What you'll learn

Confidently apply the tips to their writing.
Create up to ninety (90) new pieces of work.
Understand and apply varying techniques of the craft of writing and the industry.
Polish pieces of writing created prior to undertaking this course.

Course content

5 sections • 35 lectures • 1h 23m total length

Introduction3:19

Writing Tip No.1 - Beginnings3:18
Tips and exercises for writing beginnings.
Writing Tip no.2 – Clarity2:07
Tips and exercises for making writing clearer to the reader.
Writing Tip no.3 – Clichés2:11
Tips and exercises to avoid using clichés in your writing.
Writing Tip no.4 – Colours2:43
Tips and exercises to use colour in your writing.
Writing Tip no.5 – Conflict / dilemma1:53
Tips and exercises to heighten conflict and dilemma in your stories.
Writing Tip no.6 – Consistency2:37
Tips and exercises to ensure consistency in your writing.
Writing Tip no.7 – Description2:02
Tips and exercises to enhance your descriptions.
Writing Tip no.8 – Description vs. dialogue2:27
Tips and exercises to distinguish description and dialogue.
Writing Tip no.9 – Dialogue: keeping it real2:28
Tips and exercises to enhance the dialogue in your stories.
Writing Tip no.10 – Emotions1:53
Tips and exercises looking at character emotions.
Clichés
How are you getting on? (we're about a third of the way)0:19
Morgen checks in to see how you are getting on.

Writing Tip no.11 – Endings3:29
Tips and exercises looking at story endings.
Writing Tip no.12 – Exposition2:04
Tips and exercises helping you avoid providing information solely for the reader's benefit.
Writing Tip no.13 – Five Senses3:11
Tips and exercises looking at the five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell).
Writing Tip no.14 – Locations2:26
Tips and exercises looking at the settings you use in your fiction.
Writing Tip no.15 – Metaphors and similes2:18
Tips and exercises to distinguish metaphors and similes.
Writing Tip no.16 – Middles2:39
Tips and exercises looking at the middles of your stories.
How are you getting on? (we're about half-way)0:16
Morgen checks in (again) to see how you are getting on.
Writing Tip no.17 – Monologues2:12
Tips and exercises focusing on monologues (solo 'performances' by your character).
Writing Tip no.18 – Pacing2:24
Tips and exercises look at the pacing (the narrative drive) of your stories.
Writing Tip no.19 – Points of view: first-person2:30
Tips and exercises using the first-person (I, we) viewpoint.
Writing Tip no.20 – Points of view: second-person2:21
Tips and exercises using the little-known second-person (you) viewpoint.
Five senses

Writing Tip no.21 – Points of view: third-person3:36
Tips and exercises using the third-person (he, she, they) viewpoint.
Writing Tip no.22 – Purple prose3:16
Tips and exercises looking at keeping your writing simple.
Writing Tip no.23 – Repetition2:08
Tips and exercises looking at when, and when not, to use repetition.
Writing Tip no.24 – Sentences: fragments3:04
Tips and exercises looking at when to, and when not to, fragment your sentences.
Writing Tip no.25 – Sentences: lengths3:06
Tips and exercises focusing on the lengths of sentences and how they affect your writing.
Writing Tip no.26 – Show don’t tell2:25
Tips and exercises on how to show what is happening rather than telling the reader.
Writing Tip no.27 – Tenses2:21
Tips and exercises looking at the three main tenses (past, present and future).
Writing Tip no.28 – Verbs2:06
Tips and exercises concentrating on improving the verbs you use.
Writing Tip no.29 – You’ve written the story…2:33
A checklist and exercises for when you've finished your story.
Writing Tip no.30 – And finally…1:40
Tips and exercises to encourage you further.
How have you found this course?0:17
Morgen asks whether you've had a good time.
Show don't tell

Requirements

There is no prior knowledge or preparation required in order to start this course. Pen and paper or a blank document is sufficient. Completion of Writing Tips – Part 1 would be an advantage but is not essential.

Description

These thirty-two lectures highlight key aspects of the craft of creative writing, and include thirty tips, each one accompanied by three related exercises to enhance your writing skills.

The course is taught via video slides with clear audio narration from a native English speaker who is not only a writer but also a freelance editor, blogger, and creative writing tutor for a variety of clients. Terminology is simple, ideal for those for whom English is a second language.

Depending upon the student's timeframe, the course, without pausing, lasts just under an hour and a half. If completing one tip with its exercises per day, the course could last a month, or at one exercise per day, this course contains three months' worth of content.

No specific materials are required other than pen / pencil and paper or blank document. All slides and mentioned handouts are provided as downloadable documents.

If you have no prior creative writing knowledge, this course will provide a strong foundation on which to build a body of work. If you already have some knowledge, it will refresh those skills and improve your confidence going forward.

An accompanying 'part 1' course provides 30 tips and 90+ exercises concentrating on sparking creativity, aimed at writers of any age and experience.

Who this course is for:

This course is suitable for any writers regardless of their current level of knowledge.

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 3min

Writing tips 1-1011 lectures • 24min

Writing tips 11-2011 lectures • 26min

Writing tips 21-3011 lectures • 27min

Conclusion1 lecture • 4min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: