. 

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM DOING THIS COURSE?

This course is a great start for the aspiring writer - it will enhance your confidence through tutor support and encouragement.

  • It is a great introduction to work shopping your work - gain great insights and informative critiques.
  • Builds confidence.
  • Improves writing skills and fundamentals involved in the creative writing process.
  • Well-suited to writers wanting a better understanding of genres, modes of writing and writing styles

At the end of this course you will:

  • Know the difference between several genres and types of writing
  • Understand key writing concepts such as theme, characterisation, and ideation
  • Understand the common errors and pitfalls in writing, and how to avoid them
  • Understand how to revise and improve your work
  • Understand how to apply good writing practice and theory to create well-written, engaging stories and other creative works
  • Draft a creative piece and develop a plan to move forward with it

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

  1. Scope and Nature of Fiction
    • Elements
    • Types of Fiction (Category/genre and Mainstream)
    • Characteristics of Category Fiction (strong plot, hero/heroine, motivation. Action, background/setting)
    • Characteristics of Mainstream Fiction (Strong plot, Action or intrigue, hero, heroine, romance, happy ending)
    • Book, play or short story
    • Categories (Fantasy, fairy tale, fable, myth, legend, science fiction, western, drama, romance, comedy, horror, crime, suspense, erotica)
    • Getting an Idea (using a fragment, philosophical approach, develop from a title or opening sentence)
    • Back story
    • Types of writing
    • Theme development
    • Write an Analogy
    • Writing a Balanced Theme
    • Are You Suited to Writing Fiction ; Imagination, Being Informed, Human Behaviour
    • Importance of Focus
  2. Components of a Story
    • Story Components
    • Story Structure
    • Theme
    • Plot
    • Characterisation
    • Settings
    • Developing your own Style
    • Aspects of Style.
    • Case Study
  3. Technique
    • Conception (Characters, Settings, Events)
    • Write a Synopsis
    • Developing a Story
    • Examples of Plot Structure
    • Method Writing (Developing characters, changing characters, Appropriateness of characters, Revealing characters through crisis, names, stereotypes, creating dynamic characters)
    • Writing a Draft
    • Editing and Rewriting.
  4. Conception and Research
    • Conceiving a Story
    • Parts of Conception
    • Making conception original
    • Types of research (Primary and secondary data)
    • Planning a formal survey
  5. Drama
    • Writing a Dramatic Story
    • Common mistakes
    • Time Shifting
    • Transition between events
    • Dramatic conflict
    • Motivation
    • Dialogue
    • Point of View.
    • Representing Characters Speech
  6. Fantasy
    • Science Fiction
    • Methods to develop Sci Fi
    • Fairy Tales.
  7. The Short Story
    • Characteristics of Short Stories.
    • Length in terms of: the time frame; the number of characters; the number of events; the number of settings
    • Common Problems with Short story Writers
  8. The Novel
    • Guidelines
    • Planning a Novel
    • Making a story Endure (Archetypes, etc)
    • Tips
    • Getting Started
    • Submitting a Manuscript.
    • Which Publisher

Aims

  • Describe the nature and scope of fiction writing.
  • Determine the components of a fiction story, as the first step in planning a story.
  • Determine a systematic approach to building a fiction story.
  • Develop your capacity to conceive fiction stories.
  • Develop your ability to write dramatic stories.
  • Develop your ability to write fantasy
  • Develop your ability to write short stories
  • Develop your ability to plan for success in the writing of a novel.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND ENROL NOW!

 Do this course and you could be:

  • Writing a novel
  • Writing stories
  • Writing science fiction
  • Expanding your creative fiction writing
  • Writing short fiction and much more.

Enrol today and start to live your dream of being a writer!

You can enrol on the course now, but if you have any questions about the content of the course or studying with ACS, then please get in touch with us today - use our FREE COURSE COUNSELLING SERVICE to get in touch with our expert tutors. They will be pleased to help you!

 



Meet some Of our academics

John Mason

John Mason is one of Australia's most prolific writers. He saw his first work published when at secondary school, where he worked on the school magazine. In 1973 he was writing a weekly column for his local newspaper and by 1975 he was a regular contributor to Australia's national magazine "Your Garden". John was engaged by Victoria's Dept of Youth, Sport and Recreation to write a book on Fun and Fitness Trails in 1978. In 1981 he saw two more books published (one in America, another in Australia), and commenced writing regularly for the Self Sufficiency Magazine, Grass Roots. John is a long term member of the Australian Society of Authors, the Garden Media Guild (UK) and the Horticultural Media Association (Australia). He has written or contributed to over 100 books, many published by international publishers and published more than 2,000 articles across a range of genres (Gardening, Education, Business, Farming, Fitness). In addition, John has contributed to and overseen the development of more than 600 distance education courses which encompass around 20 million words. He has been an avid photographer for 40 years, building a collection of over 100,000 images, which are used to illustrate his work. His marine animal photos are even used by Legoland in England, on their Atlantis ride! Writer, Manager, Teacher and Businessman with over 40 years interenational experience covering Education, Publishing, Leisure Management, Education, and Horticulture. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner. John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over seventy books and of over two thousand magazine articles.

Rachel Syers

Rachel has worked as a newspaper journalist for the past 15 years in a range of roles from sub-editor and social columnist to news reporter, covering rounds such as education, health, council, music, television, court, police, Aboriginal and Islander affairs, and agriculture. Her current role is Fashion Editor, features writer and features sub-editor with The Gold Coast Bulletin. She has co-authored a successful biography "Roma: From Prison to Paradise" about former prisoner-of-war turned yoga guru, Roma Blair, as well as freelanced as a writer, reviewer and researcher for Australian music and celebrity magazines such as WHO Weekly, Rave, Australasian Post and New Idea. Rachel has a B.Journalism.

Tracey Jones

Widely published author, Psychologist, Manager and Lecturer. Over 10 years working with ACS and 25 years of industry experience. Qualifications include: B.Sc. (Hons) (Psychology), M.Soc.Sc (social work), Dip. SW (social work), PGCE (Education), PGD (Learning Disability Studies).


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