Lack of editing is a major reason publishers reject manuscripts. New writers often believe editing means spell checking, but editing is much more. This course will help you better understand the writing process and introduce the techniques that will make you an effective editor. Also included is information on critiquing manuscripts, and writing partners and groups.

You've written a story, article, play, novel, poem. Now what? Get advice on the publishing industry including where to send your manuscript, copyright, agents, appraisal services, pseudonyms, grants and manuscript presentation. Vital information on how to write a query letter and a synopsis is included. The tutor prefers that students have a completed piece of writing that they are considering having published.

This practical course is designed for beginners and will accommodate the expressed needs and interests of the students. The unit of study is short prose - fiction and non-fiction. However, non-prose writing will be included to explore different considerations and techniques. Build on your understanding and enjoyment of writing by developing theme, plot, structure, settings, characterisation, dialogue and editing.

Where do ideas come from? Think you need to wait for inspiration? Have an idea but not sure you can make it into a story, novel or screenplay? This course will show you how to spin golden ideas from less than straw, and how to piece them together to form designer stories, novels, poems and screenplays.

Great stories have intriguing plots and intense conflict woven together in a way that keeps readers hooked. Does this mean guns, bomb, earthquakes, shipwrecks and homicidal ex-lovers? Not necessarily. Understand the differences between main and sub plots, as well as parallel, mirrors, alternate and braided. Learn what conflict really is, and how to make it riveting and original without blowing up cities and devastating planets in every chapter. Decide what will work best for the type of story you want to write.

Creating believable, interesting characters that come to life on the page is not an easy task. Learn a variety of techniques that will help you take your character from your story’s opening page to the final scene.

Scenes are the building blocks of a story. Learn the fundamentals of what makes a strong, effective, interesting scene, and how to create the various scene types of your novel or short story needs.

Want to write a novel but feel like Tinkerbell taking on Goliath? Relax, it's not so bad. This course is filled with practical advice, techniques and exercises that will have you developing ideas and writing in no time. Learn about plot, characters, structure, conflict, making time to write, overcoming writer's block and how to make it all the way to THE END.

Learn to write your life story using themes, style, point of view, settings and characterisation. Structure your writing to make it sound interesting to a reader, a publisher and an agent.

Bust through the hype and discover the realities of writing fiction and non-fiction for ebooks. Includes tips and techniques for finding suitable ideas, formatting, design, and promoting your book.