FICTION WRITING - LEVEL 3 COURSE

The home study course is split into the following 9 Units:

Unit One -Introduction

The following topics are covered: Content, Style, Techniques and Marketing.

Unit Two -The Short Story

The following topics are covered: How to study and analyse it, Studying the market, Overseas markets, Writing is a business, How do I find ideas? How do I present my manuscript? and Where do I find facts?

Unit Three -The Theme

The following topics are covered: Choosing a theme, The basic emotion, First or third person? Get out of the way! Reader identification, Setting and Style.

Unit Four -The Plot

The following topics are covered: Plotting, Accuracy, The plot scheme, A twist in the tale, Finding a plot, Conflict, tension & Suspense and Balance and pace.

Unit Five -The Characters

The following topics are covered: Your chief character, Names, Can people be plots? Characterisation, Motives, Mannerisms, Minor Characters, Hero, Heroine, Villain or Clown and How people operate.

Unit Six –Getting Started

The following topics are covered: How to start? The plot thickens, Stuck? Handling Transitions, How to end? Your work plan and Rules are made to be broken.

Unit Seven - Title & Dialogue

The following topics are covered: Choosing a title, Writing Dialogue, Grammar, dialect and slang, Types of short story and The serial.

Unit Eight –Practical Details

The following topics are covered: Copyright, The laws of defamation, Agents and "Vanity Publishers”, Keeping records, Payment, Income Tax, Expenses, Writing for radio, Writing for television and Presenting a TV drama.

Unit Nine – Writing a Novel

The following topics are covered: Structure, Action, Thriller, Mystery, Science Fiction, Crime & Detective novels, Historical novels, Serious novels and Final points.