Creative Writing

About this course

If you have an interest in writing, whether for pleasure or with the hope of one day being published, then this distance learning course could be for you. You will study a broad range of writing styles, genres and techniques, including both fiction and non-fiction writing. Creative writing is the perfect subject for home study, and can easily be fitted around other commitments.

Course description

There are no formal pre-requisites for studying this course, but students will need to have a reasonably good level of English in order to fully engage with the material. Creative writing is a fun and interesting subject, but it is also a serious craft that requires a lot of hard work and practice to master.

Course content

Unit 1: Autobiography

• Autobiographical writing
• Diaries
• Journals and letters

Unit 2: Short stories

• Developing an idea
• Preparing an outline
• Openings
• Conflict
• Characters
• Dialogue and viewpoints

Unit 3: Novels

• Reading for writing
• Themes
• Plot
• Character
• Conflict
• Viewpoints
• What other writers say

Unit 4: Younger readers

• Remembering
• Starting a story
• Action writing
• Dialogue
• Poetry for younger readers

Unit 5: Genre

• What genre means
• Gothic horror
• Crime
• Science fiction
• Magical realism

Unit 6: Play writing

• Dialogue
• Listening to people
• Character
• Choosing your subject
• Constructing plays

Unit 7: Poetry

• Observation
• Word pictures
• The sound of poetry

Unit 8: Non-fiction

• Types of non-fiction writing
• Travel writing
• Biography

Unit 9: Articles

• Types and style of article
• Finding and recording the facts
• Interviewing
• Going public

Unit 10: Reviews

• Being a critic
• Book reviews
• Getting your enthusiasm across
• Points of view
• Consumer reviews

Qualification information

At the end of this course successful learners will receive a Certificate of Achievement from ABC Awards and a Learner Unit Summary (which lists the details of all the units the learner has completed as part of the course).The course has been endorsed under the ABC Awards' Quality Licence Scheme. This means that UK Distance Learning & Publishing has undergone an external quality check to ensure that the organisation and the courses it offers, meet certain quality criteria. The completion of this course alone does not lead to an Ofqual regulated qualification but may be used as evidence of knowledge and skills towards regulated qualifications in the future. The unit summary can be used as evidence towards Recognition of Prior Learning if you wish to progress your studies in this sector. To this end the learning outcomes of the course have been benchmarked at Level 3 against level descriptors published by Ofqual, to indicate the depth of study and level of demand/complexity involved in successful completion by the learner.

The course itself has been designed by UK Distance Learning & Publishing to meet specific learners' and/or employers' requirements which cannot be satisfied through current regulated qualifications. ABC Awards' endorsement involves robust and rigorous quality audits by external auditors to ensure quality is continually met. A review of courses is carried out as part of the endorsement process.

ABC Awards is a leading national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, and the Welsh Government[1]. It has a long-established reputation for developing and awarding high quality vocational qualifications across a wide range of industries. As a registered charity, ABC Awards combines 180 years of expertise but also implements a responsive, flexible and innovative approach to the needs of our customers.

Renowned for excellent customer service, and quality standards, ABC Awards also offers Ofqual regulated qualifications for all ages and abilities post-14; all are developed with the support of relevant stakeholders to ensure that they meet the needs and standards of employers across the UK.

[1] Regulators for exams and assessments in England and Wales

Method of study

• The course comes to you as a proper paper-based pack, not as an electronic password
•  You will get full tutor support via email
•  You will receive feedback on your assignments from our experienced tutors    
•  You will be given guidance through the Study Guide on the nuts and bolts of studying and submitting assignments
• Postal assignments cannot be accepted without prior permission from the tutor
• You must have access to email in order to contact your tutor

Method of assessment

The course contains a number of assignments which your tutor will mark and give you valuable feedback on. We call these Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs). You need only send the TMAs to your tutor for comment, not the self-assessment exercises which are also part of the course to help you gauge your progress.

Course length information

You should allow for approximately 60 hours' study time, plus additional time for completing assignments. You will have tutor support for a period of up to 12 months from the date of enrolment.

Tutor support

You will have access to a tutor via email who will mark your work, guide you through the course and assist you with any problems you may have. In addition you will be supplied with a comprehensive Study Guide which will help you through the study and assessment process.

Currently there are no Q&As for this course. Be the first to ask a question.