Introduction to Writing Fiction



Overview

If you’re a beginner with little or no experience in creative writing, this course is for you, and if you’re an intermediate writer, this course will deepen your understanding.

Each week a different aspect of the novelist’s craft will be introduced and we’ll discuss how it works in our two set texts and in excerpts from other stories.

You’ll learn about the messy process of fiction-writing, from getting ideas (tip: always carry a notebook) through outlining, drafting and of course, revising. You’ll end up with a full toolbox of fiction-writing techniques and the confidence to exercise your unique literary talent.

Programme details

Course begins: 27 Sept 2023

Week 1: Scenes: the building blocks of fiction

Week 2: Character

Week 3: Motivation: the engine of plot 

Week 4: Point of view

Week 5: Basic story structure

Week 6: Emotion: conveying and invoking

Week 7: Outlining

Week 8: Dialogue

Week 9: Back story: tricks for handling

Week 10: Reading like a writer; beta readers 

Course reconvenes: 24th Jan 2024

Week 11: The writer mindset: getting ideas

Week 12: Setting: from backdrop to essential 

Week 13: Beginnings: grabbing attention

Week 14: Suspense: holding attention

Week 15: Character thoughts

Week 16: Emotional arcs

Week 17: Designing character

Week 18: Advanced outlining

Week 19: Plot twists

Week 20: Revising

Certification

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £461.00
Take this course for CATS points £10.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Ms Helena Echlin

Helena Echlin’s psychological thriller, Clever Little Thing, will be published by Pamela Dorman/Penguin Random House in 2024. She is the author of the novel, Gone, and the co-author of the YA thriller, Sparked. She taught fiction-writing for Stanford University in California and has written for many publications such as the Guardian and the Times. 

Course aims

To introduce the fundamental elements of fiction to new writers and to enable them to use these concepts in creative practice.

Course Objectives:

  • To encourage creativity and experimentation in creative practice.
  • To develop good critical reading habits.
  • To encourage participation in discussion and debates about writing.

Teaching methods

Seminars. Close-reading of set texts followed by group discussion and analysis. Writing exercises at home, which are then workshopped in class. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students can expect to:

  • understand the underlying concepts of fiction;
  • be confident in the use of these concepts;
  • complete a piece of original work.

Assessment methods

1. One story outline - 750 words

2. One short story – 1,500–2,000 words.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support